Timeline

1815

David Thompson explored down the Columbia River and made a note of a lake called 'Shuswap' to the west. 

1840

Tom Snass set up a trading post for the Hudson’s Bay Co. at Pierre’s Point.

1864

Hudson’s Bay Company post was set up at Ogdenville (Seymour Arm) and named after Charles Ogden, the head of H.B.C. at the time. 

1865

Tom Snass built a two-story structure at Pierre’s Point and cleared fifteen acres of land. He also built a wharf.

1866

The S.S. Marten, a H.B.C. steamer, was the first commercial boat to ply Shuswap Lake. She ran from Savona’s Ferry to Seymour Arm.

1871

Walter Moberly mentioned the Shuswap in a diary of  his exploration for the CPR.

1876

Native reserves in the area were defined.

1878

The ‘Lady Dufferin’, built by W. Fortune, carried produce from Spallumcheen to Kamloops.

1884

The first surveyors travel through the Shuswap laying out a route for the CPR.

1885

Dutch Charlie’s, a brewery and gambling house, started up during the construction of the railway, near the present day downtown Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union. Swordfighter, a German, constructed the first house in Salmon Arm on present day Beatty Street.

1887

Records of HBC outposts at Kualt (present day Tappen) and Chase were first mentioned. 

Salmon River Valley was first surveyed for settlement. Note was made of the rich delta soil.

1888

The first settler, A.J. Hedgman established a residence in the valley west of the CPR right of way near present day Mt. Ida Concrete.

1890

Provincial police closed Dutch Charlie's, a brewery and gambling den, after an unsolved murder. William Wallace took over the property and sold  it to Charles McGuire for $1,500.

A road was built from the valley, near the present day Salmon Arm West Elementary School (4750 10th Ave S.W.) to the CPR station. The cost was $500 and wages for the workers was $2.00/day for a ten-hour day.

First fruit trees were ordered from Minnesota.The Methodist Church held first regular church services.

The population of the district was estimated to be about 200 people.

1891

Harbell Road (30th St. SW) was constructed from Hedgman’s Corner on the Valley road to the foot of Mt. Ida.  C.B. Harris and J.D. McGuire planted the first apple tree on land owned by G.E. Ratcliffe (above Shuswap Bakery). Most of the other trees were planted in the valley. The varieties planted included Yellow Transparent, Wealthy, Golden Russet, Alexander, Ben Davis, and Belle Flower.

1893

The Genelle Brothers established a sawmill at Tappen Siding. The mill provided ties for the railroad as well as lumber for local purposes. Many Finnish settlers in Tappen and White Lake worked as loggers in the winter to provide logs for this mill.

Bradstreet Report of the Dominion of Canada listed Salmon Arm with a population of twenty-eight with two stores operated by A. McGuire and T. Shaw. The first Justice of the Peace, A.J. Palmer, was appointed.

1894

The first ordained minister, Rev. James Calvert of the Methodist Church, arrived in Salmon Arm.

1895

The first hotel, Cameron House, later to be called the ‘Coronation’, was built where the present day School Board offices are. First Catholic Mass was offered in the sitting room of the Coronation by Father Peytavin.

The Methodist Church at Hedgman’s Corner was built by Mr. Bolton. The first minister was R.H. Peardon, a former accountant at Eaton's. He was known as the "Minister we got from Eaton's." 

The first school was built in Upper Salmon Arm (Dolan’s Corners) near the present day Mt. Ida Hall.

1896

The Gleneden Road was constructed to connect with the Valley Road at the Salmon River Bridge.

The Old Enderby Road was built from the Haney property to Gardner Lake (near Ranchero) by a group of farmers who needed to get their grain to the flour mill in Enderby. J.D. McGuire recalled that he would start off at 4:30 am with a wagon and team to go to Enderby for flour and would arrive home late at night. 

The Fruit Growers’ Association and the Salmon Arm Farmers’ Association were formed.

1897

The first horticultural exhibit was sponsored by the Fruit Growers’ Association. Fairs were held from 1897 – 1901, lapsed for three years and then were revived in 1905 to continue on to the present day.

1898

The Presbyterian Church was built on Beatty Street north of the tracks. The manse is still standing. The first minister was Rev. R.C. Pollock.

The first school in town was a log structure built down near the tracks where downtown Askew’s Foods parking lot is now.

1900

 A larger school was built on the site of what is now City Hall.

1901

Salmon Arm East School was constructed on Shuswap Ave (near the present day Anglican Church)..

First resident doctor, Dr. Reinhart, opened an office in town.

1905

Salmon Arm was incorporated into a municipality. The first mayor, called ‘reeve’, was J. Harbell. Town councilors were R. Hobson, W. Baker, D. Sinclair, J. Johnson and H. Donnelly.

The McGuire family offered a 12 acre lot as a surveyed town site and lot for city hall. McGuire’s Grove was the unofficial city park and was situated across the tracks where the present day condominium development is.

