History of Lansing Hotels

History of Lansing Hotels

Copied from The State Journal; Lansing, Michigan; Saturday, February 8, 1930.

See updates connected to parenthesis notes like this (1) at the end of this article.

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History of Lansing Hotels Traced from Days of Coach

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Many Famous Names – Benton House, Lansing House and Seymour House Dot Review Of Early Social Life of Capital City; Old Inns Played Part in Political Life Of State

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The answer to the question: “What and where was Lansing’s first hotel?” is one of which none but the rash and imprudent can afford, at this late date, to be positive. There are three hotels for which this distinction is claimed by as many followers of local historians.

If you are guided in your beliefs of early Lansing by Albert E. Cowles’ “Ingham County, Past and Present,” then the Grand River house was the first. In the event your knowledge and impressions of pioneer Lansing are based on George N. Fuller’s “Historic Michigan,” then the Seymour House ranks first. But, again, if the records of the “Michigan Pioneer Collection” are your sign posts to historic accuracy, then the designation “first hotel in Lansing” would go to the Lansing house. However, it seems reasonably certain that the last two mentioned were erected in the same year: 1847. and that even if the building later known as the “Grand River House”, was erected previous to that year, it couldn’t have been used as a hotel before then. The reason is not far to seek: there was almost no people here to ask for even over-night accommodation. The handful of settlers lived in huts of their own, and one of those “huts”, a large one, was later the hotel referred to. And in addition to those three hotels, a fourth one. The Michigan house, was built in 1847, on the northwest corner of East Main and River streets, by John Thomas, who operated it for some years. It was virtually on the bank of the Grand river.

The preponderance of evidence available at this time, points most favorably to the belief that Lansing’s first hotel, in any sense of the word, was erected, as a residence, in June 1843, by John W. Burchard. It was he who built the first log house within the city limits of Lansing, as now defined. This story was told, in detail on Page 3, section 5, of the Anniversary edition. (1) Its location has been fixed as being slightly northwest of the present northwest corner of Center and Wall streets, in North Lansing.

First in City

Following Burchard’s death, and the re-purchase of the property by James Seymour, at the administrator’s sale, the site was leased to Joab Page, Whitney Smith and George Pease, as pointed out in the story referred to. The house in which Burchard and his family lived, however, is the one which is believed to have eventually become Lansing’s first hotel.

Fuller’s history, discussing the arrival of the three capitol commissioners at “Michigan”, May 20, 1847, to select a site for the capitol, says: “The principal building (the others being one or two houses and a saw mill), was the enlarged residence of the late John W. Burchard, who had built the dam. It was occupied by Joab Page, his son, Isaac C. Page, and his son-in-law, Whitney Smith, George D. Pease and Alvin Rolfe.” This would certainly indicate a continuity of living in the original house, with enlargements made necessary for the accommodation of these men, and very likely, their wives. Nothing is said in his history about a hotel, but Cowles history, discussing early hotels and referring to the place the Seymour house held, said “the Grand River house, quite a respectable building for those times, had already been built by Messrs. Page and Smith, at the northwest corner of Center and Wall streets.”

It was Cowles who located both Burchard’s house, and the Grand River house; it was Fuller who indicated that these buildings were one and the same. Their locations are within a few rods of each other; it is entirely possible that in addition to enlarging the original Burchard house, they might have moved it slightly to bring it out to face on a street, instead of languishing in the middle of a village “block.” The house of logs, which is believed to the be the “Grand River house,” was 20 feet wide, and 40 feet long, and two stories high. It is easy to see how a building this large would recommend itself to use as a “hotel,” as soon as the first rush of people followed the commissioners here, throwing up shanties and lean-to shacks in their haste to get established. Its name must have come about in a natural way, for every hotel must have a name. Little of the subsequent history of the “Grand River House,” is known.

