The Basin Record Newsletter Vol.1 Issue 2

Published by the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History Newsletter : Vol. 1 No.2 21-A 10 Ave S Cranbrook BC V1C 2M9 Telephone: (250) 489-9150 E-mail: basininstitute1@cyberlink.bc.ca The Masonic Temple On 11 th Avenue in Cranbrook sits an historic building that has been brought through the century and still continues to serve the community. Meetings for Cranbrook Masonic Lodge No. 34 were originally held at 808 Baker St., a building owned by Lodge member John Leask. Feeling the need for a purpose-built structure, the Masons hired architects Sedger and Pownell to design Cranbrook’s Masonic Temple. Finally, on October 24 th , 1909, the cornerstone for the building was laid, with a time capsule underneath. Worshipful MasterAttridge presided over the first meeting in the new building on July 27 th , 1910. The Masons rented rooms on the main floor to the community to help offset building maintenance and operating costs, while maintaining the Lodge rooms upstairs. Over time the structure proved too costly and in 1973 the City of Cranbrook took over the building. Faced with demolition of the imposing facility, the Cranbrook Community Theatre (C.C.T.) proposed to have the building restored for cultural events. In 1989, the C.C.T. had the Masonic Temple declared a heritage building, linking Cranbrook with its earlier roots. This grand remnant of another era continues to be a major part of the cultural life of Cranbrook and a testimony to adaptive re-use. If you have historical information on this building, or others that share this block on 11 th Avenue, please contact the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History at 489-9150 or basininstitute1@cyberlink.bc.ca . One of Cranbrook’s foremost buildings, 1910 Inside this Issue A history of what is now the Byng Hotel A short biography of Helen Faulkner, one of Cranbrook’s first graduates from the St. Eugene School of Nursing An East Kootenay Christmas remembered Become a member of the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History! In keeping with the frenzied nature of the Christmas season, the office at the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History is humming with activity this winter. Much of this season’s work is focused on the specific promotion of heritage within the Cranbrook area and this is reflected in the stories and articles on the next several pages. That said, we appreciate the larger landscape of Basin citizenship, and look forward to building partnerships with groups and individuals who recognize the importance of preserving the natural and cultural history of the Columbia Basin. A bout U s courtesy Darrel Mikulcik collection