Situated on Dawson City’s Front Street, the old hotel certainly was unique and interesting, a part of the Klondike history that definitely should not have been torn down. I believe we lost it around the mid-50s.
It was one of several early day hotels Dawson City lost around that time period.
The old Regina Hotel was part of that group — it was probably the tallest building in the gold city.
Many thanks to Samson Hartland and Lorrie Greer for their answers.
Hi Jim:
The hotel lobby you have shown is none other than of the Royal Alexandra Hotel in Dawson City.
Located across the street from the CIBC, its original name was the Flora Dora owned by Murray Eads and his wife Lulu Mae Eads.
It was known as Dawson’s classiest dance hall (some of its dancers shown on the life size oil portraits) and for its snake room and card tables in the back of the hotel.
I would hazard a guess this photo was taken sometime in the late ‘30s or early ‘40s, a time when oldtimers like Black Mike, Snoose Benson and Little Dave, from the creeks and about town used to hang out there.
Might they be some of the fellows in the photo?
Also, I can’t be entirely sure, but I believe this to be a Bert Bridgman photo.
I trust all is well with you.
Take care.
Samson Hartland
Whitehorse
Jim Robb:
I think this might be a picture of the old Whitehorse Inn.
In and around 1970, my good friend at the time was Stacy Harder. Her dad, Paul Harder, managed (owned?) the bowling alley that was in the basement of the Whitehorse Inn.
Stacy and I used to ‘set pins’ at the bowling alley for 50 cents a game.
I was only in the upstairs part of the building, in the Whitehorse Inn hotel, a few times; I think to take messages upstairs to the hotel manager from the bowling alley manager.
It was scary up there for a 10-year-old.
There seemed to always be old men in chairs that lined the wall and they all stared at me as I delivered the message.
I remember the lobby being big and open with tapestry type rugs on a wooden floor.
There were very large pictures of scantily dressed women also, just like in the picture.
Thanks,
Lorrie Greer
Side note: Stacy’s older sister, Janet, married Doug Thomas who owned/managed the Gold Rush Inn (aka the Ben Elle Hotel).