History of a Small Village
The citizens of this small village show a resourcefulness as great as the mountains, rivers and lakes that are features of the landscape in which they live. In 1889 and 1890 G.O. Buchanan and brothers George and David Kane came to Kaslo to stake timber claims. When silver mining activity was reported in the area, the Kane brothers subdivided their lease into town lots.The population soon grew to 3,000 people, most of them intent on seeking their fortunes in the newly discovered mines.
Disaster struck in 1894 as fire, flood and gale force winds came in succession. In February, half of the town’s commercial district was destroyed, as well as 60-70 houses, two hotels, the jail and several other two storey buildings.
By 1895 and 1896, Kaslo had turned her fortunes around with the completion of the K&S Railway, a public telephone system, and electric and waterworks plants. By 1897 Kaslo had all the services of a progressive mining supply centre: a cigar factory, brewery, dry goods stores, several saloons, hotels and brothels and its own newspaper-The Kootenaian.
Over the next 50 years, metal prices fell and mining costs rose, resulting in a decline in mining activity and in the viability of the town. For a while fruit-ranching was a thriving industry until the Little Cherry disease destroyed the marketability of the fruit. But the villagers never gave up. Eventually a home-grown economy was created that was varied enough to withstand the changes of time. Tourism, small and home based businesses are now the foundation of Kaslo’s prosperity.
Front Street: What’s Old is New AgainOver the last 25 years, merchants along Kaslo’s main street have stripped away the “modern” cladding and have painstakingly restored the highly decorative and characteristically western facades of the original storefronts. A different story has played out for the Kaslo Hotel – its new owners have effected the re-birth of an idea.
The original Kaslo Hotel, built on the same location in 1896, was very grand and fine for its time. In the early 20th century, it was the heart of a bustling and optimistic community. But the promise represented by its lavish detail and stately interior spaces waned along with the fortunes of the townspeople and it fell into disrepair, finally closing in the 1920s. The building was then acquired by the village for non-payment of taxes. From 1942 to 1945 it was used as housing for Japanese-Canadian internees. In 1950 it burned to the ground.
A new Kaslo Hotel was constructed and opened in 1958 on the original site. It operated continuously, although its name was changed to the Mariner Inn in 1981. In 2006 the Mariner was sold. The present building, renamed The Kaslo Hotel, has been completely transformed so that, once again, an elegant establishment graces the top of Front Street.
