Private Collections: 0031

Armond Theatre & High Country Sports (2005)

Armond Theatre & High Country Sports on 10th Avenue S. in Cranbrook. The Armond has been closed for more than twenty years and High Country Sports is a thriving outdoor equipment and clothing store in what was previously one of Cranbrook's newspaper offices, the Cranbrook Courier. 'A Guide To Cranbrook's History - Walking Tour #1' points out that the High Country building was originally the location for the Palm Confectionery and that part of the original tin ceiling can still be viewed in the store today. High Country Sportswear purchased the building from Rocky Mountain printers in 1994.

Internal ID:	0031.0001
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

Cranbrook Photo (2005)

Cranbrook Photo, built in 1909 as the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Situated on the west end of Baker Street. (2005)

Internal ID:	0031.0006
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

Sam Steele Inn (2005)

Sam Steele Inn (2005). Built by Nils Hanson in 1918 at #12 - 8th Avenue S. as the Venezia Hotel. Cited in 'A Guide To Cranbrook's History - Walking Tour #1' it is said "It may even have been constructed of brick from a yard Hanson had a controlling interest in. As with everything built by this man the Venezia was considered a fine structure for its time, By 1920 Messrs. Marapodi and Biggatini owned the Venezia." This publication cites the fact that the Venezia had a bowling alley in the basement. that accommodated both 5-an-10-pin leagues. The name of the hotel was changed in 1969 to the Sam Steele Inn.

Internal ID:	0031.0008
Medium:	Photograph

Shananigan's Pub (2005)

Shananigan's Pub (2005) began life as the Cosmopolitan Hotel on Baker Street, in 1898. According to 'A Guide to Cranbrook's History - Walking Tour #1' Nils Hanson built the Cosmopolitan as part of the Hanson Block. "Greer, the contractor, built it as part of the Hanson Block. According to F.J. Smyth, an early newspaper editor in the area, the Cosmopolitan Hotel was opened in the fall of 1898 with E.H. Small and J.E. Musgrave as proprietors." This publication takes the reader through a list of owners, culminating in "Then Max Belkin on January 1, 1955, sold the Cosmopolitan to Tom Hogarth... Most recently part of the original Cosmopolitan building has been operated as a pub known as Shananigan's."

Internal ID:	0031.0009
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

Falkins Insurance (2005).2

Falkins Insurance (2005). This is one of Cranbrook's oldest and dearest buildings, known as "The Merc". Uniglobe Travel can be seen beside it in a detached commercial building. 'A Guide to Cranbrook's History - Walking Tour #1' points out that the Fink brothers, John H. and Jacob P., [purchased the American Store in Fort Steele and renamed it the Fort Steele Mercantile Company. Antici[pating the collapse of Fort Steele they moved their business to Cranbrook in September 1898. "The firm remained beside the Imperial Bank at the west end of Baker Street until 1906 when:The new Fink Mercantile Co.'s building... will be a two storey and eight foot basement block building, 52 by 100 feet. The company will occupy the basement and first floor. The second floor will be fitted for offices." In April 1945 the Fink Mercantile Co. Ltd. was sold to employees and called the Cranbrook Mercantile Company. In 1978 Gerick Sports operated the premises until 2001 when they completed their own new store. Then Falkins Agecies took over the building and rejuvenated the premises. At the present time it is owned by Western Financial Group., purchased in 2013.

Internal ID:	0031.0010
Medium:	Article
Date:	2005

The Bedroom (2005)

The La-Z-Boy Gallery was part of The Bedroom (2005), Now this business at 813 Baker Street is called Hub Home Furnishings

Internal ID:	0031.0013
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

York Hotel (2005)

The York Hotel (2005) was built in 1897-98 by Joseph Brault. 'A Guide To Cranbrook's History - Walking Tour #1' quotes the Cranbrook Herald: "Mr. Joseph Brault is the proprietor of the Canadian Hotel on Norbury Avenue, an establishment which although situated off the main .,line of the city's traffic, is well appointed in all departments. The office and bar are particularly effective with their varnished pine fittings and stamped metal ceilings.." In 1920 the property was sold to E. Biggatini and Charles Zilli. 'A Guide To Cranbrook's History' further reports: "After several owners and operators Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Sperka of Calgary took over The Canadian in 1952, with the Cranbrook Courier reporting: 'with the erection of the large new neon sign on the hotel building on Tenth Avenue by National Neon of Calgary, the pioneer hostelry - The Canadian - assumes the new title of the York Hotel'."

Internal ID:	0031.0016
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

CPR Water Tower (2005)

CPR Water Tower (2005). A remnant of a time when the railway was the focus of the town and the steam locomotives paused to refill their water jackets. This water tower is now under the care of the Cranbrook Museum, Archives and Landmarks Society.

Internal ID:	0031.0019
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

Fire Station (2005)

Fire Hall #1 (2005) was built by the City of Cranbrook in 1929. It saw service until Fire Hall #2 was commissioned and then the building was sold top become the private Fire Hall Restaurant...

Internal ID:	0031.0020
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

Central School/Tembec (2005)

Central School/Tembec (2005) This building served Cranbrook as its main school into the 1970s, then was closed and sold to Crestbrook Forest Industries who were then bought by Tembec Industries to serve as their main headquarters. When Tembec ceased operations int he Cranbrook area the building was sold to the Ktunaxa Nation who use it as their main government headquarters.

Internal ID:	0031.0021
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

Tenth Avenue School (2005)

5Tenth Avenue School (2005) operated as the Cranbrook High School until Mount Baker Junior Secondary opened in 1951. Then it served as an elementary school until replaced by newer schools. It was eventually sold to a religious organization.

Internal ID:	0031.0023
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

Masonic Lodge/Studio Stage Door (2005)

The Masonic Temple was built in 1909 and serves the Masonic Order for many years. Eventually sold to the City, there were plans to bulldoze it and turn the space into a parking lot. A deal was reached with Cranbrook Community Theatre to assume management and care of this historic structure. Over time it became the Studio/Stage Door and the centre for much of Cranbrook's creative energy.

Internal ID:	0031.0027
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

Christ Church Anglican (2005).2

Christ Church Anglican was the first church constructed in 1898 in the new community of Cranbrook. It was enlarged in1902 and then again with a big addition in 1998. In 1915 the parish opened a new Parish Hall across 2nd Street from the Church.

Internal ID:	0031.0029
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

Mountain Man Sports (2005)

Mountain Man Sports occupies the building that housed the Cranbrook Trading Company for a long time in Cranbrook. Mountain Man is a comprehensive outdoor sports supply shop. The mural visible on the side wall was painted by Cranbrook artist Joseph Cross.

Internal ID:	0031.0033
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

Mount Baker Hotel (2005).1

As stated in 'Key City Chronicles' the Mount Baker Hotel was built by Nils Hanson, using bricks from his own brick factory. Teddy Clauson owned and operated the hotel until march 1947, when Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Kenneman purchased the hotel. It then went through several owners. It should be noted that Ray Dube, barber extraordinaire, operated a barber shop in the hotel from June 1984 until late in 2025.

Internal ID:	0031.0034
Medium:	Photograph
Date:	2005

Byng Hotel (2005)

L.B. Van Decar constructed and owned the Royal Hotel from 1897 to 1907, when he sold it to his son Frank. After several owners the building was taken over by the Great War Veterans Association )GWVA) until 1926 when George Taylor refurbished the building and opened it as the Byng.