Thunder Bay Museum
Historical Museum Society, 978.13.101A
Built in 1894, immediately after fire destroyed its predecessor of the same name, the Avenue Hotel on Victoria Avenue, right in the centre of Fort William's business district, was the town's premiere accommodation. When it was new it was described as "among the best appointed houses of the Province" with 40 rooms (later expanded to 70), beautiful oak finishings throughout and its own dray service to and from the station and the docks. Its cuisine was among its major attractions (it even had its own bakery in the basement) and its bar was said to be "the longest in town." Even after bigger and more luxurious hotels were constructed, the Avenue remained the choice of touring Vaudeville actors performing at the nearby theatres. One of the early hotel's features was a pet bear who was inordinately fond of sweets with which he was kept well supplied by his many admirers. The Avenue was victim of several fires, the last coming in 1944 when it was burnt to the ground.
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