Glimpses of the Past: September 12th, 2024

Compiled by Jaimie Reynolds, Collections Manager

Labour Day Parade, 1907. Revelstoke Museum & Archives Collection, P-40.

130 years ago: The Kootenay Mail, September 15, 1894

The Excelsior Tennis Club and the Revelstoke Lawn Tennis Club arranged a tournament to be hold on September 24th and 25th to be open to members of both clubs. Events were to include ladies’ singles, men’s singles, ladies’ and men’s doubles, men’s doubles, and juvenile doubles. Both the upper and lower town courts would be used.

120 years ago: Revelstoke Herald, September 9, 1904

Revelstoke’s second annual Labour Day celebrations passed off successfully. The Vancouver lacrosse team beat the local team in a hard-fought match. The two local fire brigades squared off in races on Front Street, followed by horse races. The only disappointment was the non-arrival of the fireworks which were to have come from Kamloops. A delay in the train meant that the fireworks were set off a day late.

110 years ago: Revelstoke Mail-Herald, September 9, 1914

A settler anxious to be first in line for Dominion government homesteads north of Revelstoke set up camp outside the Dominion lands office overnight. The government had made 800 acres of land in the Big Bend area north of Revelstoke available for homesteads.

100 years ago: Revelstoke Review, September 10, 1924

Mrs. J.C. Laurence of Victoria, Mrs. James Munro, Angelo Desimone and Rube Desimone ascended Mount Cartier where they spent the weekend with Sam Desimone, fire warden at the Mount Cartier lookout. The two women were the first women to have made the ascent of Mount Cartier since the trail was completed in 1923.

90 years ago: The Revelstoke Review, September 14, 1934

365 automobiles had been shipped between Revelstoke and Golden by rail during the travel season. The cost of shipping a car was $28.00. The Big Bend Highway between Revelstoke and Golden was under construction, but was not completed until 1940.

80 years ago: The Revelstoke Review, September 14, 1944

A wonderfully successful dance took place in Arrowhead, sponsored by the Woodmen. A great number of Revelstoke locals were in attendance. Music was provided by Leonard Markstrom and Mrs. Mackey, with Fred Kirk on the piano. A nice crowd from Beaton and Galena Bay were brought to the dance on the “Beaton” steamer.

70 years ago: Revelstoke Review, September 9, 1954

The Revelstoke Golf Club held its 33rd annual Labor Day Tournament. There were 82 entries in total, with over half of them being Revelstoke locals. Along with a dance hosted by the ladies of the club, there was also a corn roast, and a sing-along, making it an enjoyable time for all.

60 years ago: Revelstoke Review, September 10, 1964

It was announced that Gayland Shows, “Canada’s Finest Motorized Midway” would be coming to Revelstoke the following weekend. The show would consist of 10 rides and 4 side shows, including “Captain Ody’s Tropical Zoo” and “The Mysterious Cave”. It was to be held at Kovak’s Field on Eighth Street, with all rides half price for school children.

50 years ago: Revelstoke Review, September 12, 1974

A new dance school, The Terpsichorian Dance Studios, opened in Revelstoke, under the teaching of Mrs. Lorianne Kerr. The school would teach classes from ages 2 through adults, with classes in modern and interpretive ballet, tap, jazz, rhythmic, and folk dancing. Mrs. Kerr had graduated from the Hartford Ballet Company, and had participated in performances of both the Nutcracker and Aladdin ballets.

40 years ago: Revelstoke Review, September 12, 1984

The second annual Fall Fair in Revelstoke was to be held that weekend with approximately 1,000 expected entries. There was to be a pet show, a sit-down tea, and a concession, all held at the Revelstoke Community Centre. The fair was to consist of 250 categories, with wine-making being the newest addition to the competition.

30 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, September 13, 1994

A used book sale to raise money for the Revelstoke volunteer Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held on Moss Street. Joyce and Roy Barnes collected and organized between 1,000 and 2,000 books and magazines, and sold them for 25 cents apiece. They raised about $244, delighting both shelter volunteers and furry friends alike.

20 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, September 15, 2004

Progress was heavily underway for the new indoor Aquatic Centre. The roof was built and the

interior was coming along steadily. The $5.3 million dollar centre was set to be completed at the end of the year.