Description of Historic Place

The Agnew and Co. building is located at 2253 Washington Street on the west side of the street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, in Rossland, B.C. It is a large, two-storey building of wooden construction with a slightly sloping shed roof. The building is clad in blue, horizontal siding with white trim and is flush with Washington Street. There are three entrances from the street with two of them recessed and under a canopy with a sign saying, "Rossland Inn".

Heritage Value

Built in 1899, Agnew and Co. has historic and social value for its connection to the historic and contemporary commercial core of downtown.

Agnew and Co. has historic value for its original retail use and connection to the early development of the downtown core. For 40 years, from 1899 to 1939, the Agnew and Co. business served the community as a successful grocery, dry goods and mercantile store. It was built, owned and operated by George Agnew and then, his son-in-law, Oswald Bisson. The business and its products, services and operations are representative of that period of Rossland business history. Exterior renovations have disguised the fact that the Agnew and Co. building was constructed in two stages, first in 1899 and then expanded in 1901. Demolition of a portion of the 1899 building happened in 1939, creating the footprint and building we see today, known as Agnew and Co.

It has further historic value for its location, at the northern limit of what has always been the commercial core of downtown Rossland. The business thrived in this location as the site was very close to the two railways (constructed in 1896) servicing Rossland and the store captured a large population living above the downtown commercial area.

The building also has social and historic value for its many different uses since the Agnew and Co. business closed in 1939. Part of it continued to be used as a family residence, then it was the home of Rossland Fuel and Supply from 1950 to 1956, a lumber, coal and wood company. After 1956 it was an apartment block for many years.

SOURCE: City of Rossland - Heritage Commission

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Agnew and Co. include its:
- Location
- Original height and depth of building
- Frontage on Washington Street
- Heritage plaque on exterior identifying this building as one of Rossland's significant heritage buildings