The Windsor Hotel on Copper Street
BY: BG EDITOR
The "Old Windsor" Hotel, Greenwood B.C.
Boundary Creek Times - Jan 9, 1897
Jan 12, 2019 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
The earliest record we find of the Windsor Hotel in local historic newspapers is a September 1896 report that a mining engineer had been staying at the hotel for several weeks.[1] The hotel's construction was mentioned a month later:[2]
"The Windsor hotel, still one of the most picturesque buildings in town, was put up early in the year..."
In the fall of 1896, the hotel began what would be a very regular campaign of advertising in the Boundary Creek Times. The ad states that the proprietors are G. E. Seymour & Co. Mr. Seymour's partner at the time was Samuel Webb.
Boundary Creek Times advertisement, Sep 1896 through Jan '97
The partnership of Seymour and Webb is also memorialized in a November 1896 notice on transfer of the hotel's liquor license.[3] Here we learn that the Windsor was operating under license of another individual — James McMahon — who was transferring it to Seymour & Co.:
NOTICE
"To W. H. Norris, Esq., Gerald T. Hodgson, Esq. and James Kerr, Esq., Justices of the Peace:
TAKE NOTICE, that I intend to apply at the next sitting of the licensing court, to be holden by you for portion of the Osoyoos division of Yale district, for a transfer to Seymour & Webb (G. E. Seymour and Samuel Webb) of the license now held by us to sell spirituous and fermented liquors by retail upon the premises known as the Windsor hotel, situate on lots 31 and 32, block 7, in the City of Greenwood, British Columbia.
JAMES McMAHON
Dated at Greenwood City, B.C., Nov. 9th, 1896"
"To W. H. Norris, Esq., Gerald T. Hodgson, Esq. and James Kerr, Esq., Justices of the Peace:
TAKE NOTICE, that I intend to apply at the next sitting of the licensing court, to be holden by you for portion of the Osoyoos division of Yale district, for a transfer to Seymour & Webb (G. E. Seymour and Samuel Webb) of the license now held by us to sell spirituous and fermented liquors by retail upon the premises known as the Windsor hotel, situate on lots 31 and 32, block 7, in the City of Greenwood, British Columbia.
JAMES McMAHON
Dated at Greenwood City, B.C., Nov. 9th, 1896"
The Windsor and Pacific Hotels, Greenwood
It appears that Mr. McMahon had been engaged by George Seymour to initially run the hotel's liquor business, although as we learn in a January 1897 report, [4] Seymour was, in fact, the original proprietor. Here we also find the very unusual story of how George Seymour happened to land in Greenwood and begin building his hotel business:
THE WINDSOR HOTEL
"The Windsor Hotel, the building of which was commenced last March and completed in May [1896], is admitted to be the most home-like of the Boundary Creek hostelries. Mr. Geo. Seymour, one of the proprietors, was his own architect and hauled all the logs and lumber for the house. When he and his partner, Mr. Sam Webb, arrived in the camp they had by no means an easy time of it. In the first place nearly every carpenter in town was engaged, consequently the building of the hotel was a slow process; then there was very little lumber to be had, either for love, jawbone or money, and it was found necessary to purchase a team of horses and a wagon before the furniture could be brought in from Marcus*; and to put a climax on their misfortunes a load of glass and china went over a bluff on the road, and the fragments that remained weren't worth much.
At length the building was completed and opened on May 1st, though the license was not obtained until July 1st. Since then the proprietors have done a very profitable business, the Windsor hotel being a very popular institution in Greenwood and enjoying an increasing connection amongst the commercial travellers who regularly visit the city.
Mr. Seymour was widely known throughout the Northwest and for two years catered for the mess of Mounted Police at Lethbridge. His arrival at Greenwood was the result of accident. He was really bound for Revelstoke and upon reaching Trail he took the steamer for Robson.
Now at that time the boat did not go as far as Robson, the journey terminating, in fact, three miles below that place. Mr. Seymour asked the purser several times if their destination was Robson and receiving affirmative replies was quite satisfied to remain on the vessel when the other passengers got off at this point below Robson. Presently, however, he discovered that the steamer was returning to Trail, and having persuaded the captain to put him on shore, got some hasty directions of the road to Robson and started at a brisk pace to walk the distance which, he had been told, was only three miles.
