The Columbia Hotel, prominently located at the corner of Huron Avenue and Cass Street in Vassar, Michigan, was constructed in 1892 during a time of significant growth and modernization in the town. Built by James P. Blackmore—better known as J.P. Blackmore—a notable local entrepreneur, the hotel was designed to serve both business travelers and everyday visitors, offering amenities that were ahead of their time.
When it opened, the Columbia boasted electric lighting, running water on every floor, sewer connections, and even free transport service to and from the railroad depot—features that were revolutionary for a small-town hotel at the turn of the century.
The hotel included a livery, a popular dining room on the first floor, and seventeen guest rooms upstairs, each equipped with its own sink and access to two full baths. The Columbia quickly became a social center in Vassar, known not just for its accommodations but also as a gathering place for locals.
J.P. Blackmore operated the hotel until 1902, after which his brother Simon took over. In 1909, John H. Schultz became the new owner, overseeing a major shift when Tuscola County adopted Prohibition laws, forcing the dining room to transition into a temperance restaurant. Even during Prohibition, the hotel maintained a reputation for excellent food, and by the time alcohol returned, the Columbia was known for having one of the best dining rooms in the county.
The hotel changed hands several times between 1913 and 1932, and in 1929 it was renamed the Vassar Hotel. In the mid-1980s, it became known as the Heritage Valley Inn. Operations continued until 1986, when severe flooding from the Cass River forced its closure—a persistent flooding problem that have long challenged the town.
Architecturally, the Columbia Hotel was an eye-catching example of late-19th-century commercial design. The two-story red brick building featured a distinctive turret at the corner entrance, originally capped with a conical slate roof. Its interior included a pressed tin ceiling in the dining room and oak-trimmed staircases, with seventeen guest rooms laid out along an L-shaped corridor on the second floor.
Discover more from Thumbwind
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
