Revelstoke Museum and Archives is wishing its beautiful building a happy 100th birthday!

Declared complete after an inspection on February 23, 1926, the new Post Office and Customs building was a long time coming. The townsite dispute that cut Revelstoke in half with the former Farwell townsite on Front Street, and the Station town centered around Mackenzie Avenue, also created a dispute regarding the Post Office location. At one point, there was a Revelstoke Post Office on Front Street, and a Revelstoke Station Post Office in the Bourne Brothers Department Store near the Canadian Pacific Railway Station. The two offices were joined in 1901, but discontent over the Post Office locations continued.

In 1910, Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier paid an official visit to Revelstoke. He was petitioned for a new federal building and he was then asked to select the site from three choices. Knowing the history of the conflict over the location, he chose to send his decision back by telegram once he was safely on the train out of town.

The site Laurier chose was at the corner of Boyle and First Street West, which was then occupied by the home of William and Sarah Dickey, who had built their family home at that location in 1899. The home was moved to the corner of Rokeby and Third Street West, where it remains to this day. The anticipated construction of the new dominion building, however, did not materialize for well over a decade. The usual delays in government decision making were exacerbated by the outbreak of World War I in 1914, and it was not until well after the war that plans moved forward for the new building.

At last, in October of 1924, Hon. Dr. King, federal minister of Public Works showed the Revelstoke Board of Trade a sketch of the proposed building and stated that in addition to the Post Office, it would house other Dominion offices, including Customs and Excise, Forestry, Land and Timber, and Parks.

The contract for construction was awarded to Interior Construction Company of Kamloops in February of 1925, with an initial appropriation of $43,000 for construction.

Revelstoke Museum & Archives Collection, P-491.

One year later, on February 23, 1926, the building was declared completed by Resident Architect Mr. Brown of Victoria. The office had three wickets: one for Insurance and C.O.D. parcels, another for Registrations and Money Orders, and a third for general delivery. Seven hundred and twenty-five mail boxes were installed in the hallway. Postmaster Walter Hardman, who had held the position since 1924, had a well-appointed office to the left of the main entrance. Two brass drop boxes were installed on the outside of the building. The cover of the parcel drop box is currently installed inside the building.

The second floor held offices for the Customs department, the Dominion Lands branch, and the Collector of Inland Revenue. Quarters for a live-in caretaker were included on the second floor. The exterior brickwork was supervised by William Gill of Kamloops, a master brick-layer. Local firms such as Burridges Plumbing were involved as sub-contractors.

Mayor & Postmaster Walter Hardman, ca. 1955. Revelstoke Museum & Archives Collection, P-1700.

Postmaster Walter Hardman continued in his role until his retirement in 1955. He also served as Mayor of Revelstoke from 1937 to 1961.

The building was home to Revelstoke Post Office until 1971, when the current Post Office and Parks Canada office was built. The City of Revelstoke acquired the building from the Federal government for the express purpose of housing the collection of Revelstoke Museum and Archives, and the museum opened in this location in July of 1974.

The building has a great deal of character, and has been a good home to the museum for the past 51 years. We appreciate the City of Revelstoke for their care for this city building, and especially thank the City for their help and support in ensuring that the building was made accessible through the addition of the new lift in 2025.