You can see it from almost anywhere in Merritt, the famous flag-topped gold dome of our city’s most prominent historical landmarks – the Coldwater Hotel.

It is said to be haunted – after all a dead man was found by a chambermaid in one of the rooms in the 1960s. And it had some very famous guests over the years, including famous train robber Billy Miner.

But more about that later. The hotel was named after the Coldwater River that flows from the Coquihalla Pass and through our fair city.

In the early 1900s, when the coal mines first opened, Merritt was experiencing a building boom. A man  by the name of William McIntyre travelled to the valley in 1905. He was in poor health and had heard that the Nicola Valley had a reputation for “health restoration.”

His health improved and together he and George E. Hugh built the first Coldwater Hotel in 1908. It was a two-storey structure with twelve rooms and was located directly across the street from the present hotel. It was later torn down to make way for a jewellery store.

As Merritt continued to expand, the new (and present) Coldwater Hotel was opened in May 1910 with great fanfare.

Constructed for around $6,000 (which was lavish at the time). The three-storey building had a large barroom, a ladies’ parlour and running cold and hot water. It boasted 30 guest rooms, which was later expanded to 60 and had a seven foot verandah along the front and the side.

Many friends congratulated Mr. McIntyre on the success of what many had predicted would be a white elephant. The hotel became a very popular place to meet. Ranching was also a big part of the economy and the cowboys would “hitch up their horses” to socialize at the Coldwater.

It was around this time that Billy Miner, a noted American criminal who served several jail terms for train robbery was attempting to live a respectable life in Merritt, all the while hiding some securities and bonds in the area.  After fleeing to Europe for 28 months, Billy returned to Merritt and took a room at the Coldwater Hotel. He requested room #29, located directly beneath the dome.

All the while, Miner was being pursued by a relentless CPR detective Charles Brady. Billy had a large mirror installed above his bed in his hotel room to conceal an opening into the dome where he had stashed some of his stolen CPR property. Brady caught up with him and found the hiding place, discovering bonds and securities valued at nearly $300,000 Cdn.

The Coldwater was advertised as “The most comfortable and best equipped, dollar-a-day hostelry in the Interior.”

In 1911, the Hotel was purchased by Murdoch McIntyre, brother of the founder of the Coldwater for $36,000. Extensive renovations were made, including extending the hot water heating system to the third floor

The hotel faced ups and downs through the years along with Merritt and it saw a number of owners. In 1963, Jack and Valerie Egan bought the hotel and it was then that it gained the distinction for serving “Baron of Beef” lunches to the downtown business people.

The hotel made headlines in 1969 when the Merritt Herald received reports that “a dead person was being removed from the Coldwater Hotel” According to an RCMP press release at the time, “a man, aged about 37 has been found dead in his bed at about 11:30 a.m. by a chambermaid who had gone in to clean the room.”

There was very little identification on the man but it was discovered later that he was an unemployed transient who had been placed there for the night by welfare authorities. The coroner was called in and it was decided that he died of natural causes.

In 1974, Mr. Egan sold the hotel to Vince Smoluk, an antique collector. Smoluk treasured the old building was always excited about things he uncovered during various renovations. He updated the refreshment area to include a neighbourhood pub, complete with a bandstand and dance floor with the beer parlour located at the other end of the large room.

The Coldwater Hotel circa 1986.

The Coldwater Hotel circa 1986.

Business was said to be “fantastic.” A glass of beer was 10 cents and a larger glass sold for 20 cents.

Today the hotel is owned by John Allison and Marla Reed. When they bought it they looked at it as a whole new business and are proud of the 100 plus –year-old building. The bar is a hotspot in town and the afternoon light shows off the interior’s intricate and detailed woodwork which pays tribute to its history.

The hotel’s dining parlour still has Baron of Beef on the menu and John is quite willing to show guests photos of ghostly visitors that have appeared on various occasions.

For more information on the history of Merritt and the Nicola Valley, call or come and visit the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives, 1675 Tutill Court, (250)-378-4145. You can also visit our website at www.nicolavalleymuseum.org., or follow us on Facebook.