Built in 1938 by the Grindler Brothers as a grocery store, in 1942 this building was converted to a hardware store. In 1955 it became somewhat of a historic icon as it was expanded using reclaimed lumber and beams from historic
Camp McKinney. Founded in 1896, Camp McKinney is today a ghost town in the Boundary Country region of British Columbia. Established on the seemingly bright future of several gold mines, Camp McKinney thrived until about 1904, when the mines were played out and the miners and entrepreneurs moved on to other prospects.
For a number of years the building has been the home of
Home Hardware, a large Canadian hardware chain. The wording on one of the plaques indicates that Home Hardware itself was responsible for the mounting of the photos and plaques.
This, the story of the beginning of the town of Osoyoos itself, is on the far left, when facing the group of five.
The town site of Osoyoos was surveyed, and business lots became available for purchase in 1937. Albert English bought the first lot and moved his store from the original town site near the bridge to what is currently Main Street. Osoyoos was incorporated as a village municipality in 1946. Our town founders disagreed with the provincial government and insisted on a "grand scale street" looking toward beautiful Osoyoos Lake. Today, locals and visitors alike appreciate their persistence while experiencing many main street events.
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