Yukon Register of Historic PlacesYRHP

The building was constructed during the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898 by J.E. Binet, who named it Binet Block. A local entrepreneur, he and his brother J.O. Binet also operated a number of other hotels and saloons. He and his workers used available materials, rushing to complete it by November. The narrow building had large street-level windows flanking the main entrance. Only the facade was made of milled lumber, as it was in short supply; the remainder of the building was made of rough logs chinked with mud.

It was leased to the Government of Canada for $1000 per month, which used it for the office of the Commissioner of Yukon, William Ogilvie, for land and timber agent offices, the territorial registrar, and as living quarters for the staff. In November 1900, the government relocated its offices to the post office, newly constructed at the corner of Third Street and King Street. Binet then operated the building as a residence.

The building then changed ownership many times. Henry Freeman bought Binet Block in 1909 and operated it as the Miner's Rest Hotel. In 1913, Minnie Witmore renamed it the Freeman Hotel. The building was purchased by hotelier Emma Wilson in 1933, whose adjacent hotel was destroyed by fire. She renamed it the Yukon Hotel. Wilson operated the hotel until 1957, after which it was boarded up.

In 1975, the Heritage Canada Foundation purchased the ‘vacant and decaying’ building for $1, and by 1980 had spent $386,000 to renovate it. In 1983 the foundation sold the building.

Source:

-https://archive.nationaltrustcanada.ca/visit-discover/find-historic-places/historic-sites-canada/yukon/yukon-hotel

-South Dawson City Walking Tour, Parks Canada.