Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History (CBIRH): Kimberley District Heritage Society

The Cranbrook Tourist Park

Postcard - Cranbrook Tourist Park, Cranbrook, BC. Edith, Shirley & Jean sitting on the lawn.

Internal ID:	0003.0001
Medium:	Postcard
Date:	1955

The Cranbrook Tourist Park

Postcard - Cranbrook Tourist Park, Cranbrook, BC. Edith, Shirley & Jean sitting on the lawn.

Internal ID:	0003.0002
Medium:	Postcard
Date:	1955

Gyro Swimming Pool, Cranbrook, BC

Postcard of Gyro Swimming Pool in Cranbrook, BC. Note the sand "beach" in foreground.

Internal ID:	0003.0003
Medium:	Postcard
Date:	1940

Dutch Creek Hoodoos and Bridge

Dutch Creek Hoodoos Postcard no. 22 by B. Engler. Features Hoodoos and wooden bridge over Dutch Creek.

Internal ID:	0003.0004
Medium:	Postcard
Date:	1940

Cranbrook's Rotary Park

Postcard showing Rotary Park in Cranbrook, BC. Note covered gazebo.

Internal ID:	0003.0005
Medium:	Postcard
Date:	1940

East Entrance Arch to Cranbrook, BC

Postcard depicting the East Arch entrance to Cranbrook, BC. Note width of roadway at that time.

Internal ID:	0003.0006
Medium:	Postcard
Date:	1940

Postcard - West Entrance to Cranbrook, BC

Image showing the entrance to Cranbrook, BC, featuring West Arch. Note unpaved gravel highway.

Internal ID:	0003.0007
Medium:	Postcard
Date:	1940

Cranbrook Public School or Central School

Postcard depicting the Cranbrook Public School. Known as Central Elementary School, this building opened in 1912, was expanded several times, and closed as a school in 1979. The cupola on the front tower has been removed.

Internal ID:	0003.0008
Medium:	Postcard
Date:	1950

St. Eugene Hospital, Cranbrook, BC

The St. Eugene Hospital in Cranbrook, BC. This was a nursing hospital run by the Catholic Sisters of Providence. The last class of nurses was graduated in 1949. The hospital was opened in 1901 on land donated by Colonel Baker. The Hospital was closed c.1965

Internal ID:	0003.0009
Medium:	Postcard
Date:	1950

Parade - Zenith Cafe Float in Cranbrook, BC

The Zenith Cafe float in a Cranbrook, BC parade. The float in proceeding west on Baker Street in front of the JJ Jackson building (Overwaitea store). To the left is the Raworth Bros. jewellery store and to the right the old Fink Mercantile building.

Internal ID:	0003.0010
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1948

Cranbrook Parade - St. Mary's Kindergarten Float

The St. Mary's Kindergarten Float represents the Independent Catholic School in Cranbrook. The occasion for the parade has not been determined.

Internal ID:	0003.0011
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1950

Bikes On Parade, Cranbrook, BC

Decorated bicycles in a parade in Cranbrook, BC. The paper streamers woven between the spokes were extremely popular in the 1950s.

Internal ID:	0003.0012
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1950

Parade - Arts & Crafts - Cranbrook, BC

An early depiction of the active Cranbrook arts scene, this arts and crafts float made the Arts Council presence known in a parade in Cranbrook, BC

Internal ID:	0003.0013
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1950

The St. Eugene Mission Boys' Band on Baker Street in Cranbrook BC c.1950

The St. Eugene Mission Boys' Band marching in a parade on Baker Street in front of the Royal Bank c.1950

Internal ID:	0003.0014
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1950

Parade - Western Oxygen Truck

The Western Oxygen truck passing Johnny's Coffee Shop and the Esso Garage during a parade in Cranbrook.

Internal ID:	0003.0015
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1950

Cranbrook Parade - Robinson's Store Car Float

The Robinson's Store Car Float passing the Shell garage during a parade in Cranbrook, BC.