In due course he came to a spot where the trail forked and naturally took the wrong turning, which led him to the track of the Nelson railroad. He continued to tramp on until dusk, when he vainly endeavoured to kindle a fire with two pocket handkerchiefs and a C.P.R. folder. But Mr. Seymour was perfectly prepared to "move on" upon perceiving two formidable cougars watching his movements with more than friendly interest and licking their chops at the prospect of a dainty meal off his best Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. Seymour decided to warm himself with a run. The cougars also thought a run would be enjoyable, and followed. At length, not being in a sociable frame of mind, the unhappy hero of these adventures fired a shot at his escort from a small calibre revolver and fortunately they took the hint.
Presently to his great relief he heard the distant sound of an approaching train. Keeping well in the glare of the front light, as the engine drew near he fired a shot. The train was stopped and tired, cold and hungry the miserable man was taken on board. Here before reaching Nelson a garrulous fellow-passenger told him about Lind's ranch, now the town of Anaconda, and the looked-for good times on Boundary Creek. Hence, instead of going to Revelstoke Mr. Seymour found his way to Greenwood, and the Windsor Hotel is the result."
[*Marcus, founded in 1863 in northeastern Washington, was permanently flooded by the Columbia River when the Grand Coulee Dam was built.]
"The Windsor Hotel, the building of which was commenced last March and completed in May [1896], is admitted to be the most home-like of the Boundary Creek hostelries. Mr. Geo. Seymour, one of the proprietors, was his own architect and hauled all the logs and lumber for the house. When he and his partner, Mr. Sam Webb, arrived in the camp they had by no means an easy time of it. In the first place nearly every carpenter in town was engaged, consequently the building of the hotel was a slow process; then there was very little lumber to be had, either for love, jawbone or money, and it was found necessary to purchase a team of horses and a wagon before the furniture could be brought in from Marcus*; and to put a climax on their misfortunes a load of glass and china went over a bluff on the road, and the fragments that remained weren't worth much.
At length the building was completed and opened on May 1st, though the license was not obtained until July 1st. Since then the proprietors have done a very profitable business, the Windsor hotel being a very popular institution in Greenwood and enjoying an increasing connection amongst the commercial travellers who regularly visit the city.
Mr. Seymour was widely known throughout the Northwest and for two years catered for the mess of Mounted Police at Lethbridge. His arrival at Greenwood was the result of accident. He was really bound for Revelstoke and upon reaching Trail he took the steamer for Robson.
Now at that time the boat did not go as far as Robson, the journey terminating, in fact, three miles below that place. Mr. Seymour asked the purser several times if their destination was Robson and receiving affirmative replies was quite satisfied to remain on the vessel when the other passengers got off at this point below Robson. Presently, however, he discovered that the steamer was returning to Trail, and having persuaded the captain to put him on shore, got some hasty directions of the road to Robson and started at a brisk pace to walk the distance which, he had been told, was only three miles.
In due course he came to a spot where the trail forked and naturally took the wrong turning, which led him to the track of the Nelson railroad. He continued to tramp on until dusk, when he vainly endeavoured to kindle a fire with two pocket handkerchiefs and a C.P.R. folder. But Mr. Seymour was perfectly prepared to "move on" upon perceiving two formidable cougars watching his movements with more than friendly interest and licking their chops at the prospect of a dainty meal off his best Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. Seymour decided to warm himself with a run. The cougars also thought a run would be enjoyable, and followed. At length, not being in a sociable frame of mind, the unhappy hero of these adventures fired a shot at his escort from a small calibre revolver and fortunately they took the hint.
Presently to his great relief he heard the distant sound of an approaching train. Keeping well in the glare of the front light, as the engine drew near he fired a shot. The train was stopped and tired, cold and hungry the miserable man was taken on board. Here before reaching Nelson a garrulous fellow-passenger told him about Lind's ranch, now the town of Anaconda, and the looked-for good times on Boundary Creek. Hence, instead of going to Revelstoke Mr. Seymour found his way to Greenwood, and the Windsor Hotel is the result."
[*Marcus, founded in 1863 in northeastern Washington, was permanently flooded by the Columbia River when the Grand Coulee Dam was built.]
The partnership of Seymour & Webb was a positive force in Greenwood. According to an October 1896 report in the 'Greenwood Gossip' column,[5] the proprietors of both the Windsor hotel and the Greenwood City Mercantile Co. were deserving of mention for grading the streets and removing boulders in the vicinity of their buildings, making the downtown corridor look smart.
A few months later, we find a report[6] that George Seymour became a founding member of an organization calling itself the Boundary Creek Mining and Commercial Association, led by Robert Wood. When the city reached the required minimum population of 2,500 residents, the M&C would take second chair to the new Greenwood Board of Trade, in 1899.
