The Alexander Hotel and Barn, circa 1910

History / Biographical: Collected and catalogued by Pat Ammeter and Jean Bridge; These pictures, scrapbooks, and papers were brought to us by Jay Wilkinson, son of Ken and Isabel Wilkinson, grandson of Ogden and Clara Wilkinson, and great-grandson of Alexandre and Adeline Loiselle

Scope and Content: Reflections of Sylvan Lake, p. 64; In 1904, Mr. W.P.M. Jarvis bought land along the north-east shore and sold his first property to Mr. Loiselle who built the Alexander Hotel on it (at the site of the parking lot of the present golf course, Sylvan Lake Golf & Country Club); This hotel was equipped with a fine dining room and a very fancy bar where the liquor, which came in barrels, was sold by the shot at the brass foot rail; Mr. Loiselle built nearly a mile of sidewalk up the station and, when the train was approaching, the engineer blew his whistle to alert the kitchen staff that business was at hand; Reflections of Sylvan Lake, pg. 280; This well-built hotel... did very well as the railways were being constructed through Sylvan Lake and business was good; The Alex Loiselle family comprised the efficient management and staff; The hotel operated for 11 years, then was converted to apartments and, finally destroyed by fire; In later years this hotel barn was where Henry Holsworth rented out horses to ride

Notes: Buildings - Commercial - Farm - Livery Stable - Lodging; Site - Lakeshore Drive West and 55th Street