Glimpses of the Past: February 19, 2026

By Ben Smith, Collections Manager, Revelstoke Museum and Archives

Brothers Gunnar and Hans Gunnarsen, circa 1935. Revelstoke Museum and Archives Collection, P-2460.

130 years ago: Kootenay Mail - February 22, 1896

In the news from Trout Lake, it was mentioned that the ice on the North-East Arm of the Upper Arrow Lake between Arrowhead and Thomson’s Landing (Beaton) was in excellent condition. Fred Allen was making two trips daily across the ice with his dog train, packing about 600 pounds to each load.

120 years ago: The Mail Herald - February 21, 1906

Thomas Skinner had the misfortune of witnessing one of his trapping cabins burned. It contained 19 marten, 23 weasel, 1 timber wolf, 1 caribou, and 2 lynx pelts, and a pair of blankets, all of which were destroyed.

110 years ago: The Mail Herald - February 19, 1916

The women of the Revelstoke Red Cross Society were busy knitting socks for the soldiers overseas. During the week, 34 women knit 72 pairs of socks, including 12 pairs from Mrs. Foote, who with her latest contribution had knit a grand total of 100 pairs of socks since the beginning of the war. Mrs. Foote was the mother of W.A. Foote, contractor and former mayor.

100 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - February 17, 1926

Dominion Fisheries Inspector Mr. H. Shotton of Kamloops was in the area to place 15,000 trout eggs in the Illecillewaet River at Albert Canyon. During the past several years, the department of fisheries had been stocking local lakes and streams to make them more attractive for rod enthusiasts.

 90 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - February 21, 1936

The Young People’s Society of the United Church put together a rare collection of antiques and novelties with more than 100 items on display. One of the most intriguing was a stone implement referred to as a “tomahawk” that had been dug up at the site of the Howson Block (209 to 217 Mackenzie Avenue.) 

80 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - February 21, 1946

Big Bend Ski Jump was renamed by the Revelstoke Ski Club to commemorate the late prominent ski jumper Hans Gunnarsen. Hans gave his life on the field of battle, November 2nd, 1944. Hans Gunnarsen Hill’s ribbon was cut by Hans’s mother, and initiated by his brother, Gunnar.

70 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - February 23, 1956

Personally, I don’t know if seeing Nels Nelsen soar over the ground at near mach speeds would have inspired me to begin ski-jumping myself, but evidently that wasn’t the case for local jumpers Erland Wold and Johnny McInnes. These two defined the competitive scene at a tournament in Kamloops, with McInnes achieving a 135 foot leap, and the overall highest score from Wold.

60 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - February 24, 1966

One anonymous individual defended the reputation of Salmon, for there seemed to be spreading concern that Salmonella was the result of food poisoning from Salmon. When in actual fact, it’s named after the man who identified the bacteria associated with the illness, Dr. D.E. Salmon…because why not.

50 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - February 25, 1976

So pageants took place all over the Kootenays and the Okanagan, in fact they were once an enormous deal. Queens had princesses, Queens had thrones, Queens had turf. A new Queen and princess were crowned, Queen Cindy and Princess Karen.  As a Gen Z, I will admit that these always struck me as odd.

40 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - February 19, 1986

Consistent readers of the Glimpses may not need a reminder, but I am a fiend for a good statistic or sum. A figure breaking down traffic through Rogers Pass in the Glacier National Park over the month of January was included in this issue. 16,267 vehicles travelled westbound through the east gate, and 13,688 vehicles passed through the west gate.

30 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - February 20, 1996

Revelstoke Search and Rescue members departed for Frisby Ridge early one Sunday morning to retrieve two snowmobilers who failed to return from their trip out the day before. The pair had been ambushed by blowing snow and white-out conditions, leaving them with no choice but to stick it out overnight. They were okay!

20 years ago: The Revelstoke Review - February 22, 2006

Two locals took home podium finishes at the Arcteryx Sunshine 5000, and let me tell you, this race was proper. Competitors were required to scale and ski the infamous Delirium Dive, a double-black diamond face of Lookout Mountain amassing 3,600 ft of vertical gain. Dave Sproule and Niki Knisha performed this feat, completely undeterred by the horrid visibility that loitered at the race’s beginning.