From the front page of the Bassano News publication of October 12, 1911.
(BN) With accommodation for almost one hundred guests, with attractive and up-to-date fittings throughout, hot and cold water and all modern conveniences, the Hunter Hotel, the best between Calgary and the Hat, opens its doors today with a dance and banquet to which everyone is heartily welcomed.
It is a hotel of which Bassano may be proud and upon which Mr. T. H. Hunter, the proprietor, may be warmly congratulated. No expense has been spared to ensure the comfort of each guest and to procure the best hygienic features, and it is bound to be a paying venture from the start. The rooms fittings by the Bassano Trading Company are elaborate and cozy.
A gasoline pump provides the upper rooms constantly with water and a huge boiler in the basement provides the warm water. Every one of the 48 upper rooms are wired for electric light and are fitted for natural gas. Meanwhile, the illumination will be acetylene gas. Particular attention has been devoted to the large kitchen over which Charlie Schwab, whose cooking is well known and relished in Bassano, will reign. Inspection of this is urged. It is spacious, airy, cool, and possesses one of the most modern cooking ranges known. Adjoining it is a cool storeroom which when provided with a refrigerator will be proof against germs. The dining room is attractive in the extreme, the tables are only made for four so that there will be no crowding and are laid diagonally to one another. A plate rail runs the length of the dining room lined with expensive and attractive looking china.
The house throughout is finished with oak which gives the interior a pleasing harmonious appearance.
The sample rooms are quite a feature of the house, and the drummer will find ample and proper accommodation for his wares. A huge cool cellar running the length of the house will be cut up for storerooms.
Each floor has its own sumptuously furnished parlor leading out on to spacious balconies.
From the rotunda to the roof the same standard of completeness and comfort is maintained, even to the conveniently placed iron fire escapes.
As soon as possible it is promised that the whole hotel will be brick veneered. It is easily the largest building in town and will be a much sought after resort immediately its doors are opened.
Here is the continuing coverage of the opening of the Hunter Hotel...
HUNTER HOTEL OPENING DRAWS BIG CROWDS
(BN) With a grand banquet and dance the new Hunter Hotel was opened on Thursday evening last when most of Bassano’s populace took advantage of the hospitality of Mr. T. H. Hunter to inspect the hotel.
General expression of admiration at the style and the fittings were given vent to on all hands. The tables in the dining room were laid for 300 and at every sitting down the tables were filled. Dancing opened punctually at nine with Granville Lewis at the piano.
A welcome halt was called at midnight for the banquet after which there were cries for “Hunter, Hunter”. However, Mr. Hunter preferred to remain modestly in the background. Mr. Louis Williams of Seattle, who has extensive interests around Bassano, then reupon mounted the chair and gave expression to the general appreciation felt for the hospitality of Mr. Hunter, and admiration of his new hotel. In mode and modernisms of fittings, Mr. Williams described it as equal to anything at present even in Calgary. Every attention has been paid to the smallest details and he remarked upon the fact that the hotel was lucky in its location in as much as Bassano had exceptionally bright prospects for a town of its age. Claiming credit for the fact that he had been responsible for populating the Bassano district to a great extent, in his capacity of land agent for the C. P. R., having brought in about seventy-five settlers, he expressed the hope amid cheers that he would be able to bring even more into such a delightful district that was bound to spring into importance on account of its natural advantages.
Cheers were lustily given for Mr. Hunter at the close of the banquet and dancing was again resumed for an hour.
Particular admiration was expressed for the sanitary arrangement which are modern in every respect even to the installation of baths, a convenience that travelers will very much appreciate.
Under the management of Mr. W. Duffy, the hotel promises to be one of the best conducted in the countryside.
Still standing strong 108 years later in 2019 the Hotel is now called Imperial Hunter Hotel the hotel has 24 newly renovated rooms (with their own bathrooms) the main floor features a huge Bar area with 6 VLT’s, 2 Pool Table’s, Shuffle table, and 3 Dart Boards and lots of life left in these old bones!
