Glimpses of the Past: May 29, 2025

Compiled by Jaimie Reynolds, Collections Manager

Revelstoke Independent Band, circa 1905. Revelstoke Museum and Archives Collection, P-11306.

130 years ago: The Kootenay Mail, May 25, 1895

The steamers had been very busy. The Arrow had a full load of passengers and freight. The Lytton in addition to a good passenger list had one car of cattle for Three Forks, and three cars of merchandise from the east, one of them being a solid car for Nelson. The Marion also had a good load during the week.

120 years ago: Revelstoke Herald, May 25, 1905

The Independent Band gave an open-air concert. A good programme was organized and several numbers were heartily encored by a large crowd. The crowd had congregated in front of the City Hall, opposite the band stand, to listen to the music.

110 years ago: Revelstoke Mail-Herald, May 29, 1915

The longest train that was ever taken out of Revelstoke left for Kamloops. The train consisted of 99 cars and it took the conductor 25 minutes to walk from the caboose to the engine. When the caboose reached the hospital, the engine of the train was half way across the Columbia River Bridge.

100 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 28, 1925

Mrs. Kate Strickland, late of Vancouver was opening up a hair-dressing and up-to-date treatment parlor for ladies and children. It was going to be in Suite 2 above the Columbia Hardware Company. Further announcements would be made when the parlour was ready.

90 years ago: The Revelstoke Review, May 31, 1935

A fire destroyed the school at 19-mile south on the Arrowhead Road. The fire was said to have been caused from the spread of a bush fire in the vicinity. Farmers in the neighbourhood were in readiness to move their household effects from their homes at a moment’s notice, but the forestry department were endeavouring to hold the bush fire in check. There was a crew of about twenty men on the job.

80 years ago: The Revelstoke Review, May 31, 1945

In connection with an Art Display and Tea planned by the University Women’s Club, there would also be a raffle for a flower pastel painting, done by local girl Miss Evelyn Cools. Miss Cools was a young artist of great promise, with one of her paintings on display in the Art Gallery in Vancouver. This picture would sure to be a prize well worth winning.

70 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 26, 1955

Cheri D’Arcangelo was crowned May Queen the previous day at Queen Elizabeth Park, with all the traditional pomp and ceremony. She was crowned by Mrs. Delbert Hooley, formerly Miss Doris Abrahamson, who was Revelstoke’s first May Queen in 1922.

60 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 29, 1965

“Ballet in Springtime” was going to be presented by the Revelstoke students and the senior students of the Canadian School of Ballet. Revelstoke classes were started six years prior. It would be the first presentation by the dancers in the new Secondary School Auditorium. The ballet had been recently danced with the Okanagan Symphony in Vernon, Penticton and Kelowna.

50 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 29, 1975

A new symbol, the maple leaf, was now being used to enclose the letters denoting grade on egg packages. This symbol guaranteed that the eggs met Canadian government grading standards. The three grades, Canada A1, Canada A, and Canada B indicated the quality of the eggs.

40 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 29, 1985

The Selkirk Saddle Club was going to be holding a horse show on June 1st and 2nd with free admission. Saturday would showcase Halter, Driving and English riding styles while Sunday would have Western, Trail and Gymkhana styles on display. There were 85 classes on the schedule and it would be held in the Illecillewaet Equestrian Park.

30 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, May 23, 1995

A special prom prize sent a couple up into the air. Two 1995 RSS graduates were the winners of the RSS student council’s Prom Dream Date raffle, and one of the prizes was a helicopter tour of Revelstoke. Highland Helicopters took the pair up for a 20 minute tour, with the early evening light and clear skies making for a spectacular trip. The dream date was made complete with dinner at the Regent Inn’s 112 Restaurant plus souvenirs of the special night and 2 free tickets to the prom.

20 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, May 25, 2005

The first annual Chickadee Festival, presented by the Friends of Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks was set to begin that weekend. The event would concentrate on birds and birding. The festival would include lots of presentations on birds and would also include a pancake breakfast. Kids were sure to love the owl pellet dissections and a walk and talk about local grizzly bears.