Crowsnest Pass then and now – Greenhill Hotel
The Greenhill Hotel can be found in Blairmore (well…West Blairmore) Alberta, in the historic Crowsnest Pass, in the southwest corner of the province. The barn-shaped structure has been around for well on ninety plus years. Once a busy watering hole for local coal miners and also accommodation for those visiting the area, today things are pretty quiet there. We’ll be looking at it, first in the 1920s, an image seen on a vintage postcard sent to us by a long time reader, and again in waning days of 2015.
Goodness, it’s hardly changed at all.
The hotel dates from 1920/1921 (records differ a bit) and was built by West Canadian Collieries (WCC), a coal mining firm established a number of years prior. They operated the namesake Greenhill Mine at the base of Greenhill Ridge (I see pattern here), to the north, across the Crowsnest River. A huge operation, much remains of the old mine complex.
The WCC’s offices were located in the opposite the hotel (brick building centre distance). The company ceased to be in the late 1950s/early 1960s (reports differ somewhat, again). Their former building, dating from the early 1920s, is now home to hair salon and some other small businesses.
One major function of the Greenhill Hotel, in the early days, was as a meeting place for mine functions. It was also convenient accommodations for single mine workers, visiting dignitaries, investors, company directors, government officials and the like, who might come to visit the company’s vast coal operations in the Pass.
The “beer parlour” was a popular diversion for mine employees and locals alike. When the hotel opened, Alberta was still in prohibition so only a light beer of sorts (2.5% alcohol) could be served. Just drink more – same effect. The WCC firm probably made good money off employees who came to partake of libations. Pay ’em and get it right back by selling some brewskis.
West Canadian Collieries sold the hotel just after World War Two and ever since it’s been in private hands. Mention is made over the years of the owners living on the top floor – not sure if that’s still true today.
It’s not clear if accommodations are still offered or it only the “tavern” operates. Many old hotels can’t afford to update their rooms and as such they may not get rented out – or at best, sometimes they are used as long term living quarters only, apartments of sorts, for single old men and the like.
We came back after dark and no lights were burning on the upper floors, so we figure the rooms are not used. The tavern was quiet on our visit. I suspect it’s rarely busy.
On road trips back in the day it was normal for my folks to stop at the Greenhill Hotel, for a couple “quick ones”, while us kids entertained ourselves in the car, unsupervised.
The building has been historically recognized and is a connection back to the heady days when coal fuelled the local economy (the last mine closed in the early 1980s). The building exterior is stucco and wood, over brick – it’s of more substantial construction than it appears. The architecture is Queen Anne (ish), a style most characterized here by that wood framing seen on the exterior.
Notice how little has changed at the Greenhill Hotel between then and now. It’s amazing really, like time has stood still. The only major difference is the old sign seen in the postcard, and the fence connected to it, both now gone. Too bad, they had lots of character.
The other buildings seen across the road, ahead of the former coal mine offices which we spoke of earlier, were built around the time of the hotel. They’ve housed various businesses over the years, restaurants, stores, retail outlets and the like. The newer building far right, was a Super-Valu until recently but is now empty. The local economy is in the dumps (it seems they never recovered post coal).
When the “then” image was captured, the roadway in front was called Victoria Street (West). Now it’s 20th Avenue. Most would agree, the old name is better. The CPR’s Crowsnest Line runs to the right of the building, just off frame. We just missed a passing freight.
Seen poking out above the roof line in the now photo, far left (not clear in the old photo due to fading), is Crowsnest Mountain. Iconic of the area, it stands strangely alone in a wide valley and towers over Blairmore and nearby Coleman.
The old photo comes in from a reader, Gary Lange, of Blairmore and is dated 1924. A big thanks! We’ve in fact used this photo before, but this example is better cropped, so it demanded a revisit of the subject. If you have or know of an old photo or postcard, either one you own (your copyright), or in the public domain, that you think would make for a good then and now, we’d love to hear from you. Go to our contact page to find out more.
Our photo, as it always the case when we shoot a trademark BIGDoer then and now, was lined up in-camera. No post production razzle-dazzle! Just doing it right by eye. If you look close you will notice the hanging Santa in our 2015 image just to the left of and above the entrance.
More then and nows shot in the Pass…
Crowsnest railyards then and now.
Crowsnest Pass then and now.
