American Hotel

On our way home from Lethbridge we stopped in Fort McLeod and explored the old historic downtown area.  The American Hotel caught our attention, as it is one of the only significant buildings that has not yet been restored.

We spent a couple of hours photographing it and like usual, my big camera attracted some attention.  We learned from some of the locals that a group of about a dozen families from Fort McLeod have purchased the building.  They are looking to start a non-profit society and restore the building for eventual use as low income housing.  It sounds as though the tavern will not be restored or re-opened.

A new roof was put on the building last fall.  All of the openings on the main floor have been secured, and some adjacent structures have been demolished.

It appears that there must have once been an attached building that housed the bathrooms for the tavern.  The footprint of it is still obvious, and there are blue and pink ceramic tiles on the exterior wall around the doors.

I understand that a clean up of the interior is underway, and that the electrical is being upgraded so that they have power to work on the restoration.  It will be interesting to see what it looks like when it is all done.  Though, as a fine art photographer I much prefer to photograph old historic buildings while they are in a state of decay, and before restorations are undertaken.