Key Number:	HS 30170
Site Name:	Dominion Hotel
Other Names:
Site Type:	0405 - Mercantile/Commercial: Hotel or Inn 0908 - Transportation - Road Facility: Mile, Post, Stopping or Way House

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			53	24	4

Address:	10324 - 82 Avenue
Number:	24
Street:	103
Avenue:	82
Other:
Town:	Edmonton
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Rectangular Long Facade
Storeys:	Storeys: 3
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Concrete
Superstructure:	Brick
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Flat
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:
Exterior:	Recessed entrance to antique shop and meat market. Full width covered balcony at second floor level covered, partial balcony at third floor level elaborate cornice. Built in 1903, this brick building has a stone cornice and wooden balconies.
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	Old Strathcona preservation area. Lot size: 30' x 120' Located in the Old Strathcona cetral business district, it is an integral part of the historic Whyte Avenue facade. The present site and situation are functionally compatible with the original function of the Dominion Hotel.
Condition:	Structure: Fair. Repair: Poor (1978). Originally a brick building with a facade consisting of ornate wooden balconies, a decorative central cupola and stone cornices. The cupola was removed to prevent structural damage to the facade. Much of the ornate woodwork has been removed, what remains needs paint and shows signs of weathering. The exposed brick work on the front and sides of the building shows cracking above most of the windows. The building is in fair to good condition. (1975).
Alterations:	The building has undergone a functional change - ground floor extensively remodeled. The ornate cupola, most of the ornamental work and the original balcony railing have been removed. There is some sagging toward the centre and cracks in the brick facade.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Hotel	1903/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Residential: Apartment Building Hotel/Hall and beer parlor Retail outlets and rooming house	1907/01/01 1975/06/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
Nanton and Munson Robert McKernan James Douglas and Thomas W. McKernan James H. McGuire Gerge M. McGuire The Dominion Hotel Ltd. General Administration Soc. Est. of Leonard Pheasey and Dollie L. Pheasey Leonard & Dollie L. Pheasey Dollie Lena Pheasey	1894/01/11 1902/01/25 1908/07/28 1912/08/21 1914/06/11 1914/06/11 1916/12/14 1945/02/03 1945/02/21 1966/02/16

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	Robert McKernan
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Designated - Registered Historical Resource July 14, 1976. The Dominion Hotel was built in 1903 by Robert McKernan, whose son, John W. McKernan, built the architecturally unique Princess Theatre across the street in 1914. At the time of the Hotel's construction it was the most ornate of the buildings on Whyte Avenue. The architecture consisted of a relatively simple rectangular three story brick structure. The facade, however, consisted of elaborately decorated wooden balcony topped by an ornate central cupola giving the structure a distinctive Victorian appearance. The building originally functioned as a hotel with the ground floor containing the lobby, dining facilities and a beer parlour. The hotel function ended with prohibition when the upper floors were converted to apartments and sleeping rooms. The ground floor has been occupied by a variety of retail outlets. * * * - Built by Robert McKernan. Opened Oct 6, 1903 - One of first hotels in Strathcona - Estinated original value $ 20.000 - Wood tower shown - Present Owner - Dollie L. Pheasey 1894 January 11 - owner: Nanton And Munson 1966 February 16 - owner: Dollie Lena Pheasey Owner - Mrs. L. Pheasey, 4140 Crown cresent Vancouver British Columbia Original owner - Robert McKernan Dominion Hotel, 66 Whyte Avenue E. * * * This hotel was built in 1903 by Robert McKernan who was one of the first settlers in the Edmonton area. Robert McKernan farmed in the Strathcona area for many years and was the father of John W. McKernan who in 1914 built the Princess Theatre. The front facade of this hotel had a very distinctive design featuring balconies and a tower above the third floor. Originally the ground floor was a combined lobby, dining hall, and beer parlor. Closed down as a hotel during prohibition, the the upper floors were converted to apartments and the ground floor was used by Backus Feed Store. Subsequently the ground floor has been occupied by Mrs. Harpers Candy Store, and then a butcher shop. Currently the ground floor has two commercial outlets. Acme Meats and a vacant area formely occupied by a second hand store. Over the years much of the original ornate woodwork and the tower have been removed. Overall this building is now in fair to good condition. * * * The Domion Hotel is of local importance. It served as a landmark for the Strathcona community lending an air of prosperity, with its ornate appearance, to the growing community. * * * DOMINION HOTEL Robert McKernan, a local pioneer, built the Dominion Hotel in 1903 with the profits from his farming ventures. With at least 33 bedrooms, several public parlours, a dining room and a beer parlour, the Dominion was known as one of the most spacious and relaxing stopping houses in Strathcona. At the time of its construction, it was also the most ornate building on Whyte Avenue. Nevertheless, when prohibition came into effect in 1916 and the hotel ceased to sell alcohol, the popularity and success of the Dominion dwindled, and eventually it had to close its doors. In subsequent years the upper floors of the Dominion Hotel building served as rental accommodation, with various retail stores occupying the street level. Over the years many alterations were made to the hotel. It lost its tower and settled on one side a great deal before it was designated a Registered Historic Resource in 1976. Since then it has been restored to its original splendour by the Old Strathcona Foundation. A fourth floor has been unobtrusively added, and today the Dominion Hotel houses a variety of offices. The Dominion Hotel, like many Victorian buildings, owes its striking character to a wealth of applied detail. In this case, three tires of wooden balconies have, in effect, been superimposed onto the facade of an unadorned brick building. The Chinoiserie style of the ornated woodwork blends surprisingly well with the french mansard roof surmounting the central tower to produce a unique and striking image.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:

Register:

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places: