Glover, Francis R. “Frank”

Francis Glover was born July 23, 1880 in England. He married Clara (unknown). He died in New Westminster, April 12, 1975.

Princeton Land & Coal Company

Glover was a mining engineer and was appointed the superintendent of the Princeton Land and Coal Company in March 1913. He came from the Extension Mine in Ladysmith, BC. When the family moved to Princeton, they lived upstairs in the mine building (opposite a vacant parcel of land at the corners of Bridge, Kenley and Vermilion Streets which would later become Veteran’s Square).

Glover was considered an expert in the coal mining field. The Similkameen Star reprinted his article that first appeared in the “Coal Age” (January 3, 1913) in which he discusses the appalling number of mine explosions and what role the condition of the return entry has in creating (or preventing) explosions in the mine. In November 1917, he represented (with manager Ernest Waterman) the Princeton Coal and Land Company at the Canadian Mining Institute (Western Branch) meetings in Princeton. In December of that same year, he reported that mine was planning to sink a new shaft – the mine was producing 240 tons of coal daily and most was going to the Northport Smelter (Washington), the Okanagan, and the Interior. The Princeton Star reported on March 21, 1919 that Francis Glover, A. S. Black and W. C. McDougall of Princeton, A. F. H. Meyer, of Allenby, at Vancouver attending the Mining Convention. Glover was one of the speakers at the gathering, his subject being -“The Better Utilization of B. C. Coal.”

Glover became the manager of the Princeton Land and Coal Company on April 1, 1923, taking over from Ernest Waterman who had held the position for twenty years. In September of that year, the company was sold to George Stringer and a brother of Francis Glover, part of an British coal mining syndicate. Frank (Francis) Glover was to stay on as manager. The company was incorporated as Princeton BC Colliery Company in June 1924 with the head office in London, England.

There seems to have been some issues with the new company as the Princeton Star reported on June 30, 1927 that Francis Glover had been working at the Duthie Mining Company in Smithers “for some time” and he was unable to say anything “in respect to the resumption of operation” of the Princeton Colliery. The Star went on: “It is known however that the deadlock existing between the old and the new company has been broken and that the receivership appointed to take control of the property here will end early next month.”

Duthie Mining Company

Glover worked at the Duthie Mine (Smithers) for a period of time around 1926. By 1934 he was back in Princeton developing the Black Mine

Black Mine

In 1938 he was manager of the Black Mine, operated by Glover Trust Syndicate. Only a few men were employed and no great amount of coal ever taken to surface.

The Black Mine at Findley Creek, Black Mine was owned by A.S. Black, Duff Stuart, and Francis Glover. Glover was in the area in 1937 and by 1942, the mine management announced their intention to strip mine. The head office of the Black Mine was Vancouver, BC. The local manager was Frank Glover.

In 1942, Glover was prospecting at Normandale Mine property (at the eastern edge of the Merritt coal basin).

Personal Life

In April 1916, Francis and Clara took their 10-year-old daughter, Dorothy, to reside at and attend school at Braemar College in Vancouver, BC. Braemar had an attendance of about 100 girls, as residence and day pupils. Subject areas were music, athletics, and academics. When her parents visited, they stayed at Glencoe Lodge, an exclusive residential hotel built by B.T. Rogers in 1906.

Glover had two brothers at the front with the British army. Perhaps for this reason he donated $10 to the machine gun fund for the 47th Battalion and was a subscriber (5.00/month) to the Princeton War Fund.

An early adopter, in April 1918, he purchased H.H. Mansell’s car (Constable Mansell had enlisted and left for Victoria to serve overseas). Perhaps this was the Ford Runabout he advertised for sale in January 1919.

In September 1919, there appeared in the Star the first of the official notices that he intended to apply for a license to prospect for coal along the Tulameen. He was also acting as agent for Ben R. Barlow. Perhaps they were partners?

In March 1921, he left on a trip for England (Clara Glover stayed in Princeton), planning to be away for three months. Interestingly, there is a handwritten note on the newspaper – “Stay!”

The Glover’s socialized with the Ernest Waterman family and the Hall family.

Community Involvement

Francis Glover became a member of the Princeton Board of Trade in 1916 and was an active member for many years. He donated $5.00 donation to the Hospital maintenance appeal. That same year, in November, he was elected vice-chairman of the newly formed Princeton Branch of the St. John Ambulance Society.

Both Francis and Clara Glover were active in the St. Cuthbert’s Church community. In 1921, they were both elected officers of the church.

In December 1925, he was involved in raising funds for a fire tower in Princeton.

He was a director and founding member of the Princeton Power & Light Company from 1922 to 1947.

See Dave Taylor’s album, page E8.