Everyday, people rush up and down Oliver Street without realizing the history or importance many of the downtown buildings possess.

At the end of Oliver Street stands the oldest public building in the city and possibly the most historic: the BC Rail Station. There are only two remaining first generation Pacific Great Eastern Railway stations (PGE), one in Quesnel and the older station in Williams Lake.

About 75 years ago the town began to suffer. People were bypassing Williams Lake due to the Cariboo Wagon Road. When the railway was constructed it started the survival of the faltering community. Ranchers benefited from the cheap transportation of cattle and grain, and the train brought many new faces to Williams Lake in search of a new start. The PGE Station soon became the focal point of the growing community.

The Station, as well as stockyards and a four-stall locomotive house, were built in the winter of 1919. It was located at the primary intersection of town, on Railway Avenue (now Mackenzie Avenue). As the centre of activity, the town would gather to watch the train. The depot was constantly busy. The school board held meetings in the waiting room up until 1930, and children would play in the train yard and underneath the platforms. Regulars would visit and enjoy a warm cup of coffee that always seemed to be on.

The Station remained virtually unchanged for the first 30 years. An addition was eventually built for baggage and express purposes.

In 1981, art groups in the community who were in need of additional space and held a desire to preserve the historic BCR Station House, formed a non-profit organization called the Station House Studio and Gallery Society. They took over and began renovations. Restoring the building took a great deal of work. Windows were blocked off and the plaster was falling down. The lower level was cleared of dividing walls to allow for more gallery space. After all the hard work was done, the main floor gallery and gift shop was opened in 1982. The upstairs gallery and workshops were developed and opened in 1983.

When you step inside the Station House today you can still see remnants of the original depot. The hardwood floor remains the same, the basement still houses the master furnace, and the exterior has had only a colour change.

There are many stories and facts to be found on the history of the BC Rail Station, all one has to be is curious. Visit your local library or talk to some of the local historians, they are more than willing to relay their many memories of Williams Lake. There is a wealth of knowledge to be gained if it is explored.

Turning the depot into a gallery and one of the main tourist attractions in the city ensures people are given the chance to experience a true piece of history.