Seymour & Co. continued their steady advertising campaign for the Windsor, with an ad that ran from 1897 through 1898:
Boundary Creek Times advertisement
Although steadily advertising for more than two years, the Windsor Hotel was in operation under Seymour & Co. for only nine months of that time. In February 1897, Sam Webb left the partnership:[7]
Dissolution of Partnership
"NOTICE is hereby given that the partnership heretofore existing between Samuel Webb and George Seymour, carrying on the business of hotel keepers at the Windsor hotel, Greenwood, B.C., has this day been dissolved by mutual consent, S. Webb retiring. All outstanding accounts must be paid to G. Seymour who will settle all debts of the late firm.
Greenwood, Jan. 29, 1897
SAMUEL WEBB
GEORGE SEYMOUR
Mr. C. J. Eales has entered into partnership with Mr. Seymour, the business being carried on under the firm name of Seymour & Co."
"NOTICE is hereby given that the partnership heretofore existing between Samuel Webb and George Seymour, carrying on the business of hotel keepers at the Windsor hotel, Greenwood, B.C., has this day been dissolved by mutual consent, S. Webb retiring. All outstanding accounts must be paid to G. Seymour who will settle all debts of the late firm.
Greenwood, Jan. 29, 1897
SAMUEL WEBB
GEORGE SEYMOUR
Mr. C. J. Eales has entered into partnership with Mr. Seymour, the business being carried on under the firm name of Seymour & Co."
In the same edition of the Times announcing Sam Webb's retirement there was a story introducing the Windsor's new proprietor:[8]
"On Friday last Mr. Eales, formerly caterer for the Mounted Police sergeants' mess at Calgary, became a partner with Mr. G. Seymour in the proprietorship of the Windsor hotel, Mr. Webb disposing of his interest. The carpenters have been busy this week making alterations and repairs, great improvements in particular being carried out in the bar-room. It is the intention of the new proprietors to enlarge the hotel as soon as lumber is procurable in the spring. Mr. Webb left on Saturday for England."
In March of that year, another Times report informed that at least some of the property upon which the Windsor Hotel sat was owned not by Seymour & Co., but by a Mr. Powell.[9]
"Messrs. G. Seymour & Co. bought one of the lots occupied by the Windsor hotel from Mr. Powell last week for $500.00."
Again, Mr. Seymour's enterprise received notice by the Times editor, who this time complimented their landscaping efforts:[10]
"The appearance of the town might be wonderfully improved if property owners would follow Messrs. Seymour & Co.'s excellent example of planting trees on the street before their houses or places of business. All these things assist in giving a place an air of permanence, and strangers are likely to be impressed with this idea."
In May 1897 Mrs. Seymour departed for a visit to England, leaving her husband behind to work on the Windsor:[11]
"Messrs. Seymour & Co. are making several improvements to the Windsor hotel, among other things the building is being rustic-ed and a wide veranda added."
The new veranda is shown in the photograph below. The notion of a building in 1897 being purposefully made 'more rustic' brings a smile.
The Windsor Hotel — Copper Street, Greenwood, c. 1898
Boundary Creek Times — December 24, 1898
Following the May business of verandah building, in June, George Seymour found time to help organize Greenwood's first volunteer fire department.[12] At a meeting of the Commercial club, Seymour made a motion that a volunteer fire department be organized, and 22 men immediately signed the roll of volunteers. Later that month he departed for England to join his wife on holiday:[13] "Mr. George Seymour left on Thursday on a three months' visit to the "Old Country."
Although the Windsor's liquor license had been transferred to Seymour & Webb by James McMahon in November 1896, as mentioned above, the following year they were again applying for license. The Windsor, along with several other Greenwood hotels, was applying to the city's new Board of Licensing in November of '97:[14]
"As announced in another column the first sitting of the Board of Licensing Commissioners for the city of Greenwood will be held in Rendell & Co's. hall at 10 o'clock a.m., on December 8th. Five applications accompanied by the necessary petitions have been filed with the Clerk of the Court. They are the Pioneer hotel, J. W. Nelson; International hotel, E. B. Simmons; Windsor hotel, George Seymour & Co.; Commercial hotel, D. R. Campbell, and Imperial hotel, S. L. Graham. Mayor Wood, Mr. I. H. Hallett, Police Magistrate, and Mr. Geo. R. Naden, constitute the Incensing Board."
Apparently Mr. Eales, Seymour's new business partner, represented Seymour & Co. at the licensing board's hearing, but Mr. Seymour himself did not return from holidays in England until February 1898:[15]
"G. E. Seymour, of the Windsor hotel, who has been absent since last June, returned to Greenwood on Wednesday. During his absence Mr. Seymour visited England, France and the Isle of Man, and on the return trip taking in Chicago, Salt Lake City and a part of Texas. He reports the Klondike craze everywhere. Even the Spokane route has taken possession of some of the misguided and misdirected ones. Mr. Seymour will remain in the city."
