Bank of Montreal
DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE
The Bank of Montreal building is a substantial two-storey brick and terra cotta building on the corner of Baker and Kootenay streets in Nelson, B.C.
HERITAGE VALUE
The Bank of Montreal is important for its historical and aesthetic values, particularly for its landmark status and imposing design. The building is significant for its history as the oldest operating branch of the Bank of Montreal in the province, constructed at a time when the gold rush spurred the construction and arrival of banks in towns across the province. The Bank of Montreal opened for business in Nelson in 1892, originally operating out of a local barber shop.
The use of local building materials and the acknowledgement of Nelson’s geological history is significant, as the eight-foot long steps of the bank were created from a granite boulder uncovered during work on the recreational grounds on Hall Street. Its construction is considered important as it was one of the first buildings to employ steel I beams in its construction rather than the conventional timber joists. The building is also important for its residential component on the top floor.
The building is significant for its architect, Francis Rattenbury, who was a dominant designer in the architectural profession in British Columbia partly because of his skilled deployment of a broad range of historical styles.
The building is important for its aesthetics, including its imposing sense of permanence and singularity, heightened by the main entrance facing the corner of Kootenay and Baker streets. At the time of its construction, the building was considered to be the handsomest block so far erected in the Kootenay region. A sympathetic addition on Kootenay Street was added after World War II.
The building’s importance is expressed through its scale, high parapet, varied use of arches, intricate brickwork, and terra cotta inlays with bank’s insignia.
From the City of Nelson Heritage Register, Page 89