Have you ever felt the weight of history beneath your feet? Stand before Hotel Europe in Gastown Vancouver. This six-story marvel is more than just a building. It’s a testament to Vancouver’s past.
Hotel Europe’s story begins in 1908. Hotelier Angelo Calori commissioned its construction. Parr and Fee Architects designed this flatiron-style building. It was completed in 1909. It holds a special place in Canadian history. It was the first reinforced concrete structure built in Canada. It was also Western Canada’s first fireproof hotel. Contractors were brought from Cincinnati Ohio. They possessed the expertise for this pioneering project. The Ferro-Concrete Construction Company built it. This was six years after building the world’s first tall concrete building.
Imagine the bustle of activity at its opening. Guests arrived by bus from nearby steamship docks. The original Italian tile floors and leaded-glass windows remain. They are a stunning reminder of the hotel’s elegance. Its prime location near the docks ensured its initial success. Hotel Europe thrived for years. However the opening of a newer larger Hotel Vancouver in 1916 shifted the city’s center. Hotel Europe’s popularity declined. It eventually fell into disrepair. It even operated as a brothel.
Down below ground level a beer parlour once operated. It included areaways extending under the sidewalks. To prevent cave-ins the city filled these areas with pea gravel. This cost a considerable $215000. It’s a remarkable detail. It reveals the hidden infrastructure of Gastown. The gravel can be removed if the areaways are restored.
Hotel Europe’s cinematic history is equally impressive. It served as a filming location for several movies. These include The Changeling Legends of the Fall and The NeverEnding Story. Even the Korean girl group Twice used it for their Likey music video.
Today Hotel Europe is affordable housing. It’s managed by the Affordable Housing Society. Yet whispers of its past linger. Reports of ghostly occurrences surfaced in the 1980s. These include scratching sounds and unsettling feelings. A shadowy figure in a black coat and cap has also been seen. He seems to haunt the street-level poster shop. Perhaps he’s a former patron of the old beer parlour. He might be a nostalgic reminder of the Hotel Europe’s lively past.
So as you stand here before Hotel Europe remember its multifaceted history. This magnificent structure has witnessed the rise and fall of empires. It continues to be a captivating piece of Vancouver’s vibrant story.