Along the E&N

A Journey Back to the Historic Hotels of Vancouver Island

By (author): Glen A. Mofford
ISBN 9781771512879
Softcover | Publication Date: April 30, 2019
Book Dimensions: 5.5 in x 8.5 in
272 Pages

About the Book

An exploration of the fascinating history of more than thirty historic hotels—with some still in operation—nestled along Vancouver Island’s E&N Railway, spanning from Esquimalt to Campbell River.

In 1886, Vancouver Island’s E&N rail service was established to carry coal to smelters and ships, and the towns in the railway’s path prospered as the tracks expanded and passenger travel flourished.

Along the E&N celebrates the historic and still-surviving hotels and roadhouses that sprung up near the E&N. Within this carefully researched historical narrative, you’ll find stories of the Halfway House in the Esquimalt District, the murder and suicide at the Mt Sicker Hotel, and the iconic Quinsam Hotel in Campbell River, burned down in 2017. This book chronicles the history of more than thirty hotels―many long gone, destroyed by fire, or simply demolished, like the Lorne Hotel in Comox, and others that have been remodelled into modern-day neighbourhood pubs―such as the Rod & Gun in Parksville and the Waverley Hotel in Cumberland.

Peppered with the fascinating stories of patrons and proprietors alike, Along the E&N resonates with the haunting echoes of the train’s iconic whistle.

About the Author(s)

Glen A. Mofford is a historian and a writer with a passion for sharing the social history of British Columbia. He graduated from Vancouver's Simon Fraser University, and has been writing about BC's historic hotels and their drinking establishments for more than ten years. Aqua Vitae is his first book. Follow him on Twitter @BCPubHistory.

Reviews

“A delight for those who are already hooked on B.C. history, and an engaging introduction to the field for newcomers.” —Vancouver Sun

Along the E&N is filled with remarkable photos that transport readers back in time and bring Mofford’s fascinating stories to life. . . . Reading this book was like going on an exciting adventure filled with interesting places and characters.” —Canada’s History

“A perfect book for the B.C. history buff, Along the E&N offers an absorbing tour of 32 hotels in the farming, logging, mining, and fishing communities of Vancouver Island.” —Richard Mackie, Editor, Ormsby Review

“Mofford is to be commended, not only for his meticulous research but also for his attention to detail and his selection of fine illustrations. His inclusion of useful maps, an historic timeline, bibliography, and endnotes as well as his helpful selected biography establishes him as a social historian of British Columbia worth noting. Railway enthusiasts and local history buffs will surely enjoy this book.” —Ormsby Review

“Richly and voluminously illustrated . . . add[s] to our understanding of the ways in which Vancouver Island communities developed, particularly in terms of their infrastructure and links to larger centers both in British Columbia and internationally.” —BC Studies