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This article was published 23/06/2012 (3991 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The date and time were supposed to have been a secret.

But word got out, and hundreds of Brandon residents crowded at Ninth Street and Lorne Avenue for the best biew they could get of the Prince Edward Hotel’s last moment.

Of course, the train depot had already been knocked down. And wrecking balls had cut a path right through the centre of the building. And, even after dynamiting half of the hotel, the other half would still be brought down the old-fashioned way — taking a few more weeks.

But for most Brandon residents, the date of the Prince Edward meeting its fate can be pinpointed to shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24, 1980.

It was a clear, still day, and temperatures were about -14 C. It only took a few seconds for the explosions to level the hotel. Dozens of cameras clicked.

Here are a few of those photos.

Note: You can scroll down to view all of the photos, or you can click below to be taken to any specific gallery:

• Demolition at the start
• The implosion, seen from above
• The implosion, seen from the ground
• Another view of the implosion, seen from the ground
• The imposion, seen in colour
• The final collapse

Demolition at the start

Before the explosion, wrecking crews smashed through the hotel’s front, and used bulldozers and backhoes to take down the easiest portions.

 

Workers get set to begin taking down the Prince Edward Hotel, on the first day of demolition in 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Workers peer over a third-floor balcony as they prepare for Prince Edward Hotel demolition. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

A worker (on fire escape) helps line up the wrecker’s ball as the Prince Edward Hotel undergoes demolition. Note that the fire escapes have been partially dismantled. Thursday, Feb. 14, 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Workers on the roof lower metal pipes to the ground during preparation for the Prince Edward Hotel demolition. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

A welder cuts supports from an exhaust stack as Prince Edward Hotel demolition begins in January 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Workers prepare to remove an exhast stack during Prince Edward Hotel demolition. January 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

An exhaust stack, cut away, is slowly lowered to the ground during Prince Edward Hotel demolition. January 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Who said the roof was in bad shape? Machinery on the roof during preparation for the Prince Edward Hotel demolition in 1980. The "CL" is actually the lower-right quadrant that’s left of the "HOTEL" sign across the top of the building. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Works atop the Red Caboose during early Prince Edward Hotel demolition take a look over the top. The lettering reads MCMXI with a CNR logomark above. The Red Caboose was originally a train depot and was completed before the hotel proper. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Workers push debris off the top of the Red Caboose as Prince Edward Hotel demolition gets underway in 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Demolition started from the top of the Red Caboose, in this January 1980 photo seen from inside the Prince Edward Hotel. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Grafitti says "Save Me!" on a boarded-up window on the Red Caboose, which has already lost most of its roof during Prince Edward Hotel demolition. January 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

A worker rips off window coverings – with graffiti reading ‘Help’ – on the first day of demolition at the Prince Edward Hotel in 1980. First to go was the CNR depot, later known as the Red Caboose nightspot, seen here. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

A polite sign marks a closed sidewalk as the main structure of Prince Edward Hotel undergoes demolition. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

The Red Caboose — formerly the CNR depot that stretched south from the hotel — was first to go during the Prince Edward Hotel demolition. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

A wrecking ball swings toward the front of the Prince Edward Hotel during demolition. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Men along Princess Avenue watch from across the intersection as a wrecking ball smashed the Prince Edward Hotel. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Original caption: First cut is the steepest: Curious onlookers were drawn to the site of the Prince Edward Hotel Sunday, Feb. 17, 1980, where a large crane was busy smashing the centre portion of the doomed structure. The wrecking firm plans to cut the 67-year-old building in half then bring down the remaining portions using either the conventional wrecker’s ball or high explosives. (Stu Phillips / Brandon Sun file) Note original crop marks from when this photo was first published.