As to the first hotel erected for the avowed and commercial intention of accommodating transients, the claim would seem to go, logically, to the Seymour house, erected in 1847 on the southwest corner of Center and Franklin streets, or Center and East Grand River avenue today. This would place it just one block north of the “Grand River House,” and on the same side of the street. The reasons for ascribing the distinction of “Lansing’s first hotel” in the commercial sense of the word, to the Seymour house, rather than to the Lansing house, near the state capitol, are these: James Seymour came here shortly after the capitol commissioners did. He was alive to every possibility of development, and finally, the first settlements of any kind were in this north section, and not in the south part of what is Lansing today. As to the “Michigan house,” no one is discovered to have claimed primacy for it. It was an early one, but not the earliest. In fairness to the records of the “Michigan Pioneer Collection,” it must be said that although the Lansing house is indexed “Lansing’s first hotel,” reference discloses no flatfooted contention; merely the recollections of one member on this point, are printed.

Other Pioneer Hotels

Besides the Grand River house, the Seymour house, the Lansing house, and the Michigan house, there were other pioneer hotels, whose known history is covered by mere recollections of their names. There was the Ohio house, directly in rear of the present Downey hotel, which would locate it on the south side of West Washtenaw street, perhaps 300 feet west of South Washington avenue. Then, in the extreme south end, east of Grand river, was Clapsaddle’s hotel, named after its builder, erected on the corner of East Main street and South Cedar. This was also known as the National hotel. It was directly across the river from the Michigan house, mentioned just previously. Clapsaddle’s hotel burned in later years.

Starting as nearly as possible, with the hotels, in the order in which they were started, consideration of the others rests first with the Seymour house, which, with alterations, survives today as Franklin Terrace. It was known, for a time after 1891, as the Franklin house. This was a two and a half story frame building, extending on Center street, about half way to Wall street, to the south. The front and short side, faced on Franklin street. The hotel office and bar room were in the front, of course, with the parlor and sleeping rooms on the second rooms on the second floor, just above the office. There was a dance hall on the third floor, which, in the words of Albert E. Cowles, “was too high for a half story, too low for a full story.” There were store locations on the first floor, in back of the office. In later years, the place was owned by E. S. Porter, who remodeled it into 16 apartments, years after its glory as a famed hostelry had passed, carrying away the days and nights when candles illuminated scenes of revelry among those high in official and social circles of pioneer Lansing. (2)

The Seymour house was erected by two men, father and son, Oliver Bush was the original contractor for the building. He died “on the job,” October 20, 1847, however, and the work was carried on by his son, John N. Bush, who came to Lansing in September of that year, and secured the contract. The son enjoyed a long career as a building contractor in Lansing, later erecting the Packard house, finishing this in March 1848. The Lansing house was also one of John N. Bush’s works. There were several school houses in this city erected under his supervision. When the Central High school building was erected in 1874, Bush became insolvent, and practically retired after his misfortune.

Original Owners

The original owners of the first Lansing house were two brothers: Matthew P. and Jeremiah Marvin. Mathey P. Marvin, by the way, was the father-in-law of Dr. Frank Stewart Kedzie, present historian of Michigan State college. The most valuable contribution to the intimate history of this old hotel comes from the files of the State Republican, as is the case with so many phases of Lansing’s history. In this case, the history is contained in a brief story from the very first issue of the old parent paper, and as the pages of this edition were published in the Anniversary edition, many have already read it.

The first Lansing house, built in 1847, was of logs. It was on the southeast corner of South Washington and East Washtenaw street, or directly east across the street from the present Downey hotel.

The log hotel was moved “back,” or east, in 1848, and the second Lansing house, a large three-story frame structure, was built on the original site.

The original owners evidently leased the place to Henry Jipson, who eventually bought the property, evidence would indicate. Certain it is that he was the manager for the first eight years of its existence, and in 1855, he was its owner. In April of that year, according to the April 28, 1855 number of the State Republican. Mr. Jipson sold the hotel to Nelson J. Alport, who had recently been managing the Seymour house. Mr. Alport had, before this, been proprietor of the Clinton house, one of the first hotels at DeWitt.

In the desire to deal with the earliest of Lansing’s hotels, in the order of their beginnings, it has been necessary to leave, until now, discussion of what, without any serious contention to the contrary, was certainly the most famed and best remembered of the pioneer hotels of this city – the Benton house, which was opened slightly later than any of the hotels heretofore mentioned.

