The first guests of the newly renovated Courthouse Hotel are in awe of its transformation to a wedding hotel.
After marrying Ed at the court 50 years ago last Thursday, Barb Linkewich is impressed with how the historical value has been maintained all these years later.
“To see the judge’s box still preserved, and the wonderful woodwork, it’s amazing, absolutely amazing. And I think the staircase is so perfect, for a bride to walk down.”
The former St. Joe’s nursing student says they met when he was working as an OPP officer at the court.
She explains why they stayed in what used to be the Crown Attorney’s office, a room he often worked out of.
“Because it is situated close to where the nursing residence was. I’ve spent many years in my nursing career looking at the lake from the 5th floor of St. Joe’s, the 5th floor of PAGH, and it’s very special.”
Ed remained very sentimental as the first guest.
“I was the first of the policemen to marry the nurses. Two of her classmates also married the OPP. The girls hassled the guys, or the guys hassled the nurses…. oh, and she’s still in my custody, by the way.”
The former Thunder Bay residents made sure they came back 50 years later, ensuring they walked up the steps at 2pm, the same hour they married.
The hotel general manager tells us an official opening is still to come.
He adds rooms start at $189, with accommodations for wedding parties but also business travelers.
And, he says the interest expressed outside Thunder Bay and locally has been amazing, as people who used to work at the court are asking to look around to see how the building looks now.
