(Le Solle, Ridendau Bee)
Built in 1896, the establishment of rue des Jardins was first called “Hotel Quebec”. In 1906, he was renamed “Hotel King Edward”, perhaps in honor of King Edward VII.
At the time, there are “King Edward” hotels everywhere. In Toronto. In Calgary. Even in Napierville, in Montérégie. Tourist clientele is still a little aristocratic on the edges. She loves names evoking the royal family.
Go know. Since the owner of the premises is called Edouard Lapointe, the name of the hotel makes you smile. At the beginning of the 20th century, the names of businesses were teeming with word games or double -meaning expressions. On the rue du Roi, in the Saint-Roch district, there is even a tobacco company called “La Cie Garette”.
In 1927, the King Edward Hotel changed ownership and name. It will now be called the Lorraine hotel. Years later, in 1948, he found himself in the center of an amazing controversy, which will leave traces.
The owner wants to demolish the establishment to bring up an ultra -modern hotel of ten floors. The construction also supposes the demolition of adjacent buildings of 65, rue de Buade (current Dorsay) and 11, rue des Jardins (current Kréarto).
A little triumphant, Mr. has already distributed a leaflet to announce his future wonder.
O surprise, the town planning commission is opposed to the project. She believes that he contravenes zoning regulations in the old districts. She also took the opportunity to reveal her own grandiose project in the surroundings.
In the long term, the Commission would like to shave the sector to develop a huge place between Château Frontenac, the Basilica, the Town Hall and the Anglican Cathedral. She believes that the neighborhood would come out more “airy”.
The owner of the Lorraine hotel is furious. As if by chance, he demolished the building that houses his hotel the following year. The land will remain unoccupied for many years. It will serve as a terrace for decades …
In fact, it will be necessary to wait until 2014 for a building to be built on the vacant lot of the old hotel. Sixty-five years later …
Sources: Quebec Directors (1914-1921) and The sunOctober 6, 1948, p. 3.
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