The Northern Hotel on Main Street in Winnipeg has regained a custom cash register that was originally built for it nearly 120 years ago, after an Alberta antiques dealer located the piece.
The dealer, based in Alberta, uncovered the original register, prompting the hotel to acquire it. The register, designed specifically for the hotel, had been missing for decades.
The hotel, which has been serving guests for almost 120 years, will integrate the register into its historic setting. The acquisition connects the present operation with its early 20th‑century equipment.
The restoration process will involve cleaning and repairing the mechanism to make it functional or display. The hotel plans to place it in its lobby or a public area, reflecting the building’s heritage.
The find underscores the hotel's long‑standing presence on Main Street and its commitment to preserving its past. The register adds a tangible link to the era when the hotel first opened.
Hotel management expressed appreciation for the dealer’s role in locating the artifact, noting that the register is a rare example of custom commercial equipment from that period.
The restored register will join other historical elements of the Northern Hotel as it continues to operate into its third century.