1. The History
Molson is a ghost town in the state of Washington, USA, very close to the border with Canada. It's not as intense or concentrated as Bodie in California in my earlier archive report as the buildings are far more scattered, but in some ways that leads to its charm.
The once booming town of was started in 1900 by George B. Meacham, its promoter, and John W. Molson, its investor. Molson operated the largest brewing company in Canada and owned the Molson Bank, with branches in every province in Canada. Many mining claims were staked and before long, the town’s population reached 300. Buildings could not be built fast enough, and many people had to live in tents. Soon the town had a newspaper, three general stores, an attorney, a doctor, a drug store, three saloons, a dance hall, a livery barn, a blacksmith shop and a three-story hotel. Molson’s boom was short-lived however. By June 1901, there were only twelve people living in the town. The mining never amounted to much and the Buckeye Mine, four miles east of Molson, had only short runs for two or three summers, and then closed down for good. The Poland China Mine fared slightly better and operated on and off until the last mining there was done in 1938.
Early in 1905 news broke that the railroad was definitely coming through Molson, and things started booming again. As a result, in 1909 New Molson, half mile north of Old Molson. began to take shape as everything moved to the New Molson site. New Molson mushroomed, but again the glory was short-lived, as the depression took its toll. The railroad was taken out in the mid-1930s, and New Molson became a quiet agricultural community. Old Molson faded away, but memories of its old glory days still linger on in those old weathered, worn buildings, where the ghosts refuse to surrender.
2. The Explore
Another set from the archives. This one dates back to the summer of 1994. Myself and my best buddy went for a fly-drive trip looping round Seattle, Vancouver and then back round through Washington state. Old Molson was en route so we stopped off here for a few hours. In the end it was time well spent. Really enjoyed the feel of this place. The pictures are again scans of 35mm colour and black and white film negatives.
3. The Pictures
Old deserted log cabin outside Molson:
Pretty far gone:
Unidentified industrial building of some sorts on the outskirts of Molson:
On to the ghost town itself and inside an old building in the centre of Old Molson:
This bit was a mini museum:
Away from the centre were the odd individual abandoned houses:
This old car was cool:
Molson is a ghost town in the state of Washington, USA, very close to the border with Canada. It's not as intense or concentrated as Bodie in California in my earlier archive report as the buildings are far more scattered, but in some ways that leads to its charm.
The once booming town of was started in 1900 by George B. Meacham, its promoter, and John W. Molson, its investor. Molson operated the largest brewing company in Canada and owned the Molson Bank, with branches in every province in Canada. Many mining claims were staked and before long, the town’s population reached 300. Buildings could not be built fast enough, and many people had to live in tents. Soon the town had a newspaper, three general stores, an attorney, a doctor, a drug store, three saloons, a dance hall, a livery barn, a blacksmith shop and a three-story hotel. Molson’s boom was short-lived however. By June 1901, there were only twelve people living in the town. The mining never amounted to much and the Buckeye Mine, four miles east of Molson, had only short runs for two or three summers, and then closed down for good. The Poland China Mine fared slightly better and operated on and off until the last mining there was done in 1938.
Early in 1905 news broke that the railroad was definitely coming through Molson, and things started booming again. As a result, in 1909 New Molson, half mile north of Old Molson. began to take shape as everything moved to the New Molson site. New Molson mushroomed, but again the glory was short-lived, as the depression took its toll. The railroad was taken out in the mid-1930s, and New Molson became a quiet agricultural community. Old Molson faded away, but memories of its old glory days still linger on in those old weathered, worn buildings, where the ghosts refuse to surrender.
2. The Explore
Another set from the archives. This one dates back to the summer of 1994. Myself and my best buddy went for a fly-drive trip looping round Seattle, Vancouver and then back round through Washington state. Old Molson was en route so we stopped off here for a few hours. In the end it was time well spent. Really enjoyed the feel of this place. The pictures are again scans of 35mm colour and black and white film negatives.
3. The Pictures
Old deserted log cabin outside Molson:
Pretty far gone:
Unidentified industrial building of some sorts on the outskirts of Molson:
On to the ghost town itself and inside an old building in the centre of Old Molson:
This bit was a mini museum:
Away from the centre were the odd individual abandoned houses:
This old car was cool:
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