Glimpses of the Past: May 22, 2025
Compiled by Jaimie Reynolds, Collections Manager
Heather Lodge in summer, circa 1950. Revelstoke Museum and Archives Collection, P-5651.
130 years ago: The Kootenay Mail, May 18, 1895
P. M. Walker of Revelstoke had a coat and vest stolen by Henry Kirchhoff, who took the Lytton steamer for Nakusp on the same evening. When the steamer arrived, Officer Fauquier invited him to go to the “cheapest hotel in town”, which in actuality was a jail cell. The criminal was sent back to Revelstoke, tried in court and sentenced to two months of hard labour.
120 years ago: Revelstoke Herald, May 18, 1905
The steamer Revelstoke was granted a certificate entitling her to carry 150 passengers. It was expected that a good number would take the trip to St. Leon on May 24th on the steamer, and great celebrations would be in order.
110 years ago: Revelstoke Mail-Herald, May 22, 1915
Chief Young, who returned from a visit to Beaton, Camborne and Comaplix stated that there was not an idle man in any of the three towns. Road work and bridge construction was giving employment to a number of men and claims assessment work was being performed. Plus, a strike of rich gold ore was reported on a claim on Pool creek where three men were employed.
100 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 20, 1925
Fire broke out on the roof of L. A. Howson’s fine residence at 901 Mackenzie Avenue a few minutes before noon. The fire evidently started from a spark alighting on the dry shingles. The fire brigade made a very quick turnout and soon got the blaze under control but considerable damage was already done. A fairly large hole was burned in the roof, with the fire spreading quickly under the shingles.
90 years ago: The Revelstoke Review, May 23, 1935
A chain letter craze arrived in Revelstoke. Everyone in town was busy from early morning to bed-time soliciting some other individual to join in the mad rush to “bring prosperity” back overnight. Anyone who could operate a type writer was busy making out copies of letters and doing well enough out of it financially. Many local fans netted quick returns on their original investment of anywhere from a dime to a dollar.
80 years ago: The Revelstoke Review, May 24, 1945
The Little Raccoons branch of the Junior Red Cross held a novelty sale at Central School. Articles were donated by the members. The sum of $10.14 was raised. This was sent to the headquarters to be divided between the War Fund and the Disabled Children’s Fund.
70 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 19, 1955
Miss Sophie Atkinson, of Revelstoke, was going to be showing her art at the annual show of the Cariboo Art Society in Williams Lake. At the time, Miss Atkinson was an art instructor of UBC extension art classes in Revelstoke, a position that she had held for the last 6 years. She was going to bring some samples of her work to the show, many of them depicting the beauties of the Okanagan and Revelstoke countryside.
60 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 20, 1965
A special carnival was being held in Revelstoke on May 24, taking place in the city parking lot of Mackenzie Avenue. It was being held from 6:30-11:30pm and there was going to be bingo, a fish pond and plenty of fun games!
50 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 22, 1975
Pictures of the former Heather Lodge in Mount Revelstoke National Park, which had appeared in newspapers all over the world, were still reaching the Revelstoke Review Office. The latest had been a clipping from the Lancashire Evening Post, printed in Lancashire, England. It read “It looks like a Christmas card- but the scene is real”.
40 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 23, 1985
From May 25-26, Revelstoke was going to be celebrating Lord Revelstoke Day, while also hosting an Air Show. Saturday May 25 was going to have events such as hot air balloon rides, puppet shows, a ball tournament, a bike race and a kid’s carnival. Sunday May 26 was to have a pancake breakfast and, airplane rides over the city and dam, as well as an air show with additional on-ground displays from Search and Rescue and Parks Canada.
30 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, May 19, 1995
The Revelstoke Times Review’s official pet of the week was a golden retriever puppy named Groover. His favourite hobby was chasing his tale and his favourite toy was a grungy dish towel tied in a knot. According to Groover, his pet peeve was small dogs whose barks were worse than their bites (their day would come)!
20 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, May 18, 2005
A fire occurred on the playground at Mount Begbie Elementary School. Revelstoke fire fighters quickly rushed to the school, dousing the flames that had consumed the wood jungle-gym structure. The fire was deemed suspicious because it was not near any heat or electrical sources.