Local History

The historic Meakin Hotel. Photo: Trail Historical Society

Ever heard of this historic Trail hotel?

Trail Blazers is a historical feature in partnership with the Trail Museum and Archives

 

Sixty five years ago this week, 24 Cominco men were honoured at the first banquet commemorating their 40 years of continuous service. Photo: Trail Historical Society

Trail Blazers: Recognizing 40 years of working on the hill

Trail Blazers is a weekly feature in partnership with the Trail Museum and Archives

 

Photo: Trail Historical Society

Trail Blazers: From the roaring 20s to Y2K, a hotspot hall

Trail Blazers is a weekly feature in partnership with the Trail Museum and Archives

 

DB Merry when he was a prisoner of war. Photo: Trail Historical Society

Part 2: Letters from the frontline of the Great War

Feature courtesy the Trail Museum and Archives

DB Merry when he was a prisoner of war. Photo: Trail Historical Society
Garth Ukrainetz feeding a chickadee in Blackmud Creek; “They uplift my soul when they land on my finger.” Photo: Cassandra Ukrainetz

With a smile and a wink Canadian poet pens ‘Hero Trail’

Garth Paul Ukrainetz, Poet Laureate of the Blackmud Creek, wrote ‘Hero Trail’ for the people of Trail

Garth Ukrainetz feeding a chickadee in Blackmud Creek; “They uplift my soul when they land on my finger.” Photo: Cassandra Ukrainetz
Artist Andrew Raney and Inga Leavell of the Sons of Norway Nordic Lodge are looking for a serene space to harbour the Viking ship garden bench in honour of the Lodge’s 60th anniversary. Photo: Jim Bailey

Sons of Norway ship seeks friendly harbour in the Kootenays

Viking ship/bench celebrates the Sons of Norway’s, Nordic Lodge 76, 60th anniversary in West Kootenay

Artist Andrew Raney and Inga Leavell of the Sons of Norway Nordic Lodge are looking for a serene space to harbour the Viking ship garden bench in honour of the Lodge’s 60th anniversary. Photo: Jim Bailey
Jimmy Schofield enlisted for the Great War in November 1916 at the age of 23. Photo: Trail Historical Society

Part 1: Letters from the frontline of the Great War

Remembrance Day feature in partnership with the Trail Museum and Archives

Jimmy Schofield enlisted for the Great War in November 1916 at the age of 23. Photo: Trail Historical Society
Company story staff circa 1951. First row L-R: Manager J. Lloyd Crowe, Albert Hild, Al Coverdale, Tommy Alty, Hilda Phillips, Christina Wolfe, Lena Fresu, Jimmy Kinahan, Rita LePage, Peggy Royce, Ernie Andreas. Second row L-R: Danny MacDonald, Noreen Sewell, Dorothy St. Marie, Jean Hewlett, Joan Rogers, Anna Devito, Celia D’Arcangelo, Betty Forgie-Thompson, Rose Venier, Jean York, Jim Kirker, Jack Reardon. Third row L-R: Harry Mann, Jack Arnold, Lloyd Wilkinson, Draga Wolfe, Sheldon Craig, Tony Krause, Jim Mark, Grace Hall, Johnny Woods, Geoff Hinton. Back: Ernie Strudwick. Photo: Trail Historical Society

Trail Blazers: Retailers of yore

Trail Blazers is a weekly historical feature in partnership with the Trail Museum and Archives

Company story staff circa 1951. First row L-R: Manager J. Lloyd Crowe, Albert Hild, Al Coverdale, Tommy Alty, Hilda Phillips, Christina Wolfe, Lena Fresu, Jimmy Kinahan, Rita LePage, Peggy Royce, Ernie Andreas. Second row L-R: Danny MacDonald, Noreen Sewell, Dorothy St. Marie, Jean Hewlett, Joan Rogers, Anna Devito, Celia D’Arcangelo, Betty Forgie-Thompson, Rose Venier, Jean York, Jim Kirker, Jack Reardon. Third row L-R: Harry Mann, Jack Arnold, Lloyd Wilkinson, Draga Wolfe, Sheldon Craig, Tony Krause, Jim Mark, Grace Hall, Johnny Woods, Geoff Hinton. Back: Ernie Strudwick. Photo: Trail Historical Society
The travelling exhibit, located in the Riverfront Centre, runs until May 30. The facility operates on Sinixt Peoples territory.

