|
A brief history of the Columbia & Western Railway and
the CPR in the Boundary
| Station
Pub before
 |
Station
Pub now
|
The
colourful story of the Boundary Country is bound up in the
railway history of the Columbia & Western Railway company
and the CPR.
There was an influx of Americans into the Boundary area after
the Rock Creek Gold Rush in the 1860’s and later, to
the Kootenays in 1867. The provincial and Federal governments
were aftaid that Southern Brithis Columbia might be lost to
American influence. American railway magnates, Chase Corbin,
J.J. Hill and Fritz Heinze chartered the Columbia & Western
Railway, under the Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern charter.
This new railway would run from Robson (Castlegar) to Midway,
but dissension amoung the partners ended with Columbia &
Western, along with Heinze’s smelter at Trail, being
sold to the CPR in February 1898.
At this time the mines in the Boundary were producing large
quantities of low grade copper ore, which required cheap transportation
to market to be profitable. The CPR was anxious to reach this
lucrative market first, so they pursed ahead rapidly in the
winter of 1898-1899 with the construction of the C&W.
As the C&W could not obtain a suitable right-of-way into
the City of Grand Forks, its station was built in the City
of Columbia (now West Grand Forks). The station forms the
main part of the Grand Forks Station Neighborhood Pub and
Columbia Grill. It is the oldest CPR station in B.C. still
in its original location (7654 Donaldson Drive, Grand Forks
BC) and is protected by both the federal government and the
City of Grand Forks under a Heritage Designation Bylaw.
By Sue Thompson |
