Sunshine Mine

Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada

WARNING

Old Abandoned Underground Coal Mines can be Very Dangerous, Due to Collapse, and Mine Gases (Noxious and Flammable). Extreme Care should be taken around them, due to Falls, Sudden Ground Collapse, and Bad Air, and in NO Circumstances should People enter into ANY Mine Openings, or Associated Caves. The Material Contained on my Sites, is NOT to Encourage Personal Investigation of these Mines, But only as a Historical Record of these Long Abandoned Mines. Please View these Mines from a Far, Safe and Legal Distance. Always Observe Private Property Rights, and Obey ALL Warning Signs.

You can dismiss this warning with the x in the top right.

Sunshine Mine Ltd.

1 mile S. of Estevan City Limits, Located on the direct southern boundary of the First Pioneer Cemetery in Estevan,
just east of the Estevan Brick Plant, near the old Estevan Electric Generating Plant.

Located at Township 2, Range 8, W2

Owned by David Albert Bannatyne (Sr.), Dr. James Forbes Creighton, William D. Niblett, and John Galloway, with John Galloway as Mine Manager.

First Strip Mine in 1928-
3/4 yard dragline was used, brought in from Kenmare ND.
The Pit was just east of the Estevan Brick Plant, south of the City.

Mine was sold to the Truax Traer Company

William David (Bill) Niblett
b- Jan 11, 1881 in Gloucester, England
d- Aug 16, 1954
buried in Estevan City Cemetery
Shown as 25 in 1906, 30 in 1911 census
In 1906 he was living near Estevan on 4-2-7 W2.
Wife- Kate Emily Niblett, nee Matthews
b- Aug 19, 1877 Ebley, in Reg. Dist. of Stroud, Gloucester, England
d- Aug 23, 1983, possibly in Weyburn Nursing Home, Weyburn SK
died age 106, buried in Estevan City Cemetery
Married- Mar 23, 1904 in Reg. Dist. of Stroud, Gloucester, England
Immigrated to Canada right after their marriage in Mar. 1904
Kate's mother- Eliza Matthews in 1881 census, no father shown
only mother, shown as married, and brother Henry Albert Matthews,
living at 1 Gladstone buildings, Stonehouse, Gloucester, England
3 daughters, and a son, shown in 1911 census,
Hilda Annie Niblett
b- Dec 29, 1906 in Estevan
d- Dec 1970 near Keswick ON, car accident
married Ted O'Neill
Edith May Niblett
b- Jan 6, 1905 in Coalfields
d- ?
Married Walter Hanson
Muriel Ellen Niblett
b- Nov 5, 1908 in Estevan
Visited Weyburn at over 100 yrs of age in 2009
trained as a nurse at Estevan, served in WWII in S. Africa
worked all her life as a nurse.
Son- shown unnamed,
b- June 1911, probably in Estevan
strange part all records show they only had 6 daughters, no sons?
All in the 1911 census, all shown as Methodist
3 more daughters were born to them after 1911,
Mary Niblett
b- ?
d- ca 2007 possibly in Kamloops, or Duncan BC
married Murray Evans
Myrtle Niblett
b- ?
married John Tilley
Lily Niblett
b-?
d- in infancy
William served on Estevan Town council
Foreman at Estevan Brickyard at one time
Pit Boss at M&S mine 1935-36
Life member of Odd Fellows and the Masons

David Albert Bannatyne (Sr.)
b- Nov 1, 1880 in Irvine, Scotland
d- Dec 10, 1954.
buried in the Estevan City Cemetery.
wife- Mildred Anne Bannatyne, nee Jones
b- July 11, 1886 in Holywell reg dist, Flintshire, England
d- May 22, 1971
buried in Estevan City Cemetery
She was a teacher at Bangor school, before she married
Married Dec 25, 1912 in Winnipeg MB

David Immigrated to Canada from Scotland in Feb 1903
1912 Banker at Waldron SK
Came to Estevan June 13, 1913
Manager of Bank of British North America, in Estevan originally,
Then owned his own Insurance agency.
Became shareholder in this Sunshine Coal Mine
as well as Eureka Coal and Brick Co.
which later became International Clay Products.
David Bannatyne Sr. was the Mayor of Estevan,
during the infamous Sept 29, 1931 Miner's riot in Estevan.
Family lived at 1422 3rd St. in Estevan
1917 He was worshipful Master of Estevan Lodge No. 25, AF & AM,
In 1924, He was District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District No. 6.
He was a member of the Wa Wa Temple, Order of the Mystic Shrine, and was also a Member of the Scottish Rite Lodge in Regina.

Dr. James Forbes Creighton
was co-owner of the Hospital at that time also.
His history is recorded in my Estevan Doctor Web Page

Part owner, and Mine manager:
John Galloway
b- Sept 1877 in Ontario
d- Dec 3, 1957
wife- Ida Florence Perry
b- Sept 1881 in King Twp, York Co., ON
d- 1971 in Indian Head SK
Married in 1911
she was daughter of Richard Perry and Sarah Jane Hunter
ca 1908, He was a school teacher and Inspector
1911 they were in Alameda SK, he was Principal of the school there.
both shown as Methodist, both Irish nationality.

I added the warning above about entering these old mines
at the top of each mine page, not for the fun of it, but as a serious message.

Nov 11, 1987 a 17 year old, Jeffrey “Jeff” Greg Chipley,
entered this underground mine, to rescue a 16 year old friend,
and Jeff died from the bad air in this old mine, before he could be rescued.
He received a posthumously awarded Carnegie hero award in 1988 for his actions.
The 16 year old lived.

My warning above is no joke. It is a very serious message.

PLEASE STAY AWAY AND OUT OF THESE OLD MINES !
They are extremely dangerous.

©