Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
A1987.049.018 |
Object Name |
Transparency, Slide |
Tagline |
Slide of Wise's Hardware (formerly the Hoffman House Hotel) on Washington Street, circa 1950s. |
Collection |
MS 90 - Photograph & Negative Collection |
Description |
Slide of Wise's Hardware (formerly the Hoffman House Hotel) on Washington Street. The off-white building has a three-story side on the left (former Hoffman House) and a two-story side on the right (former Collins Hotel). There are windows on all the floors, but the first floor has large floor to ceiling windows that display the contents of the store. Since the building used to be two separate stores, there are also multiple entrances. There are two entrances to the store and an entrance to the apartments above on the far-left side of the building. The front of the building has a small awning with "Wise’s Hardware Furniture and Appliances" in large red lettering as well as three signs that extend from the second floor. One of the signs has the business name, one has a paint brand on it, and the other has "Furniture and Appliances". There are two cars parked in front of the business as well as a large power pole with multiple lines extending from it. The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #10 building (former Bodega Hotel) is to the left of the hardware store and has a brick exterior on the first floor and stucco on the second. A "FOE" sign with a large eagle figurine at attached to the building by the entrance. |
Photographer |
Mortifee Munshaw |
Medium |
Photograph Slide |
Provenance |
Located at 2044 Washington Street, the Hoffman House was built by Harry McIntosh in 1896. The Hoffman was considered to be one of the best hotels in Rossland during its time. The hotel featured a large bar room, dining room and kitchen, two club rooms, four bathrooms, 25 rooms, and four bowling lanes. The bowling lanes however were lost during a fire in 1913. The large rock wall along the railway route was often used to advertise the housing and food offerings of the city for those entering using the Canadian Pacific Railway. Rossland citizens refreshed these advertisements throughout the century since the hotel operated, keeping the tradition a live. It is unknown exactly when the Hoffman stopped operating as a hotel, but by 1934 it was converted into Hackney’s Hardware Store. Operated by Jack Hackney, the hardware store also encompassed the neighbouring Collins Hotel. Sam Wise bought the hardware store in 1944, changing the name to Wise’s Hardware. Sam Wise sold the business to Jack Malchow in 1966, who continued to operate it as Wise’s Hardware until 1988. Today, the Hoffman House is home to residential apartments and House of Paws (pet store). |
Search Terms |
Washington Street Wise’s Hardware Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #10 |
Subjects |
Photography Hardware Store Business Business District Fraternal Society |