Cranbrook - Firsts

THE FIRST THINGS IN CRANBROOK. –

                The first building in Cranbrook was the Cranbrook hotel.  Built in December 1897.  Ryan & Morrison were the first proprietors.

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            The first religious service was held on March 20^th, 1898, by the Rev. J.G. Duncan, in the dining room of the East Kootenay hotel.

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            The first arrest was made by Provincial Constable Barnes on March 24^th, 1898.  The offense was theft.

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            The first lumber mill was established in the fall of 1897 by the Cranbrook Lumber company, of which A. Leitch was the head.

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            The first general store was opened by W. Kaake, in May, 1898, in part of the building now occupied by the Prospector.

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            The first telephone line was built from Cranbrook to Swansea by Maurice Quain, in April, 1898.

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            The first hardware store was opened by G.H. Miner in the building now occupied by A.L. McDermot in May, 1898.

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            The first bank was the Canadian Bank of Commerce, in the building now occupied by W.H. Wilson, the jeweler.  The first manager was Andrew Scott.  The bank opened July 11, 1898.

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            The first doctor was Dr. J. Brodie.  He came here in April, 1897.

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            The first surveyor was A.W. McVittie.  He came here in June, 1898.

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            The first political meeting was on June 24, 1898.  It was Colonel Baker’s first meeting and he won the first election on July 7^th, 1898, by 15 votes.

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            The first athletic club May, 1898.  A. Leitch, president.

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            The first painter and decorator was Wm. Little.  He started in April, 1898.

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            The first barber shop was run by Sam Morrow.  He started business in May, 1898.

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            The first baker was S.B. Eyre.  He opened up in June, 1898.  Bread cost 25c. a loaf.

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            The first blacksmith was G. Hilliard.  He started in January, 1898.

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            The first contractor and builder was J.H. Sibbald.  He started in January, 1898.

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            The first livery stable was run by J.H. McMullin.  He opened in May, 1898.

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            The first government notice was published in the Herald on May 10, 1898.

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            The first fire insurance company to do business in Cranbrook was the Imperial.  J. Hutchison was the first agent.

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            The first gent’s furnishings store was opened by Leitch brothers on June 7, 1898.

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            The first druggist was R.E. Beattie.

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  The first brass band was started by a Mr. Reed on August 11, 1898.

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            The first locomotive ran into Cranbrook August 15, 1898.  Hugh Brock was the engineer.

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The first baby was born in a car on August 29, 1898.

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The post office was opened on September 2, 1898.  R.E. Beattie was then as now postmaster.

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            The first restaurant was the Royal café, opened September 15, 1898, by Frank B. VanDecar, now proprietor of the Royal hotel.

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            The first wholesale liquor store was opened September 15, 1898, by Thomas A. Kennedy.

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            First meeting of the Board of Trade held October 25, 1898.

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            First church opened, Christ church, October, 1898.

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            First law firm, Ross & Herchmer.  Came from Fort Steele, October, 1898.

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            The first bowling alley was opened by the late Tim Love in December, 1898.

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            The first fire occurred on November 12, 1898, in the office car of Accountant Stubbs, of the boarding department C.P.R.

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            The first butcher shop was that of M. McInnes, opened in December, 1898.

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            The first dance was held in the Perdue block.  Now the C.C.S. store, on December 16, 1898.

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            The first lecture was given by Rev. F.W. Frew, of Nelson, on December 10, 1898.  The subject was “Europe Revisited.”

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            The first newspaper was the Herald.

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