Hotel Collins

Built in 1896, the Hotel Collins (Collins House) is a two-and-a-half-story building located on Washington Street. The building’s southern wall marks the edge of the alleyway that separates it from the Bank of Montreal building. Remarkably, the Hotel Collins survived Rossland’s three historic fires (1902, 1927, and 1929) that destroyed much of the city’s downtown core.

In 2007, there were façade improvements that restored the historic characteristics of the building. Today, the building is home to a business on the main floor, with apartments located above.

Martha Collins

Hotel Collins on Washington Street, 1897.

Little is known about the hotel’s original owner and namesake, Martha Collins.  She was already an established hotel owner in the United States before travelling to Rossland in 1896 and establishing the Hotel Collins. Interestingly, Martha is believed to have operated the well-known Hotel Ymir, located in Ymir, British Columbia.  The Hotel Ymir, established in 1896, is still standing and remains a symbol of the boomtown architectural style.  She was also listed as the proprietress (operator, manager) of the Mersey Hotel in nearby Erie, British Columbia.

Martha died in California on August 16, 1910.  Her obituary noted that she was active in the British Columbia hotel industry up until her death.

“There were few miners in the district who were not familiar with this extraordinary woman. She [Martha Collins] knew every man by his Christian name, and in the course of her long career seemed to have had every woman working for her at some near or remote time.”
— Nelson Daily News, August 16, 1910
 

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