435 West Pender - Connaught > Balfour > Niagara > Ramada Limited Hotel

Some years back I had a great opportunity to research the history of what is now the Ramada Limited Hotel at 435 West Pender. Most of us remember it as the Niagara Hotel and mourn the loss of its landmark neon sign. Anyone remember it being featured in X Files?

Anyway most of the data file for it is on my other PC and it will take a while to access it, but I did find this great article from when the hotel opened. It is from the Saturday, June 28, 1913 Vancouver World Newspaper.

One of the things I love about Blogspot is that when you click on uploaded images you can enlarge them quite a bit.

I get a kick out of the language used promoting the article; it's pure hyperbole! A lobby that is "as clean as the conscience of a child"--Wow! Can you imagine The Shangrila or one of the other newer hotels promoting themselves this way. This post is mostly for its entertainment value. enjoy.

Okay, I realize you still probably need a magnifying glass to read this. Let's see if I can crop the main text part for you. Hope this is better. Remember, click on the image below and it should show even larger.

And here is the rest of the article on Page 9.

Oh, and by the way, here is the picture of H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, son of Queen Victorian and Prince Albert and the Governor General of Canada from 1911 to 1918. H.R.H. had recently visited Vancouver in 1912. The original Lumberman's Arch and a number of other commemorative arches were built at various locations across Vancouver streets to welcome him.