Glimpses of the Past: December 11, 2025
Compiled by Benjamin Smith, Collection Manager, Revelstoke Museum and Archives
130 years ago: Kootenay Mail - December 14, 1895
An explosion was prematurely detonated on the rock section of the CPR’S Arrow Lake extension, resulting in some serious injuries amongst the workers. Supposedly a partly recharged bit of a rather sizable hole was drilled into, thereby triggering the explosives.
120 years ago: Kootenay Mail - December 9, 1905
The Revelstoke Trout Lake and Big Bend Telephone Co.’s service is drastically increasing in popularity. The company is projected to support more than double the number of calls made the previous year, which was an astonishing 62,000.
110 years ago: The Mail-Herald - December 11, 1915
Before Midnight Madness, it was considered a custom in Revelstoke that merchants keep open at nights from the 15th to the 24th of December. This was practiced annually until 1905, when merchants remained open every other night instead.
100 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - December 9, 1925
City police conducted an opium raid on the lodging of an accused drug trafficker living on First Street East, resulting in the discovery of a quantity of opium. The accused was tried and found guilty on the charge of disobeying the Narcotics act, and was fined $500.00.
$500 then had the purchasing power of $13,190 today.
90 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - December 13, 1935
A hockey dance was held in the Selkirk hall one Friday night. When one player was asked the following day how it went, they promptly remarked, “they cut the rug”.
80 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - December 13, 1945
A local boy found himself in the crosshairs of an angry deer while looking for Christmas trees. Kenneth Parker was 3 miles west of Revelstoke with his brother Sidney when a deer charged the two and forced Kenneth to seek refuge in the branches of a tree. Kenneth remained in his place for two hours.
70 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - December 8, 1955
Truth be told, this edition could have benefitted from a restriction on Christmas advertisements and Campaign ads. Mayoral Candidates went head to head with discounted scarves and hankies.
60 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - December 9, 1965
An “open” invitation was shared by the Review on behalf of the city of Revelstoke, inviting male citizens to volunteer as ambulance drivers and attendants. Not very open if you ask me.
50 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - December 10, 1975
The sequel to the widely acclaimed film The French Connection (1971), starring Gene Hackman, was playing at the Roxy Theatre. Whereas the 1971 film won several academy awards, including best actor in a leading role for Hackman, the second film’s performance was underwhelming.
40 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - December 11, 1985
Residents of the Big Eddy were likely relieved to hear they no longer had to cross the bridge to get to a general store anymore. Big Eddy Market owners Vince and Grace Sessa were featured in the review demonstrating a great deal of pride in their new contribution to their community.
30 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - December 12, 1995
Revelstoke Bus driver John Leonard earned himself the front page of the Review after being credited with saving a group of local pee wee hockey players from a possible accident on Highway 97. The team was returning from a morning game when Leonard caught sight of a rogue Ford Ranger and narrowly avoided a head-on collision with but a moment to spare.
20 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - December 14, 2005
Mengia Nicholson, Revelstoke’s 2005 citizen of the year, posed with last year’s recipient of the honour, Steve Hui. Nicholson was an avid volunteer with the Mayor’s Advisory Committee, and an advocate for better care for the elderly.
Photo:
Selkirk Hall on Second Street East, circa 1920s. The building was torn down and replaced with the current building at 103 Second Street East. Revelstoke Museum and Archives photo 1224.