Blairmore then and now – Sleepee Teepee Motel.
If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!
Date: December, 2015.
Location: Blairmore, AB.
Article references: Book: Crowsnest and its people, Crowsnest Heritage Initiative.
Our photos were shot from public property.
Do you have some photos of the building’s history opposite the Green hill?
Do you mean photo from the old days, or more recent? We seen some papers that touch on their history too, but nothing in depth as we recall.
Got it! I’m interested in the past use of one of the buildings and don’t know how to find it.
If you’d like us to do a little digging, we’re more than happy to do so. Contact us for more details.
Nice, how to contact you?
Here: Reach Us!
Let them know what your hoping to find and be as detailed as possible.
Was there a Greenhill coal mine there in the 20s and 30s?
Yes, and up to the late 1950s. It was a big operation.
Chris and Connie thank you so much for all your posts. I gleam so much exciting information and history that is almost lost or unrecognized as history. Keep up great work.
Lori, you are most welcome. It’s for you we do it – and it’s not always easy, but it’s so fun and interesting for us, and for all hopefully something to learn from. Drop by often!
Pretty well lived in that bar and the pass hotel on weekends in the early 80’s before facebook and internet.She would be packed by 6pm on a payday friday.Most of us were loggers back then.
Seems a lot quieter now. We have to pay it a visit.
After work at Shorties you could tell the drinkers’ professions by the colour of the dust. The limestone quarry workers were white, the miners were black from coal dust & we (the archaeologists) were dirt covered.😀
That’s wonderful! Everyone’s digging it.
To bad they don’t still have the old sign.
I know, isn’t it cool?!
Remember doing the clean up and restoration work on it when they had fire there.
Goodness, fires are always a problem it seems with these old hotels.
Had a few beers there at the Thunder in the Valley event back in the mid 2000s.
Yes, Thunder in the Valley. Knew of it, but never had the chance to go. Doh! We have to go inside the Greenhills…must…must…must.
We have to stop in there sometime. I bet it’s a time capsule inside.
It’s a date!
I miss camping across the tracks from there for thunder in the valley. Good times.
I so regret missing that event. Banging my head on this one.
I love the fact that so little has changed..great pictures.
Everything is the same. Never seen so little change over so much time. So cool!
I bet a lot of stories to tell over the years wow cool.
If the walls could talk, rehashing that overused and tired cliche. Yeah, if only.
Great pics know the area quite well as I lived in Fernie in my growing up years 💕
Glad you liked it. We simply love helping stir up good memories of the places we document.
Had a few drinks in that bar over the 5 summers doing archaeology in the Crowsnest Pass in the 1970s. Our camp was at the old Dance Hall & cabins at Crowsnest Lake. We knew every bar for miles…and there were a lot of them.😀 From Lundbreck to Shortie’s bar across the BC border.
Those are some incredible memories!
Great that the older buildings have been kept…..
And let’s pray it’s all kept up and retains that special charm.
Man,I could tell you stories about that bar,the pass and the turtle mountain. Back then everyone hit the bar on weekends for music,drinks and dancing.Some of us got there earlier then others like right after work and stayed all night in our logging gear while our wives and girlfriends joined us later to keep the shenanigans to a minimum.Bar fights always started about 10pm like clockwork. Good times!
I’ve been to many bars like that. Guaranteed MMA action every night!
We were there in the summer, great little place and town, so much to see.
It’s something special.
I love your articles… so much inspiration, the wee guy is turning six this year: exploration is in order!
It so pleases us so to hear that. We love what we do and we hope it shows. Yes, take him out and explore!
Annnnnd nothings changed😂😂😂
I know! What a time capsule.
Amazing!!
Thank you for stopping by.
My parents owned this. It’s got ghosts.
If it’s okay, I’m going to email you with some quick questions. I wouldn’t doubt for a second that it’s haunted!
I think we need to go inside!
Next time, it’s a date!
Slung beer there on occasion.
Into the ALCB glassed with the white fill line?
Been in there a few times.
I think I need to go.
Not a lot has changed except for the colour, haha!
Yup, that’s about it!
(via Facebook)
Awesome. That must have one of the lowest “change to year” ratios of any of these posts.
No kidding. Nothing, and I mean nothing, has changed.
Love your now and then shots. Terrific.
Thanks, we have so much fun doing them. We love the challenge too.