The Rose Country Inn in Wetaskiwin was the last-standing landmark building on 50 Street until Tuesday morning when it went up in flames.
The fire broke out around 6:15 a.m. Shortly after Wetaskiwin Fire arrived on scene, they called in help from the Camrose and Millet fire departments.
By 8 a.m., the building was fully engulfed in flames. By 8:30 a.m., it had partially collapsed.
A city spokesperson said the hotel was built in 1904.
“You plan for things like this, but you hope it never comes through,” said Alex Plant, Wetaskiwin Fire’s deputy fire chief.
The historic building was once known as the Prince of Wales Hotel, and over its 115 years, served as a military hospital, library, and restaurant.
“Losing that building, it's connected to people in so many ways, it just triggers so many memories that it is—it’s just really sad,” said city archivist Rachel Knudsen.
“It’s always been a landmark to downtown Wetaskiwin.”
The building’s history wasn’t the only thing that made it a hard fire to fight, explained Plant.
“This is the last fire I wanted to fight because it's built with a lot of heavy, old timber that's dry but thick, and it's going to burn for a long time.”
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
CTV News was told three tenants lived inside the hotel. They were able to get out when they smelled smoke and called 911.
With files from Timm Bruch
