West Kootenay Power & Light Office
2318.0038: West Kootenay Power & Light Company, 1910.
The West Kootenay Power & Light Company Office Building is a reminder of the important energy history present in the West Kootenays. As mining in Rossland and other communities expanded, the West Kootenay Power & Light Company (WKPL) was established to deliver power to the mines and Trail Smelter. It absorbed the local Rossland Power & Light Company and expanded its operations. This building was leased to the WKPL to use as their head office. As such, this block is an important piece of history as a reminder of the hydroelectric history of the region.
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The West Kootenay Power & Light Building is located in the Eastern portion of Rossland’s Downtown, on the south side of Columbia Avenue. It has the appearance of being two buildings attached to each other, with the eastern portion of the building having two storeys and the Western portion having three storeys. It is valued as being an early surviving wood-framed commercial building, which was constructed in 1896 on two commercial lots. Original to the building is the central doorway at street level which leads to the upper storeys, and the original window and door openings on all façades.
In 1897, around 26 different businesses were associated with the site. In 1898, lot 17 was owned by Thomas Hulme and J.B. Johnson. Hulme was a miner and Johnson was the proprietor of "J.B. Johnson & Co. Real Estate, Mining, Stockbrokers and Conveyancers." Lot 18 was also owned by Hulme, and Miss Helen Keyes, but her portion was later sold to the Mellor Brothers who had a wallpaper, glass, and paint business. In 1902, lot 18 was owned by both the Mellor Brothers and Lorne Argyle “L.A.” Campbell. The business becomes the WKPL headquarters thereafter.
Just after the end of WWII to 1956 this business was the WKPL collections office and electronics distribution centre. Reid’s Furniture & Appliances is also associated with 2123 from 1953-1956. After WKPL closed this office, the building was sold to Mr. R.L. MacAllister who leased the building to Webster Hardware. After this store closes, another hardware store opens in this spot: Nelson Hardware. They were located at this address until the late 1970s. Address 2127 is associated with Coventry’s Flower Shop from around 1951 to at least 1956. In 1984, Trico Holdings owned this building, and the businesses located in it were Rossland Grocery, Rossland Arcade, and Video Nine. More recently, the shops in this building have included Rossland Grocery (2129), Mountain Shadow Hostel (2127), 49 North Tattoo (2125), and Jimmy’s Cannabis Shop (2123).
West Kootenay Power & Light Substation
Constructed in 1897, the West Kootenay Power & Light Company (WKPL) substation is highly significant as it was a key element of the electrical system developed by WKPL to provide a large, reliable source of power for the working mines on Red Mountain. The substation building is one storey and built in the Romanesque Revival style, which is characterized by arches, cavernous entryways and window openings, and thick masonry walls. Brick was used, which speaks to its function as an electrical substation where non-combustible material is crucial, and a desire to have air of permanence and solidity within a boomtown. The location of the building additionally holds heritage value, as it was considered “north of the city” at the time of construction, therefore away from the main area of development where there were many historic fires; and also because it was still on a high point on a hillside which would have been ideal as a transmission point for the electrical line coming from the Bonnington Falls hydro plant 56km away. The substation was in use from 1897 to 1930 when a new automated substation was built to meet the needs of the modernized electrical system.
After the building was closed up until the 1990s it was used as a WKPL storage place. They stored equipment and inactive files here. From the 1990s to present, the building has been used as a private residence.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Rossland Heritage Commission Official Heritage Register - Buildings: West Kootenay Power and Light Building and West Kootenay Power and Light Substation.
Historic Places Canada: West Kootenay Power Light Substation
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