The Hitching Post Restaurant building was one of the first permanent structures in Hedley. It was built by L.W. Shatford and opened in May of 1903 as a one story building.  It was quickly doubled in size with a second story being added. The second floor was used as a Masonic dance hall.  Old Timers tell tales of dancing until 4 am and knocking all the glassware off the store shelves below despite the 8” x 8” posts used to stabilize it.  The photo below shows the building with its second story (right).  The three buildings in this photo are surviving today.

During this time period, Hedley was a bustling city and quoted to be ‘the mining and business center of the Similkameen...one of the richest mining sections of British Columbia...it will unquestionably become a large and important city’ L.W. Shatford, 1905. Frank French ran the mining supply store for Shatford until buying him out in 1913 continuing to run it himself until 1918.  The railroad came through in 1909 running from Oroville, Washington to Princeton, B.C. and Hedley grew to be one of the most important early ‘cities’ in B.C.

The Hedley Trading Co. & Mining Supplies later became Collens Department Store, which served the Hedley area for many decades. When the railroad ceased to operate and the mines closed, Collens Department Store shut down and the building was used as railway storage until the 1960’s when it was purchased by Moses Brown. Moses Brown was an enterprising guy who set about to fix up the badly dilapidated building and turn it into a restaurant.  By 1967 the Golden Nickel was a popular eatery and the building had been brought back to life.

After its debut as the Golden Nickel a few others tried their hands at the restaurant business.  Later, the building was owned and operated as a private clubhouse for the One Way Foundation.  During this time period substantial updating was done to the buildings plumbing and wiring.  In 1995, retired businessman Bob Anderson and his artist wife Linda purchased the restaurant.  The wall mural as well as the bar, bookshelf and service window murals were all painted by Linda during the nine year period that the Andersons owned the restaurant.  During this time the restaurant continued to be popular, gaining its reputation as a ‘destination restaurant.

In 2004, a local chef and his entrepreneur/archaeologist wife purchased the building and the business and are continuing the tradition of the Hitching Post as a ‘destination restaurant’.

We encourage you to come and visit us in Hedley and hope to see you soon.