14. Letter from Kirk Gable - Demolition of the Prince George Hotel

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August 2, 2011 Mayor and Council City of Prince George 1100 Patricia Boulevard Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 Re: Demolition of the Prince George Hotel I am writing to ask that the City of Prince George reconsider the demolition of the Prince George Hotel. Prince George Hotel c1917 I am suggesting that the City of Prince George reconsider the decision to demolish the hotel and explore potential future uses for this historic downtown icon. The Prince George Hotel is a very significant commercial wood heritage building, it is in fact the oldest building in downtown Prince George (built in 1914) and for many years was "the premier hotel" in the city. I understand that because of the activities associated with the hotel in the last few decades, and it's current exterior facade, many people may not recognize the significant role that the hotel has played in our city's history, however, it clearly represents the "wood technology" of early 20th century rural British Columbia and should be preserved and celebrated as such. Old buildings preserve our culture by paying tribute to the people and events that built our community. They are an invaluable tourist attraction and add character, dignity, reality and charm in a way that modern architecture cannot replicate. They provide us with a glimpse of
the past and a connection to the spirit that made our community what it is today. In March of 1914, George Street was a track in the snow across the newly cleared Prince George townsite. By the end of that year it was the business centre of a thriving new town of 1500 with stores, banks, businesses, houses, theatres, churches and hotels, including the three storey “King George Hotel”, built by E.E. Phair. In just over four months more than $500,000 had been spent on new buildings. When the new town adopted the name “Prince George” in early 1915, the King George Hotel followed suit. Mr. Phair's success with the hotel was short lived, however, and he promptly abandoned his business when the government introduced prohibition in 1916. The Prince George Hotel was refurbished and reopened in 1919 by J.H. Johnson, who was the owner at that time of the Alexandra Hotel at 3 rd and Brunswick, as well as the former owner of the Fort George Hotel in Central Fort George which had burned in 1914. The new Prince George Hotel was furnished with modern plumbing and heating equipment, making it one of the city's premier hospitality establishments. The recruitment of Charles Johnson, a renowned Vancouver hotelier, to assist with operations in 1920 marks another indication of the excellence fostered by the new owner. Clearly J.H. Johnson had established a facility that was on par with the province's best hotels. J. H. Johnson, owner Prince George Hotel 1919 – 1933 Mayor, City of Prince George 1922 - 1923 When he left in 1933 to manage a hotel in San Francisco, J.H. Johnson left a distinctive legacy as one of Prince George's most renowned property owners and businessmen. He invested heavily in the new town and was at one time it's single largest property holder. In addition to being the city's most prominent hotelier, he was also Mayor of Prince George from 1922 to 1923, and an active member of the school board, the agricultural board and President of the Board of Trade (1917, 1921). He was later described by citizens as one of the region's foremost advocates and a tireless Prince George booster. Following the end of his career in San Francisco, Johnson retired to Palo Alto and died there at the age of 75 in 1948. After Johnson's departure in 1933, the hotel continued to operate in a similar fashion until
Page 1: ----- Original Message ----- From:
Page 5 and 6: eplicated by the suburban box store
Page 7 and 8: Plan 1268 - September 1913
Page 12: June 1914
Page 15 and 16: ➲KING GEORGE HOTEL 1914
Page 17 and 18: Prince George Hotel c1930
Page 21 and 22: Prince George Hotel Reception c1949
Page 23 and 24: Prince George Hotel Lobby c1953
Page 29 and 30: ➲OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Page 31 and 32: “Reusing existing buildings is a
Page 33: ➲ $$ THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT $$ ➲
Page 37 and 38: WOOD FIRST? ➲ “There's more tha
Page 39 and 40: George Street c1919
Page 41 and 42: George Street c1921
Page 43 and 44: City Hall c1915
Page 45 and 46: City Hall October 27, 1966
Page 47 and 48: Bank of Montreal 3 rd & Quebec c191
Page 49 and 50: Bank of Montreal 3 rd & Quebec c195
Page 51 and 52: Fire Hall George St. c1919
Page 53 and 54:
Royal Alexandra Hotel 3 rd Ave 1915
Page 55 and 56:
Provincial Govt. Building 3 rd Ave
Page 57 and 58:
Third Avenue Parade c1951
Page 59 and 60:
Plaza Heritage Hotel - Kamloops
Page 61 and 62:
Hume Hotel Nelson c1970
Page 63 and 64:
1157 Fifth Avenue October 1997
Page 65 and 66:
Historic George Street?
Page 67:
George Street c1919
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14. Letter from Kirk Gable - Demolition of the Prince George Hotel

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