Iconic hotel celebrating centennial birthday

It started over a late night poker game in 1908.

While travelling in a train car to Winnipeg, Port Arthur mayor James Carrick told Canadian Northern Railway president William Mackenzie that the Lakehead needed a hotel and he had the land for CN to build it.

Three years and $850,000 later, the Prince Arthur Hotel was born.

With the hotel celebrating its 100th anniversary next Monday, general manager Tony Scarcello said great service and name recognition have helped keep the hotel open.

Scarcello added that with plenty of regulars from across generations, the hotel has a great history.

"They tell us their stories about their grandparents or their parents when they came here for brunch or some sort of special event in their life," Scarcello said.

Rooms could be had for as little as $1 per day when the hotel opened. Now those same rooms are going for about $80. While everything from wallpaper to the addition of wireless have changed in the 120 rooms at the hotel, Scarcello said the exterior has stayed the same throughout the hotel’s hundred years.

But throughout its life, some of the hotel’s features had to be sacrificed. The Prince Arthur once had a large sunken garden at the back of the hotel, which is now a parking lot.

"Unfortunately back then there weren’t as many cars as there are today," Scarcello said. "So the gardens had to go."

The hotel has seen its fair share of special guests over the years, some even say Queen Elizabeth II stayed at the hotel while travelling on her yacht in the 1960s said Scarcello.
"How true that is I’m not sure," Scarcello said.

The hotel will celebrate its 100th anniversary this Monday with a meal based on the original 18 course menu served during the grand opening at the hotel March 11, 1911 although some original choices, such as caviar, won’t be included.

The celebration is a fundraiser for the Thunder Bay Museum.

Tickets are available at the hotel or museum.