1) It started out as an apartment building
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Now known as a historic hotel, the Sylvia was originally built in 1912 as an apartment building. The original designs were done by Seattle based architect W.P. White for the Goldstein family. It wasn鈥檛听until听the Depression that the building began transitioning into a hotel. With the advent of World War II, many of the suites were converted into rooms in order to provide accommodation for crews of the merchant marine. The Sylvia became a full-service hotel in the 1960鈥檚.
2) There may or may not be a ghostly presence
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Some guests claim听that room 604 features a spooky 鈥渋nvisible presence.鈥� One听听even stated that听the ghostly presence tried to sit on them! It鈥檚 also rumored that Hollywood star Errol Flynn (star of听The Adventures of Robin Hood, 1938), died in the hotel in 1959.
3) The Sylvia was a beacon of grandeur and class
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Opened in 1913, the Sylvia boasted 鈥渕odern gas stoves鈥� marble staircases a high-end top floor restaurant called 鈥淒ine in the Sky鈥�. Wealthier tenants would pay听听to stay at the Sylvia. Pricy! Its luxurious beginnings were poorly timed however, as the Sylvia was incapable of听withstanding the economic built tightening of the Depression. In 1923, the Goldstein family sold the Sylvia for $275,000 before听relocating to Los Angeles.
4) The Sylvia opened the city鈥檚 first official cocktail bar in 1954
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That鈥檚 not the Sylvia鈥檚 only 鈥渇irst.鈥� The building, which has since be designated as a heritage site, was the tallest building in the West End until 1958.
5) The hotel鈥檚 resident cat inspired several popular children鈥檚 books
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The famous Sylvia Hotel cat, 鈥淢r. Got To Go鈥�, has inspired three children鈥檚 books by Lois Simmie (illustrated by Cynthia Nugent). The stories听tell the tale of a stray cat who, after arriving at the Sylvia, takes control of the premises and stay听for good.
