History Under Construction In 1931 the first shaft was sunk and it was to be called Broken Ridge. In Dec 1932 the equiptment and supplies were bound for Vidette, in 1933 shares of Vidette Mines Ltd. were sold.  In 1934 a two storey bunk house housing 55 men was built beside the mine. It was equip with electric lights, showers and flush toilets. A cook house was built next door . Like many logging and mining camps of those days, conversation - except for the polite request to pass food - was forbidden in the ding room. This rule was enforced by the cook to prevent arguments and fights from breaking out. Miners were paid 50 cents an hour for an 8 hour day, 6 days a week. Board and room at the company bunkhouse was $1.25 a day. For 50 cents a month a single man was covered under a full medical plan set up in conjunction with the Irving Clinic in Kamloops. A married man could subscribe to the plan, with maternity coverage included for $1.50 a month. Doctors and dentists visited the site regularly. The dentist drill was powered by a foot treadle and root canals were unknown. By contrast, men in the Government relief camps, who worked on the roads, were receiving room and board and 20 cents to 25 cents a day. During its six full years of operations the Vidette Mine employees upwards of 100 men, blasted five miles of tunnels in four levels- including a tunnel under Vidette Lake- bulldozed a 17 mile road into the camp , and mined approximate 28,000 ounces of gold. How much is 28,000 ounces of gold? If it were compressed into a cube it would make a block about one foot square. Some of it may be in that ring on your finger.   Vidette Lake Gold Mine Resort has some pictures and a book from the Savona Heritage Society with lots of interesting stories of the old gold mining days. We would like to thank the Savona Heritage Society and especially Ester French for her help with this.  If anybody may have pictures of the Gold Mine , we would be happy to add it to the history. Please contact us.