Passburg / Police Flats

Originally used for ranching in the 1880s, the NWMP established a presence in 1883 to combat cattle rustling with a permanent two-man detachment that later moved to Blairmore in 1901. John Kerr was granted permission to live in the abandoned building and by 1906 had discovered coal and secured money from the Leitch Brothers of Quebec to develop a mine. With mine developments at Byron Creek and Police Flats a small settlement was established on the flats and the community of Passburg was established on the hill immediately to the west. Passburg grew into a viable community with a well developed business section to support its growing population. Leitch Collieries Ltd. was incorporated in 1907 and between 1908 -1910 construction began on a modern mine facility including 101 coke ovens. By 1915, however, due to financial and labour problems, the mine ceased operations. People continued to live in Passburg until the last house was moved to Bellevue in 1956. Today the Leitch Collieries site is a designated historic site and open for self-guided and guided tours.