Hotel Columbia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hotel Columbia
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 194 E. Huron Ave., Vassar, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001998 |
| Added to NRHP | January 22, 1992 |
The Hotel Columbia is a historic building located in Vassar, Michigan. It used to be a hotel, but now it's home to a restaurant called the Riverside Grill. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This means it's recognized as an important part of history.
Contents
History of the Hotel Columbia
How Vassar Grew
The town of Vassar started in 1849. It was founded by Townsend North and James Edmunds. The town grew quickly because of the logging business. Logging means cutting down trees for wood. Vassar became an official village in 1871.
However, the trees in the area started to run out. Also, a big fire called the Thumb Fire happened in 1881. These events meant the end of logging in Vassar. The town then changed to farming. Farmers started growing crops like sugar beets. By 1900, growing sugar beets was a very important part of Vassar's economy.
J.P. Blackmore and the Hotel
During this time of change, a well-known businessman named J.P. Blackmore built the Hotel Columbia. Blackmore was born in County Tipperary, Ireland. He came to Michigan in 1871. He worked on building strong wooden bridges for new railroad lines.
By 1874, J.P. and his brother Simon moved to Vassar. They started many businesses. They opened a saloon and a billiards hall in 1875. Later, they bought the Central House. This was one of Vassar's first inns. In 1883, Blackmore bought another hotel, the Jewell House. He made it bigger and then sold it in 1888. He wanted to focus on farming. But in 1892, Blackmore built this hotel, the Hotel Columbia.
Changes Over Time
Blackmore owned and ran the Hotel Columbia until 1902. Then, he sold it to his brother Simon. Simon Blackmore sold the hotel to John H. Schultz in 1909. The hotel and its restaurant had many different owners between 1913 and 1932. In 1929, its name changed to the "Vassar Hotel."
The building worked as a hotel until 1986. A big flood damaged the building that year. This forced the hotel to close. People planned to tear down the building.
Saving the Hotel
Luckily, a group called the Cork Pine Preservation Association formed. This group is now known as the Vassar Historical Society. They stopped the demolition plans. The group worked to fix up the hotel. In 1996, a restaurant called "Betty Lou's" opened inside. Betty Lou's closed in the 2010s. The building was empty for several years. Then, in 2016, a new restaurant called the Riverside Grill opened.
What the Hotel Looks Like
Outside Appearance
The Hotel Columbia is a two-story building. It is shaped like the letter "L." The bricks are a brownish-red color. It has a flat roof and a strong concrete foundation. There is a smaller, one-story part at the back of the building. This part fills the corner of the "L" shape. Two small additions are attached to this back section.
The building is on a corner lot. This means it has two main sides that face the street. The longer side along Huron Avenue is the most important. Both sides have windows with flat arches. These windows have one pane of glass on top and one on the bottom. They also have stone sills that look like rough rock.
Special Features
On the corner of the building, there is a small, round tower on the second floor. This is called a "turret." It is held up by two simple stone columns. On top of the turret, there is a stone block. It has the name "J. P. Blackmore" carved into it.
Below the turret, there is an entrance. This door originally led to the hotel lobby. The entrance door has narrow windows on the sides. It also has a window above the door. Both main sides of the building are divided by flat columns called pilasters. These pilasters create sections or "bays" along the walls.