This hotel, Lansing’s first brick building building, was located on the northwest corner of South Washington avenue and West Main street, where R. E. Olds’ residence stands today. It was started in 1847 and completed the year following, under the direction of Bush, Thomas and Lee, southside merchants prominent in the settlement. It was a four-story building, with a sort of attic above this, and its reputation was shortly well established as a genuinely first class hotel. It acted as a lodestone to prominent state officials, as did its rival, the Seymour house, at the other end of the city. The State Republican files contain a story of a banquet given there, in 1857, by Zachariah Chandler, shortly after his election, by the legislature of that year, as United States senator. The banquet room was on one of the upper floors, probably the second.

To those politically minded, the association of the names Chandler and Benton, is a queer combination; that leading republicans should patronize a hotel named for a nationally famous democrat, is a fact which attests to the merit of the place. The original owners of the Benton house were staunch democrats.

Benton House

The man for whom the Benton house was named by its loyal democratic builders, was Thomas Hart Benton, statesman, born at Hillsborough, N. C., in 1782. His fame as a statesman and a lawyer was enhanced to national degree, when, as a soldier under Gen. Andrew (not “Stonewall”) Jackson, he duelled with his vastly superior officer and wounded the general. In 1820, Benton was elected United States senator from Missouri, which office he held for 31 years. During Andrew Jackson’s terms as president, Senator Benton supported him, regardless of their earlier unpleasantries. From 1852, until his death in Washington in 1858, Benton was a member of the house of representatives. He is best remembered nationally today by his book, “A Thirty Year’s View,” a voluminous and valuable tome concerned with contemporary politics. But in Lansing, few people have known the connection between the senator and the hotel. Like Chancellor John Lansing, for whom the township and city of Lansing are named, and like Samuel D. Ingham, for whom the county was named, Senator Benton, of course never laid eyes on his namesake, the Benton house.

Charles T. Bush, one of the owners, was its first manager, but he shortly gave the reins to his son-in-law, William Hinman, and the finest memories of the old Benton house are associated with the man’s name. A son, William C. Hinman, lives at 119 East Main street today.

In November 1858 [or 1853-?], Mr. Hinman retired from management of the hotel, and his place was taken by E. W. Peck. This is shown by this paragraph from the November 13, 1855, edition of the State Republican, which said:

“BENTON HOUSE – This popular hotel has changed hands, Mr. E. H. Peck of Detroit assuming the duties so welcome to a traveling public. We are sorry to lose the presence of mine host HINMAN, and miss his smiling face, but if a change must come, the mantle could fall on no better shoulders than those of the present proprietor. And he wears it gracefully and easily. Travelers will find at this house the comforts of home and the luxuries of a first-class hotel. Long may it be before it ‘waves’.”

It was shortly after this that Bush, Thomas and Lee demonstrated to the village of Lansing that they were aggressive business men. The story of how they donated a strip of their land for the southern extension of South Washington avenue, and assisted in building the first bridge over Grand river at this point, so as to tap the Jackson and Eaton Rapids stage coach line for trade, was told in the history of bridges of this city, in the Anniversary edition.

Maintains Prestige

Peck continued as manager of the Benton house for about two years, and that he maintained its prestige as a social center, is evidenced from the flowery notices of its parties and dances, which appeared from time to time in the State Republican. One of them in the edition of January 27, 1857, read:

“BALL at the BENTON HOUSE” – It will be seen, by notice in our special advertising column, that the gentlemanly proprietor of the Benton house, opens his rooms tomorrow evening, 28th inst., for the delectation of the devotees of terpsichore. Good music, good supper, and a good time generally, are guaranteed.”

The advertisement announced that the “bill” would be $3, and the notice was signed by E. H. Peck.

But the hotel seems to have closed for a short time at least, in the last months of that same year, for an advertisement in the issue for December 22, pointed out that the hotel had been “re-opened” on December 21, by J. W. Holmes. An editorial jot concerning this fact was in the same issue. It said:

“THE BENTON HOUSE – This well known house has been recently re-opened and refitted, by Dr. Holmes; and we speak what we know when we say it is an ‘A No. 1’ house. It is fast filling with company, and we fear the Dr. will make confirmed epicures of the whole of us.”

