Glimpses of the Past: April 16, 2026
William Cowan. Revelstoke Museum & Archives, P-1599.
By Laura VanZant, Assistant Curator, Revelstoke Museum & Archives
130 years ago: Kootenay Mail, April 18th, 1896
James McMillan & Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota were advertising in the Kootenay Mail, requesting that local trappers ship them the furs, hides, pelts, and wool they had collected over the winter. Incentives to local trappers included no commission, free shipping tags, and no duty paid as the goods crossed the Canada/US border.
120 years ago: Revelstoke Mail-Herald, April 14th, 1906
On Monday prior a fire broke out in the Canadian Pacific Railway storehouse at Field. The storehouse was located near the roundhouse, and it was assumed that the fire started when burning oil from an employee’s torch dripped to the floor on his way through and lit it ablaze. As the storehouse was used to store oil, the flammability of the space was high and the blaze spread as you would expect. Employees were able to save the wood piles and wood sheds, but the storehouse and its contents were a total loss, amounting to approximately $5000 in damages.
$5000 in 1906 is the equivalent of $180,067 today.
Revelstoke Mail-Herald, April 14th, 1906.
110 years ago: Revelstoke Mail-Herald, April 15th, 1916
The Ladies Hospital Guild were preparing for their annual ‘linen shower’ for Queen Victoria Hospital. Everyone in Revelstoke was invited to help by gifting linens to the hospital at their afternoon tea, to be held Saturday, April 22nd. The nurses were also offering tours of the hospital. Items urgently needed included sheets, pillow slips, dresser covers, and towels. For those who were inept at sewing, the article suggests buying and donating a bolt of cloth! The article ends with “it is hoped that this linen shower will in no way fall short of those of previous years.” (The “or else” is implied.)
100 years ago: Revelstoke Review, April 14th, 1926
The newspaper announced the death of Mr. William Cowan, business pioneer, who passed away in Rochester Minnesota where he was receiving special medical treatment. Cowan built the first Victoria Hotel in June, 1885. He was also responsible for several home-constructed steamers, including the Dispatch and Lytton. In 1890, Cowan opened the first public telephone system in Revelstoke, and in 1894 he started the first horse-powered street car service between Upper and Lower Towns, followed by installing the first oil street lighting system in Revelstoke. In the winter of 1895-96, Cowan built Revelstoke’s first skating rink.
Mr. Cowan’s list of professional accomplishments goes on for nearly half of the front page, but the article also notes that he was just as commendable for the good works he did in his private life, including being a loyal and loving husband and father.
90 years ago: Revelstoke Review, April 17th, 1936
The newspaper had been reporting on the activities of men from Gaumont-British Pictures Corporation for several weeks, as they were in town to film for “The Great Divide.” However, this week the front page news was that the director had been on the phone with his London counterpart for 30 minutes, racking up a whopping $400 call cost.
$400 in 1936 is the equivalent of $9359.77 in 2026.
80 years ago: Revelstoke Review, April 18th, 1946
Fred Rear was a hero to local deer when he freed one from Charlie Sing’s fence. Rear spotted the deer from his post aboard a freight train, and thought about its plight his entire ride home. Upon finishing his run, Rear located a pair of pliers, hopped on his bicycle, and pedaled to the farm. The deer halted his struggle, and as soon as the plier severed the last strand he “scampered blithely away.”
70 years ago: Revelstoke Review, April 19th, 1956
“Penitentiary Dream Fades” proclaimed one headline this week! On March 29th, the Review mentioned that Revelstoke was being considered for 1 of 3 new federal penitentiaries. Unfortunately, that dream was quickly dashed, and upon inspection the Department of Penitentiaries declared the price for the land south of Revelstoke “so far out of line with the assessed values and the character of the land that consideration is now being given to alternative sites.”
60 years ago: Revelstoke Review, April 13th, 1966
R. W. Gross, manager of BC Hydro’s Land Division, expressed concern that property owners awaiting purchase of their lands in the Arrow Lakes region were being subjected to ‘unnecessary anxiety’ by the Arrow Lakes Property Protective Associates. Mr. Gross said the executive of the Association “has issued erroneous statements that give a false picture of the Hydro’s property purchase program in the Columbia region.” He goes on to claim that “the vast majority of property owners […] are satisfied with the price and the treatment they have received.” At this point, 750 of 1300 properties on the Arrow Lakes had already been purchased as part of the Hugh Keenleyside dam project at Castlegar.
50 years ago: Revelstoke Review, April 14th, 1976
Local residents mourned the loss of the large evergreen trees on the old hospital property, as they were cut down to make way for the construction of what would become Alpine Shopping Center. The site was home to Queen Victoria Hospital from 1901 to 1971. It was also home to the Revelstoke Review office from 1915 to 1944.
40 years ago: Revelstoke Review, April 16th, 1986
An invitation from Moberly Manor was published in the paper this week. Revelstoke citizens were invited to Moberly Manor to see the new “beige, brown, and gold drapes” that had been hung in the residents’ rooms. Their purchase was made possible by several generous community partners, and the article stated that it’s “so cheerful to have new drapes” in the rooms.
30 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, April 17th, 1996
New stained glass windows were installed in the United Church. The 4 new panels were made by Gary Peterson to honour long-time resident George Stocks (whose photos are now in the care of Revelstoke Museum & Archives).
20 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, April 12th, 1996
A new Miss Revelstoke was crowned! Jordi La Hue was crowned Miss Revelstoke, alongside Christina Amelio and Justine Kowalchuk, who won Revelstoke Princess and Revelstoke First Runner Up.