Quote:
Originally Posted by jollyburger
It's strange the Leland Hotel Annex is three windows wider in this photo from 1902. Like they built an annex onto the annex. The facade already looks different by 1927 prior to the construction of the RBC Building.
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Both buildings were already standing in 1889, so both were very early. The 1888 street directory just had names, and what street the person lived on, not what address they lived at, so we don't know exactly when very early buildings (pre 1889) were constructed, unless there's a specific identification in the press - the Daily World, or a photograph. We know that in 1890 this was the 500 block, with the Leland Rooms at 521 W Hastings, and next door at 523 was Shannon & McLachlan, real estate. William Shannon had been in real estate in 1888, but on Water St, with a different partner. It's quite possible the building to the west was also for Springer and Van Bramer, they developed at least two other buildings that are still standing.
The Leland Annex was numbered as 617 to 623 by 1901, and the building to the west as 625 and 627. The Leland Annex was only half the depth of the lot - about 50' from front to back. Next door was deeper - maybe 75 feet, and by 1901 had an extra back addition so it almost went to the lane. The few architects who were designing the city in the early years tended to use a similar Italianate style, with arched windows, so it's not easy to be certain who a building was designed by. There was an addition to the Annex mentioned in 1888, so the building to the west could well be it; also designed by Noble Stonestreet Hoffar (an American). That would mean the upper floors were rooms that were part of the Annex (so not mentioned in the street directory), and the real estate brokers would have the office on the main floor. The western building was demolished for the Royal Bank, as well as the building on the corner,
the Hadden Block.
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