Glimpses of the Past: May 14, 2026

Compiled by Jaimie Reynolds, Revelstoke Museum & Archives

Y.M.C.A. Senior Girls Highland Dancers, ca. 1920. Revelstoke Museum & Archives, P-803.

130 years ago: Kootenay Mail, May 9, 1896

Bicycles were getting to be quite numerous in Revelstoke. It was said that bicycles were not even allowed in every town site in the Kootenays and that an elevator or a balloon would be more useful in some areas.

120 years ago: Revelstoke Mail-Herald, May 12, 1906

The shirt waist dance held in Selkirk Hall, under the auspices of the Ladies’ Hospital Guild was a great success. About forty couples graced the dance floor and there were several visitors from Three Valley, Comaplix and Arrowhead. Supper was served at midnight and dancing continued until 2am.

110 years ago: Revelstoke Mail-Herald, May 13, 1916

The Climax hotel and restaurant were destroyed by an early morning fire. Two hours after the fire broke out, nothing was left but part of the walls and a few embers. The building was insured for $4500 ($136,326 in 2026) and the fixtures and stock for $3700 ($112,091 in 2026). The Climax hotel was one of the oldest landmarks in Revelstoke and was built in 1892.

100 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 12, 1926

A long fire season was predicted with the opening of the official forest fire season on May 1st. Before May 1st, 122 forest fires had already been reported, and with five months of summer weather ahead, the prospects looked anything but rosy to the fire fighting organizations.

90 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 8, 1936

A mud slide of considerable magnitude near Greely took out about fifty feet of Revelstoke’s Hamilton Creek pipeline. As this pipeline was a supplementary one to the main Greely Creek line, the washout in no way affected the city’s water supply. Repairs to the pipeline would be made, and the estimated cost was around $300.

$300 in 1936 is approximately $7127 today.

80 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 9, 1946

Park Warden W. M. Moore, who oversaw Mount Revelstoke National Park since its inception, retired. Mr. Moore, a WWI veteran, had had every aspect of the local park administration under his control since the position of superintendent had been abolished 15 years prior.  Friends of Mr. Moore were pleased to learn that he would continue to reside in Revelstoke after his retirement.

70 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 10, 1956

A joint meeting of the Revelstoke, Vernon and Sicamous camps of Woodmen of the World was held in Sicamous. The evening began with a parade led by the bagpipes of Vernon camp and close to 100 members took part. After the business portion of the meeting was concluded, refreshments were served and later, games, contests and dancing were enjoyed.

60 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 11, 1966

The Revelstoke Highland Dancers scored big at the Yale-Cariboo Music Festival held in Kamloops. The dancers captured four firsts, three seconds and a third place. All the pupils studied under local dance teacher, Mrs. Norberg.

50 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 12, 1976

During an interview about the study of the impacts of the Revelstoke dam, it was thought that Revelstoke’s current population of about 8,000 people would go up around 12,000 by 1980, during the peak year of the dam’s construction. It was said that as many as 950 families could be moving into the Revelstoke area by 1981, and that there would be about 1,800 workers at the dam site.

40 years ago: Revelstoke Review, May 14, 1986

A new employment centre for students opened. The Revelstoke Canada employment centre would act as the focal point for information on local summer jobs or activities for the young people of Revelstoke. The local centre was one of 47 operating across BC and the Yukon.

30 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, May 8, 1996

A change in ownership for the Roxy Theatre promised new benefits for the community. It was said that by having a local resident owning and operating the theatre, the outcome would be positive, and ideas such as live concerts in addition to films were already in the works.

20 years ago: Revelstoke Times Review, May 10, 2006

Construction for the Mackenzie Avenue railway crossing began. Mayor Mark McKee mentioned that it would take about two weeks to install the crossing, but Transport Canada officials would have to inspect the device and sign off on it, which could take another two months. The residents of CPR Hill were hoping the crossing would be up and running as soon as possible.