The first school in Kimberley opened in 1900 in a log cabin about where the Elks Hall now stands and Miss Mary Jack was the teacher. A second school opened at the North Star Mine in 1902 with Miss C. Hall the teacher. An amusing story is told when a mother of eight school age children, withdrew them all after an argument with the teacher. However the school carried on with five pupils until the Mine closed down in 1903.
Howard street, where the clinic is, came into being in 1907. During the slump before 1909, the first school closed due to lack of school-age children, and it became a Chinese laundry. It was later purchased by Emil Louis. The third school was the little white building where the Company General Office is today and the one so often referred to in so many of the personal histories.
Foote's store stood where the Lutheran Church stands today.
The Canadian Hotel dates from around this time. Handley's Livery Stable that stood where the Funeral Parlor is now was made into the first dance hall and picture show. Mr. Handley drove ore teams to the North Star Landing over the McGinty Trail. His was one of the first houses built directly across Deer Park Avenue from the Livery Stable and next door to the Hedley MacLeod house. Both are now torn down to make room for the Dental and Optical building.
In 1921 the Front Road, overlooking Mark Creek, was built to provide vehicle access to the McDougall Townsite, with Company bunkhouses and cookhouse, and later McDougall Hospital, occupying the bank side of 2nd avenue.
McDougall Townsite was named after a Mr. McDougall, first Mine superintendent who was killed in World War I. Prior to 1921 the bench was just bushland, crossed by the road to the Top Mine. That year 2nd and 3rd avenues were cleared and homes started. The first Happy Valley resident was Ernie Nesbitt, still living in Kimberley.
Kimberley's early social and entertainment activities were centred around Handley's Hall where moving pictures were shown every Saturday night. Jack Aldridge was the first projectionist. The Christmas Concert for the children of the community was the highlight of the year with A. A. Watkins, longtime school trustee, as Santa Claus. Chautauquas were another popular attraction when they travelled around the country.
The Company provided excellent recreational facilities for its employees for 50 cents a month. At the Top Mine it was Warren Hall, on the Townsite, McDougall Hall was the centre, basketball, badminton, boxing, dancing and numerous other sports. At Chapman Camp, Oughtred Hall, adjacent to the Village Green, provided the same facilities.
In 1921 hockey came to Kimberley, and friendly rivalry existed between many East Kootenay areas. The birth of the Dynamiters led to East and West Kootenay rivalry and finally to Kimberley's finest hours with the winning of the Allen Cup in 1936 and the World Hockey Title the following year, 1937. This year of 1978 saw the Dynamiters once again capturing the Allen Cup.
In 1924 the Brass Band was organized, and in 1927, with the arrival of the Pearson Family, it became well-known throughout the entire area.
1927 saw the beginning of Kimberley's Pipe Band, a continuing organization that is much in demand throughout the East Kootenay and across the U.S. border, as well as at local parades and sports events.
