Built between 1898 and 1899, the bank was only one of five major Canadian banks competing in Rossland. By just 7 days the B of M was the second bank to open in the bustling new mining town of Rossland, first opening for business in 1896 in temporary quarters two blocks west of this building. After occupying slightly more permanent quarters for a spell, two years later, on September 15, 1898, the cornerstone for this building was laid. This magnificent $50,000 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
Surviving the 1929 fire which took out the rest of the block on which the bank stands, save for the post office at the east end of the block (though the post office did lose its roof and upper storey in the fire), the Bank of Montreal continued in operation in the building until 2000. In that year the B of M closed its outlet in Rossland, selling the building to the Nelson and District Credit Union. In 2002 the building was sold into private hands, no longer having any connection to banking concerns. Certain artefacts from the building were donated to the museum.
The building is now partially occupied by the Rossland Chamber of Commerce and several small businesses, as well as a coffee/espresso shop, while other areas of the building are undergoing renovation.
This building is registered in the
Rossland Heritage Register.
(For the benchmark hunters, there's a benchmark on the SW corner.)
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