Sylvia Hotel facts for kids
The Sylvia Hotel is a famous and historic building in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It's located right on English Bay, which is a beautiful beach area, and it's also close to Stanley Park. Built in 1912, the Sylvia Hotel was first an apartment building. Today, it's a popular hotel known for its long history and its great location by the water.
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A Look Back at the Sylvia Hotel
The Sylvia Hotel was designed by an architect named W.P. White. It was built for a man named Mr. Goldstein, who named it after his daughter, Sylvia.
From Apartments to Hotel
During the Great Depression, which was a time when many people had financial difficulties, the Sylvia building faced tough times. In 1936, it was changed from apartments into an apartment hotel. This meant it had both apartments and hotel rooms.
When World War II started, many of the larger suites were turned into smaller rooms. This helped provide places for the crews of the merchant marine to stay. These were sailors who transported goods by sea during the war.
A Landmark in Vancouver
After the war, fewer people lived at the Sylvia Hotel permanently. By the 1960s, it became a hotel mainly for visitors. In 1954, it opened the first cocktail bar in Vancouver.
Until 1958, the Sylvia Hotel was the tallest building in the West End area of Vancouver. It was a well-known landmark. The building's brick and terracotta walls are now covered by a plant called Virginia creeper. For a while, the hotel restaurant's saying was "Dine in the Sky" because it was so tall.
In 1975, the City of Vancouver officially called the Sylvia a "heritage building." This means it's an important historical site and will be protected for many years.
Mr. Got To Go: The Hotel Cat
The Sylvia Hotel is also famous for its special cat, named "Mr. Got To Go." This cat has inspired three popular children's books! The books were written by Lois Simmie and illustrated by Cynthia Nugent. They tell fun stories about a stray cat who arrived at the Sylvia Hotel one day and decided to live there permanently. An American folk singer-songwriter named Cheryl Wheeler even mentions a cat, possibly the same one, in a song about the hotel.
Sylvia Ablowitz: The Hotel's Namesake
The hotel was named after Sylvia Goldstein, who later became Sylvia Ablowitz. She grew up in the West End of Vancouver. Sylvia was a very strong swimmer. She often practiced in English Bay and once won a race between English Bay and Kitsilano Beach.
Sylvia went to the University of British Columbia. After she finished her degree, her family moved to Los Angeles. She returned to Vancouver in 1928 and met Harry Ablowitz. They got married within a year and started a realty company together.
Sylvia and her husband cared a lot about Jewish seniors. Sylvia worked with Jewish community groups. She and Harry helped create a rest home and hospital for seniors. Even when she was in her 90s, Sylvia was still helping others by volunteering for a phone program that checked on senior citizens. She passed away on April 12, 2002.
