This postcard shows the Herman House, later known as the Port Hope Hotel and Lake View Hotel, located at the corner of Main and Portland streets in Port Hope, Michigan. Built in 1900 by Richard Herman and expanded in 1902–03, the two-story red brick structure became the town’s central lodging facility during a critical period of transportation growth. Designed in a four-square layout with Italianate architectural details, the building features belt courses, pilaster-style brickwork, a classical cornice with scrollwork brackets, and segmental-arched windows. Its large front porch, now altered, once welcomed guests arriving by stagecoach, steamboat, or—starting in 1903—by train.
As the only historic hotel still standing in Port Hope, the building represents a unique architectural and cultural remnant from the town’s early commercial era. It served as a vital stopover for travelers arriving by lake and, later, by rail and automobile. When the Herman House was completed, Port Hope was only reachable by boat or a daily stagecoach from Harbor Beach. Its expansion coincided with the arrival of the railroad, and by the time cars began showing up around 1908, the hotel was already adapting to serve tourists and business travelers alike. Ownership changed in 1906 when J.H. De Lisle acquired it and renamed it the Lake View Hotel. The building continued to serve visitors well into the 20th century and still operates today as the Port Hope Hotel, now known for its bar, restaurant, and the hefty Leroy Burger, a local favorite.
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