BLOCK, PRINTING

Description: SQUARE ZINC PRINTING BLOCK WITH MANUFACTURING GROOVES ON TOP AND BOTTOM OF PLATE. HAS REVERSE ETCHING OF ADVERTISING FROM "THE MARQUIS STEAK AND RIB ROOM". ETCHING HAS SHIELD CREST OF RIBBON AND STEER HEAD WITH CROWN ON TOP ON RIGHT TOP QUADRANT. BACKGROUND HAS PICTURE OF COOKING FIRE AND SMOKE WITH A HAND AND SKEWER ALONG BASE OF PLATE. CORNERS OF BLOCK ARE DENTED AND CHIPPED WITH MINOR SCRATCHES THROUGHOUT.

History: PLATE WAS USED FOR ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR THE MARQUIS RESTAURANT IN LETHBRIDGE. RESTAURANT WAS LOCATED IN THE MARQUIS HOTEL, WHICH OPERATED IN LETHBRIDGE FROM 1928 UNTIL ITS CLOSURE OCTOBER 14, 1985. THE HOTEL WAS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF 7TH STREET AND 4TH AVENUE SOUTH, WHERE THE ROYAL BANK NOW STANDS. DINING ROOM AND BANQUET HALL OF THE MARQUIS HOTEL ON THE MEZZANINE FLOOR WAS CONSIDERED A SHOWPLACE IN LETHBRIDGE, FAVORED BY BUSINESS AND SOCIAL COMMUNITY, AND NOTED FOR ITS FLORAL ARBOURS. FOOD SERVICES WERE TAKEN OVER BY ERICKSENS WHEN THE FAMILY MOVED TO LETHBRIDGE IN 1949, INCLUDING THE BANQUET HALL AND LATER THE COFFEE ROOM. HOWEVER, THE DINING ROOM REMAINED PART OF THE HOTEL UNTIL THE BUSINESS CLOSED IN 1985 DUE TO THE UNECONOMIC COST OF RESTORING IT TO THE STANDARDS OF THE BUILDING CODE.