Built between 1898 and 1899, the bank was only one of five major Canadian banks competing in Rossland. This magnificent brick building provided a refreshing permanence amongst a sea of wooden structures. The cornerstone bears the altitude bench mark of 3410 ft above sea level.
F.M. Rattenbury, the architect, also designed the Parliament buildings in Victoria. J.S.C. Fraser, a colourful relative of Simon Fraser, was the first Bank Manager.
The building is now partially occupied by the Rossland Chamber of Commerce and several small businesses, while other areas of the building are undergoing renovation.
This building is registered in the Rossland Heritage Register.
This is a colourized photo taken in 1908, when the bank was about 10 years old. The photos were taken from across Columbia Avenue looking north.
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