Constant Spring Hotel

Constant Spring Hotel.

Corporation to build was formed in 1887.
Built in 1889-1890 for The Great Exhibition of 1891 [archive.org]. It was at an elevation of 500 feet (600 claimed) and 6 miles from Kingston. It was easily accessible by electric cars.
It was damaged in the 1907 earthquake, and restored.
A nine-hole golf course was added in 1920 and expanded to 18-holes by the 1930s (what year?). Then known as Golfer's Hotel.
In January 1923 it was completely destroyed by fire.
At the end of 1927, Canada West Indies Hotel Co. Ltd. proposed building a 100 room hotel. It would be the first Canadian-owned hotel in the West Indies.
In February 1930 a corporation was formed.
The new hotel opened in January 1931. It had accommodation for 200 guests. Every room with private bath and porch. (The rebuilt golf course opened the year before.)
In December 1931, the failure of the hotel company was announced. A Receiver takes possession to carry on the business with a view to selling the hotel as a going concern.
In December 1932, and again in July 1933, the government awards £2,000 to meet deficiencies.
In July 1935, the government is being pushed to sell the hotel. A reserve price of £45,000 is set.
In November 1935, a proposal for a new swimming pool is passed. Government announces intention to end receivership and take possession of the property.
In January 1939 there was an employee strike and the guests were transferred to the Manor House Hotel. [??]
In 1940 the hotel was sold for £40,000 to the Franciscan Sisters to become the Immaculate Conception School for Girls. This was very controversial, as many wanted the property to remain a hotel. See many Gleaner articles. Now is the Immaculate Conception Preparatory School. The hotel is the convent for the Franciscan nuns. For many years some of the girls who attended the high school would board there as well. The swimming pool is used for swim classes and meets. The gazebo is used for plays and the tennis courts are still used for tennis classes.
And in 1940 the golf course became the Constant Spring Golf Club.