Collapsed roof slowly being removed from historic Bayfield, Ont. hotel and restaurant

A week’s worth of heavy snow, coupled with overnight rain in Bayfield, proved too much for the roof of the historic Albion Hotel.

“I got a call from my neighbor up top here, and she said the police are out here. This is around 9:00 this morning, and I came out and looked, and the roof had collapsed,” said Ray Bauer, who lives and works directly across the street from the Albion.

No one is exactly certain when, but sometime overnight, or very early Sunday morning, the roof of the Albion Hotel, on Bayfield’s Main Street, collapsed.

There was no one in the building when it happened, and no one was injured, but the damage left behind is extensive. The future of the building and popular business is in question.

“We went to the Albion Saturday night for dinner. Just to get some spinach dip. They have the best spinach dip. And, then we got some news this morning that the roof fell off. It’s crazy,” says Michelle and Olivia Anjema, who frequent the Albion’s main floor restaurant and pub.

Just 24 hours after the collapse, part of the damaged room has been removed by a high hoe, as has the Albion’s iconic balcony and porch patio.

Neighbours said they believe the short-term plan is to remove as much of the damaged roof as possible to get the top of the historic building covered with a tarp, before deciding if the structure is salvageable or not.

On Sunday, the Albion’s owner was still in shock, but said he was happy no one was hurt.

The roof collapse impacted the neighbouring Black Dog Bistro, as well. Part of the Albion’s roof is resting on the roof of the Black Dog, meaning it too is closed until further notice.

“It's never a good time, but it's before Christmas and people are out and about and, you know, Christmas parties are happening and that kind of thing. So, it's unfortunate, but the community will come together and help them,” said Bauer.

In that vein, an online fundraiser has already raised over $25,000 for the 27 staff members of the Albion Hotel who won’t be working at the Albion, for the foreseeable future.

The Albion Hotel was built in the early 1840s, with the second story added in 1856. It’s been a staple on Bayfield’s Heritage Main Street for more than 145 years. It’s future, however, is very much in doubt.

“This is like the heart of Bayfield, right? So, we've got memories. It's a favorite. Sad, right. Very sad. I hope they can rebuild it, and it'll reopen quickly. But yeah, who knows, who knows,” said the Anjema family.

Bauer, who is also an insurance broker, said he’s aware of some barns across the region that had their roofs collapsed under the weight of heavy snow, and now rain.

He said it’s time for folks to look upward and remove some of that snow load from their roofs, as soon as possible.

While decisions are made about what to do about the Albion and it’s collapsed roof, a small section of Bayfield’s Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic.

That hasn’t stopped a steady stream of Bayfield residents and winter tourists, from commiserating in front of the Albion.

Some fearing, they’ve had their last meal at the iconic hotel and restaurant that’s been serving Bayfield food and cheer, for more than a century.