All About Olaus

Early Life - Norway:

Olaus was one of seven children born into a farming family in rural Norway. Olaus, like other family members, changed the spelling of his name to Jeldness when he immigrated to the United States (or perhaps the immigration officials changed it for him). Ron Shearer, who has looked extensively into the life of Olaus, has discovered very little about his early life in Norway other than that he was an accomplished skier and ski jumper from childhood.  Before leaving Norway, Olaus reported that he set a national record with a ski jump of 92 feet. This record stood until 1888 when it was bested by another Norwegian who jumped 100 feet. This claim has never been substantiated, however, Olaus had a reputation for honesty. Even if it was not recognized as a national record, the jump was a remarkable achievement for the times. These records were set in the early history of jumping competitions when skiing equipment was primitive, jumping techniques had not been refined, and the ski jump designs were adjusted.  

Moving to North America - the Making of a Mining Man:

Olaus left Norway in 1873 at age 16 to work in Michigan’s iron mines with two of his older brothers. Later, he moved west to Colorado for more lucrative opportunities. Olaus’ adult life would be shaped by his exploits on mountain slopes and in mine stopes. 

As a mining man, Olaus Jeldness rode a financial rollercoaster with exhilarating highs and devastating lows in many of the mining camps of the Western United States, Western British Columbia, as well as Norway. It is not apparent that he accumulated a fortune before coming to Rossland, but he confessed to a deep longing for the riches that would give him "paradise on earth." Olaus arrived in Rossland at the end of 1894 and took a job at the Josie Mine. The mine was partially developed and closed for the Winter, so Olaus was the only employee. After he left the Josie, Olaus became an independent prospector. In reference to the Red Mountain mining camp, he stated how “[he] expect[ed] to succeed [there].” At the end of the summer of 1895, Olaus moved his wife and daughter to Rossland to live in the house he built opposite the courthouse on Columbia Ave. In Rossland, he discovered the Velvet and other related gold-copper mines on the west side of Sophie Mountain. Although they were mines of no particular importance in Rossland's history, Olaus sold them to English investors at inflated prices near the peak of the Rossland gold mining boom. The Sophie properties, along with at least one other property sale, made him a wealthy man -- not fabulously rich but much more than comfortable. He soon left Rossland and settled in Spokane.

Later Years - Speculating on Mines and Philosophy:

In Spokane, Olaus Jeldness was no longer just a miner and prospector. In his mature years, he became a highly regarded professional in many aspects of the mining business. Not only was he sought after for prospect assessments and the early development of new mines, but he eschewed the more routine task of operating developed mines. Although Olaus was essentially self-taught, he was frequently consulted in mine development or as a geologist. Despite lacking a formal education, he was widely regarded as a mining engineer.  

Olaus Jeldness was a thinker, another side that is not widely recognized. A student of politics and moral philosophy, concerned with and occasionally involved in a wide range of local, national and international political issues. On the moral philosophy side, he was a devoted humanist. Olaus was a vigorous and enthusiastic member of the Free Thought movement, which carried on a much-disparaged battle against the pervasive influence of the Christian church in American politics and society as a devoted disciple of Robert Ingersoll, the so-called "great infidel" of the late nineteenth-century United States. Olaus did not hide his devotion to the cause, but vigorously defended it in the pages of the major local newspaper. This is not to argue that Olaus Jeldness was a profound, original political analyst or moral philosopher.  There is no evidence for such a conclusion. However, he read deeply and widely and was acutely aware of the world around him and the political forces shaping events well beyond what we might expect of a practical mining man who routinely got his hands dirty down in the pits. He was a highly intelligent student of affairs, who was not wholly absorbed in mining, real estate, finance or skiing. 

As an investor  -- as in life --  Olaus Jeldness was a risk taker, a speculator. Whatever the reason, poor choices or unanticipated depression, when Olaus Jeldness died he had fallen from the status of a moderately wealthy resident of the most prestigious neighbourhood in Spokane to the possessor of a lovely house that was declining in value and of a broken portfolio of mostly worthless mining securities.

Conclusion:

Olaus Jeldness was a natural and passionate athlete. He was a champion on the ski hill, whether running downhill or jumping. He also took an interest in indoor ice sports, although there is no evidence that he was ever an active participant. However, he did support the construction and operation of an arena in Rossland and provided financial assistance to the Spokane hockey team entered in the Rossland Winter Carnival. But skiing was his true love, and his commitment to skiing continued long after he was an active participant. He provided two expensive and elaborate trophies for competition at Rossland’s Winter Carnival, was on the organizing committee for the first carnivals, in some years served as patron, and frequently acted as a judge of the ski jumping events. He also promoted skiing, particularly ski jumping, and one year he brought what he hoped would be a championship jumper from Spokane to the Rossland Carnival. 

Olaus Jeldness died in Spokane on April 24, 1935, of double pneumonia. His name is marked on his family niche in Spokane with his wife, two daughters, and his sister-in-law, but his ashes were scattered on the top of Red Mountain here in Rossland, according to his wishes. 

Jeldness Tea Party

The Jeldness Tea party was one of Rossland's finest events and a "Golden Moment." As most of you know, Olaus Jeldness was a major influence on the ski culture developing in early Rossland. Not only was he a huge advocate for the sport, he literally forced people into it!

Let us set the scene: atop Red Mountain is Olaus Jeldness waiting patiently for a guest list of twenty five of his friends to arrive. He has asked them to climb to the top of Red Mountain where refreshments and a Norwegian feast awaits them. This is a celebration for a major sale, perhaps one of the three claims he's sold in 1898/1899. Trudging up the mountain, the guests find liquor and provisions tucked in the snow banks or by the hands of very helpful attendants. When they reach the top, there stands Olaus, merry and ready to host some very important Rosslanders. As the evening makes way into jovial celebration, the question of how to get down the mountain in the snow may have been an afterthought by most guests. Fear not! Olaus has a way. He has brought ski equipment up for each guest, and each is to plot their way down the mountain amongst treed forests, mine workings, and of course, the dark of night. Not to worry friends, there is an ambulance, doctor, and journalist waiting at the bottom of the mountain. Not entirely comforting, though surely needed. You can read more of this, and the injuries sustained by his guests on Ron Shearer's Olaus essay.

This golden moment was on the train for revival in January of 1989. Pictured here is the logo from a t-shirt in our collection. If you have any information on the committee or individuals responsible for this fun event, please contact the museum!

Contribute your own memories/experiences of Olaus Jeldness:

The form below will email us your message. If you prefer to speak to us directly or have other questions or comments about this page, please call (250) 362-7722 or email the archives directly at archives@rosslandmuseum.ca