In June 1861, Martin Hudson, long connected with Lansing hotels, became the manager of the Benton house. He stayed in this position for only two years, despite the general impression among Lansing pioneers that Hudson was at the Benton house for a much longer period. Again, the filed of the State Republican bear witness to this, for in the issue of April 29, 1863, there was a notice that Martin Hudson had newly become the proprietor of the American house (formerly the Eagle hotel) “directly opposite the capitol.” This was at 215 South Washington avenue, at about where the Strand theater now stands.

In June, 1861, however, Martin Hudson became manager of the third hotel to bear the name “Lansing.” the present Downey hotel, he stayed in this capacity for the next 10 years. The withdrawal of Hudson from the Benton house seems to have marked the beginning of the end of the prominence of this old place. The business life of Lansing was beginning to draw away from the south end: Main street had long since ceased to merit its name, and the business settlement just across the river, on South Cedar street, had disintegrated by then, after its first flourish, like roots in shallow earth. Thus, when the then magnificent Lansing house was opened, in 1867, the Benton house was forced, shortly to close its doors.

The property was acquired in about 1868, by Dr. C. C. Olds, who used it for a boys’ academy, according to the recollections of J. P. Edmonds, who further states that two years later, it was purchased by Cyrus B. Paddock, who changed the name to the “Everett House,” when it was again opened as a hotel. Revival of its old position as a leader was impossible, however, and degeneration into a boarding house followed. The late Judge Edward Cahill eventually acquired it, and sold it to R. E. Olds, who had the building removed in 1902, to make way for his present residence, which was built in the year following. (3)

On Coach Line

To go back, however, to pick up the threads of hotel history from the year 1848, when the three-story frame hotel, the second Lansing house, was erected, we find that this corner in a few years, had become one of considerable activity for stage coach traffic between Lansing and Jackson, as the Seymour house in the north end, or “Lower Town,” was for Lansing-Detroit traffic. For a description of this corner in 1857, one must turn to the Michigan pioneer and historical collections, and cite a paper read before a meeting of this organization, by O. A. Jenison, Lansing pioneer, February 5, 1879.

Mr. Jenison was explaining the features of a picture of the old hotel, taken in 1857, which picture or “ambrotype” he was presenting to the historical association. He said: In front of the main entrance on Washington avenue can be seen the old, time honored sign posts; as we cast our eyes to the right, a small building with a wooden awning in front can be seen, which at the time was used and occupied as the great stage office between Lansing and Jackson; the next building to the right was used in part as the Lansing post office; and still further to the right is the Edgar house as it appeared in those days; at the left of the Lansing house, the barns and sheds can be plainly seen.”

James M. Shearer was manager of the Lansing house shortly after Nelson J. Alport bought it, and he so continued, eventually becoming its proprietor, or at least the lessee. The State Republican records his going, in the issue for June 23, 1857. in this paragraph:

“LANSING HOUSE – This popular hotel has recently changed hands, Mr. Shearer having accepted the appointment of steward of the Agricultural college. The new lessees are Messrs, B. & H. Baker, gentlemen who possess the tact, energy and determination to maintain the enviable reputation acquired for this house.”

Shearer, first steward of the state agricultural college, tried, at first, to run his hotel and hold his job at the school at the same time. Dr. Kedzie, college historian relates, but after trying it from May 13, when the college opened, until the middle of June, he found he had to relinquish one of his places. The Bakers, in the meantime, had turned their lease over to Martin Hudson, in 1859, when he began management of his first hotel in this city.

