Kootenay Hotel - Trail, BC
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T0SHEA
N 49° 05.783 W 117° 42.943
11U E 447751 N 5438416
This mural is one of six in downtown Trail depicting stories of Trail's History. This mural is on the side of Gerick Cycle at the east end of Rossland Avenue.
Waymark Code: WMHZJ3
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 09/01/2013
Views: 1
In December of 1895, Fritz Sick of Spokane constructed the Kootenay Malting, Brewing and Distilling Company. It was built near a cold water spring in the 'Dublin Gulch' area of Trail for $5000.00. In August 1896, the building was enlarged under the supervision of Samuel Burris and by contractors Kaake and Williams. The converted four storey, frame building was turned into a hotel in 1901 by Fritz Mueller, who purchased the building from Sick. The Priores managed the hotel from 1911-1913.
By the mid-1920's, Emilio "Curly" Pisapio was the owner and under his management, the hotel became a major part of the social fabric of Trail's Italian community. In addition to the bar, there were 32 rooms, an Italian restaurant upstairs, a pizza shop in the two storey addition next door, a pool-room in the back with bocce and horseshoe pits outside. Italian dinners were pioneered by 'Curly' Pisapio and the restaurant was the predecessor of the now famous Colander Restaurant located in downtown Trail. Other early hotels situated in the Gulch area of Trail were the Kootenay (depicted here), Montana, Austrian and Rex. Of these, only the Rex Hotel remains today. Sadly, the Kootenay Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1978 after 83 years in operation.