Robert Allan Brown
Encyclopedia
Robert Allan Brown was a well-known and flamboyant prospector and speculator in 19th and early 20th Century in the Canadian province of British Columbia
. He was known generally as Volcanic Brown, especially in the province's Kootenay
and Boundary
districts and in adjoining Eastern Washington
, and also as Sunset Brown in the Similkameen District
and still also to others as Crazy Brown. His enthusiastic nature contributed to his nickname, and as result of that and his flamboyant personality he was a fixture in mining industry news in a wide region which spanned the British Columbia-United States border.
Brown was prominent in the British Columbia mining industry, in capacities ranging from being a notable and very successful prospector through to being a speculator, promoter and investor, and also the founder of Volcanic City
, one of the many short-lived mining and smelting towns of the Boundary Country
. He was a presence in many mining districts throughout the region and led the way in discoveries of several important orebodies, although he never became wealthy.
, other places named for Volcanic Brown include Volcanic Creek and Brown Creek, which enter the Granby River
15 km upstream from the town of Grand Forks
, near the site of Volcanic City.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He was known generally as Volcanic Brown, especially in the province's Kootenay
Kootenays
The Kootenay Region comprises the southeastern portion of British Columbia. It takes its name from the Kootenay River, which in turn was named for the Ktunaxa First Nation first encountered by explorer David Thompson.-Boundaries:The Kootenays are more or less defined by the Kootenay Land...
and Boundary
Boundary Country
The Boundary Country is a historical designation for a district in southern British Columbia lying, as its name suggests, along the boundary between Canada and the United States. It lies to the east of the southern Okanagan Valley and to the west of the West Kootenay. It is often included in...
districts and in adjoining Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington is the portion of the U.S. state of Washington east of the Cascade Range. The region contains the city of Spokane , the Tri-Cities, the Columbia River and the Grand Coulee Dam, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the fertile farmlands of the Yakima Valley and the...
, and also as Sunset Brown in the Similkameen District
Similkameen River
The Similkameen River runs through southern British Columbia, eventually discharging into the Okanogan River near Oroville, Washington in the United States. The river is approximately long, and its drainage basin is in area...
and still also to others as Crazy Brown. His enthusiastic nature contributed to his nickname, and as result of that and his flamboyant personality he was a fixture in mining industry news in a wide region which spanned the British Columbia-United States border.
Brown was prominent in the British Columbia mining industry, in capacities ranging from being a notable and very successful prospector through to being a speculator, promoter and investor, and also the founder of Volcanic City
Volcanic City, British Columbia
Volcanic City is a ghost town located in the Boundary Country region of British Columbia. It is located near the north fork of the Kettle River. A prospector named Volcanic Brown discovered an "iron cap" mountain near the north fork of the Kettle river. Volcanic Brown claimed the mountain was...
, one of the many short-lived mining and smelting towns of the Boundary Country
Boundary Country
The Boundary Country is a historical designation for a district in southern British Columbia lying, as its name suggests, along the boundary between Canada and the United States. It lies to the east of the southern Okanagan Valley and to the west of the West Kootenay. It is often included in...
. He was a presence in many mining districts throughout the region and led the way in discoveries of several important orebodies, although he never became wealthy.
Legacy
Other than Volcanic CityVolcanic City, British Columbia
Volcanic City is a ghost town located in the Boundary Country region of British Columbia. It is located near the north fork of the Kettle River. A prospector named Volcanic Brown discovered an "iron cap" mountain near the north fork of the Kettle river. Volcanic Brown claimed the mountain was...
, other places named for Volcanic Brown include Volcanic Creek and Brown Creek, which enter the Granby River
Granby River
The Granby River is a tributary of the Kettle River in British Columbia, Canada, joining the Kettle just north of the US-Canada border at the town of Grand Forks...
15 km upstream from the town of Grand Forks
Grand Forks, British Columbia
-Schools:Schools in the region are operated by School District 51 Boundary which has its main office in Grand Forks but also serves Midway, Greenwood, Beaverdell, and Rock Creek....
, near the site of Volcanic City.