Learn about Indigenous languages at the Trail museum

“Our Living Languages: First Peoples’ Voices in BC,” now on exhibit in the Trail Riverfront Centre

The travelling exhibit, located in the Riverfront Centre, runs until May 30. The facility operates on Sinixt Peoples territory.
Trail artist Velenka Fanderlik submitted her Halloween-themed paintings to the Canadian UNICEF Committee in 1971 for consideration in worldwide fundraising literature. Photo: Trail Historical Society

Trail Blazers: A city of remarkably talented artists

Trail Blazers is a weekly feature in partnership with the Trail Museum and Archives

Trail artist Velenka Fanderlik submitted her Halloween-themed paintings to the Canadian UNICEF Committee in 1971 for consideration in worldwide fundraising literature. Photo: Trail Historical Society
Forty seven years ago, a group of 12 Trail teens broke a world record for non-stop continuous shinny played. Photo: Trail Historical Society

Trail Blazers: Teenagers play the longest shinny game ever

The record breaking feat took place over 16 hours in a City of Trail park on Oct. 26, 1974

Forty seven years ago, a group of 12 Trail teens broke a world record for non-stop continuous shinny played. Photo: Trail Historical Society
Early days at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre. Photo: Submitted

Celebrating 50 years at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre

The museum officially opened in Castlegar on Nov. 13, 1971.

  • Oct 21, 2021
Early days at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre. Photo: Submitted
Opened Oct. 15, 1958, Trail Kresge became the 87th Kresge store in Canada. Photo: Trail Historical Society

Trail Blazers: Kresge, the most memorable lunch counter ever

What are your Kresge’s memories?

Opened Oct. 15, 1958, Trail Kresge became the 87th Kresge store in Canada. Photo: Trail Historical Society
Oasis resident Joe Thalman grew this massive Manitoba squash measuring 67 inches around in October 1974. Photo: Trail Historical Society

Trail Blazers: The Great Gourd

Trail Blazers is a weekly historical feature in partnership with the Trail Museum and Archives

Oasis resident Joe Thalman grew this massive Manitoba squash measuring 67 inches around in October 1974. Photo: Trail Historical Society
A Pipe Major led the procession to the crash site in Germany before the memorial for the 23 airmen - including Trail teenager Jack McVie - was unveiled on Sept. 25. Photo: Submitted

Ceremony honours Trail airman, 17, and 22 others killed in Second World War

Jack McVie was born in Trail on Dec. 18, 1926. He died in action over Germany on Sept. 24, 1944.

A Pipe Major led the procession to the crash site in Germany before the memorial for the 23 airmen - including Trail teenager Jack McVie - was unveiled on Sept. 25. Photo: Submitted
Victoria Street Bridge opened Oct. 2, 1961, forever changing City of Trail life. Photo: Trail Historical Society

Trail Blazers: Victoria Street Bridge turns 60

Trail Blazers is a weekly historical feature in partnership with the Trail Museum and Archives

Victoria Street Bridge opened Oct. 2, 1961, forever changing City of Trail life. Photo: Trail Historical Society
Hall Printing sold the building back to the Freemasons in 2004, however the business still operates from the Victoria Street locale.

Trail Masonic Temple goes back to blue

Trail at one point had three Masonic lodges; Fidelity #32, Emulation #125 and Friendship #144.

Hall Printing sold the building back to the Freemasons in 2004, however the business still operates from the Victoria Street locale.
Sister Angelo, Nurse Barge, Sister Helena, “Sandy” Gordon, and president Andy Chapdelaine of the Kinsman Club are all learning a little more about science – and using it to make a difference. Photo: Rossland Museum and Discovery Centre.

Rossland’s history in pictures

It’s Science Literacy Week, and science plays such a major role in…

Sister Angelo, Nurse Barge, Sister Helena, “Sandy” Gordon, and president Andy Chapdelaine of the Kinsman Club are all learning a little more about science – and using it to make a difference. Photo: Rossland Museum and Discovery Centre.
The Fruit Fair building on Bay Avenue was demolished in 1950. Photo: Trail Historical Society

Trail Blazers: The Fruit Fair

Trail Blazers is weekly historical feature in partnership with the Trail Museum and Archives

The Fruit Fair building on Bay Avenue was demolished in 1950. Photo: Trail Historical Society
Virtual tours will soon be available for the Doukhobor Discovery Centre. Photo: Betsy Kline

Doukhobor museum partnership to create virtual museum tours

Virtual tours will be created for the Doukhobour Discovery Centre in Castlegar

Virtual tours will soon be available for the Doukhobor Discovery Centre. Photo: Betsy Kline