National Hotel demolition began in earnest, with heavy equipment pulling down the building storey by storey, starting Aug. 28. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

National Hotel demolition

National Hotel building is no more as demolition starts

Aug 29, 2023 | 11:00 AM

The real demolition of Prince Albert’s National Hotel — one of the few original buildings in the city — began in earnest.

Crews were onsite with heavy equipment on August 28, with chunks of the building pulled apart and piled on the ground.

The location along Prince Albert’s waterfront has held a hotel for well over a century, including one iteration that burned in 1904.

At that time, the entire 48-room building took one hour to burn to the ground and cost $20,000 in losses.

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That was in May, but by June, the owners were ready to build anew and constructed the Prince Albert Hotel, which was later re-named the National Hotel.

Parts of the building have been salvaged, with some going to the museum and the large sign hauled away in a pickup.

The owners of the property have told paNOW they plan to construct a new building on the location but are not ready to say what will go in it.

Adjacent to the hotel is Georgie’s Liquor Store which is being closed as needed during the demo but will re-open later.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com