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WIhby's Royal Hotel eonsidered one of the finest hotels lu the '930s B'y BiRuÀNWINTER One of Whitby's Most historie buildings is the Royal Hotel, which bas been in operation for 120 years. It was built in 1872-73 to replace the first Royal Hotel, whicb was destroyed by tire in 1872. The architect for the Royal Hotel is the noted Torontonian Henry Langley, who also designed All Saints' Anglican Church, in Whitby, and St. Thomas Anglican Chtarch, in Brooklin. The Royal Hotel, operated by James Pringle. was officially opened with great fanfare on St. George's Day, April 23, 1873. A grand banquet was held in the dining room, attended by the most important people in the town. On May 2, 1877, Canada's first prime Minister, Sir John A MacDonald (at the ime leader of the opposition) made a speech at the Royal Hotel praising the local Conservative candidate, T.N. Gibbs of Oshawa. Among the proprietors of the Royal afier James Pringle were James Emaney. JLE. Schiller and James Black. in 1903, the hotel was sold to John H. Penrin, who operated a movie te- atre called te Royal Theatre in the building to the nortit of the hotel seven years later. - N. 'N From 1927 to 1969, te Royal Hotel was owned by te Rousseau family. In the 1930s, it had the repu- tation of being one of the finest hotels between Toronto and Kingston. Service clubs met there and politi- cal meetings were often beld in the hotel. In 1978, te paint was sandblasted off the front wall of lte hotel, reveal- ing the fine brickwork. An old ad-vertising card from the 1930s informs travellers that the Royal Hotel bas "excellent dining room service, home cooking and rooms with bath or running water." DRIAN WINTER is the archivist for the Town of Whitby. 'Bring In ibis ad and receive: ,VWa&In a 14, lm4 FOR INFORMATION ONq TmE AVAULABIITY 0F RETAIL ORt OFFICE SPACE OR FOR ADVERTSING InFORMATION FOR YouRL DOWNTOWN, CONTACT THE WmTmr Dowrrrowri BUSESS IumPOVEMT AnmE AT 666-4189 'bI off regular,. price ' ..........