1898 - The Waldorf

“The workmen who have been employed for many weeks past in transforming Dr. Burns’ college building into a first-class modern hotel have completed their work, and on Monday the Waldorf will be open to public inspection. Visitors who desire to take a look through the new house are invited, between the hours of 3 and 5 Monday afternoon.”

Hamilton Times. July 9, 1898.

The large building on King street east had dominated the south side of King, east of John street, since the late 1850s when it opened as the Anglo-American hotel.

The use of the building as a hotel was short-lived because of financial difficulties. That did provide an opportunity for Reverend Dr. Burns to open a college, the Wesleyan Ladies College, using all of the large building.

In July 1899 after the college closed, the building was ready to open to the public as a hotel once again. It was named the Waldorf hotel.

Monday July 11 1898 was selected as the date for a reception to mark the reopening of the building as a first-class hotel. Before paying guests were received, the doors of Waldorf were open to any who might like to inspect the renovations.

“At noon today, Hamilton’s newest hotel, ‘The Waldorf,’ was opened to the public, and the event attracted a large number of citizens to then handsomely remodeled premises so long known to the public as the Ladies College building. The decorators and furnishers have made wonderful changes throughout the entire interior of the large building, and the result is an elegantly-appointed hotel. On the ground floor is the large rotunda, writing and check rooms, billiard room and bar, and a large and delightfully-arranged dining room. There are 146 rooms for the accommodation of the guests, and all of these are newly furnished and decorated throughout. The fact that the furniture and fittings have been supplied by Mr. Alex. Thomson is itself a guarantee of their excellence. Much of this is of handsome design and fine workmanship, and is well worthy of inspection. The carpets, curtains, etc. were from Thomas C. Watkins’ establishment and reflect great credit on that firm. Ross Bros. were the contractors for the decorating, and the fine steel elevator was supplied by Leitch & Turnbull.

“A dinner, well-appointed in every respect, was served from 12 to 3, and a large number of guests were present. From 3 to 5, the hotel was thrown open to the general public, and hundreds of people took advantage of the opportunity to inspect the building. Among those at dinner was Mr. J.H. Flock, of London, who was present at the opening of the Anglo-American Hotel in the same building nearly forty years ago.

“Mr. R.M. Gilkinson, the proprietor of the new house, was the recipient of many congratulations on the appearance of the hotel.”

Hamilton Times. July 11, 1898.

The Waldorf Hotel would last until shortly before World War One when it was demolished to make way for the first-phase of the Royal Connaught Hotel on the site.