|
Mines were already being
staked in the Lardeau area when in 1890
Andrew Abrahamson arrived at the head of
beautiful Trout Lake, which he registered
and called Trout Lake City. Upon this land
he built a log house that was a welcome
shelter for hundreds of miners and
prospectors who later came in search of
gold. Charlie Holten and Thomas Downs joined
with Pete Walker and Lockheed McDonald to
cut a trail from the north arm of the Arrow
Lakes to Trout Lake in 1891. With good luck
and perseverance, they found the Great
Northern lead and staked four claims. The
promise of good returns from the group of
mines including the very productive Silver
Cup so impressed the government that in 1892
a proper trail was built using Holten’s
survey lines. This easier access to the
region brought out scores of prospectors.
A proposal by Abrahamson to place lots for
sale at Trout Lake City was advertised in
the Kootenay Star in 1893. Another ad
appeared in the Kootenay Mail in March 1894
with the price of corner lots going for $150
and inside lots at $100.
Alice Jowett came to Trout Lake City in 1896
and because she was looking for a means to
support her family of three children,
Evelyn, Edith and John, she decided to
purchase the Trout Lake City Hotel, which
was a two-storey part-log building built
about 1894 by John Bourke. Alice had a
thorough education in cooking, pastry and
confectionery foods from which she could
make a good living and also indulge in her
dream of prospecting. The miners flocked to
her little establishment.
The Kootenay Mail newspaper of 31st July
1897 announced that McLennan and Black had
chosen the site for the construction of a
$5,000 hotel; in the fall of 1897, they had
completed the Windsor. The Trout Lake Topic
newspaper, which started printing on October
23rd 1897, stated in their first paper that
first class lumber and plaster was used in
the construction of the hotel and it was
sumptuously furnished and elegantly designed
throughout. It had hardwood floors, a large
billiard hall, parlours and a reception
room. The hotel, a three-storey frame
building with dormer windows, was thought to
be the finest in the Kootenay. The grand
opening of the Windsor Hotel was held in
October according to the Kootenay Mail
newspaper, October 14, 1897.
In 1907, when Donald McLennan decided it was
time to sell the Windsor, Alice Jowett saw
an opportunity to buy the best business in
the town. On September 25th 1907 a deal was
struck for the sum of $4500 to be paid in
five payments over the next three years at
an interest rate of eight percent per annum.
Alice established herself as the most
respected proprietor in the Lardeau. Her
ability to present a first class
establishment would place her as a legend
for all time in Trout Lake. Alice became
well known for her delicious meals and the
fine china and linen tablecloths upon which
she served her culinary delights.
Edna Daney (nee Lindholm) went to work at
the Windsor Hotel in 1930 instead of going
to Halcyon Hot Springs because the pay was
better at the Windsor. Some of the buildings
were quite run down when she arrived. Edna
and Alice got along well and she worked
there for three years before marrying
Alice’s grandson, Seldon Daney. Because of
Edna’s long membership with our Society, we
have been blessed with many archival items
including the deed when Alice took over the
Windsor Hotel in 1907. Edna also lived in
Camborne and Ferguson so that her knowledge
was generously given and used in our book
‘Circle of Silver’. This book is our most
popular, almost sold out and won for author
Milton Parent the Lieutenant Governor award
for historical writing in 2001.
In 1946, Alice Jowett at ninety-three years
of age sold the Windsor to Jack Peters. It
was a sad mistake. He sold everything of
value and historical interest; this often
happens with old buildings in many pioneer
towns. The hotel has seen many changes since
Alice had to give it up; some of the new
owners have worked hard to upgrade and keep
the Windsor in good repair. We wish the
hotel and its new owners good luck in the
years to come.
|
