The Albion Hotel

Last winter was not a kind one to the roofs of Southwestern Ontario - the sheer volume of snow wreaked havoc on the tops of barns, homes and hardware stores all over Huron County. But the most dramatic occurrence of the whole snowy season was certainly the roof collapse of the iconic Albion Hotel on Dec. 8. The Albion currently remains closed for repairs, but owners Leigh and Jeff Graham are hard at work restoring the stately space to her former state of glory. 

 

This iconic Bayfield hotel has occupied a spot in the hearts of local regulars and seasonal visitors alike since the 1850s. From the moment construction was complete, the Albion has cut a fine figure from its position at 1 Main Street. Through the tireless efforts of various owners over the years, the exterior of the building has only become more beautiful with age. 

 

The story of the Albion technically began in the 1840s, when a gentleman named Robert Reid constructed a single-story building on Main Street and opened a general store. In 1856, a second story was added to the structure, and the Albion Hotel opened its doors to the public for the first time. Over the years, the Albion has maintained a reputation as a great place to stay, eat and have a drink with friends.

 

By 1902, construction on the Albion’s iconic two-tiered veranda was complete. As part of the repair process, this historically-recognized feature was detached from the hotel proper, and will be re-affixed at some point this summer.

In the 1980s, an extensive reconstruction of the hotel’s interior was undertaken to both modernize the space while restoring much of the original architecture from 19th-century Bayfield.  

 

When they bought the Albion, the Grahams added their own updates and improvements to the hotel, including a modern and inviting back patio. “We’ve been renovating since the moment we bought it,” Leigh explained. A few years after they took possession, COVID hit, and they weathered the storm. 

 

Just when the Grahams were beginning to see the end of the renovation tunnel, the roof collapse occurred. “We had pretty much redone every surface inside before this happened,” she said. “It’s been a lot - the restaurant business is not for the faint of heart… this has been a labour of love.”

 

Unfortunately, one of the space’s many celebrated historical features played its own part in causing the collapse. “It was too much snow - the heritage cedar shakes didn’t help us out,” Leigh explained. “When everything melted, they took on a lot of moisture… it was just too heavy.”

 

A brand new roof has now been installed. The Grahams, always mindful of the Albion’s historical importance, went with a traditional cedar shake pattern for the new roof - this one, however, is made of steel, which should serve the hotel and its patrons well for generations. 

 

While the roof situation has been resolved, the Albion is not yet ready to reopen its doors to the public. “We’re working hard on it, but our timeline keeps getting pushed back with delays. Things like building permits, getting contractors, we need the whole front veranda put back on. Plus, there’s a ton of water damage inside - in multiple areas, it’s been taken back to the studs. Best case scenario - the very end of summer. And we can’t even guarantee that,” Leigh explained. “But it will be beautiful when we are finished.”

 

Since the moment the collapse occurred, the people of Bayfield have rallied around the historic hotel and its owners. “We’ve been very fortunate to have such a strong community,” she pointed out. “This ‘Bayfield Strong’ initiative kind of took hold, where everyone came together. There was a GoFundMe for our staff, who were instantly out of a job. They received a significant amount of money from the community to keep them going during this time.” 

 

Leigh’s eye-catching “Bayfield Strong” shirts have also been spotted all over Huron County. “At first, I had those sweatshirts made for the people that volunteered their services time and effort - I gave them out as gifts. Then people started seeing them around town, and my inbox just exploded! People were asking where they could buy one, so they could support the Albion. From there, I’ve sold close to 500 sweatshirts,” she said. “You see them everywhere now!”

 

The community also responded in a big way when the Grahams decided to take advantage of an opportunity that presented itself during the roof collapse crisis. “We had to open up the floors, because of water damage, so we made a time capsule. We put a box out front, and it was filled within a couple of weeks,” Leigh explained. “Lots of interesting things went in there.” That time capsule is now safely ensconced within the floor of the Albion Hotel, to be discovered by future generations. 

 

Even though it’s unlikely that the Albion Hotel will be serving up wings and brisket stacker sandwiches to a packed back patio this summer, it will reopen - that’s a promise Leigh and Jeff have made to the community, and to themselves. “The Albion means so much to so many people,” she said. “It holds a sense of community. They just have memories within the walls. They enjoy coming in, and being reminded of the good times they’ve had over the years. It holds that character and charm that you just don’t get with a modern build. Everybody has so many stories, going back generations.” 

 

Whenever the Albion Hotel does reopen its doors, the people of Bayfield will be ready.