Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Port Huron MI

Address: 4500 Lakeshore Rd
City: Port Huron
State: MI
Zip: 48059
County: St. Clair
Number of visits to this page: 1667
Disclaimer:

Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance, features, addresses, phone numbers, or contact names of the attraction. This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. We ask you consult the propietor for current information.

General Information:

This hotel was started as the Windemere Hotel in the 1800's. It later became the Gratiot Inn. The configuration seemed to be a main lodge flanked by a 2 wing addition. That main lodge disappeared by 1976. The other buildings remained which now seem to be part of the Windemere Condominiums as of 2023. The old hotel seen in the historical photos and postcards was that main lodge I believe so it is long gone.

Summarized from a June 1968 article in the Port Huron Times Herald on the Gratiot Inn:

The Gratiot Inn was originally known as the Windemere which was operated by J. O. West. Mr. West passed away in 1914 and 2 years later J.B. Sperry, Alex Moore, John Asman, and Lucy Jenks Reese acquired the hotel from Mr. West's widow. It was the first stucco building in the Port Huron area. The Gratiot Inn was named after nearby Gratiot Beach.

The Inn was serviced by a street car which included 1 baggage car. The idea was the guests would stay for the entire summer so the baggage car would be loaded to the hilt at the beginning of the season. In 1936 William Atkinson acquired the Inn. He had a lodging background, previously owning various Florida hotels. He re-configured the rooms to reduce the number from 125 to 100, but ensuring each had a private bath.

The Inn operated under the "American Plan" which meant lodging, food and entertainment were included in a single bill. There were organized exercise sessions in the morning and dancing in the evening. The staff were mainly students off on their summer break. The idea was their wages would cover the educational expenses.

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 Photos:34
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Vintage Postcard
Vintage Postcard
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Street View Of Wndemere Condos
Street View Of Wndemere Condos
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - 1954 Aerial
1954 Aerial
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Jun 1908 Ad For Windemere
Jun 1908 Ad For Windemere
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Aug 1887 Ad For Windemere
Aug 1887 Ad For Windemere
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Jun 2001 Article On Windemere
Jun 2001 Article On Windemere
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - June 2014 Article On Windemere
June 2014 Article On Windemere
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - June 1917 Ad On Windemere
June 1917 Ad On Windemere
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Feb 1891 Article On Windemere
Feb 1891 Article On Windemere
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - S-L1600
S-L1600
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - Aug 1931 Article Gratiot Inn
Aug 1931 Article Gratiot Inn
Gratiot Inn (Windemere Hotel) - June 21 1968 Article On Gratiot Inn
June 21 1968 Article On Gratiot Inn
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