By John Rhodes
Special to The Chatham Voice
I recently received an inquiry regarding the history of the CPR Hotel which was located at the northwest corner of King and William streets.
When William Baby (Baw-Bee) learned that the Canadian Pacific Railway was about to (1889) build a line through Chatham, he decided that a hotel, kitty corner to the railway station, was a good financial investment.
He obtained property at the northwest junction of King and William streets and put up a splendid and unique inn. I am not sure of the architecture style, but there was much in the manner of towers and rounded corners, very similar in style to the present day Presbyterian Church at Fifth and Wellington.
He did a quick and very good job of getting the structure built and would ask $1.50 per night which was 50 cents more than the Market Square hotels and $1 less than the top-rated Garner Hotel.
All went well until the railway filed a legal action for name infringement, but Mr. Baby must have had a good lawyer as he was able to defeat his mighty opponent.
Mr. Baby was born in 1863 but I was not able to learn where.
He is first mentioned in the town directory of 1882 as being a grocer at 118 King St. W., old numbering system, which would place him in the Campbell Block on the south side of King Street, about halfway between Fourth and Fifth streets. This building is still there and was the long-time home of the Sunshine Restaurant, Burton’s Book and School Supplies and Keats Jewellers; older Chatham Voice readers will remember these firms.
Just prior to entering the hotel business, Mr. Baby operated a money-loaning enterprise out of the Northwood Block which still stands and was the longtime home of Gray’s China Hall.
William Baby died in 1927 and reposes in Maple Leaf Cemetery.
Over time the cliental of the CPR Hotel deteriorated to the point where one needed to sit with his back to the wall and be aware of the sometimes airborne nature of chairs and beer glasses.
In the late 1950s, the CPR Hotel was destroyed by fire; two lives were lost. The site is now a public park.
