Key Number:	HS 7092
Site Name:	Alberta Hotel
Other Names:
Site Type:	0405 - Mercantile/Commercial: Hotel or Inn

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			24	1	5

Address:	217-19 - 6 Avenue SW
Number:	17-19
Street:	2 SW
Avenue:	6 SW
Other:
Town:	Calgary
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Rectangular Short Facade
Storeys:	Storeys: 4 or more
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Concrete
Superstructure:	Brick
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Flat
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:	Massing of Units: Row, Related, End Wings: None Wall Design and Detail: String or Belt Course Wall Design and Detail: Plain Parapet Plain Eaves Roof Trim - Verges: Not Applicable Roof Trim Material - Verges: None Dormer Type: None Chimney Location - Side to Side: Side Right Chimney Stack Material: Brick Chimney Stack Massing: Single Roof Trim - Special Features: Other Window - Structural Opening Shape: Flat Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Plain Lintel Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Material: Brick Window - Sill Type: Plain Lug Sill Window - Sill Material: Concrete Window - Number of Sashes: Two, Double Hung Window - Opening Mechanism: Single or Double Hung Window - Special Types: None Main Entrance - Location: Off-Centre (Facade) Main Entrance - Structural Opening Shape: Flat Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Plain Flat Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening Material: Metal Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Flat Transom, Single Light Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Side Lights Main Entrance - Number of Panels Per Leaf: 1 Main Entrance - Leaves - Special Feature: Glass Main Stairs - Location and Design: First or Ground Floor, Without Railing Main Stairs - Direction: Straight Main Porch - Type: Recess Main Porch - Special Features: Columns Main Porch - Material: Brick Main Porch - Height: First Storey
Exterior:	Dimensions: about 20m x 50m (1984) 45' x 130'(1980) Plain; belt course; lugsills. Tin parapet; enlaged stucco covered pilastes; modern pier and spandrel construction; tin covering on spandrel section; modern wood and awning on main floor, north elevation, bricked over windows on south elevation.
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	Property Features: Other Located near Hudson Bay Store; highly commercial area. Commercial, central business district.
Condition:	Good (1980) Fair (1984)
Alterations:	Apparent Alterations and/or Additions: Wall Apparent Alterations and/or Additions: Roof Apparent Alterations and/or Additions: Window Apparent Alterations and/or Additions: Door Apparent Alterations and/or Additions: Porch Site: Original Front and side stucco; cedar vertical.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Construction Started	1911/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Mercantile/Commercial: Hotel or Inn Mercantile/Commercial: Hotel or Inn	1910/01/01 1984/05/25
Owner:	Owner Date:
268594 Alberta Ltd.

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	N/A
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	This is one of the few Renaining 'Older' Hotels in the city form the boom era. First mention 1912 Hendersons. The Empress Hotel was built in 1911 by John Linham. Originally there were 100 rooms and each was fitted with hot and cold running water and a private telephone connected to the switch board in the lobby. The lobby was said to be 'perhaps the most attractive in the city'. Elevator service was installed when the building was constructed and several washrooms were provided on each floor. The John Linham Estate owned the building until March 1962 when Harry, Ben and Leo Sheftel bought the hotel under the name A.H. and P. Associateds. Shortly after the purchase, the Sheftels closed the hotel to begin a major renovation project on the building. In January 1963, when the first stage of the renovations was completed, the hotel was reopened. The total renovation project was not completed until 1965. Thomas E. Driscall - first manager and proprietor - came to Calgary in 1905 as general agent for the Confederation Life Insurance Company. He left the city a short time later to work in the hotel business in Carstairs. He returned to Calgary in 1911 to take charge of the Empress. Charles Traunweiser - manager and proprietor from 1915 - came to Calgary in 1880's and went into the wholesale and tobacco business and managed the Hub Cigar Store. Later he went into the real estate business and then entered the hotel field. When he moved to Victoria in 1945, his son John A. Traunweiser took over as proprietor and manager. Sheftel family - have been residents of Calgary since 1923. Harry, Ben and Leo Sheftel operated a chain of food stores in Calgary from 1929 to 1960. * * * Regal Landmark Loses its Crown Workers are demolishing the 75-year-old Empress Hotel on 6th Avenue SW brick by brick, starting at the roof and working down. Elegant in her heyday, the Empress had a reputation as a place where an unescorted lady could feel comfortable and had advertised four bathrooms on each floor of 22 rooms back when that was something to boast about.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
(not assigned)

Register:

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places: