Jul 04, 2013


On Canada Day close to 50 people gathered at the Railway Heritage Park in Sharbot Lake for a special unveiling of a historic mural. The celebration took place at what was the former site of the old Union Hotel, which later became known as the Sharbot Lake Hotel and was a hot spot in the area for 85 years. Four markers in the ground showed the approximate footprint of the hotel, which once was located across from the former Sharbot Lake railway station, at the intersection of the north/south K&P line and the east/west CPR line. It faced the lake and backed onto Elizabeth Street. Remains of the old hotel include part of a stone wall and an old stone fireplace that was once used for cookouts by the guests.

The hotel was relocated to the site of the present-day mural after an older hotel, which once stood where the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre now stands, burned down in 1888. It was erected four years after the new railway station was built near the site by the CPR.

The hotel was owned and operated by many different owners until 1946, when Herb and Millie Moyst took it over and moved into it with their young son Skip, who still resides in Sharbot Lake with his wife Anita. The hotel was run by the Moysts as a family business. Millie was in charge of the kitchen and Herb acted as host and guide. Son Skip later became a guide and daughter Heather, a waitress.

As it reads on the mural, “The hotel catered to labourers, tourists, commercial travelers, fishermen”, and a host of steady boarders who at one time came by rail and by the mid-fifties came mostly by car. The mural was created by local sign makers Rodger MacMunn and Donna Larocque.

The hotel was open all year but busiest in the summer months. The family ran it solely on their own in the off season. Included in the mural are 19 portraits of some of the people who worked at the hotel from 1946-1970. They include Skip and Anita Moyst, Heather Moyst, Mary Raymond, Sandra (Hansen) Hallam, Janet (Sully) Rhyndress, Doreen (Warren) Kirkham, Ann (MacPherson) Walsh, Howard Hepner, Vicky Closs, Ada Fox, Greta Kierstead, Dean Sly, Lorne Consitt, Herb Campbell, Russell Yateman, Marlene (Donnelly) Beattie and the Moyst's family dog, Jack.

Following her speech at the unveiling, Ann Walsh thanked all involved in the mural project including the Railway Heritage Society and everyone who donated pictures, information and funds to enable the project to be completed. Following Ann's address Skip Moyst, Heather (Moyst) Gillespie, and Mayor Janet Gutowski were brought forward to do the official unveiling and guests were then invited to enjoy a spread of refreshments that included cinnamon buns, also depicted in the mural, which were Millie Moyst's famed specialty item. Unfortunately, after the hotel was sold by the Moysts in 1970, it burned down four years later, in 1974. A detailed history of the Sharbot Lake Hotel will be kept in the caboose museum which visitors can read when the museum is open to the public.

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