Internal ID:	0003.0016
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1950

Cranbrook Parade - Prayer Float

A Prayer Float in a Baker Street parade in Cranbrook, BC. From left are the Hanson Block, federal Post Office, Raworth's Jewellery and the Fink Mercantile building.

Internal ID:	0003.0017
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1950

St. Eugene Mission Residential School

The St. Eugene Mission residential school near Cranbrook, BC. This school was built by the federal government to house and educate Ktunaxa children. It was run by the Catholic Church. Eventually the school was closed and in the 21st century the building was converted by the Ktunaxa Nation into a destination hotel, casino and surrounding golf course.

Internal ID:	0003.0018
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1950

1883 Joseph Prairie, now Cranbrook

Perhaps the earliest known image of what was to become Cranbrook, this photograph of Joseph Prairie shows the structures developed by John Galbraith on land he pre-empted prior to the sale of this property to Colonel James Baker in 1885. At this time there was a sawmill, residence and store on the property, as well as farm outbuildings. Dan Melody added: I've stared at this amazing photo for hours and always thought it was taken West of the creek near the NE end of the old swimming pool, looking East and up towards the Baker House. Now I am thinking it could be taken from above the Baker House, just below where the old ball diamond was, looking NW and down towards the creek with the Baker House to the right.

Internal ID:	0003.0019
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1883

1910 Cranbrook Daily Entertainer Masthead

An image of the masthead from the Cranbrook Daily Entertainer in 1910

Internal ID:	0003.0020
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

1910 Central School and Students - Cranbrook, BC

A gathering of Cranbrook elementary students outside the new Central Elementary School.

Internal ID:	0003.0021
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

1910 Cranbrook Central School Building

The Central Elementary School building in Cranbrook. Picture taken in 1910 shortly after the school opened. This photo was taken from the east, showing the south side and rear of the building.

Internal ID:	0003.0022
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

1910 Cranbrook Central School Staff

The staff at the Central Elementary School in Cranbrook, BC, sitting on the steps of the new building.

Internal ID:	0003.0023
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

1910 Corporation of the City of Cranbrook Logo

An image of the City of Cranbrook's 1910 official logo.

Internal ID:	0003.0024
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

1910 Cranbrook Panaramic View

An early panaramic view of Cranbrook in 1910. This picture is taken from the west. looking east toward the Rocky Mountains.

Internal ID:	0003.0025
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

1910 Empire Electric Company Logo

1910 Empire Electric Company Logo. This is a dynamic piece of graphic design illustrating the era's excitement with the new electrical possibilities.

Internal ID:	0003.0026
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

1910 Empire Electric Store in Cranbrook

Image of the store front of the Empire Electric Company in Cranbrook, BC. The display demonstrates the newness of the field of applied electricity in the region. Maurice Quain is listed as General Manager and D. L. Davis as Superintendent.

Internal ID:	0003.0027
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

Cranbrook Masonic Temple on Fenwick Avenue

The Cranbrook Masons hired architects Sedger and Pownell of Victoria to design Cranbrook's Masonic Temple. Finally, on October 24th, 1909, the cornerstone for the building was laid, with a time capsule underneath. Worshipful Master Attridge presided over the first meeting in the new building on July 27th, 1910. In 1973 the City of Cranbrook took the building over, creating the community performing arts spaces of The Studio and the Stage Door.

Internal ID:	0003.0028
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

Provincial Government Building - Cranbrook, BC

When Cranbrook eclipsed Fort Steele as the business and financial centre of East Kootenay, pressure was brought to relocate the Provincial Government offices to Cranbrook. The successful result was the moving of the offices to Cranbrook after the official announcement on May 5th, 1904. Cranbrook had won the long inter-city feud. The result was the construction of this impressive building in the middle of Baker Street, generally in the area now taken up by the Safeway store.

Internal ID:	0003.0029
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

1910 St. Eugene Hospital in Cranbrook

Image from 1910 showing the St. Eugene Hospital located on 5 acres of land gifted by Colonel Baker. Founded at the St. Eugene Mission in 1898 and rebuilt in Cranbrook in 1901.

