Object Record
Images
Metadata
Accession Number |
1967.273.1 |
Object Name |
Medal, Prize |
Tag Line |
Olaus Jeldness’s Ski Racing Championship of B.C. prize medal from the 1899 Rossland Winter Carnival. |
Collection |
Trophies & Awards |
Description |
Olaus Jeldness’s Ski Racing Championship of B.C. prize medal from the 1899 Rossland Winter Carnival. The medal consists of a gold metal medallion suspended from a gold metal pin bar. The medallion has a domed copper centre surrounded by a wreath with a bow at the bottom. There are four notched tails extending from the centre (one on each corner) with a five-pedal fan between the notched points. The centre of the medal has "Rossland Winter Carnival 1899" engraved. The reverse of the medal has the race and winner details engraved (see inscription) with filigree details surrounding the text. There are two small screws on either side of the centre that hold the domed front onto the medal. The pin bar is shaped like a curved banner with filigree details on the left side and a pair of crossed skis on the right. The pair of skis was designed to look like they were going through the banner, with the tips extending out the bottom of the banner. There is a small dot border on the top and bottom of the banner. The face of the pin bar has "CHAMPIONSHIP OF B.C." engraved in large letters. The reverse of the pin bar has a long pin attached for attaching the medal to the winner’s clothing. The medallion is suspended from the pin bar by a single chain link on to top two corners. |
Date |
1899/ / |
Provenance |
Olaus Jeldness was born 1 October 1856 in Stagvik, Norway. Jeldness arrived in Rossland in 1894 and discovered/staked the Velvet Mine and other mining prospects on Sophie Mountain. Jeldness was an avid skier and has been credited with introducing competitive skiing to Rossland. He was instrumental in starting the Rossland Winter Carnival in 1898, in which he won both the Ski Running and Ski Jumping Championships. Jeldness left Rossland in 1900, returning to Spokane, WA, although he continued to be a patron of the Winter Carnival for many years. Jeldness died in Spokane on 24 April 1935. The Rossland Winter Carnival began in 1898 and was a yearly tradition until 1918 when the Carnival was cancelled because of the Spanish Flu. The Rossland Winter Carnival was not revived until after WWII and has been running yearly ever since. The original carnivals were held in February/March and later often coincided with large skiing competitions being held on Red Mountain. Today, the Carnival is held at the end of January. |
Material |
Metal |
Dimensions |
H-6.5 W-4.5 D-1 cm |
Inscription Text |
Ski Racing Won By Olaus Jeldness |
People |
Jeldness, Olaus |
Search Terms |
Rossland Winter Carnival Ski Racing Championship of B.C. |
Subjects |
Prize Ski Racing Ski Running Championship Medal Winter Sports Downhill Skiing Skiing Sports Competition |
Additional Information |
https://www.rosslandmuseum.ca/olaus |
Source |
Eastern Washington State Museum |