A Spotlight (or Streetlight) on Hotel Minnesota

We're back to look at another hotel that dotted the downtown business district. This hotel was one of the first to host guests in Warroad, and its location saved it from the disastrous fires that overtook Main Avenue and East Lake Street.

Hotel Minnesota, ca. 1904 

To the right is one of the first streetlights installed in Warroad.

In 1900, James McAnnany was determined to build a hotel in downtown Warroad to service the CN Railroad. The hotel would consist of two stories and multiple rooms. Because Warroad was not yet incorporated as a village proper, there was no townsite or grid established for construction. The hotel was therefore built in a small field just north of the CN railroad tracks, estimated to have resided just behind the Marvin Home Center building. By mid-1900, the hotel was opened to the public.

When Warroad formally incorporated in late 1901, the townsite was drawn up and placed the Hotel Minnesota in a right-of-way. It therefore became necessary to move the hotel closer to where the beginnings of Lake Street were being marked. The hotel was moved to the site where Lifecare Rehab Center currently resides. For two years, the hotel ran smoothly with James and his wife Mary McAnnany operating it. In 1902, James became sick and died a few days before Christmas. His stepson, Joseph Holland, was Mary's eldest son from a previous marriage and living in St. Boniface at the time. His mother called for him to move his family to Warroad. In 1903, Joe Holland and his wife Ida took over the running of the hotel. 

Joe Holland's family ran the hotel for many years. In 1904, he added a streetlight outside its front steps, one of the first in all of Warroad. He later oversaw the complete redesign of the interior, as well as the introduction of electricity and construction of a porch on its second story. Throughout its occupancy, it housed the headquarters for the Warroad-Roseau Stage Line, saw many events held in its parlor room, and even held Catholic Mass "whenever the priest was available." 

Hotel Minnesota after it's complete remodel.

Behind the building was a stable offering shelter for transients.

In 1909, after extensive remodeling and reconstruction of the hotel's roof, Joe Holland put Hotel Minnesota up for sale. He claimed that he and his family wished to retire from the hotel business as soon as possible. (Warroad Commonwealth, 02/19/1909) In 1911, the hotel was leased by F.W. Busse of St. Hilaire, though Holland would continue to run the hotel's barroom. Over the next few years, the hotel saw a few different landlords, including Cleo Gaudry, who renamed the hotel Hotel Gaudry and Joseph Gallant, who renamed the hotel The Farmer's Home Hotel. (Warroad Plaindealer, 11/04/1915)

Joe Holland standing in front of Hotel Minnesota

Its location to the west of the railroad spared it multiple times from the destructive fires that overtook Warroad's business district. However, in 1922, with two railroads and competition for building space in the downtown district getting harder, the hotel, then under the management of Albert St. Antoine, was sold to Judge James Friend Holmes.

The building was taken down around the same time and its timbers used by Otto Kofstad to erect multiple houses for new settlers in a newly annexed area of town. The Marvin Lumber & Cedar Company then erected its new building on the site of the former hotel, leaving no trace of one of the earliest accommodations in town.

Did you like this week's post? Let us know what you thought down in the comments!

-Erin Thompson, Museum Manager