Robert and James Hunter
Robert and James Hunter opened the Hunter Brothers Limited Mercantile Firm in Rossland in the spring of 1895 and operated until 1959.
During a time when most businesses were small and more specialized, the Hunter Brothers was diversified, catering to housewives, miners, and businesses alike. As Rossland’s largest mercantile establishment, Hunter Brothers dealt in groceries, hardware, drygoods, and clothing until the 1950’s when the store was sold to the T. Eaton Co.
Tourism Rossland/Ryan Flett - December 2016
City of Rossland Heritage Register Plaque
The Building
Historical Name: Hunter Brothers Store
Address: 1990 Columbia Avenue
Date of Construction: 1905
The original Hunter Brothers Store was built in 1895 on Columbia Avenue, where the Rossland Community Pool currently resides. Founded by brothers James and Robert Hunter, the business was housed in a two-storey building on a 30' x 100' lot. In 1905, the store was moved to a new location on the Northwest corner of Columbia Avenue and Washington Street. The new home of the Hunter Brothers Store was Rossland's biggest retail space, and is one of two remaining brick commercial buildings constructed after the 1902 bylaw requiring all buildings to be constructed of brick (in response to a brutal fire which destroyed much of the main street) and tells of the bustling commercial history of the Basin instigated by the mining industry.
The Hunter Brothers carried an average stock of $35,000 ($103,376 in 2020) and developed an important wholesale business with the mines. Their mining supplies stock included agents of giant powder, Goodwin candles, canton and black diamond steel. They also sold McClary’s stoves and ranges, a full line of plumbers’ supplies and steam fittings. The Hunter Brothers Store manufactured their own tinware, sheet ironware, and galvanized piping in a tin as well as operated a sheet metal shop.
The Hunter brothers retired in 1907, but the company continued under the leadership of W.F. Ternan. Ternan had been working for the Hunter brothers since 1897 and decided to rename the company Hunter Brothers Limited. In the 1938 Historical Issue of the Rossland Miner, it was noted that the store had four departments, each of which had their own manager. The Hunter Brothers store operated until 1952, after which the building became home to Eaton's Department Store followed by a grocery store and a hardware store. The store is remembered fondly by Rossland oldtimers as a bustling commercial hub for its citizens, and remains an important piece of the Basin’s history due to its commercial significance. Today the building holds Curiosity Clothing & Gifts, Revolution Cycles, and Rossland Beer Company, among other small suites.
A number of the display cases in our Hunter Brothers exhibition were actually used in the Hunter Brothers Store!
Interior Images:
2282.0022: Inside Hunter Brothers Store in Rossland, BC
Interior of Hunter Brothers Store showing hardware department.
2282.0053: Interior of the Hunter Brother Store in Rossland, BC
Interior of the 1st Hunter Brother Store in Rossland, BC
2282.0031: Hunter Brothers Store Window Display 1916
A 1916 window display at Hunter Brothers Store Ltd. The store was located on the northwest corner of Washington St. facing on Columbia Avenue.
2282.0056: Interior of the Hunter Brother Store in Rossland, BC
Interior of the Hunter Brother Store in Rossland, BC
Exterior Images:
2282.0048: The First Hunter Brother Store in Rossland, BC 1896.
The First Hunter Brother Store in Rossland, 1896
2282.0036: Hunter Brother Store in Rossland, BC 1899
Staff of the Hunter Brothers Store in Rossland, BC in 1899.
2282.0037: Hunter Brothers Store in Rossland, BC c.1900
Hunter Brothers Store at this time was located on the south side of Columbia Avenue between Spokane and Earl Streets in Rossland, BC circa 1900
2315.0088: Hunter Bros. General Store in Rossland, BC February 19, 1938
Postcard of Hunter Brothers General Store (Super Value). Across street P.Burns Butcher Store (Clinic building). From the beginning P. Burns was an outstanding meat packer and processor in Western Canada. Gentleman named Clark shoveling snow.
Listen to Lydia Jakovac (Rossland Museum) interview Margaret Rosse about her memories of the Hunter Brothers Store:
Interview originally recorded April 28, 2014. From the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre Rossland Memories Oral History Project collection.
In 1910, the Hunter Brothers provided a Holiday Catalogue:
1933 Hunter Brothers Catalogue:
2276.0113: Hunter Brothers Store Coffee Grinder 1962
Swift coffee grinder of the 1900 era. Donated by Hunter Brothers, Photo is taken in the first museum at the Rossland Court House November 1962. Currently on display in the Hunter Brothers Store at the museum.
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For more information:
Rossland Heritage Commission - Buildings - “Hunter Brothers Store”
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