Many of our editions of Throwback Thursday tell stories of dramatic change, whether they be the welcome replacement of a parking lot with something more in line with the urban fabric, or the lamentable demolition of a revered historic property for a contemporary building complex. Today's article is refreshingly different in that it highlights a tangible lack of change, keeping a continuity to a streetscape that remains one of Edmonton's finest.

Whyte Avenue in 1907, image via University of Alberta Libraries

An archival image dating way back to July 1907 — four months after Strathcona officially became a city — depicts horse and carriage traffic navigating the unpaved roads of Whyte Avenue. The Dominion Hotel visibly hugs the right side of the image. Built in 1903 by Robert McKernan, the three-storey brick structure was decorated with wooden balconies and a cupola. The ground floor of the hotel housed the lobby, dining facilities and a beer parlour. Its original function would end with prohibition, with the upper floors later converted to apartments.

Whyte Avenue in 2016, image retrieved from Google Street View

While Edmonton knocked down a significant number of pre-war buildings during its boomtown phases, the charming storefronts along Whyte Avenue remained relatively unscathed. Steps from the sidewalk up to the covered entry of the former Dominion Hotel now lead to retailers. A reconstruction of the building in the 1980s reestablished the aging structure's facade, extending its storied life into the 21st century. Together with the Princess Theatre, which was built by Robert McKernan's son in 1915 on the other side of the street, the landmark structure is a reminder of a bygone elegance in architecture during the height of Strathcona's independence.

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