East Trail - Trail, BC - British Columbia Heritage Markers on Waymarking.com

East Trail was either the victim or the product of local geography. When the town of Trail grew up around the Cominco smelter (built in 1895), the major barrier to the east was the Columbia River, a not inconsequential body of water in those days. As a result, the area, being somewhat flat or terraced, was used for farming, but, because of the isolation caused by the river, remained relatively unsettled.

In 1911 a road bridge across the Columbia was begun, with completion taking place in 1912. The intended purpose was to enhance transportation in the area, connecting Trail and points west with all points east. The major local benefit, however, was to allow development of lands on the left bank of the Columbia.

Shortly after the completion of the bridge, land was bought, subdivided, and lots sold, with the first communities springing up by about 1916. A baseball field had, by 1912, already been in place for 10 years, and a racetrack was built, as well.

There was sufficient usable land on the left bank to double or triple the size of Trail, and eventually this has come to pass.

Text from the plaque:
Once the bridge over the Columbia River was completed in 1912, the lands on the east side of the river began to be settled. Mungo McQuarrie and Hugh Robertson, real estate developers from Nelson, purchased land from T. W. Bingay in 1916 and the lands were subdivided at that time.

Demand for more land to accommodate the growing population led the City to incorporate East Trail in 1925.

McLean, McBeth, Gardener and Stewart Streets are located south of the Old Trail Bridge. This area was called 'Little Scotland' and was originally owned by Joseph Randall and Thomas McKelvey. John Shaver, founder of Shaver's Bench, had his home in this area of East Trail.
Originally, Second and Third Avenues were named for McKelvey and Randall. Presently, creeks running through East Trail are named after these two developers.

The East Trail Elementary School was built in 1917 as a two-room wooden school to serve this rapidly growing area of town. The name of the school was changed to Laura J. Morrish in 1951 when Mrs. Morrish retired as school principal after 26 years. The original school was altered and extended many times prior to being demolished in 1999. The Trail Middle School has been built on the same site. East Trail had a small commercial area with many corner grocery stores.

These businesses disappeared when Safeway built their new store in the mid 1960s.

The Rio Theatre, built in 1941 with a capacity for 440 people, was situated where Safeway and the Liquor Store are today. In 1947, the theatre closed and the building became a pasteurizing plant for Palm Dairies. Columbia Avenue was once the main thoroughfare through the area until Highway 3B was built at its current location.

Type of Marker: Cultural Type of Sign: Historic Site or Building Marker Describe the parking that is available nearby: Street parking What Agency placed the marker?: City of Trail Historical Society

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