Fort George Tribune
Election results were as follows:
Mayorality race:
W. G. Gillet, contractor - 290 votes
Neil Gething, mining operator - 190 votes
Aldermen (six were elected):
E. A. Eagel, baker - 233 votes
Frank Ellis, real estate operator - 232 votes
J. B. Lambert, merchant - 231 votes
Ernest Livingstone, fur trader - 231 votes
H. E. Parks, Grand Trunk Pacific yard foreman - 218 votes
Frank M. Ruggles, real estate operator - 218 votes
G. C. Hartley, proprietor steam laundry - 197 votes
A. H. Lewis, plasterer - 183 votes
J. T. Armstrong, real estate operator - 178 votes
J. F. Byronolfson, plumber - 154 votes
C. H. Holling - 133 votes
Thomas Adams, merchant - 133 votes
K. Redman - 133 votes
School Trustees (three were elected):
P. E. Wilson - 369 votes
A. H. Mahan - 294 votes
C. H. Leathley - 205 votes
F. C. Hardy - 154 votes
Change of Name:
Prince George - 153 votes
Fort George - 13 votes
One of the first tasks facing the new council was establishing a city hall. Newspapers of the day had a field day when an ex-bordello was chosen. "Formerly Disorderly House to be Temporary City Hall" read the headlines in the Fort George Herald of July 1915. "City Occupying Premises of Unsavory Repute. The city is today seething with indignation over the council's action last evening, and proceedings of diverse kinds are threatened. The house in question is a twelve-roomed edifice and has an interesting history. Two years ago it was erected by Irene Jordan, a woman of the underworld."
Actually the building had been a bordello for only one night. The people of Fort George put up a strenuous fight against such a plague spot and the provincial police shut it down on its opening night. It sat empty for two years until it was moved from the western limits of the Fort George townsite to five blocks west of George Street, also owned by Irene Jordan.
The next task for the city officials was 'How to apportion the house of many chambers'. The large parlor and wine closet will be made into a chamber of aldermanic deliberation. The two smaller parlors will be devoted to the city clerk and the assessor. Mayor Gillet will occupy the largest bedroom and Alderman Ruggles the boudoir ajoining. Alderman Ellis occupied the housekeeper's room. The remaining 'pawlaws' went to the remaining aldermen. "Ratepayers in search of officials are requested to walk right in and not bother with the electric bell. Later the council hopes to give a house-warming on an even more elaborate scale that the previous one given with its walls."
This 'temporary city hall' remained until the mid 1950's and for many years Irene Jordan collected her rent of $30.00 per month.
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