King Edward Hotel
639-641 Yates Street
Date of construction: 1891
Top floors added c. 1904
The top two floors were built over an existing one-storey block of
stores which included the Dawson Hotel, when this building was
converted to a luxury hotel. A building permit dated January 1,
1905 notes: "B.C Land & Investment Agency - Remodeling Dawson Hotel
(now King Edward) Yates Street - $10,000." The third storey has
Romanesque windows with stone arches and lintels.
In 1907, it was still known as the King Edward Hotel and also housed
Wescott Bros. dry goods and S. A. Stoddart jeweler. However, by 1922,
it was rented out as housekeeping rooms. Prohibition in 1917 had forced
the closure of many hotels.
In 1997, A. & B. Sound moved into the building and undertook
extensive renovations. With the demise of the business in 2008,
the building underwent further modifications and is now the home of Atmosphere - outdoor equipment and clothing.
This Hallmark Society project has been funded by the Hbc Foundation and the BC150-Heritage Legacy Fund.
Project manager and researcher: Helen Edwards.
Principal Photography & Consultant:
Ron Bukta, West Ventures Photography.