The first inhabitants of the North Okanagan were the Salish Indians. They were a peaceful people – mainly traders. The women gathered roots and berries in the summer – the men hunted elk and deer and speared salmon in the winter.
Armtrong was named after William Charles Heaton – Armstrong. He arranged financing for the Shuswap-Okanagan Railway, 1890.
| 1891 |
Sawmill opened by C. Brewer. |
| 1892 |
Railway in regular operation and most of the buildings from Lansdowne moved into town.
15 room Armstrong Hotel opened. |
| 1893 |
Hotel burned – first large fire in Armstrong. |
| 1894 |
Flour mill established. |
| 1896 |
“Lock-up” (Jail) built on corner of Bridge St. and Railway Ave. |
| 1897 |
First curling held in a cattle barn using turned birch ‘rock’ & handles put in by the black-smith. |
| 1900 |
First Armstrong Fair. |
| 1902 |
Okanagan Hotel opened.
Armstrong Advertiser established. |
| 1905 |
First Dentist, Dr. S.F. Fraser established his practice. |
| 1906 |
Work started on the Powerhouse on Davis Creek. The Dam made the City Reservoir and supplied energy for the plant to run.
Agriculture Hall built with Skating Rink built behind. |
| 1907 |
Home owners digging own water connections. |
| 1908 |
R.R. Burns first Druggist in Armstrong. |
| 1909 |
First automobile purchased by Mark Hill. |
| 1910 |
First Post Office in Armstrong.
Bank of Montreal builds new building. |
| 1911 |
Motion pictures came to Armstrong in March when Messre Sawyer & Mann began their business.
Public watering trough installed to enable people from the country to water their horses. |
| 1912 |
First Nursing Home opened. |
| 1913 |
March 13, City of Armstrong incorporated. J.M. Wright, first Mayor.
City bought five acres of land for a Cemetery.
Drill Hall built – became Centennial Hall in 1967. |
| 1914 |
Septic tanks must be constructed on all city properties – an end to outhouses. |
| 1915 |
High grade oil found between Armstrong and Enderby.
Wood for Powerhouse cut with cross-cut sae & split by axe, wedges & sledge hammer. (a cord of wood is a stack 4 feet high x 4 feet wide x 8 feet long) |
| 1916 |
Joint City and Municipal Hall built (now City Hall). |
| 1919 |
Okanagan Valley Lacrosse League reorganized – Armstrong undefeated all season until final game. |
| 1920 |
First Theatre opened. |
| 1921 |
Tenders of new Fire Hall let (now Lawyers Offices).
Consolidated School opened.
First fleet of School buses in Province of B.C. operated to accommodate Consolidation.
Armstrong-Spallumcheen Hospital officially opened. |
| 1922 |
Armstrong Co-op Association incorporated Feb. 11. |
| 1925 |
Lawn Bowling Greens laid out in front of Hospital. |
| 1926 |
Royal Canadian Legion Chartered. |
| 1927 |
J.E. Jamieson bought the Armstrong Advertiser, which is still owned by the Jamieson Family. |
| 1928 |
Armstrong-Spallumcheen Public Library Association formed.
Recreation Center built. |
| 1929 |
Replacement Agricultural Hall built. |
| 1936 |
Library joined the Okanagan Union Library. |
| 1938 |
The Cheese Factory commenced operations – the only facility in the Province making Cheddar on a large scale. |
| 1940 |
Present Post Office opened on New Year’s Day.
National Registration for everyone over 16 years of age. |
| 1941 |
Credit Union established in Armstrong. |
| 1942 |
War Rationing – sugar, gasoline, tea, coffee, butter, and finally meat.
“Blackout” established. |
| 1943 |
Seed Growers Association established. |
| 1945 |
All children under 16 registered for Family Allowance. |
| 1946 |
Inland flour Mill sold to Buckerfields Ltd. |
| 1947 |
Grand Opening and Dedication of the Memorial Park & Swimming Pool, July 1st. |
| 1949 |
Sale of margarine legal in Canada.
Sliced bread came to Armstrong.
Automatic telephone system inaugurated. |
| 1950 |
For 2 months temperatures ranged from -20 degrees F. to -40 degrees F. resulting in frozen pipes all over town.
New Co-op store opened Jan. 6th (site of Rose Valley Square), 36 days later (Feb11) it burned to the ground – no Insurance. |
| 1951 |
Funds raised & a new Co-op building opened Feb 12. |
| 1952 |
Old Age Pensions began - $40.00 a month to + 70 year olds. |
| 1953 |
An Armstrong road sign bore the startling information “Slippery When Icy”. |
| 1955 |
Hassen Hall constructed. |
| 1958 |
B.C. Centennial project was the building of the Library now the Chambers of Commerce building.
Lat steam locomotive #4308 made its final run through Armstrong. |
| 1959 |
Kindale located on Rosedale Ave. and built by the local Kinsmen, opened as the school for Retarded Children. |
| 1963 |
Kinsmen donated the first Ambulance to the community. |
| 1966 |
Curling Club building erected. |
| 1984 |
Armstrong-Spallumcheen Museum opened. |
| 1988 |
Art Gallery opened. |
| 1993 |
New Legion building opened. |
