Golden Museum

	In 1899, Edouard Feuz Sr., and Christian Haesler came to Canada, and were engaged as mountain guides by the C.P.R. Co. In 1901, more guides were brought out, the two Kaufmans’, F. Michel, and Schlunegger. They were stationed at Lake Louise, Glacier and Field. Edouard Feuz Jr., came out with the older guides in 1903. They came to Canada every spring and returned to Switzerland in October. They did this until 1911. Ernest Feuz, and Rudolph Aemmer, joined the others in 1909, but still went back to Switzerland every fall.
	The C.P.R. then decided to build homes for the Guides in Golden. These houses were completed in 1911, and were named Swiss Village, “Edelweiss”. In June of 1912, Ernest, Rudolph, Christian and Edouard, along with their families, moved from Switzerland to the C.P.R. Swiss Village to stay. A younger brother Walter Feuz, came out but did not do any guiding until years later; but he worked for the C. P. R. Co. The Company employed only four guides after 1912. The Swiss Village is situated one mile west of Golden.
	All the Guides came out from Switzerland between 1899 and 1955. They climbed the highest peaks in the Canadian Rockies, many times going with packtrains and camping out for weeks at a time.In 1906, Gottfried Feuz and Edouard went out with the Canadian Alpine Club, and camped at Summit Lake in Yoho Park. They graduated as the first members of the club.
	Very often the Swiss Guides were called out for rescue work; such as rescuing inexperienced climbers stranded on mountain ledges and dangerous precipices, others with broken limbs, and some who had fallen to their death. We gave information and warnings to hundreds of climbers before they started on a dangerous venture of climbing without a guide.
	Under the management of Basil Gordon, in 1922 the Guides decided to build Abbot's Pass Hut; for climbers between Mt. Victoria and Mt. Lefroy at Lake Louise. It is the highest building in the Canadian Rockies, being 9,598 feet above sea level.
	All the guides developed the adventurous side of their characters during their climbing in the Canadian Rockies. Nearly all the first ascents required one or more scouting trips to discover practical routes. At the end of a great ascent, the Guide brought his patron down in good condition, and very happy with the experience. The Swiss Guides found the work very interesting and gave much credit to the C. P. R.

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Golden and District Historical Society
1302 - 11th Ave. South
Box 992, Golden, B.C. V0A 1H0
Phone & Fax (250)344-5169