One fine fall evening, the Beer Parlour Project visited the century old Grand Union Hotel in Alberta’s Crowsnest Pass. Right there in historic downtown Coleman and it is in company with so many fine old buildings hearkening back to another era. In the Pass, and especially on this street, it feels as though time has stood still.

The Union (as it is often called) is a stately structure of brick and in its current incarnation dates back to 1924 or 1926 (reports differ). It replaced an earlier wood-framed hotel of the same name and on this same spot, built in 1904.

It is not said why the original hotel was replaced but the sale of the business at about that time might be telling. The Calgary Brewing Company acquired the old Grand Union, a few years before and perhaps with intent to replace it with something new and fresh. After all prohibition in the province at the time was coming to an end, and new digs would be a great way to kick it off. With a beer of course.

“So the day I turned 18, I played on the stage for Rob and Molly. And from there on, I played for every other owner.” – Glory-Jo (speaking of playing here with various bands).

It was common for breweries to own hotels at the time and the Beer Parlour is what brought in the best money. Coleman was a coal mining town, and of all occupations it would appear those who toiled underground were the most thirsty. You could not ask for a better location.

The (new) Grand Union was a modern place, amenities wise and for the standards of the day. In fact the earlier hotel was as well. Things we take for granted – electric lights – hot water – and that sort of stuff were a big deal back then.

“It’s very spiritually lifting to know that you can take part in some of this…there’s a lot of places in the world to go, so when people like you choose to come here, I am very flattered.” – Glory-Jo (on the Beer Parlour Project paying a visit).

In 1948. a fire swept through downtown Coleman and if not for the actions of a quick thinking employee it may have been worse. This person spotted the flames late one night and called it in.

“He (my grandfather) would not allow us, me and my sisters, to walk on this side of the street because of the hotel.” – Glory-Jo (remembering the hotel as a kid).

By the 1950s coal mining in the Pass was on the decline and a couple decades later completely done. Ownership of the Grand Union remained with the Calgary Brewery until 1963 and then it fell into private hands. It has had a fair number of owners since.

Downtown Coleman grew more and more quiet with the passage of time and by the 1980s the Grand Union was one of the few businesses consistently open here. Later the rooms functioned more as a hostel. At this point, hotels with common bathrooms such as the Union, were a hard sell to the average traveller, but fully acceptable to those looking for a more budget friendly hostel experience.

A lot of old hotels went hostel but here they are mostly doing longer term housing now.

So, there are entities in the building that people have reported seeing…and there’s often a woman in a white dress.” – Stephanie (speaking of the resident spirits).

Glory-Jo, the owner and a thoroughly lovable character, spoke at length of her time here. She has been at it for a while now but looking to retire and the Grand Union at the time of our visit was up for sale. Look for the listing if you are in the mood to be a hotelier.

The Union Tavern is well known for championing the local music scene and a band was rocking the joint on our visit. In response, we had to do interviews between sets or out in the lobby. “Actually, Kruger from Nickelback played here way back before he was recording in Los Angeles.” Glory-Jo herself, long before she owned the Union, played on its stage.

Stephanie Lane Hamilton, author of Booze and Bars, a Brief History of Pub Culture in the Crowsnest Pass stopped by and shared some of her knowledge of the Grand Union.

“…we’re in the middle of a national historic site right now. It was designated in 2001…” – Stephanie.

Team Beer Parlour Project spent a wonderful evening here. In between chit-chatting we downed a few chicken wings, played a round of darts, toured the building top to bottom, photographed people inside or out and most importantly soaked up the ambience so we could share it here.

Old photos (one included in the gallery) show the hotel exterior is little changed with time, and as it was is as it is. Today, however, it seems a bit out of place in the modern world and something from a forgotten past. It is a gem, but one from another time.

“This is actually a very, very strong building.” – Glory-Jo. She is speaking about vibrations from recent street work that badly shook the structure, but fortunately only caused minimal damage.

Coleman was formerly an independent town but now part of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass. The population is about fourteen hundred, although there is many thousands more in closely neighbouring communities.