The Fisgard block, formerly and individually known as The Lee Mong Kow building and The Sing Lee building, was valued as part of a grouping of early buildings that contribute to the historic character and urban pattern of Victoria’s Chinatown. The Western portion of the property was used as his home, apothecary and the Shon Yuen Opium factory.
The Fisgard block also links to the interior of the block via Fan Tan Alley which, in the early 1900s, provided homes and businesses for the Chinese community including gambling and opium production. 539-541 ½ Fisgard were occupied by the Shake Shake Hand Club. Unlike many private clubs in Chinatown that were regularly raided, the Shake Shake Hand Club was considered ‘high-end’ and well connected.
These historic suites are the founding rooms of the “Fan Tan Hotel” as a branded, unflagged boutique hotel catering to an audience that values a spectacular, curated, authentically heritage-based guest experience. This hotel concept celebrates the history and resilience of Chinese immigrants, their contributions to modern Victoria, and the authentic cultural heritage of Canada’s oldest Chinatown. The Fan Tan Hotel allows guests an unprecedented opportunity to “feel” the history of this special place. This experiential, limited-service, suites-hotel will bring a style of accommodation to Victoria that simply cannot be recreated elsewhere in the city. The richness and authenticity of the retained architectural fabric, both interior and exterior, combined with the personal histories of the former occupants, allows guests immersive participation in a vibrant past.
During the renovation of the suites, numerous artifacts were recovered. Scrolls dating back to the 1920s detailed with ancient poems written in calligraphy were retrieved. There was a total of two calligraphy scrolls and two scrolls with paintings. A cobbler's kit and shoe were found alongside the scrolls. Lastly, there was a locked box found that hasn't been opened out of fear of damaging the artifact. These artifacts were all found stashed in the walls and ceilings of 541 and 543 Fisgard street during the heritage restoration.
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