The Past
Businesses
Churches
Communities
Community Services
~ City Hall
~ ~ Building the City Hall
~ ~ Incorporation
as a City
~ ~ City Clerks
in Enderby
~ ~ Mayors of
Enderby
~ Fire
Department
~ Health Care
~ Justice of
the Peace
~ Library
~ Newspaper
~ Police
Department
~ Post office
~ Telephones
Entertainment
Ethnic Groups
Geography
Heritage Homes
Industries
Organizations
People
Schools
Transportation
The first City Office and
Council Chamber (both in one room), was a wooden building on the bank of the river. This
building was dignified by having the name of "The Court House", because it was
owned and belonged to the Provincial Government. The Court House was also used for all
Provincial Police and Court purposes.
By March 1907, City Council was seriously discussing the building of a City Hall. A proposal for a large building, however, to include a large public meeting room and to cost $10,000, was dropped. (March 8, 1907) On May 5, 1909, a petition was circulated and presented to the city of Enderby regarding the necessity of erecting a building to be known as City Hall. Such a building was to comprise the following accommodations: "Council Chamber (to be used also as a Court Room, and for various public purposes), Committee Room (adjoining Council Chamber, also to be used for purposes of a public library), City Clerk's Office, Police Office, Fire-proof vault for protection of City records (also for public safe-deposit purposes), Cells for detention of prisoners, Headquarters for Fire Department."
The cost of a building similar to this was determined to be $5000. The money was to be earned from a lien upon credit, from the City of Enderby. The people signing this petition made a request that a by-law be drafted to authorize the borrowing of this amount. Those signing the document included a representative of A.R. Rogers Lumber Co. Ltd.. the Bank of Montreal, and the Columbia Flouring Hills Co. Ltd.-(F. V. Hoffet), as well as businessmen E.R. Peel, George Sharpe, P. Murphy, W. Robinson. and R. Blackburn, along with others from the community.
The property for building the City Hall was purchased in April 1907. It was the corner lot of George and Cliff Streets and was purchased from the Oddfellows for $525. (April 5,1907) The Council also bought an additional 25 feet of frontage lot on Cliff Street for $250, from R.P. Bradley, at the end of April. Bradley also offered council part of his lot for $10 per foot, not being any less than 20 feet and no more than 30 feet. Another condition of the sale was that the land only be used as a City Hall.
Council was also offered a corner lot, on which block it was nort stated, by A. Broderick for $500. On April 5 the newspaper reported "on this lot will be erected a temporary shed for the housing of fire fighting apparatus, as well as corporation tools, land implements. water works fittings and supplied, etc."
The actual building of City Hall commenced in 1909. after a debenture of $5000 had been approved. The tender was awarded to W.A. Russell of Armstrong. Upon the completion of the building, the actual costs were $3725. A library was incorporated in the building as well. Further tenders were called. for the addition of the heating source for the building. The furnace tender was awarded to A. Fulton, and the cost of the furnace was $235.
The opening ceremonies for City Hall were held on January 26, 1910. Among the dignitaries in attendance was A.L. Fortune, who said a few words. After the speeches were finished, the Enderby City Band gave a performance. When the celebrations were over and the crowd had dispersed, the Enderby City Council held their regular council meeting.
In 1987, the Enderby City Hall took on a new look and some new additions.
The building itself nearly doubled in size, with the addition being nearly 4000 square
feet in size.
The costs from the time City Hall was originally built had gone up considerably. After
renovations, the actual cost of the tender was $255,240. Added to that was the cost of an
elevator, which was being installed during the week of Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1987, another
$16,500. The final cost of the renovated building, including the elevator, survey costs,
planning, advertising, soil testing, and all other factors along with construction, came
to $292,449.
A legacy grant obtained through the provincial government, and given through the urging of
Mayor Terry Fergus, council members, and MLA Cliff Michael, covered part of the costs.
Even better for the public was the inclusion in the City Complex of North Okanagan
Regional Library Enderby Branch and, at long last, the Enderby and District Museum.
Attending the official opening of the newly renovated City Hall on October 30, 1987, were
local mayors from throughout the area, past mayors of Enderby, MLA Cliff Michaels, Earl
Shipmaker, chairman of Regional District, and other dignitaries.
Once the celebrations were all over, the building would remain, a reminder of things past,
and a step toward the future.
Malorie Nobbs
ALF School, 1989