The Alberta Hotel, Edmonton, Never Looked as it is Made Appear in the Plaque Picture, Attached to the new Replica Building.

 Plaque Photo-The photo-not the plaque(material it is otherwise made of)-is public domain

The carriage is shown parked where there was an iron pipe railing protecting people from falling into and down the stairs leading to the hotel basement (see, especially, colour photo below).

Placing a plaque with this VERY obviously, very much, RETOUCHED, photo on the Replica Alberta Hotel is a supreme insult to the highly talented (the work can not be duplicated now days), artists and craftsmen who did the original work. Some people might even claim that it is an insult to the former King and the Queen Mother. They stayed in the rooms(later,with balcony fire escapes) just above the Main (corner) entrance.One thing the Alberta Hotel had in common with the Jasper house/Hub Hotel, both originally, had doors, without a balcony or protective railing, that opened to thin air.The difference; instead of just one such door, the Alberta Hotel had four. It took a while for local blacksmiths to construct the iron balconies, railings, stairs, and fire escapes; which were all forge; not acetylene welded.

Grandfather, Sandy Girvan, did much of the tile work, front bar, off the lobby in the original hotel, and granduncle John  Girvan (Girvan Studio- SEE POSTING: The Canadian Branches of the Girvan/Cameron Family)-contributed the plaster work (wall and ceiling of the same area, very similar to his work in the Gem theatre and some similar to his work in the McDonald Hotel). Grandfather Girvan also did much of the stone work and carving on the front of the building. When it was owned by Mrs Lucas (she would work herself as a chamber maid in  the Queens Hotel, directly across on the other side (south) of Jasper Avenue) I worked for a time in the historic Alberta Hotel.
When we were first married,, my wife and I stayed in the hotel on several occasions.
Charlie, for a time ran his (Very Well Known, Community Icon; he had also operated in the Gem theatre building)Tokyo Restaurant[original location, white building, right side of photo],-Neither he or the restaurant were Chinese and he did not serve ethnic foods) in the hotel.

Because it clearly shows three facts, not commonly known, or at least admitted, by most "experts" on   Edmonton Historic buildings; this photo undoubtedly should be the one on any plaque. Scrutinise closely the lower, two story adjoined building, left in photo. What is written on the front? Right; at the time this was the ONLY sign identifying the Alberta Hotel..The Alberta Hotel was built in four, separate, but, later, adjoined sections, and the floors weren't quite at the same level. Although, the hitching posts are not visible, the horse and sled indicate where they were, for many years, located. Visible behind pole is the pipe railing that kept from falling into the stairwell; which lead to the basement. The uniquely shaped, conical, tower roof, is the feature that made the Alberta Hotel one of the most visible and well known landmarks in all of Edmonton.

It was in the portion of the original beer parlour(Four windows, behind front lobby and,  later, elevator; that grand uncle John's work was to be seen, while  grandfather Girvan (GIRVAN STUDIOS, described as "the renowned interior and finishing firm of the era" did tile work in the same area, most of his stone work was on the front entrance tower.

The Alberta Hotel as it  ACTUALLY LOOKED-the smaller sign, attached to the building(colour photo) is above the door leading to the restaurant. The photo was taken about the same time Charlie was operating it as the Tokyo. Just a short distance behind the church (background, same photo) is where Edmonton's last log cabin was located. The church also marks(running north,behind the hotel, as pictured) the beginning of CHURCH STREET, which extends to 118th (Alberta) Avenue.There were also at least four bars or beer parlours and numerous brothels. For over Half a century, I lived in, and worked out of, this area.

Another, rather amusing story, about the Alberta and Queen's Hotels and the people, living in the community, who frequented them: There was this old retired fellow who stayed in the Queens Hotel,  for years. Now, while the rooms were less expensive, the Queen's didn't have a restaurant. He of course, didn't want to enter the Phoenix(no older person did). And, he didn't care for the other two restaurants that operated within two blocks on that side of Jasper Avenue either. Besides, as he  so often put it, "he preferred to drink his beer and eat, in the Alberta Hotel anyway. Mrs Lucas reserved a special table for him, right beside my uncle and grandfathers work. That's not the story.
This fellow, every morning, would take a taxi/cab, from the Queen's to the Alberta and eat breakfast. He would then take another cab from the Alberta Hotel, to the Queen's Hotel. where he would order two beers, and wait the twenty minutes or so for The Alberta Hotel to open. He would then take another cab from the Queen's back to the Alberta, so he could sit and enjoy his beer at his favourite table. Towards evening, of whenever  he felt that he'd had enough to drink; he'd take another cab back to the Queen's. He did this every day, except. at that time Sundays.
Eight cabs, eight cab fares; and he had travelled, only, about 800 feet, by taxi/cab. 
He was not mentally handicapped, and he had no problems with mobility or walking. He would walk on the sidewalks, either side of the Avenue. He would walk in, to and from the hotels. He just never walked across Jasper Avenue-some of the old timers claimed-in his life.
That was what he "preferred"  and he did not object to paying the cab fare. 
Many of the cabies did, or had, operated out of the "Smallest Commercially Operated Multi-story Building in the World",(Guinness ), so they wouldn't even charge him. In which case he would figure a way to pay them in some other way. © Al (Alex,Alexander) D. Girvan. All rights reserved.
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