It was also in 1857, that Lansing acquired its famous “Octagon hotel,” memories of which have survived to a relatively modern period. The structure still stands, fairly well preserved, in the rear of the F. N. Arbaugh company store. The hotel was built on the present site of the store, southeast corner of South Washington avenue and East Kalamazoo street, to be displaced by the department store. Col. Whitney Jones, one time postmaster in Lansing, and prominent real estate operator here in the pre-Civil war period, erected the place as a residence for himself, having a flair for the unusual. The State Republican for May 12, 1857, published a paragraph about a dancing party scheduled in the hotel for that evening. As usual, the affair was referred to as “toe tripping,” it being thought probably that the bald reference to “dancing” would be commonplace. Anyway, here’s what the jot said:

“PARTY AT THE ‘OCTAGON’ – Our worthy neighbor, Thomas Treat, Esq., informs us that the ‘Octagon’ will be open this evening for the use of those who trip the light fantastic toe. This is probably the last hop of the season, and the delegation from our city should be commensurate with the extent of the recognition of this solemn fact. Improve the fleeting hours. Music extra.” (4)

The end of the second Lansing house came at 11:30 o’clock on the night of Sunday, June 2, 1861, and the files of the State Republican contain in full the story of the devastating fire which razed the historic old hotel. For five years, there was no hotel of that name in Lansing. Martin Hudson managed the Benton house for the next two years, when he left to take charge of the Eagle house, as indicated previously. Inasmuch as the Eagle house had been converted from the Columbus house and in view of the fact this was one of the very early hotels in this city, consideration thus turns naturally to the hotels which have been on this side, 215 South Washington avenue, for many years in the past.

Columbus House

The Columbus house, a three-story frame building, was erected in 1847 and 1848, by Christoper Columbus Darling, who came early to Lansing from Eaton Rapids in 1843 to help John W. Burchard to build his dam at what is now North Lansing. He also helped in construction of a second dam at this point, for James Seymour. Thus Darling was one of the earliest men to come to Lansing, several years before the city had even acquired that name.

Because of his prominent place in Lansing activities, the name of C. C. Darling was well known for reasons other than his hotel to which he gave his second name. One of his close associates was Myron Green, who died in Lansing, only seven or eight years ago, at an advanced age.

The connection of the Columbus, and the Eagle and the Hudson house, named for Martin Hudson, has always been indicated: the latter hotel was built on the same site as its predecessors, in 1875, when Hudson reached his peak in the hotel business.

Before this development, however, the third Lansing house, a four-story brick, was erected on the site of the present Downey hotel, in 1866, to replace the structure which had burned down in 1861, leaving the city without a really first class hotel. The first two Lansing hotels were directly east across the street from the third, which was erected partly by community subscription, but largely by Gen. Lafayette C. Baker, who used his reward money granted him for the capture of John Wilkes Booth, slayed of Pres. Abraham Lincoln, as detailed in full in a separate story in the Anniversary edition. The hotel was ready for occupancy in May 1867, and Martin Hudson was its first host. It was in 1875 that Hudson sold his interest to N. G. Isabella [Isbell], and built his own hotel, the Hudson house. (5)

The Lansing house was later managed by T. J. Lyon who sold out in 1882, to Jacob Aberle of Owosso. Henry J. Downey purchased the property in 1887, greatly enlarging and improving it. The hotel was damaged by fire in 1876, and again in 1912, but each time the damage was repaired and the hotel made better that ever before. In 1910 two more stories were added to give the hotel its present dimensions. The entire building, inside and out, was rebuilt, save for the walls themselves, after the fire in 1912. (6)

The fortunes of the old Hudson house are carried further in the complete biography of Martin Hudson, also published in the Anniversary edition.

Prominent in the minds of oldsters today, however, is that the old Hudson house, for years political headquarters, was made famous by the residence of Gov. Hazen S. Pingree, during his term in office from 1897 to 1901. Great was the concern and excitement when Governor Pingree, a physical giant had an over-sized bath tub installed in his living quarters of the Hudson house.

Another chapter was added to the long history of early Lansing hotels a generation ago, in the once well known Eichele house, conducted by Jacob Eichele, at 206 North Washington avenue. Coming to Lansing in 1867, Mr. Eichele went into the boarding house business, and later built a three story brick structure on North Washington avenue where his hotel was established in 1873. For 18 years, Jacob Eichele was the proprietor of this hotel which was famed in its day, when good and full meals were served for 25 cents. In May 1891, the lease passed to William P. Graessle, son-in-law of Mr. Eichele, who with his wife, Anna M., as assistant manager, continued the business for six years, when John Herrmann bought the place, together with the two stores on either side of it, in the buildings originally erected by Mr. Eichele. The hotel went out of business in 1904. The sons of Mr. Herrmann now conduct their father’s tailoring business at 218 North Washington, in one of the buildings involved in the sale. Mr. Graessle died July 29, 1928. Mrs. Graessler lives at 216 1/2 South Pine street.

