July, 2016 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)

Greenwood is home to some of the most well-preserved period architecture in British Columbia. Our turn of the century past can still be enjoyed today in the many wonderful Victorian era homes, commercial and public buildings scattered throughout Greenwood.

From 1897 to 1907, many commercial buildings were raised to house the hotels, offices and retails shops needed to support the community springing up from the mining boom. At that time, Greenwood was the economic hub of the Boundary region, with more than 100 business enterprises in operation.

Although a number of buildings standing today were built to replace those destroyed by fire early in the century, a wonderful collection of original structures still stand, refurbished and maintaining their original character.

City Hall / Supreme Court of the County of Yale (1903)
South Government Street

Designed by George Dillon Curtis, this wonderful Victorian era building was constructed to serve as the courthouse for Yale County. Later, in 1953 the City of Greenwood purchased the building to use as its City Hall.

The facility for its operation as a provincial Supreme Court is still in place today. Upstairs is the original courtroom — a magnificent space with high ceilings (7m./24ft.) , Arts and Crafts style architecture includes turned wood pillars, and beautiful stained glass. One stained glass window depicts the coats of arms of Canada's seven provinces (circa 1902).

The courthouse also features a traditional defendant's dock, which faces the judge's raised dais. The judge's quarters are still intact with the original books of law. Down in the basement is the jail, with three barred cells.

Tours of this fascinating historic building can be arranged through the Greenwood Museum. Staff at City Hall's public counter can also provide a descriptive flip-card booklet for self-guided tours.

Read more about the Courthouse architecture here.

Post Office (1915)
South Government Street

Just a short walk from City Hall is Greenwood's beautiful Post Office. Built circa 1915, Greenwood just celebrated the building's 100th birthday in 2015.

The building site of the Post Office was originally the location of the Pioneer Hotel, Greenwood's first hotel. The federal government bought the land from hotel owner John William Nelson, in August 1910. He dismantled and removed the hotel, and five years later the Post Office was constructed in its place, someway delayed by interruptions in supply chain due to the shortages caused by the war.

The Post Office, with a customs office and residential quarters upstairs, opened for business on May 18, 1915. This was not Greenwood's first post office, however. One was functioning at least 17 years prior. An announcement in the August 11, 1898 edition of the Cranbrook Herald [1] states that "a post office has been established at Greenwood camp, with Thomas Roderick as postmaster."

The Post Office clock tower can be seen from many vantage points in town. Today both the clock and chime are working. Inside, the original brass mailboxes are still in place, along with beautiful woodwork and decorative floor tiles.

Gulley Block (1902)
North Copper Street

This striking brick building on the Gulley Block is also known for its builders, as the Russell, Law, Caulfield Co. Building. Sold to Anaconda businessman L.A. Smith in 1913, and again to Thomas Gulley, who was the mayor of Greenwood from 1917-1929, it has been home to many different businesses. Originally retail dry goods, then furniture, along with a mortician's office and funeral parlor have operated under its roof.

After the war, the Gulley Block was renamed in honour of long-time mayor, W.E. McArthur, who had asked the federal government to bring the Japanese to Greenwood during the war. Although the building had been empty for many years after the mining bust, it was put to use as a residential facility for interned Japanese-Canadians during WWII (Internment Building #3).

Today, the McArthur Center is home to the public library, the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, the Greenwood Community Association and the Kettle River Arts Club. Weekly yoga and other community activities are held there.

During filming of the movie, Snow Falling on Cedars, the storefront windows were repainted so the place could step into the role of Amity Harbor Library. Zoom into the picture above to see the movie set windows.

(To be continued…)