South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-14
MISHAWAKA HOTEL
PROVING SUCCESS
Hosiery Under Management of
Bert DeVauIt Proves Sue
CeSSfuI-Ad-SeII League to
Meet There Monday.

magnificent building is now seen,
nodded into beauty and form that sur
passes any other structure that has
! been erected in recent years in this
city. The building is no other than
the splendid Mishawaka hotel which
has been under business management
for tie past five years, and which is
rapidly gaining fame as an abode for
the traveller.
The hotel problem was one that
confronted the business men of the
city for a number Of years. About
six years ago the project of erecting
a modern hotel in Mishawaka was
discussed by the Business Mems as
ISOLATION, but it was not until the
men had thoroughly acquainted them
or action was taken.
Finally after several weeks DELHI /
Grafton. several business and profess
sional men held a meeting, at the
close of which company was formed
with a capitalization of $40, 600. The
| plan met with great favor and soon
the names of Mishawaka Wooden
company. the Dodge company and the
/ Kamm & Schellinger Brewing com
/ pany together with a number of
other prominent men were added TO
| the list. bringing up the total capital
| ization to $4,000.
Company Organized.
The company now became known as
the 'Nishawaka Public Improvement ,
company, with the following officers
/ comprising the board of directors:
NJ. w. Mix. president; +. G.. Eberhart. |
vice president; g. A. Ostrom, secretary
and the late ex-Mayor Chas. Frank. |
( treasurer. The first question that pre-
scented itself to the board was the OBJ
tanning of a site and after q diligent
search the present location was Sc
cured through the efforts Of Messrs. |
OStrOpl and de IOrenZi
Contracts Awarded.
ARRANGEMENTS had already been
made with a number of architects, for |
competitive plans. II. II. Richards. !
Of Chicago. was awarded the contract /
for the plans and specifications. The |
Larson < Daniels construction COM
pany. of Laporte was the successful
bidder for the general building con
tract. Sub-cOntracts were let TO local
men, Henry Schmitt obtaining the |
contract for the foundation work;
Hazel & Hobbs. the eXcavating con-
tract. while John Distler was awarded
the contract for the heating and
plumbing.
ON Sept. ., 1907. ground was first
broken. The event was attended by |
q large gathering of interested citi- |
Zens. some of whom now hold as SOU !
Venirs a handful Of dirt from the first !
spade Of treasured soil. Work was
rushed. and soon the place began 10 /
take on the garb of an up-to-date /
structure The progress of the work /
had been eagerly watched. but for a !
few unavoidable delays caused IN the 4,
shipping OF material work by several |
contractors had been performed con- !
stantly.
Description of Hotel.
The main entrance faces on Main
st. with a frontage Of 1913 feet, while
the building extends back on Third ST
40 feet. setting back on the lot from
the sidewalk about 90 feet The brick
used in the construction of the build /
ing is colonial block,a trst class press
ed brick Bedford stone trimmings
have been used in the exterior deco !
ratiOnS The hotel is surrounded by
a twelve-fOOt porch, covered with
concrete at both entrances. design
similar to the roofs of pOrches of a /.
number of the modern hotels recently !
erected in the country.
Opened With Great SplendOr.
With the final completion of the
structure elaborate plans were ar
arranged for the opening when was
held on July 9Th. 1909. when the city
held its greatest Independence day /
celebration. The hotel was formally /
opened by Miss Jennie Skelly. who !
had been selected as Princess Misha-
waka for the notable event, and at !
last the citizens of Mishawaka. VINO [
So long cherished a hope for hrst
class inn.
The new hotel met with favor from |
the outset but for some cause or an !
other soon began to lag. Various |
managers were tried but with no sue
cess until Bert DEFAULT, the present !
accommodating manager. was secured
several months ago. Since coming
here Mr.. DeVault has placed the |
NIishawaka in the first rank or In
diana hotels. and the place has been
doing q fiourishing business ne Is
man of ability and experience and has /
FOR a number Of years managed hotels
throughout the country.
For the past several years previous |
TO the coming OF Mr.. DeN aunt the |
hotel has been a losing prOposiuoh 10
the ST ckholders. this partly due, IL Is |
claimed by the officials of the COM |
many To the lack of ability of former !
managers to take the business and !
make il a success. Mr.. DeNault Is
man OF pleasing appearance and mas !
wonderful personality. Since he
came to the city ne has eathered To-
gether a large circle of friends ana |
probably there is no man in the city |
who has ever made such large most
OF friends in such a short time. IL
IS said that large numbers OF profess |
sional men Of Nishawaka have heen
patronizing the hotel since his comlng
that before patroniZed the South Bend |
bostelrieS He has also a wide ac- |
uuaintance among the travelling men |
Of the country and each night the
register Is filed with names that be- |
fore never anDeared there. During
the month Of December a large vol |
1lrne OF business was done and was the !
first month the hotel ever made a
single dollar During January still !
better business was done. and a good |
banking made The outlook for Feb !
ruary is that IL will surpass those OF
the other months.
officials Instrumental in success.
The success Of the hotel is attribut- |
cd TO the untiring efforts OF the pres
ident. NJ W. Mix who has worked
hard and necessarily To place IL on a
paving basis. and was through his ef- |
forts that the company now has Mr.. |
Default at the helm. Not only has |
he guided the business 10 success. but
al times has personally furnished
funds TO tide the place over when the