St. Clair Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Clair Inn
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 500 N. Riverside Ave., St. Clair, Michigan |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | Walter H. Wyeth, F. R. Patterson |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000074 |
| Added to NRHP | July 3, 1995 |
The St. Clair Inn is a famous hotel found in St. Clair, Michigan. It sits right on the beautiful St. Clair River. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This means it's a special place worth protecting!
Contents
A Look Back: The Inn's Story
In the early 1900s, many boats traveled along the St. Clair River. These boats carried people who often needed a place to stay overnight. Even though there were some hotels nearby, business people in the area felt there weren't enough modern places for travelers.
So, in 1925, a group of local business people decided to build a new hotel. They formed a company called the St. Clair Community Hotel Corporation. Their plan was to build a hotel with sixty rooms. They estimated it would cost about $180,000.
The company raised money from many people to build the hotel. They hired a local architect named Walter H. Wyeth to design it. The building was finished in September 1926.
Changes Over the Years
The hotel faced tough times during the Great Depression in the 1930s. In 1932, the Inn had financial problems. It changed owners several times during this period.
In 1943, the St. Clair Hotel Corporation got the building back. They hired Creighton W. Holden, who owned a local restaurant chain, to manage the hotel. Mr. Holden eventually bought the entire company with his sons by 1948. The Holden family owned the St. Clair Inn until 1975.
Later, in 1978, a large new section was added to the hotel. After that, a company called Thomas Edison Inns Inc. bought the property. In 2015, Planet Clair Corporation purchased the Inn. They started big renovations in 2017 and planned to open the hotel again in 2019.
What the Inn Looks Like
The St. Clair Inn is a two-story building with a pointed roof. It is built in the Tudor Revival style. This style often uses English brick and has decorative wood beams on the outside walls. The Inn is located right on the St. Clair River.
The building has a U-shape. The two "arms" of the U create a small open area facing the street. In this area, you'll find the main entrance, which has its own small pointed roof. To the left of the entrance, there's a small, fun-looking round tower. The roof is covered with shingles. On the side facing the river, there are three unique "eyebrow windows" that curve out from the roof.
Inside the Historic Inn
The inside of the original 1926 hotel still looks much like it did when it was first built. When you enter, you'll find a central lobby. It has a brick floor and a plastered ceiling with rough, wooden beams. From the lobby, a gray oak staircase leads up to the second floor.
Nearby, there's a lounge with two fireplaces. One fireplace is made of English brick with an oak mantelpiece. The other is made of limestone and has cool medieval-themed designs. The main dining room is also close by. What used to be an open porch is now an enclosed room. The original 1926 part of the Inn has sixty guest rooms. The basement holds things like the heating system, laundry rooms, and a bakery.
