There were 13 local residents that took Tuesday's first Downtown Walking Tour of the summer that the Prince George Library, in partnership with the Heritage Commission, has put on every year since 2006.
"A lot of them were saying that it's really interesting to learn about stuff when they've lived here their entire lives and never knew about the history of downtown," said Paige Malmgren, heritage project assistant at the library.
"One woman was telling me that she gained a new appreciation for it."
The tours take place every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the summer until Aug. 25. It begins at 11 a.m. and goes for about an hour. Everyone who wishes to take the tour can meet Malmgren on the main floor of the library's downtown branch.
Most people's favourite racy tidbit of knowledge about Prince George's unruly past is that the first city hall was housed in what had been a brothel.
Another landmark is Qurvy Queen at 1276 Fourth Ave. in the original Corless House.
"It's the oldest historical house in Prince George and it's one of the few that's left and it was built in 1918 and that's actually where the undertaker lived and there are lots of good stories about how his son would drive around in a Model T ambulance picking up dead bodies, so there's some good stories out of that house," said Malmgren.
The Strand Theatre at the corner of Third Avenue and Dominion Street has a sordid past featuring some creative thievery.
"So it was a super popular movie theatre that ran from 1926 to 1976 and at one point this guy tried to break into it by lowering himself through an air duct to steal about $600 worth of nickels and dimes but he was caught trying to dig his way out of the basement," said Malmgren. "He ended up spending five years in prison."
Everyone is welcome to join the tour and there is no registration required.
For large groups people can book a private tour if they wish by calling Malmgren and there's also sit-down tours at the library that features a Powerpoint presentation for those with mobility issues. For more information call 250-563-9251.
