It looks like it was a pint-kind-of-day instead of a sleeve of draft kind-of-day for the gentleman second from the left.
“Take a look at that beer glass!” begins Addison Oberg, collections coordinator, Trail Museum and Archives.
“This gem came to us via a transfer from the Boundary Historical Society.”
She says the Trail Historical Society was overjoyed to see this photo as it remains the only image the Trail archives has of the interior of the famous Meakin Hotel.
“Despite the Meakin being such a popular spot, very few images of its interior have found their way to us and usually the simple explanation is that there are not many images like this one.”
Oberg points out that what we cherish seeing today was common place for the pioneers, so photographs like this were not often taken.
“Further, the technology of photography was still fairly new and often expensive so the average working man did not have access to it like we do today.”
The Meakin Hotel stood on the corner of Cedar Avenue and Spokane Street and was built for Mary Ann Meakin in 1896.
“It was a common watering hole and very popular as most hotels in downtown Trail were,” Oberg explains. “With the transient nature of mining and smelting a host of young, unmarried men were coming into town.”
Downtown hotels and boarding rooms flourished as they hosted thirsty and famished smelter workers, and remained popular well into the 20th century.
Much like the men in this image, locals also enjoyed meals and drinks that the establishments served, likely with a side of town chatter.
The Meakin underwent many structural changes over the decades and saw several turnovers of ownership including John Haverty in 1898, the Cunninghams (circa 1906), Mr. and Mrs. Hurley (1911 - 1925), and the Weirs in 1934.
The photo of the six men and server was taken in December 1937, as seen on the calendar behind them.
Some men are not identified but those that are: (sitting) unknown, Harold Brinkman, Harry Euerby, Caughy McCallum and last two sitting (along with their waiter), unknown.
Cheers!
Read more Trail Blazers:
Gyro Park, the perennial summertimehaven
Ceremony honours Trail airman, 17, and 22 others killed in Second World War
Remembering a young man from Trail who went to war and never came home
Long-lost poem recounts life of an air gunner
Colourful memories in ‘Silver City Linings’