Mixerr Reviews: History behind Lisgar House Hotel explored.

The Lisgar House Hotel is one of the forgotten house hotels of Canada. This news article will reveal history behind the Lisgar House Hotel.

Lisgar House Hotel was built sometime around 1860 on Manitoba Avenue and Eveline Street. However the certainty of the date is unknown. James O'Donohue was the owner of the Lisgar Hotel House.

A water well was dug on the Lisgar House Hotel property and went 100 feet deep until hitting bedroom limestone. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=DPFZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA104&lpg=PA104)

The Lisgar House Hotel offered booze and “accommodations” to travelers from the late 1870’s onwards. Even into the 1960’s, as many as 30 drunken men could be seen brawling near the corner of Manitoba and Eveline on a Friday night. (Ref: https://selkirkmuseum.ca/exhibits/streets/manitoba-avenue/)

The Lisgar House Hotel was known for a having a set of stables which stored carriages. Next to the stables was a veranda. Two-wheel carts and buggies were put on the tops of buildings, such as Campbell’s stable and Lisgar House verandah, (of course the out-houses were very seldom overlooked). [Ref: https://archive.org/stream/N021533/N021533_djvu.txt]

Noisy brawls involving 25 or 30 Indians down at the Lisgar Hotel were common during the 19th century and 20th century.They were, according to the Selkirk Herald, "noted for their thriftlessness, immorality, and indolence." (Ref: www.mb1870.org/localhistory/118%20-%20Selkirk%20the%20first.pdf)

It was not simply that the reserve prevented settlement; the town was constantly having trouble with the Indians, too. They were, according to the Selkirk Herald, "noted for their thriftlessness, immorality. and indolence."

The free flow of liquor in Selkirk's hotels did nothing to help matters, of course, and noisy brawls involving 25 or 30 Indians down at the Lisgar Hotel were common. It was said that the "braying" of drunks on the streets at night was a regular occurrence, and women did not venture out after dark for fear of assault. In 1888 a quarrel between an Indian from the reserve and an Italian who lived in a shack down by the river ended when the Italian drew his revolver and shot the Indian in the chest. Somehow the victim managed to stagger down the street to Mackenzie and Smith's store, and a doctor was called, but the man did not survive. About the same time a great disturbance took place on the reservation itself when close to 1,000 Indians, upset at the way in which the government allocated food supplies, surrounded the Indian Agent, held him captive while drowning out his cries for help with war whoops, and stole the entire ration of bacon he had brought with him. Incidents like these, which received tremendous cover-age in the local newspaper: did nothing to encourage farmers and their wives to shop in Selkirk.

Lisgar House Hotel went under renovation in 1887. Two young messrs from Winnipeg took possession of Lisgar House Hotel during that time. (Ref: https://mayawalk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/130912.selkirk-record.pdf)

“The Lisgar House seems to be undergoing a renovation. The two young men from Winnipeg, Messrs. Donohue and McLaren, who have taken possession of it, are apparently intending to having it fitted up in first class style. The bar has been painted and put in order in the latest fashion, and the whole house has been thoroughly made new, and has a neatness about it which is refreshing. We hope the business of the place will remunerate them for their outlay.”

Martin J. O’Donohoe entered the hotel business in 1889. Martin J. O’Donohoe bought the Lisgar House at Selkirk in partnership with John Martin in the year of 1889. He imported a large number of shade trees and had them planted on has property on Eveline Street. (Ref: www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/odonohoe_mj.shtml)

The Lisgar House Hotel was sold in 1907 when Martin J. O’Donohoe wanted to pursue a career in politics. Martin J. O’Donohoe sold the Lisgar House Hotel property to Mr. Eastwood of Winnipeg for $22,000 dollars. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/selkirk-enterprise-sep-04-1974-p-4/)

For whatever reason, Lisgar House Hotel was torn down in 1908. However the building was rebuilt in just less than a year. (Ref: https://archive.org/details/cu31924028900947/page/n45/mode/2up?q=lisgar/)

A fire destroyed the house hotel one morning in 1915. Luckily the loss was covered by insurance. The fire brigade were called to fight the blaze. (Ref: Winnipeg Free Press, Selkirk hotel damaged by fire.)

“Early hour this morning fire damaged the Lisgar hotel and contents to the extent of the kitchen and dining room were completely destroyed and part of the upstairs damaged the fire is thought to have started from a defective Chimney in a room Over the Kitchen. The loss is fully covered by insurance.”

The fire brigade were called to fight a night blaze in the poolroom at the rear of the Lisgar House Hotel on the night of February 20, 1916. Defective wiring was the cause of fire. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/selkirk-enterprise-feb-18-1976-p-3/)

“The fire brigade were called to fight a night blaze in the poolroom at the rear of the Lisgar Hotel, owned by A. Comber. The building and contents were gutted before the flames were brought under control. The place had been closed-up for some time and the cause of fire was defective wiring.”

According to the Selkirk Enterprise newspaper, Ed Crerar was the operator and manager of Lisgar House Hotel in 1950. He continued to act as the owner throughout the 1950s and 1960s. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/selkirk-enterprise-aug-03-1950-p-1/)

Ed Crerar was still listed as the operator and manager of Lisgar House Hotel during the 1960s. He continued to act as the owner. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/selkirk-enterprise-nov-17-1965-p-13/)

According to Selkirk Enterprise, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Cuffe took over the management of the Lisgar House Hotel in September 1966. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/selkirk-enterprise-feb-22-1967-p-3/)

Lisgar House Hotel was renamed to Lisgar Hotel Co. Ltd in late 1968. Better known as the Lisgar Hotel, situated at 219 Manitoba Avenue, Selkirk, in the Province of Manitoba. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/selkirk-enterprise-dec-11-1968-p-9/)

Roxi's Uptown Cafe, Selkirk Motor Hotel, and Silverman’s store now stands where Lisgar House Hotel was once located. No trace of the Lisgar House Hotel can be found anywhere.