The hotel at Landis

http://wvrr.ca/images/No vembe r_2007/Pearson%205.jpg (Under construction)

The front of this hotel, now long gone, is pure 1960’s ugly. Although it was at home in rural Saskatchewan, it clearly followed the Western Ontario practice of having no bar room windows at the street level lest some passers-by see others enjoying themselves on the inside. No telling how the sight of smiles and a glass of beer might corrupt the younger generation. I remember those days. Stark white walls, stark white floors and a stark white table with an iron leg. There was no gambling, no video games, no comfortable chairs or dark corners. Just picked eggs and one small glass at a time.

The colour is as typical of the era. As is that ‘updated’ wooden siding at street level. Notice how the shutters were only applied facing Main Street and the newer, framed windows were installed on just the lower floor? Probably the lobby, the dining room and the office. At 40 below that little porch on the front kept it warm inside despite all the comings and goings. Large sections of stucco had come off the side before even before the wrecking ball did its worst. That old TV antenna was ok for one channel and only adequate for the other.