COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE

The Garden City and Arts and Crafts Movements influenced Powell River’s planners of 1910 in regard to the location and architectural style of our homes, parks, green belts, commercial buildings and recreation facilities.

Townsite homes and commercial buildings built before 1930 depended on add-on and decorative elements for articulation and architectural interest. For example, the use of roof brackets, add-on porch structures, boxed windows, and decorative porch and veranda posts and balustrades was common. These are characteristic of the Arts and Craft movement.

Other styles found in the commercial area of the Townsite are Tudor Revival (such as the Courthouse and the Bank of Montreal) and Frontier Style (such as the Rodmay). 

Click on a photo to the right for a write-up and photos of commercial buildings built in the early part of the 1900’s.

Explore our site for more information on the history of the Townsite, and enjoy a virtual tour of the historic district as well! 

Townsite Walking Tour: Here you can take a virtual stroll through Powell River’s Historic Townsite with a commentary on each tour stop.

Contact Us

6211 Walnut Street,
Powell River BC V8A 4K2 Canada

thetownsite@shaw.ca
+1 604 483 3901