It’s Wayback Wednesday, sponsored by Pharmasave Huntsville!
The iconic building burned down in 2009, but it lives on in the stories and memories of the people who loved it.
Who wants to share a memory or two about the old Empire Hotel? Tell us what you remember in the comments.
(Photo from the 1980s by Dr. N.E. Hunt, courtesy of Muskoka Digital Archives)
Last week we shared this photo:
This postcard image, looking across the Muskoka River at the swing bridge, town dock, and downtown Huntsville, is undated but there are some clues to when it might have been taken. Take a guess in the comments.
If you want to see more Wayback Wednesday photos, click here.
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Back in the 30’s I remember how busy the Empire Hotel was on Saturday night . It was a meeting place for the week, payday and grocery shopping .the bar was busy. I helped another boy in 1939 delivery the Toronto Star. Usually on Saturdays we had extra papers and we would go into the bar at the hotel and always sold the extras. From the condition of many of the patrons they would have difficult reading the paper, but we got the five cents a paper.
In June 1964, my wife Maryellen and I spent our honeymoon at Limberlost Lodge, north-east of Huntsville. The sunny days were fun filled with swimming, canoeing, horse back trail riding and enjoying the natural beauty of Muskoka. The evenings, [not to mention the late, late nights, ahem!!], were very quiet unless one entered a Parcheesi or Crokinole tournament.
Our haven was the cellar lounge at the Empire Hotel in Huntsville where one could enjoy a summery beverage and watch the unfolding circus of cronies and habitués of the Empire Hotel.
We chuckled our way home to our cosy Limberlost cottage on Solitaire Lake.
Who knew that in 10 years we would move to Muskoka? We are in our 45th year as full time residents of Gravenhurst,….and it all started at the Empire Hotel.
Now if only we could go shopping at our favourite Eaton’s store on the main street of Huntsville, just a block from the Empire.