Internal ID:	0003.0030
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

John Galbraith, Man of Vision

This 1928 'Cranbrook Courier'portrait shows John Galbraith, founder of Galbraith's Ferry and first pre-emptor of land on the Cranbrook townsite. Realizing there was more gold in miners' pockets than in the hills, he established a ferry across the Kootenay River in 1865, then claimed the land above it as the townsite of what became Fort Steele. In 1885 he moved to Victoria, dying two years later.

Internal ID:	0003.0031
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1928

Mrs. Sarah Larue Galbraith

This 1928 image from the 'Cranbrook Courier'shows Mrs. Sarah Larue Galbraith as an appealing young Victorian woman. It doesn't give a hint of the strength and backbone that she possessed and displayed often as the first European woman resident in East Kootenay. Married to John Galbraith, she witnessed much of the development which eventually created modern day East Kootenay.

Internal ID:	0003.0032
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1928

1928 Cranbrook Courier Masthead

Internal ID:	0003.0033
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1928

Cranbrook Land Title, John Galbraith

Reproduction of one of the first applications to purchase land in Cranbrook, BC

Internal ID:	0003.0034
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1884

Construction of the B.C. SOuthern Railway

Three images showing the construction of the C.P.R. railway into Cranbrook.

Internal ID:	0003.0035
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1898

C.P.R. Land Department Building - Cranbrook

C.P.R. Land Department Building in Cranbrook, BC

Internal ID:	0003.0036
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1905

Elko River Scene near Elko, B.C.

Images of the Elk River near Elko, BC

Internal ID:	0003.0037
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

Farm Loan Graphic

Farm Loan Graphic, possibly used as an advertisement...

Internal ID:	0003.0038
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	0000

Fink Mercantile Masthead

Masthead of Fink Mercantile Company Ltd on Baker Street in Cranbrook.

Internal ID:	0003.0039
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

James Finley Residence in Cranbrook, B.C.

Internal ID:	0003.0040
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

Otis Staples Lumber Co. Agricultural Field

Part of Otis Staples Lumber Co. agricultural operations at Wycliffe, B.C.

Internal ID:	0003.0041
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

Otis Staples Lumber Co. at Wycliffe, B.C.

Otis Staples Lumber Yard showing company office in foreground and St. Mary River in background.

Internal ID:	0003.0042
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

Otis Staples Lumber Co. Mill and Yard

A collection of images from the Otis Staples Lumber Co. operation at Wycliffe.

Internal ID:	0003.0043
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

Overview of Staples Lumber Co. at Wycliffe, B.C.

Panoramic view of Otis Staples Lumber Co. yard at Wycliffe, B.C.

Internal ID:	0003.0044
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

Otis Staples Lumber Co. Letterhead

Letterhead of the Otis Staples Lumber Company at Wycliffe, B.C., listing some of their main products.

Internal ID:	0003.0045
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	0000

Prospector Newspaper Staff, Cranbrook, B.C.

Photo of the Cranbrook Prospector newspaper staff, showing founder A.B. Grace and granddaughter Gracie Higgins. Grace founded the Prospector at Fort Steele, then moved it to Cranbrook in 1905.

Internal ID:	0003.0046
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

Sylvan Dell Joseph's Creek at Cranbrook. B.C.

An early photo of Joseph's Creek which ran through the townsite of early Cranbrook and provided many pleasant swimming holes.

Internal ID:	0003.0047
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	1910

T. Caven

Internal ID:	0003.0048
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	0000

The Palm Confectionery, Cranbrook, B.C.

An interior view of The Palm, one of Cranbrook's premier confectioneries. This business was conducted in 1909 in a building that still exists on Norbury Avenue (10th Avenue). After the Cranbrook Courier was published out of this building and, most recently it has been occupied by High Country Sportswear. If you stick your head in the door you will still see the tin ceiling pictured in this photo.