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~ ~ The Enderby
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~ ~ King Edward Hotel
~ ~ Lambly's
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The King Edward Hotel was an important
feature of the town of Enderby in its day. It was a first-class hotel situated between
Maud and Mill Streets where the Department of Transport is now.
The King Edward was constructed in 1905 by Proprietor Paddy Murphy and Mr. T.G. Bell. Paddy Murphy moved from Minneapolis and was well known for his race horse (Earl Junior) which raced the grand circuit and won 12 of the 17 races. He brought this horse to Enderby so his friends could see what the fastest horse in the world looked like. Mr. Bell was married and had three children: Joe, Anita, and Bessie. Mr. Bell died young and his wife remarried Tom Hughes. In the 1920's Paddy's brother, Jim Murphy, arrived to help out and in 1922 he took over. The last owner of the King Edward was Dave Parken.
There were many obstacles concerning the construction of the King Edward Hotel. At one time Captain McAllister was planning on building a pleasure resort for the wealthy where pleasure yachts would tour the Spallumcheen and connect with the hotel at Sicamous. However, the proposition was not followed through and Mr. Bell acquired the lot.
Mr. Bell's next stumbling block was the application for a liquor liscence. Said the Edenograph: "But Enderby is not a drinking town, and a number of the property owners have conscientious scruples against signing for another drinking house. However, a petition was circulated and was signed by the larger part of the citizens, and it remains to be seen whether Mr. Bell will start the work." (March 1, 1905) Mr. Bell replied with this: "...it is my intention to give the town of Enderby a strictly first-class hotel, which I guarantee to operate as a quiet and orderly place, so that it may become a credit to the town." (April 19, 1905) His license was finally granted after a great number of signatures filled the petition, indicating the population was in favor of the hotel.
When the hotel was completed it was described by the Edenograph: "The building, which is called the King Edward Hotel, is 61 feet long by 41 feet deep, of a somewhat plain, but imposing appearance, and three stories high, of brick veneer. At the south corner is a tower, and a verandah runs from it along the front and north sides of the structure, from which a good upriver view is obtained. Two doors open in front, one into the office and the other to the bar. From the office we find the dining room on our left, which is bright and commodious; folding doors lead into the kitchen situated at the back. Behind the office is the poolroom, off which is the gents' lavatory. On leaving the poolroom we come into another passage, opening off which are two private rooms, a back stairway and two doors into the bar. A wide staircase leads from the office to the first floor. Here we find a ladies' parlor, general parlor and a writing room for commercials, ladies' lavatory, and Mr. Bell's private rooms, together with a goodly proportion of bedrooms. The second floor is taken up entirely by bedrooms, the total number of which is 22...The whole place is well appointed, and should be both a credit and an ornament to Enderby." (Sept. 20, 1905)
After the hotel was built there was another problem concerning the sewage. In 1905 there were no health services such as drainage, water, sewer, and public health inspection. The flush toilets drained into a cesspool which eventually overflowed onto Mill Street. The whole block was a problem, and eventually the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Fagan, issued an ultimatum. Finally a scavenger was appointed by the city "...to remove night soil and garbage and clean out cesspools," and a levy was placed on residents of the city requiring the service.
Once a septic system was installed, the hotel could boast such modern conveniences as running water for baths, flush toilets and electricity. The hotel was heated by a wood furnace. In 1912 major renovations took place. The spire tower was replaced by a gothic tower, a fourth level was added and a thirty-five hundred dollar bar installed. This hotel was also operated in connection with a fruit orchard and farm providing fresh food products.
Some of the characters that worked there have been tracked down. The maid was Minnie Atherton (soon became Mrs. John Johnson.) The bartender was Bill Hoffman. Jim Murphy also helped out whenever he could. When Dave Parken owned it he had a partner Joe Kral who would help in cleaning and sometimes behind the bar. The cook was a Chinese man and he was employed until the hotel burned down in 1947.There were some businesses in the hotel at different times. According to George Green there was a dentist office in the tower. And according to Ted Peel, "On the lot just west of the hotel, Mr. Murphy built a small frame building called the Sample Room. It was here that travelling salespeople would display their wares and merchants could come and place their orders." It seemed as though Pat. H. Murphy (full name) didn't have a lot of time for operating the hotel in Enderby. He also owned the Kalamalka Hotel in Vernon, and the King Edward in Revelstoke. "Paddy would often 'grubstake' miners. He gave them money to stake claims in the hope of getting some return. This may have been his downfall, " according to George Green.The hotel was still in very good shape when it burned down in 1947.
The King Edward Hotel was destroyed by a fire which started at 7:30 p.m. February 16, 1947. It began in a linen closet, but was of unknown origin. The cook of the restaurant, William Smith, discovered the fire after the dining room had closed and gave the fire alarm immediately.
The fire department was quick to arrive on the scene; although unable to stop the fire, it kept it from spreading to other buildings. Vernon crews arrived within an hour of the alarm. Difficulties occurred when the uncertainty of water pressure in small hoses due to ice and sand from the river made concentration of water impossible. A resident, Hedley V. Stevenson, made his escape just barely with burns on his hands and face. Approximately $50,000 damage made repair impractical, but Dave B. Parkin had the building insured.
The sturdy appearance of the brick veeneer structure caved in; little was salvaged. Although arson was definitely the cause of the King Edward fire, it has never been proven who started it. Many people suspected Dave Parken, owner at the time, to have started it because he couldn't keep up with the mortgage payments. The fire was apparently huge and firemen from Armstrong came down to assist in controlling it. Nobody was injured in the fire and the hotel did have insurance.
Mandy Daniell, Natasha Neumann, Vaughn Parkstrom
ALF School 1989