Memories

Andrew Rosen immigrated to Canada from the USA in about 1895, and was a dynamite foreman for the CPR, working on many railroad projects in the area at the beginning of the 20th century. He also acted as land agent for the CPR, clearing farm lots for sale on 'Steamboat Hill' between Jaffray and Cranbrook.

In the summer of 1907, Miss Christine Johnson left Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a trip to Sweden her native land . About the same time Andrew Rosen left Jaffray, BC., and also travelled to Sweden.

They did not know one another at the time, but on Nov. 7th, 1907, they both travelled back to America on the newest, largest, fastest and most luxurious ship then in the world, the Lusitania.

Andrew fell in love with Christine immediately and asked her is she would play a game of chess with him. Christine declined as she did not know how to play. However, it started a shipboard romance and by the time they landed in New York they were engaged.

Andrew returned to Jaffray, and Christine to Minnneapolis, where she gave up her job to come to Canada. Andrew had arranged for their marriage in Spokane, Washington, and sent her a first class ticket on the newest, fastest, and most luxurious train in that part of the world—the Soo-Spokane Train Deluxe. Since she had a private room to herself, she probably travelled in the observation sleeper car Curzon. Both often talked to their children about the luxurious appointments of the train.

On December 3 she boarded the train, with Andrew joining her two days later at Cranbrook. (The train did not stop at smaller communities, hence Andrew could not board it at Jaffray). They were married on December 5 in Spokane and returned to Cranbrook immediately, staying at the Cranbrook Hotel. This was also the newest and most luxurious hotel in the city at that time, having had a large addition completed that summer in time for the new Soo-Spokane train service.

Christine and Andrew built their home in Jaffray and had two girls and a son. The boy died in infancy. Andrew was killed in a mill accident in 1927 while building a lumber and tie mill in the Windermere area. Christine died in 1963 and was survived by her two daughters, Pauline Rutledge, and Olga (Anderson) Bakken, and five grandchildren, Ann Jon, Gay, Bruce and Heather.

This history was provided by daughter Olga (Bakken), who remembered her parents' stories about this great train, and its connection to local history.