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 (or, perhaps the immigration officials changed it for him) when he immigrated to the United States. Ron Shearer, who has looked extensively into the life of Olaus, has discovered very little about his early life in Norway, except that he was an accomplished skier and ski jumper from childhood.  Olaus reported that before leaving Norway, he set a national (and by implication, a world) record with a ski jump of 92 feet, a record that he asserted 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 and even if it was not recognized as a national record, the jump was a remarkable achievement for the times. By today's standards, these records seem insignificant. However, it was very early in the history of jumping competitions, skiing equipment was primitive and science had not yet been applied to the refinement of jumping techniques and the design of ski jumps and jumping hills.  

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

Olaus left Norway in 1873 at age 16 to join two of his older brothers working in Michigan’s iron mines, but eventually moved west to Colorado for more lucrative opportunities. His 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 and British Columbia  -- and, indeed, in Norway. It is not apparent that he had ever accumulated a fortune prior to coming to Rossland, but he confessed to a deep, life-long 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, he became an independent prospector and stated in reference to the Red Mountain mining camp that “I expect to succeed here.” At the end of the summer of 1895, Olaus moved his wife and daughter to Rossland to live in the “nice house” he built opposite of the court house 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 relatively minor mines, not of particular importance in Rossland's history, he sold them to English investors at inflated prices near the peak of the Rossland gold mining boom. Together with at least one other sale, the Sophie properties made him a wealthy man -- not fabulously rich but much more than comfortable. He soon left Rossland with his personal bonanza and settled in Spokane. However, he did not retire to passively enjoy his wealth.

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.  He was much sought after for the assessment of prospects and the early development of new mines, but he eschewed the more routine task of operating developed mines.  Although he was essentially self-taught, he was frequently retained as a consultant on mine development or as a geologist and while lacking the formal education was widely regarded as a mining engineer.  

There was also another side to Olaus Jeldness that is not widely recognized. He was a thinker  -- a student of politics and of moral philosophy. He was concerned with, and occasionally involved in, a wide range of political issues, local, national and international.  On the moral philosophy side he was a devoted humanist, 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.  In this he was a devoted disciple of Robert Ingersoll, the so-called "great infidel" of 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, was acutely aware of the world around him and of 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 and 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 moderately wealthy resident of the most prestigious neighbourhood in Spokane, to 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:

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