Then & Now - The Muskegon Hotel
With plans in the works to construct condos at the site of the Muskegon Hotel we thought this blast from the past might catch your interest. Thanks to County Museum staff for providing us with the below photo and story.
New Muskegon Hotel Opened for Business – Is Equipped With All Modern Conveniences, to have 80 Rooms
From a local news source, most likely the Muskegon Chronicle
Feb 26, 1914
The new Hotel Muskegon, opposite the Union Depot, opened by Otto Loescher, and managed by William Duquette, is now open to the public.
Every feature of new, modern and up-to-date hotel conveniences are found in this new hotelery. Each room is an outside room, directly connected with a fire escape, equipped with running hot and cold water, a telephone, and electric lights. Of the rooms now open 18 are equipped with bath, the fixtures being of the latest type. In addition to the rooms with baths, there are 10 toilets on the two floors and four baths. Throughout the entire hotel the floors in all the bath rooms are of tile and the walls are also of tile to a height of about five feet from the floor.
The Hotel Muskegon, when entirely completed, will have 80 rooms, 50 of which are ready for occupants. The remaining 30 will be ready by May 1. The dining room and restaurant will open May 1 as well. One of the features of the 30 rooms to be opened May 1 is the disappearing beds in all of them.
Work is begun on installing bowling alleys, baths and a barber shop in the basement. The lobby is a neat attractive room, floored with tile and having attractive French windows. Back of the lobby is the billiard room, in which five tables will soon be set up, two rail and three pocket billiard tables, and at the back of the billiard room, a smoking room and den. To the left of the lobby is the dining room and restaurant in which banquets of up to 300 people can easily be accommodated.
The opening of the Hotel Muskegon was postponed several weeks because springs for beds were delayed. Its location opposite the Union depot is an advantageous one to secure its share of the traveling public.
The general appearance of the Hotel Muskegon from the street is a pleasing one, the terra cotta showing up to good effect. When the other 30 rooms and dining room are opened, the Hotel Muskegon will be one of the best hostelries of its size in Michigan.
Photo and Story from the Collection of the Muskegon County Museum
Full Size Opening Photo
Full Size Condo Plan rendering
Labels: Downtown E-News
posted by Dan & Sarah @ 11:17 AM
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