The First Hotel

During the summer of 1858 Augustine N. Williams opened a small hotel, known by his name. This was located to the south of where the Fairman block now stands. The second hotel was built three or four years later, also by Mr. Mason, his first having burned down, on the site of the Fairman block. This later was added to and became the well known Mason House.

The Stearns House was the third hotel built, on the corner across the street, on which now stands the Nisbett block. This was erected by D.F. Stearns and Dr. Woolley.

Money was exceedingly scarce ion those early days, as the following story told by Charles Shafer himself, will illustrate: It was in the fall of 1858. Shafer was running short of flour for family use. Nelson Ganong was going to Grand Rapids with his team, and offered to bring the flour. The price at Grand Rapids was $5 per barrel. But Shafer only had two dollars. Ganong offered to wait until Mr. Shafer could raise the money. They both walked over to the Williams House and Shafer told the proprietor his plight. Williams said it woukd do to get caught without a supply of flour for the winter and offered to help with all the ready money he had. This was $1.50. His man of all work contributed 25 cents. They were still $1.25 short whereupon Williams said that if the trip to Grand Rapids was delayed for a few days he woukd get the balance from some lumbermen, whom he expected in a day or two from Chicago, which was done.

Return to Home Page