Holly Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hirst Hotel
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| Location | 110 Battle Alley, Holly, Michigan |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001887 |
| Added to NRHP | February 8, 1980 |
The Holly Hotel, also known as the Hirst Hotel, is a historic building in Holly, Michigan. It is located at 110 Battle Alley. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Today, it is a popular restaurant where people can enjoy a meal.
Contents
A Look Back: The Holly Hotel's History
Building a Grand Hotel (1891)
The Hirst Hotel was built in 1891 by a man named John Hirst. He wanted to create a nice place for people traveling by train through Holly. Back then, trains were a main way to travel. The hotel quickly became very important in the community. It had the biggest and best dining room around. This made it a popular spot for social gatherings.
Famous Visitors and Early Challenges
Many important people stayed at the Hirst Hotel. This included Michigan Governors like Thomas E. Dewey and G. Mennen Williams. A famous activist named Carrie Nation also visited. She was known for trying to stop people from selling alcohol.
Fires and Rebuilding (1913-1978)
In 1912, Joseph P. Allen bought the hotel. But in 1913, a big fire badly damaged the second and third floors. Mr. Allen rebuilt the hotel, but it looked a bit different. The new design had a shorter tower and simpler windows. It reopened as the Allendorf. Later that same year, Henry Norton bought the building. He redecorated it and called it the Hotel Norton.
Over time, fewer people traveled by train. This meant the hotel became less popular for travelers. It eventually turned into just a local restaurant. In 1978, another serious fire hit the building.
Restoration and New Life
After the second fire, a local doctor named Leslie Sher bought the damaged building. He worked hard to restore it. He rebuilt the roof and tower to look like the original 1891 design. The building reopened in 1979 as a restaurant. Since then, many important people have dined there. This includes every Michigan governor and even President George H. W. Bush during his 1992 election campaign.
What the Holly Hotel Looks Like
The Holly Hotel is a two-and-a-half story building. It is made of red brick and has a special style called Queen Anne. The building is about 50 feet wide and 75 feet long. It has a sloped roof.
Key Features of the Building
A unique part of the hotel is its three-story, eight-sided tower. This tower has a dome shaped like a helmet. It sits between the two main sides of the building.
The longer side of the hotel faces Battle Alley. It has a porch with columns. This porch covers two main entry doors. On one side of the doors are single windows. On the other side are two large, three-part windows with rounded tops. The second floor has simple, rectangular windows. Two large dormer windows stick out from the steep roof. These dormers are covered with shingles.
The narrower side of the hotel faces Broad Street. This side is more balanced. It has a main entrance in the middle. Above the entrance is a small window with many panes. On either side of the entrance are three-part windows, similar to those on the Battle Alley side. A small porch also covers this entrance. The second floor has three simple windows. Above these windows, a tall gable (the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof) has three more windows close together.
