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The old Ritz Hotel was started and operated by people from within my family tree. It goes back to the early days of Coldwater although I am not sure how far. It was there in the 30's for sure. Asking around town, the few folks old enough to remember the place have referred to it as a hotel, a rooming house, or a flop house for indigent people depending on who you ask. There were a few unsavory people who resided there over the years but I guess that would be true of any housing situation. It once housed the United Farm Real Estate Agency (or was owned by them) according to the inspection report from 1976.
It was of the Greek Revival style, similar to several other structures along the old section of W Chicago Rd. Some of those others are still standing but alas, the Ritz is gone. It was wiped out by a fire in 1976. It was initially thought the place could be repaired after the blaze but further inspection revealed it to be a total loss. The lot was empty for many years until a Dollar General was built on the site.
The 1976 photo from the Branch County Library is a bit confusing. The building looks drastically different from the earlier Ritz Hotel photos. Maybe it was taken after the fire and much of the building was hauled away already, I am not sure.