Glimpses of the Past: April 24, 2025

Compiled by Jaimie Reynolds, Collections Manager

Union Hotel in Revelstoke, circa 1905. Revelstoke Museum and Archives Collection, P-560.

130 years ago: The Kootenay Mail, April 27, 1895

It was revealed that explosions that had recently been heard in Revelstoke were caused by rock blasting along the track in the Illecillewaet canyon. This was done to prevent rock-slides, and had been causing quite a lot of blasting noise to reverberate in the mountains around town. The stone used in the blasting would later be used at the Columbia and 13th crossing bridges.

120 years ago: Revelstoke Herald, April 27, 1905

Mrs. McKitrick, who had recently assumed the management of the Union hotel dining and upstairs rooms, held a grand dinner, which was followed by an informal dance. The menu was filled with many delightful delicacies, and the orchestra provided fine musical accompaniment. Everyone was overjoyed, and by running the rooms conjointly with the Palace Restaurant, boarders would certainly have a wonderful stay.

110 years ago: Revelstoke Mail-Herald, April 24, 1915

Indications pointed to the fact that all records for tourist travel to the Canadian mountain resorts and the coast would be broken that year, according to a statement made in Vancouver. It was announced by F.L. Hutchinson, of the Canadian Pacific Hotel System. Travel was expected to be quite popular in 1915.

100 years ago: Revelstoke Review, April 22, 1925

The students of the public schools were holding a “Save the Forest” program in the Province Theatre. There were going to be 450 school children in attendance. The program was described as an attempt to impress upon the minds of young and old the vital necessity of preserving our forests. There would also be a parade lead by the boy scouts, who were using a truck kindly lent by the Park Superintendent for this purpose. 

90 years ago: The Revelstoke Review, April 26, 1935

What could have been a disastrous fire occurred at St. Francis Hall. The fire brigade was on the scene early and quickly extinguished the flames. Hot ashes in a garbage can at the rear of the building were said to have originated the blaze.

80 years ago: The Revelstoke Review, April 26, 1945

A veteran returned home to Revelstoke. Pte. W.R. Crowle, thrice-wounded veteran of fighting on the Western Front finally arrived in Revelstoke aboard a hospital train. His wife, son and parents greeted him as soon as he stepped off the train. His father had won a Military Medal in the last war and his son Sam had also served overseas in England.

70 years ago: Revelstoke Review, April 28, 1955

The Woodman supper in Selkirk Hall, followed by a concert and dancing measured up to the best the camp had staged in all its 50 years of operation in Revelstoke. Guests were treated to a turkey dinner, complete with all of the trimmings. Musical accompaniments occurred throughout the evening, and a skit was also presented for the final half of the evening.

60 years ago: Revelstoke Review, April 22, 1965

The official start to the soccer season would begin in Revelstoke on April 25th. The North Kamloops soccer team would be in Revelstoke to take on the locals. The team was scheduled for league play on the Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

50 years ago: Revelstoke Review, April 24, 1975

It was announced that Revelstoke students were eligible for a handful of scholarships. Three scholarships valued at $1,200 each were established by the Canadian Cellulose Company Ltd., for students entering the BC Institute of Technology’s two year pulp and paper course. Eligible high school graduates had to be from the following school districts: Prince Rupert, Terrace, Revelstoke, Nakusp-Needles or Castlegar.

40 years ago: Revelstoke Review, April 24, 1985

A local band took first place in the John W. White B.C. Pub Variety Show. The band, called “Jimmy Goes to Malakwa” went to the Kelowna semi-finals and would now compete in Vancouver for the grand prize, totaling $10,000 in cash and prizes, including a recording contract. The six members of the band would get exposure in Vancouver, and a chance to show their talent to a larger audience and perhaps even to a talent scout.

30 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, April 25, 1995

All of the money was secure for the Queen Victoria Hospital to get a new advanced X-ray system. The Columbia-Shuswap regional hospital district approved a request to cover 40 per cent of the cost of the new system. The current radiographic/fluoroscopic system was 24 years old. The Health Ministry stated that they would cover 60 per cent of the estimated $350,000 cost for a new radiographic/fluoroscopic system which was a type of improved X-ray system.

20 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, April 27, 2005

Secondary students were preparing to blow community art patrons away with a show of their work in a variety of media, from charcoal on paper to painting, photography and sculpture. Art and Soul, as their show was called, would feature about 100 students and was set to showcase the best examples of their work at RSS over the past year.