McKay and Currie built a store on the western corner of Shuswap Ave. and Front Street. This year was the start of what was considered Salmon Arm’s boom years, which peaked in 1912. The Salmon Arm Farmer’s Exchange (S.A.F.E.) was founded. The farmers wanted to eliminate the middleman in their transactions, handling their own shipping and receiving and bulk purchases.

1906

Salmon Arm’s first school board was elected. Bank of Hamilton, the first bank in Salmon Arm, was established.

1907

The first edition of the Salmon Arm Observer rolled off the presses on Oct 12 with George Armstrong as the first editor. The presses were housed temporarily in other stores in town until an Observer building was constructed.

The Anglican Church on Shuswap Ave. was built and the first minister was Rev. Ronald Hilton.

1908

The Montebello Hotel was built. The Hotel Alexandra was built up from the Vienna Restaurant on Hudson Street. It later became the Hudson Hotel and became the Hudson Restaurant, and is now a parking lot.

The Catholic Church was built on 2nd Ave. Father Michel from Kamloops gave services once a month. First library came to Salmon Arm. It was a traveling library from the provincial government.

1909

The first Fire Brigade was formed.

The Methodist Church at Hedgman’s Corners was closed and the congregation moved to town.

The Baptist Church was built with Pastor H.P. Thorpe answering the call.

The first Drug Store was opened by A.L. Bedford.

Salmon Arm Cricket Club was founded as the first sports organization in the community.

1910

First town band was founded by Jack Leonard.

The Mt. Ida Methodist Church was built to suit the spiritual needs of the Salmon Valley residents. It now sits at R.J. Haney Heritage Village.

1911

The first telephone system was installed in Salmon Arm

A private hospital operated in town in a house just south of the Cenotaph. A second one opened in a room in the Coronation Hotel.

The R.K. Scales store opened for business in the former McKay and Currie store  -  situated on the corner of Shuswap Avenue and Front Street.

1912

Newnes Blacksmith Shop was  founded. It went on to become one of the North America’s largest sawmill equipment manufacturers.

The City of Salmon Arm was incorporated.

The Bank of Commerce building was constructed on Alexander Ave. It now houses a variety of small shops and offices.

1913

The present railway station was built on the south side of the tracks. The old station was on the north side and west by 100 yards. People complained about having to cross the tracks to get to town after getting off the train. First fire department is formed. First fire hall stood next to the courthouse on the west side.

Electricity came to Salmon Arm. It was generated by a large diesel engine and generator and was only available between 5 pm and midnight.

1914

Salmon Arm got a municipal water system. The reservoir was on Mt. Ida above the cemetery.

The Great War (WWI) started  and most of Salmon Arm’s men went off to fight.

1915

First creamery opened in town in a building across the tracks.

1920

First local library board was founded with the books being housed in a room in city hall.

1927 

First 12-bed hospital opened where the Shuswap Chefs and the McGuire Lake Seniors Lodge is situated. Previous “hospitals” were private ones run by nurses. 

1928

Salmon Arm Golf Course was first opened.

1929

Salmon Arm Meat and Produce was founded by E.A. Palmer with Dick Askew as the manager. It went on to become  Askew's Foods of today.

1930 

Salmon Arm Courthouse was built.

1936 

Salmon Arm Post office was built. Later became the Salmon Arm Library and is now the Art Gallery. 

1946

Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union was incorporated.  

1949-1950

Frost and temperatures of –35 degrees Fahrenheit and warm sunny days killed  many of the fruit trees in Salmon Arm. Orchard industry declined.

1950

Centenoka Ball Park was built on site of present day Centenoka Park Mall.

1958

1961

The City of Salmon Arm reverted to Village status.

Salmon Arm Memorial Arena opened. Built by funds raised by the Salmon Arm Community Association (Salmar).

1962

Final segment of the Trans-Canada Highway (Rogers Pass) opened. Salmon Arm’s tourism industry boomed.

1967 

Montebello Hotel burned down. Shuswap Park Mall with Askew's Shop Easy opened for business.

1968

1970

Okanagan College began classes at the old SASS.

The District of Salmon Arm and Village of Salmon Arm amalgamated.

1972 

The last major flood. It came up almost to Beatty St.

1973

 The Fly Hills Fire started.   

1974

The new Post Office was completed.

1975

The Shuswap Consumers' Co-operative (Former Salmon Arm Farmers' Exchange) building burned.

1980 

Centenoka Park Mall and Safeway were completed.

1981

The Golden Arches arrived . . . McDonalds.

1986

The new indoor pool opened, so did the new Wharf.

1987

North Broadview School, which closed in 1986, was moved to R.J. Haney Heritage Village.   

1997

The new SASS and Salmar Grande opened.

1998

Mt. Ida Fire.

1999

The new RCMP Station opened for business.