The Brandon Inn stands strong as its neighbour, the Prince Edward Hotel suffers the ignoble fate of demolition. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Two people watch the ongoing Prince Edward Hotel demolition from across the street. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Original caption: A backhoe picks up rubble from the Princess Avenue side of the Prince Edward Hotel as demolition work on the building continued on Thursday, Feb. 21, 1980. The centre section of the hotel has now been demolished and the twin towers are expected to follow soon. (Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun)

The damaged "Hotel" sign lies askew as Prince Edward Hotel undergoes demolition. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Another angle, from the rear, showing how demolition punched a hole right through the Prince Edward Hotel in this 1980 photo. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Demolition makes headway at the Prince Edward Hotel. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file

Large pieces of concrete hang from metal reinforcing pieces as the Prince Edward Hotel falls under a wrecking ball on March 1, 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file (note: This is after the implosion of the first tower, covered separately below)

A backhoe dumps debris into a truck with the last of the Prince Edward Hotel still standing in the background. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file (note: This is after the implosion of the first tower, covered separately below)

A backhoe loads debris into a dump truck as Prince Edward Hotel demolition continues in 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file (note: This is after the implosion of the first tower, covered separately below)

A backhoe driver works to remove rubble after the first half of the Prince Edward Hotel demolition. March 1, 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file (note: This is after the implosion of the first tower, covered separately below)

The implosion, seen from above

The Brandon Sun had a photographer on the roof of a nearby building to capture these angles.

An aerial view of the explosions which levelled the east half of the Prince Edward Hotel on Feb. 24, 1980. Probably taken from the roof of Lawson Lodge. (Brandon Sun file) [Is numbered 3, but only four prints exist in this series: 3, 4, 8 and 9.]

Looking closely at the above photo and the one following, it is possible to see the plywood-covered support pillars (at bottom right of the building) blowing out in sequence, and collapsing the hotel.

An aerial view of the explosions which levelled the east half of the Prince Edward Hotel on Feb. 24, 1980. Probably taken from the roof of Lawson Lodge. (Brandon Sun file) [Is numbered 4, but only four prints exist in this series: 3, 4, 8 and 9.]

An aerial view of the explosions which levelled the east half of the Prince Edward Hotel on Feb. 24, 1980. Probably taken from the roof of Lawson Lodge. (Brandon Sun file) [Is numbered 8, but only four prints exist in this series: 3, 4, 8 and 9.]

An aerial view of the explosions which levelled the east half of the Prince Edward Hotel on Feb. 24, 1980. Probably taken from the roof of Lawson Lodge. (Brandon Sun file) [Appears to be similar to the previous shot, perhaps from the same series, but is not numbered]

An aerial view of the aftermath of the explosions which levelled the east half of the Prince Edward Hotel on Feb. 24, 1980. Probably taken from the roof of Lawson Lodge. (Brandon Sun file) [Is numbered 9, but only four prints exist in this series: 3, 4, 8 and 9.]

An animated view of the implosion of the Prince Edward Hotel on Feb. 24, 1980. Animation by Grant Hamilton, images from Brandon Sun file

The east tower of the Prince Edward Hotel was reduced to a pile of rubble in less than 6 seconds on Sunday, Feb. 24, 1980. John Loizeaux (center) president of Controlled Demolition Incorporated, smiles as he examines the aftermath of his handiwork. At left is Harold Sultzbaugh, the company’s chief engineer. The man on the right is unidentified. (Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file)

The implosion, seen from the ground

The Brandon Sun had another photographer on the ground, to capture the implosion.

Again, the plywood covered support pillars at the bottom can briefly be seen. Holes were drilled in the pillars and about 45 kg of special high-velocity dynamite was inserted. The pillers were covered in plywood to keep the concrete from flying out.

A ground view of the explosions which levelled the east half of the Prince Edward Hotel on Feb. 24, 1980. Taken from south of the hotel on ninth Street. (Phil Hossack / Brandon Sun file) [Is numbered 2/21, but only four prints exist in this series: 2, 4, 6 and 18.]

A ground view of the explosions which levelled the east half of the Prince Edward Hotel on Feb. 24, 1980. Taken from south of the hotel on ninth Street. (Phil Hossack / Brandon Sun file) [Is numbered 4/21, but only four prints exist in this series: 2, 4, 6 and 18.]

