Glimpses of the Past: March 6, 2025
Compiled by Jaimie Reynolds, Collections Manager
Revelstoke Secondary School, circa 1965. Revelstoke Museum and Archives Collection, P-8962.
130 years ago: The Kootenay Mail, March 2, 1895
According to the old-timers of Revelstoke, there were many promises of an early spring. A warm Chinook wind had blown into town and gotten rid of the snow, but the previous night “the beautiful” put in an appearance and the landscape looked very “Christmassy”. The river had never completely frozen over the winter.
120 years ago: Revelstoke Herald, March 2, 1905
All piano players in Revelstoke were invited to hear the master of the piano, Blanche Deering, a concert pianist and violinist. The New York newspaper, Oneonta Star wrote that “At the piano, Blanche Deering is simply a marvel”. Miss Deering was set to play the following Monday evening at the Methodist church.
110 years ago: Revelstoke Mail-Herald, March 6, 1915
Another 4000 Canadian soldiers landed safely in England, including many from Revelstoke. The steamers which took the first quota of the second contingent were the Megantic and Southland which docked at Queenstown, and the Missanabie, which landed at Liverpool. The soldiers taken over on these three steamers were from every part of the Dominion. All of the steamers had left from Halifax on February 22nd.
100 years ago: Revelstoke Review, March 4, 1925
A fire occurred in the CB Hume & Co. store. It started a few minutes after closing time, apparently in the boiler room in the basement of the store. The fire got into the back elevator shaft and shot upwards to the grocery department and to the dry goods department on the top floor. Luckily, the fire brigade got it under control quickly, but the loss of stock and damage to the building was enormous and the fire was deemed a catastrophe. Mr. Hume hoped to reopen soon.
90 years ago: The Revelstoke Review, March 1, 1935
The twenty-second anniversary of the local Ski Club, closing with its usual attractive spectacle and the crowing ceremonial of the 1935 Queen of the Snows attracted a large crowd for the special occasion. The crowd exceeded past records for many a year, and once again the anniversary provide financial success for the club. Throne decorations were organized by Mr. Orice Higgs, and dancing continued until 3:30 am under the entertainment of Maddaloni’s Orchestra.
80 years ago: The Revelstoke Review, March 1, 1945
An exciting letter from far away proved that Revelstoke was internationally known. The tourist branch of the Revelstoke Board of Trade had proclaimed the virtues of Revelstoke far and wide and that fact was amply demonstrated when a letter came addressed to the tourist branch from Carlisle, Cumberland, England. The letter was asking for information about Mount Revelstoke National Park and other national parks in Canada.
70 years ago: Revelstoke Review, March 3, 1955
An interesting film was being shown at the Avolie Theatre. The Living Desert was a remarkable depiction of the little considered existence of various forms of life in the desert. Walt Disney is said to have produced a beautiful and absorbing story in colour which should be of great interest to all interested in nature’s creatures.
60 years ago: Revelstoke Review, March 4, 1965
The official opening of Revelstoke Secondary School was set to take place on March 6. The public was cordially invited to attend and check out the brand new school building. The Kelowna Secondary School Band would be in attendance to play a delightful section of tunes to welcome in the new school and all of its future students.
50 years ago: Revelstoke Review, March 6, 1975
Another closure occurred at Mica Dam. A jurisdictional dispute between steelworkers and carpenters essentially closed the Mica Dam project, 85 miles north of Revelstoke. Carpenters and other workers who lived in Revelstoke went to Mica to pick up their tools. Work on the underground site for the housing of machines, which were scheduled to go into hydro production 2 years from then, had had a rough time because of numerous closures.
40 years ago: Revelstoke Review, March 6, 1985
An adorable lamb made the front page of this week’s newspaper! A set of lamb triplets was born on the Harrison farm. With the mother unable to feed all three, one of the four-day-old lambs, Pepsi, had become somewhat of a family pet to the Danilowich family. With feedings (from a Pepsi bottle) every two to three hours, the lamb took up as much time as a newborn. Pepsi would be visiting some of the schools that week, and the students were surely looking forward to their sweet visitor!
30 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, March 3, 1995
It was announced that the Revelstoke Weather Office, located at the local airport, would be closed on April 1st. Environment Canada was closing all except three of its weather offices in the Pacific/ Yukon region. The Federal Government stated that it would provide re-training and job counselling programs to help junior workers who wanted to go into the private sector. After April, Revelstoke’s daily weather forecasts would come from the Kelowna environmental centre.
20 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, March 2, 2005
Police were conducting snowmobile checks and patrols on Boulder Mountain and other portions of the back country with conservation officers. Weather and snow conditions saw the community full of touring riders and commercial accommodation was reported to have been full. The police were looking for any sort of disturbances on the mountain and in the backcountry, such as driving under the influence.