Public Houses & Old Time Hotels of Michigan City
 Many other businesses have occupied this structure since then. And at one time it was known as the Major Hotel. |  built in 1921 closed 1966 and razed in 1979 along with other buildings in the vicinity . |  The Jewel Hotel built 1883 Renamed the Vreeland - expanded in 1898 later dates rename then the Adner Hotel, The Chapel Hotel & The Franklin Hotel last owners of hotel |  Fairview Hotel 122 E 2nd Street in existence in 1908 operated by Joel H & wf Eliza C Boyd in 1910 through |
| The earliest known “public
house” was a log cabin built by Joseph C. Orr in 1834. Later in
that same year Lofton and Taylor built a hotel near the harbor and
Samuel Olinger buit one in uptown. Hiram Inman built the Stockton
house on Pine Street. In 1835 to 1836 there were other hotels built such as Mansion House, Lake House, City Hotel, Exchange, Farmers Hotel, Washington House, Western Hotel (located near where the State Prison stands today.) Later came the Franklin House and the Genesee House. The Genesee House was paid for with “wild cat” monies from Genesee, Michigan. These early hotels became more and more necessary as government monies were used to widen and deepen the harbor for Great Lakes commerce. Also with the amount of travelers coming by either rail, wagon or boat, sleeping accommodations were in need. The Jewell House was erected in 1853 by
Mr. Offley Leeds and later operated by Harvey R. Harris and later Mr.
Harrison Jewell. Before erecting his new hotel, Mr. Jewell operated
the Franklin which stood on Schoeneman and Ashton's Corner. During
a later time period Mr. Jewell and Ainsworth kept the Lake House and
Mr. Jewell also kept the “United States Hotel” at the same time
that Sweetland and Pulford were landlords for the “Exchange”. St. Nicholas Hotel
building, Michigan City, Indiana Northern (418 Franklin) building built around 1878, Southern addition (420 Franklin) was built before 1894 or so, but after 1884. Mentioned in earliest Michigan City Dispatch on microfilm as "St Nicholas Hotel" with August Schausten as proprietor. It changed hands a few times and later became the "Hub Hotel," ultimately ending up as a tavern, and remaining abandoned for at least a decade prior to its purchase and moderate renovation by its next owners. The architecture of the building appears to be that in the Italianate style and although there have been several face lifts to the exterior, the basic roof and window designs remain.
Construction date for 418 is difficult to pin down, as there is a large gap in local newspaper microfilms available at the library. The first MC Dispatch has an ad on its front page proclaiming the St. Nicholas Hotel as “…new, elegantly furnished, everything first class.” The ads for this hotel carried that same information until at least 1882.
420 section seems to date to around 1893 or so. I remember seeing a Sanborn map from sometime in the 1890s that shows both buildings. All newspaper references are from Michigan City Dispatch microfilms from Indiana Room at MC Public Library. These are herein referred to as MCD. Proprietors: August Schausten – He’s the first proprietor listed in the first ad from the earliest MCD, 4 September 1879. The Federal Census for June 2, 1880, shows August and his family still living at the hotel with his sister working as a clerk. He shows his new occupation as Clerk Cleric Washington. William E. “Jack” Robinson & James Morrow – Beginning some time around 8 July 1880 they took over. The MCD from that date mentions that August Schausten and his family left for Washington, DC “Saturday last” which would be 2 July. The same paper has several interesting points, mentioning these guys’ names as proprietor and manager, so I’m not sure if there was any overlap or how they came to know August. They came from Kokomo, apparently. It’s mentioned that the hotel is “fairly booming” under “Jack” Robinson’s management, and Jim Morrow left Kokomo sometime prior to the 8th of July. Henry Wing – First mention I could find for his proprietorship is an ad from the 15 February 1883 MCD. Interestingly, the ads now only mention the name of the hotel, proprietor, and rates. The 3 September 1885 MCD mentions briefly “It is said that the St. Nicholas Hotel will soon be vacated.” This brief sentence fails to mention why, and the print ads for the hotel stop about 13 May 1886. There is no mention of the hotel in the 1890-1891 Carron’s City Directory. *Henderson House and beyond The old St. Nicholas Hotel now appears in the 1893 directory as the Henderson House, with Frederick J. Henderson and ? Turley proprietors. The 420 building is now listed. I haven’t researched much of this building’s later history outside of what it became and approximate dates when, so I’m including a brief rundown on the next page. Hopefully it’ll be useful to someone. St. Nicholas Hotel building changes and approximate dates: 418 only
Henderson House – 1893 – 1897 – Frederick J. Henderson and ? Turley Jos. Rieg tailor shop & Geo. Ohming billiards & pool in 420 Mrs. Nellie Fish Boarding House – 1897 - ? – Mrs. Nellie Fish Geo. Ohming billiards & pool and J.A. Symes tailors in 420 W.H. Buehring Saloon – 1902? – 1905? Geo. Ohming insurance agent 420 James Brody Saloon – 1905 – 1909 L.C. Veal & Bros. billiards & pool 420 Avon Hotel & Restaurant – 1919 – 1923 – Edwin M. Lane
Burnett Hotel & Restaurant – 1923 – 1926? Buddies Clothing Store 420
Hub Hotel & Restaurant – 1929 – 1935 Oriental Restaurant Ming You 420 City Shoe Repair and Auto License Branch 420 Vacant? 1935 – 1937 Hollywood Hotel (418 ½) – 1938 – 1949 – E.J. Nahas Arnold’s Outlet Clothing (418) Roma Tavern & Restaurant – 1949 – 1985? – Albert & Nick Petti Jarosz Printing (420) – 1949 – 1992? 418 Vacant? 1985 – 2006 420 Vacant? 1992 - 2006 Northern Indiana Education Foundation – restoring and using for offices ca. 2006-7 |
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