The King Edward Hotel, still fondly remembered by local residents.
# 1 THE WALDORF
First built in the Old Town in 1898 and later moved into the downtown area. Burned down four times and remained in operation until the late 1950s.
# 2 THE KING EDWARD
Built after the 1904 fire, in operation until it burned down in 1978.
# 3 THE QUEEN’ s
Opened in 1906 as a workingman’ s hotel offering $ 1 rooms. It was converted to apartments in 1944 and torn down in 1986.
# 4 THE ROMA / THE FERNIE
Phillip Carosella opened the first Roma Hotel on Victoria Avenue in 1903 as the‘ headquarters for Italians in the city.’ Rebuilt after the 1908 fire on the current location, the name was changed in 1945 to The Fernie Hotel, and it became The Fernie Taphouse in 2022.
# 5 THE IMPERIAL
Opened in 1909 and housed liquor agent and infamous bootlegger, Emilio Picariello. Abandoned in 1914 and demolished in 1956.
# 6 THE LEGION
Opened in 1926; still a popular gathering place and the home of Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 36.
# 7 THE ROYAL
Opened in 1909 and in operation until it was sold in 2020. A previous Royal Hotel was first opened in 1899 and
Outside The Workingman’ s Hotel.
located on Victoria Avenue, enjoying the reputation as one of the best establishments in British Columbia. It burned down in 1904, was rebuilt, and burned down again in 1908.
# 8 THE HOTEL FERNIE
Built following the 1908 fire and burned down in 1927. The site sat empty until the Sparling East Medical Clinic was built in 1968.
# 9 THE NAPANEE & KINGS
Two hotels built in 1905, the Napanee was named after the town of the same name in Ontario. Both buildings burned down in 1982 and were torn down shortly after.
# 10 THE CENTRAL
The‘ Workingman’ s Hotel’ opened in 1901 by Sarah Jennings, a partner in Klausman’ s Fernie Brewery, and William Eshwig of the Northern.
# 11 THE VICTORIA
The first hotel built on the new townsite in 1898. It offered $ 2 rooms and had a porter service that met every train. The hotel was lost in the fire of 1904.
# 12 THE NORTHERN
Built in 1898 by William Eshwig, a partner in the ill-fated Fernie Brewery, and Sarah Jennings of The Central. It had extensive modern conveniences including indoor bathrooms and electric lighting, plus a bar and barber shop. Has operated almost continuously for over 125 years.
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