Shortly after his return, a Times gossip column announced that the Seymours would be living in new quarters:[16]
"Mr. Geo. Seymour, of the Windsor hotel, has leased Mr. Elkins' house on Long Lake street. Mrs. Seymour will arrive from England next week."
Mrs. Seymour arrived that Wednesday by the Penticton stage, George meeting her there.[17]
Whether not entirely satisfied with their new lodgings or for other reasons, Mrs. Seymour promptly departed again for England.[18] George remained active in the community, however, serving on a planning committee for Greenwood's 1898 Dominion Day celebration. In July he took a business trip to Rossland, perhaps looking for more green pasture, and by September, was announcing the sale of the Windsor Hotel:[19]
THE WINDSOR HOTEL SOLD
"The Windsor hotel has been purchased by Mr. Frank S. Barnard for $9,000 cash. The Windsor is situated in the heart of the business portion of Copper street and has always done a big trade. Last spring the Old Windsor was removed to the rear of the lots and a large three-storey frame building erected in front. This has been fitted up with all modern conveniences, including acetylene gas.
The proprietors, Messrs. George E. Seymour and C. J. Eales, are among the most popular business men of the city. Mr. Seymour is one of the pioneers of Greenwood. Mr. Barnard takes over the building next month. He has leased it to Mr. Weeks, who arrived in the city a few weeks ago.
Mr. Barnard purchased the lots to the rear of the Windsor, facing on Silver street. The lots were owned by Mr. Christopher Wood. This gives Mr. Barnard the property between Copper and Silver streets, and plenty of room to enlarge the premises if desirable. Mr. Barnard purchased the lot on the corner of Long Lake and Greenwood streets, next to Capt. McMann's residence. On this is to be erected a tenement house, containing 10 suites of rooms.
Mr. Barnard has also awarded the contract for three four-roomed cottages on Long Lake street. He decided to enlarge the excavation to a depth of 70 feet on his two business lots on Copper street. As soon as the additional excavation is completed, a stone cellar is to be constructed, over which will be erected a handsome two-storey building that will probably be occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company and the Bank of Montreal."
"The Windsor hotel has been purchased by Mr. Frank S. Barnard for $9,000 cash. The Windsor is situated in the heart of the business portion of Copper street and has always done a big trade. Last spring the Old Windsor was removed to the rear of the lots and a large three-storey frame building erected in front. This has been fitted up with all modern conveniences, including acetylene gas.
The proprietors, Messrs. George E. Seymour and C. J. Eales, are among the most popular business men of the city. Mr. Seymour is one of the pioneers of Greenwood. Mr. Barnard takes over the building next month. He has leased it to Mr. Weeks, who arrived in the city a few weeks ago.
Mr. Barnard purchased the lots to the rear of the Windsor, facing on Silver street. The lots were owned by Mr. Christopher Wood. This gives Mr. Barnard the property between Copper and Silver streets, and plenty of room to enlarge the premises if desirable. Mr. Barnard purchased the lot on the corner of Long Lake and Greenwood streets, next to Capt. McMann's residence. On this is to be erected a tenement house, containing 10 suites of rooms.
Mr. Barnard has also awarded the contract for three four-roomed cottages on Long Lake street. He decided to enlarge the excavation to a depth of 70 feet on his two business lots on Copper street. As soon as the additional excavation is completed, a stone cellar is to be constructed, over which will be erected a handsome two-storey building that will probably be occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company and the Bank of Montreal."
Freed from his duties as proprietor of the Windsor, George Seymour next traveled to Brooklyn, returning on October 1st. A week later, the Times announced that he had taken on a new enterprise in the Boundary.[20] Seymour would become a syndicate manager for investors setting down the townsite at Niagara, situated near the junction of Fisherman Creek and the Granby River, about 12 km. north of Grand Forks.
"Niagara is owned by a syndicate, several Spokane capitalists being interested. Geo. E. Seymour, who recently sold the Windsor hotel, is their manager. He has already sold over fifty lots, the majority of them in Greenwood. Mr. Seymour is building a hotel at Niagara. Joe McDowell is building a blacksmith shop and D. W. Hicks will also build. Rendell & Co. intend opening a branch store. Mr. Rendell went over to Niagara on Tuesday last. Railway construction has begun in the immediate vicinity, Pat Welch having a contract for rock work."
