Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-12-27

the necessity for hotel was recogniz-
ed, and NJ. s. Hartwlck, who was the
first settler here, erected a commodious
building for the purpose and made II
home for all who came. The mil
lionaire pine king, the jobber, or the
boys with their Turkey" swung over
their shoulder, the homesteader or the
salesman. were welcomed. each alike,
and under the management of Mr..
Hartwick and his estmiable wife the
the hospitality and good cheer of the
Grayling House was as widely known
as was the village In the woods.
Their prosperity kept pace with the
growth of the place. until 1878 when
the fire.tiend swept away their home
but with undaunted spirit, the debris
was cleared away and In Its place
larger and better building was erected,
and the traveller In this section again
found welcome and plenty around
their hospitable board until In 1880.
the failing health of the hostess in
duced them to place the business In
other hands and for less than year
the house was conducted by j. 8.
Harder, losing nothing of the prestige
it had gained, when 1t was again wip-
ed out by fire in April 1881. This was
in some respects a harder blow to Mr..
Hartwick than the first. as his means
had been largely diverted in other
channels, but he had no time to waste
in repining. The situation was closely
scanned. A hotel must be had and
no one else seemed ready to grepple
with the enterprise. The future OF
Grayling was no longer an experiment
but fixed fact. and the next season
with his usual energy. Mr. Hartwick
began getting the material ready for
the erection of house commensurate
with the present and prospective
growth of the city, which was finished
throughout and leased to j. L. Wild
for five years, the lease expiring last
spring, and as it had been Ia the past
it continued, wherever you heard Dur
village spoken of, its excellent hotel
was almost certain to be mentioned.
In this time Grayling had taken the
first place between the Valley and Che
boygan, and the sharpest men of this
section of the state had their eyes on
the town for business investments.
Among them was Perry Phelps, OF
Otsego Lake, hotel man of expert
ence, who knew of tho expiration OF
Mr.. Wild's lease, and therefore bought
the property of Mr.. Hartwick. and
took possession in June. He had just
began to feel at home on the 10th OF
July when our town was again startl-
ed by the alarm of fire. and in few
hours the structure was again in ruins.
AS SOON as the insurance was ad-
justed and while our people were
specializing on the future, gang of
workmen appeared. and to-day there
stands complete, a larger and better
building than ever before, three stories
and basement; so feet on railroad
street and 5S on Michigan Avenue.
The first floor is finished throughout
in natural wood and contains the of.
fee, parlors, dining room, sample room
for commercial men, and kitchen. to
which is attached huge refrigerator.
On the second floor is a large sitting
room and bed rooms, aud the third
floor Is entirely appropriated to sleep.
ing rooms, all of which are roomy and
well ventilated. Front and rear stairs
make all parts of the house easy OF
access and egress. The entire build.
ing is heated by steam, radiators be-
ing placed in all the halls and princi.
pal rooms. The beating apparatus
and plumbing was putin by Mr.. Nc
Fadden, of West Bay City, using one
of Colds patent safety boilers and
what is known as the two pipe system,
obviating the cracking sound of the
cheaper steam radiators. The ex-
pense of this contract was nearly one
thousand. dollars, but the uniform
temperature of the rooms will more
than repay the cost, and will be ap-
preciated by the guests.
Mr.. Phelps has associated with him
for the hotel business, f. 3. Davis, OF
Ovid, who needs no introduction to
the travelling men of the stare, and un-
der their management none need fear
that the fame of the Grayling House
will retrograde.
The carpets and the curtains for the
house are'beihg furnished by our home
merchant, DR.. N. Fl. Traver, while
the furniture comes direct from the
manufacturer at Grand Rapids.
The house will be opened to the
public next week and we have no fears
for its success financially and In every