To the Editor:
Rueben and Muriel Parker purchased the Keremeos Motor Inn (Keremeos Hotel) in 1968 from Walter and Alice Magee.
They moved up from Tofino, where they owned 50 per cent of the Maquinna Hotel.
They sold their shares and purchased the KMI along with their four sons - Dwayne, Harold, Brent and Robert.
In 1968, Dwayne, who was oldest, was 17; Robert, who was youngest, was seven years old. The Parkers had their hands full, with a new business to look after as well as the family.
Reuben and Muriel have since passed away. Dwayne married Charlene Schneider in the early 1970s, and they eventually purchased the hotel, operating it until 2002 when present owner Bill Irving purchased it.
Dwayne and Charlene have two daughters, Kalena and Tanya; Kalena is married and living in the U.S., while Tanya lives in Cawston.
There were many changes to the hotel industry in Keremeos over the years the Parkers owned the business. For example, in 1968 the price of a glass of draught beer was 25 cents. Many locals said in those days, “When the price gets to a dollar, I’ll quit drinking draft beer.”
A year later, the price of draught had risen a dollar, and local patrons stayed out of the bar for a day, or two.
Some things stay the same, however. Back in 1968, there were no taxi cabs, as there still isn’t today.
Anyone in the village today who patronized the hotel during the Parker’s ownership will have a story or two to tell.
On behalf of the Parker family we would like to thank our staff and our regular patrons who are too many to mention.
It’s too bad about the KMI - lots of history and memories.
All the best to Bill Irving on the rebuild of the Red Bridge Pub.
One thing that doesn’t go away, up until the end, is your memories.
Dwayne Parker, Keremeos