Douglas House (Lovells Township, Michigan) facts for kids
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Douglas Hotel
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 6122 E Cty Rd. 612, Lovells Township, Michigan |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1916 |
| Architectural style | Prairie, Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001017 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 23, 2001 |
The Douglas House, also known as the Douglas Hotel or the North Branch Outing Club, is a special old building located in Lovells Township, Michigan. It used to be a place where people stayed for fun outdoor activities. This historic building was recognized as important in Michigan in 2000 and added to a national list of historic places in 2001.
Contents
The Douglas House: A Look Back in Time
The story of the Douglas House begins with Thomas E. Douglas. He was born in Canada and later moved to Michigan. He started working as a bookkeeper in a lumber mill in Saginaw.
In 1893, Thomas Douglas moved to Grayling. There, he managed a lumber company. The lumber business was very big at that time.
Building a Community Hub
In 1898, Douglas built a sawmill and a general store in Lovells. Lovells was a small town where people worked in logging. A fire destroyed the general store in 1903, but Douglas quickly built a new one.
By 1916, the lumber business was slowing down. Thomas Douglas decided to build the Douglas House. He also started the North Branch Outing Club. His goal was to bring tourists to the area. He even used electricity from his own mill to power the hotel!
A Place for Famous Guests
As cars became popular, Douglas wanted to attract rich travelers. Many important people from the new Detroit car industry became members of his club. These included Henry Ford and his son Edsel. Also, John and Horace Dodge, who started the Dodge car company, visited. Charles Nash, who founded Nash Motors, was another guest.
Thomas Douglas's daughter, Margaret, managed the hotel. She ran it until it closed in 1971. Margaret lived in the hotel until she passed away. In 1996, the Douglas House reopened. It is now a sporting lodge called the "North Branch Outing Club."
What Does the Douglas House Look Like?
The Douglas House is a two-story building. It is made of wood and has a special roof shape called a hipped roof. The outside walls are covered with clapboard, which are long, thin boards.
Inside, the building has 20 guest rooms. It also has fancy common areas where people can relax. These parts of the hotel have not changed much over the years.
