By Kevin Greer
Lakeside Communications Manager
One of Lakeside’s most recognizable buildings will reach a significant milestone in 2025.
Hotel Lakeside has been welcoming guests for generations and will celebrate its 150th Anniversary next summer. The National Historic Landmark overlooking Lake Erie has stood the test of time and hosted famous guests, including William McKinley, Rutherford B. Hayes, Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart. The hotel was almost razed in the early 1970s, but a group of passionate Lakesiders stepped in to save it.
Early Days
Hotel Lakeside was first mentioned in the Lakeside Company’s meeting minutes on July 31, 1873. Workers started laying the foundation in November 1875 and by the following June, Hotel Lakeside was built at a cost of $14,000.
“It’s amazing how fast they built the hotel,” said Hotel Lakeside historian and enthusiast George McCormick. “I don’t know how they did it through the harsh winter.”
The building was constructed with the main entrance facing north to welcome guests arriving by steamship with luggage and trunks in hand. The walkway to the front door featured a water fountain and is designed like a Maltese cross. The lawn was also home to Lakeside’s earliest lawn tennis courts.
Hotel Lakeside was very popular with guests, and the 37 rooms were constantly filled. An annex with 16 more rooms was built in 1879. By 1890, an addition along Maple Avenue was built to connect the hotel to the annex.
“The annex was poorly constructed and was eventually torn down,” said McCormick. “The building was then as it is today, minus the annex.”
Saving the Hotel
Hotel Lakeside started to deteriorate by 1964, and management wanted the hotel torn down. They didn’t have money to maintain it and thought building another motel or a senior citizen’s house was a better option.
In 1973, none of the third-floor rooms were being rented. There were only 20 usable rooms, but they only had linens for 11.
That summer, McCormick approached then-General Manager Dwight Ellis to make an announcement prior to a Hoover show to solicit volunteers to save Hotel Lakeside. A resounding 80 people showed up and The Friends of Hotel Lakeside was formed.
At its peak, there were about 220 Lakesiders in the group. In the early days, in addition to raising money, a lot of The Friends did the work in the hotel. They steamed the wallpaper off and painted and refinished the woodwork.
“We worked on the hotel for about 23 years,” McCormick said. “We did a lot. It was important to keep Hotel Lakeside open.”
Because of The Friends of Hotel Lakeside and their tireless work, Hotel Lakeside stands today and continues to be a treasured centerpiece in the community. Two long-time members of The Friends are still living today, McCormick and Dee Grindley.
By 2012, many of The Friends had passed away or weren’t capable of climbing ladders. The restorations had come along thanks to the volunteers and Lakeside was now taking care of the ongoing maintenance and hotel management.
Over the years, maintenance of the historic hotel has continued. The building’s foundation was replaced, a new roof was added, the front porch furniture was refreshed, the Barbara Lane Memorial Suite and other suites were constructed, the dining room was updated and a donated collection of art from painter Rick Dziak adorned the walls.
Curious George
McCormick, now 88 years old, has been coming to Lakeside since he was an infant. He started taking an interest in Hotel Lakeside around age 6. His grandmother would stay there, and he would always visit.
But that wasn’t all he did. The hotel wasn’t as secure as it is today. All the doors to the fire escapes were open and he covered nearly every inch of the building at an early age.
“I’ve been all through the building,” said McCormick. “I took an early interest in the hotel and continued to document the building’s history.”
McCormick would later go on to work in Hotel Lakeside as a houseman in the 1950s while he was in college. That gave him an opportunity to see even more of the hotel operations. He spent the day cleaning floors, scrubbing the stairway and washing the second-floor porches that were later torn down in the early 1970s.
Hotel Lakeside Book
McCormick’s curiosity continued into the 21st century. He started writing his book, Hotel Lakeside: 150 Years of Hospitality, back in 2004. He wanted to have it ready for the 125th Anniversary, but plans fell through.
The book is now finished and showcases this timeless treasure on the shores of Lake Erie and is a story about the hotel’s history, construction and impact over the last 150 years.
McCormick’s book is available to purchase at lakesideheritagesociety.org or at the Archives.
Help Refresh the Hotel Lakeside Lobby with a Gift on GivingTuesday, Dec. 3. 2024
GivingTuesday is a Global Day of Giving that inspires people to give back. GivingTuesday will be celebrated on Dec. 3, and you’re invited to support Hotel Lakeside.
Taking a leap of faith, Hotel Lakeside was built in 1875 and opened to provide guests with an overnight stay on the shores of Lake Erie. The hotel lobby has played an important role in welcoming guests to the historic building. It’s also a gathering place to play cards, spend time with family, celebrate milestone anniversaries and relax.
The lobby is in need of a refresh so that more families can enjoy it for years to come. As part of the Hotel Lakeside’s 150th Celebration in 2025, a planning team is investigating the possibility of new paint, cozy seating areas, carpet and enhanced lighting. While planning is just starting, you can help make these enhancements possible by giving a gift to support the Hotel Lakeside Lobby Refresh on or before Dec. 3.
After the 2025 summer season, the project will get underway, ready to welcome guests in 2026. Read more about Hotel Lakeside and GivingTuesday.
