The building that eventually became the Cassidy Inn was built in 1914 and used as a reception area and bunkhouse, first for surveyors and engineers under the employment of coal Barron Robert Dunsmuir. The Granby Consolidated Mining, Smelting and Power Company decided that the Douglas coal seam was rich enough to mine and the town of Cassidy began in 1918.
The future Cassidy Inn was converted into recreation centre with a small store in it operated by the colourful Napoleon Manca. The store expanded over the years and by 1925 Manca was granted a beer parlour license and his "new" hotel and beer parlour was born. That was the first year that beer was served in the future Cassidy Inn, back then known as the Cassidy Hotel.
In 1932 the coal mine closed and by 1936 everything that couldn't be moved was auctioned off. You may enjoy this story: Napoleon Manca, proprietor fell in love with a unique and old player piano. The seven foot, 1500 pound piano had a lovely painting on it of a buxom woman, typical of pictures that use to hang above saloon bars. This magnificent player piano was built in Brussels in 1890 by a popular Italian piano maker, then shipped via ship, train and finally dogsled to its wealthy owner in Dawson City in 1898 during the height of the Klondike gold rush. The new owner paid a princely sum of $1,850!
To operate the piano, one would put a coin (a small nickle in those days) into the coin slot, then choose one of ten delightful tunes for the piano to play. Once you chose the tune you would then have to crank the large handle and the tune would begin.
The piano did get some use and was certainly a curiosity for the whole region. Unfortunately Manca was not permitted to display the wonderful old piano in his beer parlour as strict regulations forbade any and all forms of entertainment.I speculate that the piano was put to use from 1954 onward as the strict rules inside beer parlours were relaxed somewhat. But it sure needed tuning.
Napoleon Manca did not wish to depart with his player piano but to date I do not know what happened to it.
Meanwhile the Cassidy Hotel was sold to Mr. Hodge in 1947 who operated the place for a number of years. The hotel had gone through an extensive renovation which added more rooms and enlarged the beer parlours.
In 1953 Mr. V. Osborne became the new owner of the Cassidy Hotel, which continued to do a good business. That same year the Island Highway was finally paved; that alone boosted traffic and new customers from both Nanaimo and points south.
By the 1970's the place was looking pretty rough (rustic some may say). I remember going in there for a beer and I loved the look and feel of the place - good service, cheap beer and very "laid-back".
In January 1983 Jane and Bob Kelly owned the Cassidy Inn business was waning and their energy and ideas revived the Cassidy Inn as a neighbourhood pub. They operated it until new owners bought the place in 1989. The Cassidy Inn, as it was known by then, had great live country and western music. Saturday afternoons beginning at 3 the C&W jam started. A great draw for those of all generations (over the age of 19). Food was also greatly improved during these years. It turned into a great neighbourhood pub.
In the 1990's Vic Charlton purchased the charming Cassidy Inn where he continued the music mixed with motorcycles.
But the smoking bylaw and later the harsh drinking and driving legislation, coupled with the tragic accident and potential for more accidents as the highway was widened and the Cassidy Inn was on the edge - eventually led to its closing. The old Inn sat vacant and neglected for a number of years before it's final end in a ball of fire in the evening of July 4, 2016. Credit Glen A. Mofford
For physical events that happen at a specific time. For example a concert, or dance performance. If there are multiple shows, you can still duplicate your event to cover them all.