A ground view of the explosions which levelled the east half of the Prince Edward Hotel on Feb. 24, 1980. Taken from south of the hotel on ninth Street. (Phil Hossack / Brandon Sun file) [Is numbered 6/21, but only four prints exist in this series: 2, 4, 6 and 18.]

A ground view of the explosions which levelled the east half of the Prince Edward Hotel on Feb. 24, 1980. Taken from south of the hotel on ninth Street. (Phil Hossack / Brandon Sun file) [Is numbered 18/21, but only four prints exist in this series: 2, 4, 6 and 18.]

An animated view of the explosions which levelled the east half of the Prince Edward Hotel on Feb. 24, 1980. Taken from south of the hotel on ninth Street. (Phil Hossack / Brandon Sun file, animation by Grant Hamilton)

Another view of the implosion, seen from the ground

Photographer Glenn Smith set up his Hasselblad 500CM and shot these photos with an 80mm lens. Used by permission.

The Prince Edward Hotel, seen from the front, before demolition. (Courtesy Glenn Smith)

The Prince Edward Hotel, seen from the rear, just before the implosion of the east tower (on the right). (Courtesy Glenn Smith)

The Prince Edward Hotel begins to collapse, shortly after dynamite was exploded in its supporting columns. (Courtesy Glenn Smith)

The Prince Edward Hotel continues to collapse, shortly after dynamite was exploded in its supporting columns. (Courtesy Glenn Smith)

With most of the tower fallen, a cloud of dust begins to rise from the Prince Edward Hotel’s remains. (Courtesy Glenn Smith)

Dust continues to billow up as the Prince Edward Hotel collapses. (Courtesy Glenn Smith)

Dust continues to billow up as the Prince Edward Hotel is demolished. (Courtesy Glenn Smith)

Using a sequence of photos taken from the same perspective, a brief animation of the Prince Edward Hotel’s collapse can be made. (Courtesy Glenn Smith, animation by Grant Hamilton)

The imposion, seen in colour

Rod Foster managed to secure a spot on the balcony of Pizza Place (now the Brandon Friendship Centre) and says he manually wound his camera as fast as he could to capture two dozen shots of the implosion.

The front of the Prince Edward Hotel during demolition. 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

The front of the Prince Edward Hotel during demolition. 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

A crowd gathers to watch the Prince Edward Hotel fall to dynamite. Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

Another look at the crowd. The date and time of the implosion were supposed to have been a secret. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

From the balcony of the Pizza Place restaurant (now the Brandon Friendship Centre), viewers wait for the Prince Edward Hotel’s east tower (on right) to be imploded. Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

Another look at the growing crowd of onlookers waiting for the Prince Edward Hotel’s implosion on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

A puff of smoke shows start of the explosions during the Prince Edward Hotel’s implosion on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

The east tower of  the Prince Edward Hotel begins to collapse after explosions knock out its support pillars on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

The east tower of  the Prince Edward Hotel continues to collapse after explosions knock out its support pillars on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

A cloud of dust begins to rise as the east tower of  the Prince Edward Hotel collapses after explosions knock out its support pillars on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

A cloud of dust continues to rise as the east tower of  the Prince Edward Hotel collapses after explosions knock out its support pillars on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

A cloud of dust continues to rise as the east tower of  the Prince Edward Hotel collapses after explosions knock out its support pillars on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

The dust cloud obscures the rest of the Prince Edward Hotel as the east tower collapses on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

The dust cloud continues to obscure the rest of the Prince Edward Hotel as the east tower collapses on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

The dust cloud begins to rush towards onlookers as the east tower of the Prince Edward Hotel is imploded on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

Brandon residents watching the the east tower of the Prince Edward Hotel imploded on Feb. 24, 1980 are caught in a haze of dust and debris — but the tower is gone. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