Many Others

There have been a score of other hotels in Lansing, not mentioned in this outline, some better known than others. One of them, at random was the old Butler hotel, on the southwest corner of South Washington avenue and West Kalamazoo street. The Butler Block pharmacy now occupies this corner, but 25 years ago, the hotel here was one of the leaders of the city. (7)

While this sketch concerns itself primarily with the first hotels and the ones which closely followed them, mention of hotels best known in Lansing today, will prove interesting records in the future. The Kerns hotel, east side of the first block of North Grand avenue, was originally the Wentworth when it was built, in the early 1900’s, by Frank and Ellen Wentorth. In 1908 it was greatly increased in size after its lease to William George Kerns, son-in-law of the Wentworths. Mr. Kerns conducted the hotel in connection with the Kerns hotel which adjoins it and the two units are one, so far as the traveling public is concerned. Mr. Kerns retired from management in 1921. Mrs. Wentworth still leases her half of the joint hotel to the present management. The proprietor is Ernest E.Richardson, and the manager is Richard J. Murray, his son-in-law. (8)

The Roosevelt hotel, on the east side of the block of Seymour avenue, was opened late in 1923. It is owned by Frank Davey, Detroit, but its manager, well known in Lansing, is Charles T. Quinn. (9)

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November 2017 notes and updates, compiled by me, Timothy Bowman:

(1) The Anniversary edition referred to, was published five weeks before this article on January 1, 1930. It commemorated 75 years of The State Journal newspaper from 1855, which originally was called The State Republican.

(2) The Seymour House hotel which became the Franklin Terrace apartments was torn down in May 1931. The Arctic Corner ice cream place and its parking lot are on the site today.

(3) The R. E. Olds residence “mansion”, which replaced the Benton house, later Everett house; was itself wrecked in October 1966 to make way for the I-496 freeway.

(4) The Octagon House hotel was eventually razed in August 1935.

(5) The Hudson House burned down on December 18, 1919. The Strand Theatre was built on the site of this hotel and opened in April 1921. It was renamed The Michigan Theatre in 1941. And showed its last movie on September 1, 1980.

(6) The Hotel Downey closed its doors on May 1, 1936. Was torn down to make way for a new Knapp’s Department store, which opened on December 7, 1937. This iconic store closed on October 11, 1980. This building still stands today, known as Knapp’s Centre, with some businesses; and apartments on the upper floors. The Lansing State Journal newspaper moved its headquarters to the third floor there in January 2016.

(7) The Hotel Butler building was torn down in 1950 to make way for a new J. C. Penney store, which would open on June 5, 1952. Penney’s, the last of the big downtown department stores, closed on July 16, 1981. Cooley Law School bought the building, remodeled it over several years, and opened their law library there on September 30, 1991. It is still used for this today.

(8) The Hotel Kerns burned downed on December 11, 1934; tragically killing 32 people. The Hotel Wentworth which survived the fire, would be demolished in September 1966. Wentworth Park is on the site of these two hotels today, which has a historical marker for the Hotel Kerns, a 9/11 Memorial, etc.

(9) The Hotel Roosevelt which faced the St. Mary’s Cathedral Church, would be bought by the State Legislature in 1977. It was remodeled for House members offices. The Roosevelt Building was used until 1999 and torn down in early 2000. The Roosevelt Parking Ramp is on the site today.

Yes, there have been several other hotels and motels in the downtown area not mentioned. Most note worthy, the Hotel Olds which opened on July 14, 1926 at the southeast corner of Michigan and Capitol avenues. Also the Radisson Hotel which opened on October 14, 1986 at 111 N. Grand Ave. on the site of the smaller Hotel Detroit and directly across the street from the old Kerns and Wentworth hotels. This might be a research project to do in the future, a list of Lansing area hotels histories.

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Photos copied from CADL’s Local History Online.

Historic Lansing, MI Hotels