From Norman Roebuck Collection - Early Yorkton looking east on Front Street North now Livingstone Street.1892. On the left is the first Royal Hotel, which was at the time only two stories. It was enlarged later to three stores and made wider.
William Ruttle built the Royal Hotel in 1891. It faced Front Street North, on the corner of Second Avenue South. William Ruttle had made entry on a homestead under the York Farmers Colonization Company on May 30, 1887. Some pioneers who took up land, also decided to become businessmen. At some point, he handed over the management of the hotel to James Crerar. This hotel was later owned by Harry Bronfman and managed by Barney Aaron, his brother-in-law to be, who married Laura Bronfman. Bronfman tore it down in 1918, with dreams of building a more elaborate hotel. During the First World War, every large town was a recruiting centre. Yorkton was full of soldiers. The Royal Hotel was where they had their canteen. There was no booze after Prohibition was enacted on July 1, 1915. No beer or wine or hard liquor, just soft drinks.
(From: Western Grass Roots, An autobiography by Joseph F. Perkins P.H.R. 971.06 P). Researched at the Prairie History Room Regina Public Library)
Yorkton is 130 years old this year, dating back to its founding by the York Farmers Colonization Company in 1882. We are looking for photos and stories of pre-1970 Yorkton history.
Contact Terri Lefebvre Prince,
Heritage Researcher,
City of Yorkton, Box 400
37 Third Avenue North
Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2W3
306-786-1722
[email protected]