Lingering haze from the debris of the Prince Edward Hotel’s implosion on Feb. 24, 1980 force bystanders away. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

Lingering haze from the debris of the Prince Edward Hotel’s implosion on Feb. 24, 1980 forced some drivers to turn on their headlights. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

Sunlight begins to poke through haze from the debris of the Prince Edward Hotel’s implosion on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

The debris cloud from the Prince Edward Hotel’s implosion on Feb. 24, 1980 drifted across the parking lot more than a block away. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

The debris cloud from the Prince Edward Hotel’s implosion on Feb. 24, 1980 begins to lift. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

Onlookers check out the aftermath from the Prince Edward Hotel’s implosion on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

With police barriers dropped, Brandon residents were free to check out the wreckage after the Prince Edward Hotel’s implosion on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

The east tower the Prince Edward Hotel was left just a pile of rubble after its implosion on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

A vertical look of the aftermath of the Prince Edward Hotel’s implosion on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

The air clears after the Prince Edward Hotel’s implosion on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

After the implosion of the Prince Edward Hotel’s east tower on Feb. 24, 1980, a crane stands ready to move in to take care of the west tower. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

The final image on the roll: a wrecking ball beings to tear into the west tower of the Prince Edward Hotel. (Rod Foster / For the Sun)

An animated look at the implosion of the Prince Edward Hotel’s east tower, on Feb. 24, 1980. (Rod Foster / For the Sun, animation by Grant Hamilton)

The final collapse

Weeks after the spectacular explosion, wrecking crews were still chipping away at the other half of the hotel. Although the published tale is that workers just happened to be on their lunch break when the hotel gave a shiver and suddenly collapsed in a heap, the fact that the Brandon Sun had a photographer present to capture several photos of the hotel falling down probably means that the crews had some warning.

A man watches the second tower of the Prince Edward Hotel being knocked down, on the second-last day of its existence, March 13, 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file.

A wrecking ball smashes into what’s left of the Prince Edward Hotel, on the second-last day of its existence: March 13, 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file.

A freckle-faced boy watches the last vestiges of the Prince Edward Hotel disappear under a wrecker’s ball, on the second-last day of the building’s existence. March 13, 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file.

A woman walks past what’s left of the Prince Edward Hotel, on the second-last day of its existence. March 13, 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file.

A dump truck fills with debris as workers demolish the west tower of the Prince Edward Hotel, in March 1980. The tower later collapsed on its own. (Brandon Sun file)

A wrecking ball begins to fell the west tower of the Prince Edward Hotel in March 1980. (Brandon Sun file)

A view of the unintentional collapse of the west tower of the Prince Edward Hotel, which surprised demolition workers when it fell during their lunch break on March 14, 1980. (Brandon Sun file) [labeled 1 of 4]

A view of the unintentional collapse of the west tower of the Prince Edward Hotel, which surprised demolition workers when it fell during their lunch break on March 14, 1980. (Brandon Sun file) [labeled 2 of 4]

A view of the unintentional collapse of the west tower of the Prince Edward Hotel, which surprised demolition workers when it fell during their lunch break on March 14, 1980. (Brandon Sun file) [labeled 3 of 4]

The final result of the unintentional collapse of the west tower of the Prince Edward Hotel, which surprised demolition workers when it fell during their lunch break on March 14, 1980. (Brandon Sun file) [labeled 4 of 4]

An animated view of the unintentional collapse of the west tower of the Prince Edward Hotel, which surprised demolition workers when it fell during their lunch break on March 14, 1980. (Animation by Grant Hamilton, Brandon Sun file)

Workers atop a pile of rubble where the Prince Edward Hotel used to stand, in 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file.

Men and machines work to clear piles of rubble during the Prince Eddy clean-up in early 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file.

Workers level the land where the Prince Edward Hotel once stood, after debris was totally removed. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file.

It’ll cost you two bits for two hours parking in this lot, where the Prince Edward Hotel until recently stood. 1980. Dirk Aberson / Brandon Sun file