by Mike Bradley
(2005) Norma O’Brien, widow of the late veteran City Councillor Pat O’Brien, is a long-time friend of mine. She, like many others, has been following with great interest, the restoration of the former Sarnia Hotel in downtown Sarnia by local businessman Pat Coutu into four beautiful modern apartments and ground level rental space. Norma’s interest is deeply personal. Her father, Charles Taylor, purchased the hotel and moved his family to Sarnia in the 1940s. Norma recently sent to me her memories of the Sarnia Hotel and the City in the 1940s.
“My Dad purchased the Sarnia Hotel on the corner of Front and George Street, in February, 1940and it was for that reason that Charles and Elizabeth Taylor and family moved to Sarnia from the big city of Toronto. It was quite a culture shock for all of us as Sarnia had approximately 18,000 people. I remember looking on a map to see where it was and in my geography book to see what it was noted for. It said it was a port for ships.
Everyone seemed to know everyone in Sarnia and Saturday night was a big night uptown (it fascinated me that they always called it ‘uptown’ but in Toronto we called it ‘downtown.’ It was a big night for the merchants and especially for the hotel business. There were six hotels in ‘uptown’ Sarnia – the Windsor, the Colonial, the Vendome, the Morden and the McFee.
The Sarnia Hotel my dad always called ‘a little gold mine’ because when he purchased the hotel Sarnia was just coming out of the Depression and the men at the plant (mostly Imperial Oil) did not have cars. They took the bus uptown and dropped in and had a few beers and then hopped on the next bus home. It was known as the ‘Working Man’s Hotel’ as the men could drop in wearing their work clothes and feel comfortable. The other hotels were a little classier so you had to dress up. Beer was only allowed to be sold in those days.
When I walk down Front Street today and see my Dad’s old hotel, I think to myself, ‘you are like the Rock of Gibraltar, standing tall for 182 years, watching over the beautiful River St. Clair.’ The hotel has gone almost unnoticed in the history books of Sarnia and historical society. And yet, if the walls could talk, what great tales it could tell. It has been through hell and high water and yet still there after 182 years, one of the few old buildings still standing.It was built (and named the Western Hotel)in 1822 by G.W. Harkness, and made of brick. Built before Sarnia became a town in 1856, Sarnia became a city in 1914. It was ‘Port Sarnia’ in 1836 and it was formerly called ‘Buenos Ayres.’ [Editor’s Note: This is not accurate – that name was suggested for the town at one time, but Port Sarnia was the name ultimately chosen.] Some wanted to call it ‘Glasgow’ but lost by 10 votes – sixteen for Glasgow and 26 for Port Sarnia.
In 1858 the curling rink was organized for games played on the bay. They always retired to the ‘Western Hotel’ after for their refreshments. At one time it was said that King Edward VII stayed there. Its past holds a lot of class.
About 1942, my Dad purchased the Windsor Hotel. Sarnia had become a boom town overnight with the building of the rubber plant (Polymer). Labourers poured in from the north and from the east coast, as everyone was looking for work after the Depression. Every hotel in Sarnia was booked solid every night. With the War, beer was rationed and the beverage rooms were open for two hours in the afternoon and two hours at night. Men were lined up to get in. These were very good years for ‘uptown’ Sarnia. Every business was thriving. This continued, year after year, as new plants were built in the Chemical Valley. More and more people were flocking in from everywhere. The population grew so fast.
Sometimes there were fights in the beverage rooms as men drank the rationed beer too quickly and they got into arguments. The police would come and they were always so kind. They would just put them on the bus and send them home. Everyone knew the police that walked the beat ‘uptown.’ They would always have a smile and say, ‘how are you today?’ Sarnia to me was a friendly, happy, safe place. Everyone was so nice to us and welcomed us to their city. I still love Sarnia and think it is a wonderful place to live.
My Dad sold the Sarnia Hotel to Mr. Martin in around 1944 and the Windsor Hotel to Mr. Keller in around 1947. He then purchased a hotel in Wiarton, and one in Chatsworth and one in Toronto.”
So the old Sarnia Hotel has quite a history – first called the “The Western” and then called the “Sarnia Hotel,” then the Sarnia Tavern, then “The Blue Sail” and then “The Coconut Club.” And now it still lives on, becoming an apartment building. It still has its beautiful view of the St. Clair River (Father Hennepin named the river St. Clair on the Saint’s Feast Day, August 12th, 1679. The Indians had formerly named it “Ottisissippi.”