The Metropolitan Hotel

Around 1868, Dr. Ellis purchased the small triangular block on River Street bounded by Pine and Water Streets. On the east end of the lot, Ellis put up a two-story building where the post office could have its own store front and another room could house a drugstore. The post office remained in the building until 1877 and in 1883, Jacob Hanselman purchased the lot and building for investment purposes. Following extensive remodeling, he leased the building to Frank Woog as the Metropolitan Hotel. From available records, it appears the hotel was substantially enlarged during the 1880s. The Metropolitan closed within the next decade. In 1917, the Briney Inn was destroyed by fire and citizens of Manistee formed the Chippewa Hotel company to build a new hotel. This company selected the site of the Metropolitan Hotel and adjoining Water Street as the best location for the new hotel. As funds for the Chippewa Hotel were slow in coming in, it was decided to reverse the original plan. The Dunham House became the Annex. As such, it survived for another fifteen years until the mid-1930s.