Boundary Creek Times — Oct 15, 1898
Just after the announcement of his new position with the Niagara syndicate, the last of a long-running series of ads for Geo. E. Seymour & Co. was published in the Times, and on October 15th this announcement was made:[21]
Dissolution of Partnership
"Notice is hereby given that the partnership hitherto existing between Geo. E. Seymour and Cyril J. Eales has this day by mutual consent been dissolved. All accounts due or against said parties must be paid or presented to I. H. Hallett, barrister, Greenwood.
Dated this 15th day of October, 1898"
"Notice is hereby given that the partnership hitherto existing between Geo. E. Seymour and Cyril J. Eales has this day by mutual consent been dissolved. All accounts due or against said parties must be paid or presented to I. H. Hallett, barrister, Greenwood.
Dated this 15th day of October, 1898"
The next evening George hosted a dinner for a few of his friends.
Although his Greenwood partnership was dissolved, George Seymour promptly began building his newest hotel — also named the Windsor — in Niagara. [22]
"Messrs. Shaw & Lawder have their hotel building completed, as has also Geo. E. Seymour. The greatest barrier to the speedy erection of buildings is the lack of lumber." … "Geo. E. Seymour's hotel, the Windsor, will be opened in about ten days."
The following week's paper reported the grand opening, amidst stiff competition:[23]
"Mr. Geo. Seymour's hotel was opened at Niagara on Monday. Altogether seven hotels are being put up there — all except two being on Main Street."
Although George Seymour had sold his interest in the Greenwood Windsor in September 1898, it was another two months before his liquor license was transferred to the new leasee, Mr. Weeks:[24]
"Notice given that at the first sitting of the Board of License Commissioners for the City of Greenwood, George E. Seymour & Co. would be applying for a transfer of the hotel license held by the Windsor hotel, situate on lots 31 and 32, in block 7, to Ernest Edwin Weeks."
Just four months after opening his new Windsor in Niagara, Seymour was apparently making a speedy exit:[25]
"Geo. E. Seymour, who has sold his interest in the Niagara townsite, was in Greenwood this week."
This announcement was quickly followed by Mr. George Seymour's departure. On May 3, 1899, the Times made this final announcement:[26]
"Geo. E. Seymour leaves in a few days for England in connection with a mining deal which he is negotiating for "Old Country" people."
That marks the last footprint we find in the Boundary on the activities of George E. Seymour. Since that time, the Windsor Hotel has had many owners, and another 120 years of interesting stories have unfolded there. At present, the residents of Greenwood are awaiting the next chapter.
The Windsor on Copper Street, Greenwood
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Boundary Creek Times — Sep 19, 1896, p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170724
[2] Boundary Creek Times — Oct 17, 1896, p. 2
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170615
[3] Boundary Creek Times — Nov 28, 1896, p. 9
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170619
[4] Boundary Creek Times — Jan 9, 1897, p. 3
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170347
[5] Boundary Creek Times — Oct 10, 1896, p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170618
[6] Boundary Creek Times — Dec 05, 1896, p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170311
[7] Boundary Creek Times — Feb 06, 1897, p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170328
[8] Boundary Creek Times — Feb 6, 1897, p. 9
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170328
[9] Boundary Creek Times — Mar 06, 1897, p. 7
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170454
[10] Boundary Creek Times — Apr 24, 1897, p. 8
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170214
[11] Boundary Creek Times — May 22, 1897, p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170533
[12] Boundary Creek Times — Jun 12, 1897, p. 8
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170437
[13] Boundary Creek Times — Jun 19, 1897, p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170434
[14] Boundary Creek Times — Nov 27, 1897, p. 9
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170624
[15] Boundary Creek Times — Feb 12, 1898, p. 8
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170329
[16] Boundary Creek Times — Mar 05, 1898, p. 5
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170459
[17] Boundary Creek Times — Apr 23, 1898, p. 11
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170219
[18] Boundary Creek Times — Sep 24, 1898, p. 8
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170728
[19] Boundary Creek Times — Sep 17, 1898, p. 13
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170681
[20] Boundary Creek Times — Oct 08, 1898, p. 3
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170682
[21] Boundary Creek Times — Oct 15, 1898, p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170623
[22] Boundary Creek Times — Oct 22, 1898, p. 14
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170660
[23] Boundary Creek Times — Oct 29, 1898, p. 12
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170659
[24] Boundary Creek Times — Nov 05, 1898, p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170579
[25] Boundary Creek Times — Mar 01, 1899, p. 4
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170415
[26] Boundary Creek Times — May 03, 1899, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170490
