A Tale of Many Businessmen (and Women!) — Hotel Warroad, Part I

Many long-time residents of Warroad remember Hotel Warroad on Main Avenue. Though rebuilt multiple times, its presence downtown was well loved by the population. Today, we're taking a look at Hotel Warroad from beginning to end.

Hotel Warroad was built in 1902. The owner was Peter Ornes, a businessman who was previously mentioned in connection to the CNR Hotel. The hotel opened for business in July 1902 and featured a newly-dug well, a barn, and restaurant for its guests and visitors from the railroads across the street. The Sample Room, run by Stephen Gravelle and Sever Johnson, featured a full stock of wine and liquor to service guests. It boasted their drinks as "fresh from the coldstorage."

A disastrous fire in May 1903 took out the Warroad Hotel and Sample Room. At the time, Warroad did not have an organized fire department, leaving the work of putting out the flames to local residents. Although furniture and guests' luggage was carried out, the building was beyond repair. The fire destroyed three buildings on the first block of Main Avenue, but wind and swift action from the community spared many more businesses from destruction.

"Buildings in course of construction at Warroad Minnesota — June 1903"

Ornes began rebuilding at once, hoping to erect a two-story hotel within a few months of the fire. His wish would come true, as only three months later in July 1903, the new Warroad Hotel opened to visitors. Stephen Gravelle returned to operating the Sample Room, but his partnership with Sever Johnson had since dissolved. 

Throughout the next few months, the hotel saw minor improvements and updates, but the most dramatic event was the poisoning of Gravelle's bulldog, Ole. There was no explanation for how or why the dog was poisoned, but as a dog owner myself, I can imagine it was a difficult time. In November, Gravelle sold the Sample Room to Marshall Ballard and William Munroe before moving his family to Grand Forks.

Main Avenue, ca. 1911, misidentified as Wabasha Street. Warroad Hotel is third from the right.

Over the next five years, the hotel would see various projects. It was repainted, re-papered throughout, its barroom interior redone, alongside regular business. Sometime during that stretch, Ballard and Munroe split ways and Munroe opened his own saloon, leaving Ornes to run the Warroad Hotel Bar on his own. He renovated the bar multiple times and was said to be "one of those fellows who believes in keeping up with the times." (WP 04/20/1911) 

Tragedy struck in 1913. As we have previously covered in our hotel series, the fire of 1913 was devastating to Warroad's business district. Ornes was said to have lost $10,000 (current USD: $274,000) and received only $6,000 (current USD: $165,000) in insurance for the loss. Many businessmen were granted the ability to set up temporary buildings on Main Avenue over the next few months whilst building anew. Ornes was issued a temporary liquor license on October 16, 1913 for his transitionary bar.

What arose on Main Avenue was called the Brick Block, a large cement and brick building that stretched a third of the way down Main Avenue. The Warroad Pioneer wrote: "The contract was let last Thursday evening, and the work is now well under way, on a new brick block on Main Street, to occupy the [John G.] Stein, Ornes, Munroe, and Wheatcroft lots, with a total frontage of 125 feet. The building contract is let to Boe & Burke, of Duluth, who are now busy with a large crew excavating the basement...While the entire building is in one solid block it will be owned separately by the present owners of the lots." (WP, 10/30/1913) Today, the remaining structures consist of the old Mary's on Main building. The large WHEATCROFT sign at the top of the building identifies the owner of the building in 1913, Frank Wheatcroft. 

Construction materials for new Brick Block, 1913

While construction was underway, Ornes faced yet another trial when his temporary stall was burgled by George Allard. Allard, a man from Clearriver township, broke through a window early in the morning and attempted to steal a bundle of objects from the bar. He was caught in the act by the town marshal and arrested. He pleaded not guilty in court in November and was taken before a grand jury. He was given a $200 bond (current USD: $5,500) for breaking and entering and attempted theft.  

These two incidents seem to have caused much distress for Ornes. In April 1914, just before the tenets of the brick block were to move into their new homes, Ornes gave possession over to Frank Slipp of Baudette. Slipp had run Hotel Baudette for many years before coming over to Warroad. Meanwhile, Ornes disappeared from public life for two years before coming back in 1916 to take over the CNR Hotel (documented in our previous post). This venture did not last long, and soon Ornes left again after failing to secure rent from tenets of the CNR Hotel.

The toll of business in Warroad had caused enormous stress on the man. Over the next year, Ornes' mental health suffered greatly and in May 1918, he was taken before Judge James F. Holmes and committed to the Fergus Falls State Hospital for the Insane. It was reported that "When the big fire destroyed his Hotel Warroad he built the new hotel. He has met financial reverses since that, and these, together with too heavy use of strong drink has unsettled his mind, and it was felt best to send him away for treatment." (WP, 05/30/1918) 

Fergus Falls State Hospital

Over the next several months, his condition deteriorated in the hospital and in January 1919, Peter Ornes passed away in Fergus Falls at the age of 51 and was subsequently buried in the hospital graveyard.

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Back in 1914, the Hotel Warroad reopened with 40 rooms (8 rooms included an adjoining bathroom), a large lobby, and a brand new barroom. William Rogers of Minneapolis was hired on as bartender while Gust Soderstrom took on clerk duties. 

Newly built Brick Block, 1914

Only a few months after reopening, World War I broke out in Europe. Although the United States did not enter the war until 1917, many citizens of Warroad had relatives living in or had recently emigrated from countries involved in the war. Hotel Warroad became the go-to place for news from the warfront in twice-daily bulletins beginning that August. Slipp would eventually turn over the hotel business to A. L. Craig in order to cross the border and join the Canadian Army in Europe. 

Times were tough during World War I, and Craig began serving community meals once in a while to families who could not otherwise afford it. Outside of these meals, the bar was closed for nearly a year until October 1918 when it reopened to welcome soldiers home. A month later, Craig sold the hotel to Leon E. Lum, a businessman from Duluth. In turn, Lum handed over management of the hotel to Inga Olson and her sons who announced the change in management with an advertisement about the luxuries found at Hotel Warroad. 

Once again, only a few short months later in April 1919, Lum sold the hotel to Mrs. Martin Berg and Miss Annie Aaker for $11,000 (current USD: $181,130). Inga Olson moved into a separate residence in town while her sons left for North Dakota (WP, 04/24/1919). Now in the hands of two experienced bakers and business owners, Hotel Warroad would once again begin to thrive in Warroad's downtown. But that's a story for next time when we return with part two of the Warroad Hotel saga. 

Berg & Aaker families standing outside their hotel and bakery

Part II of our Hotel Warroad tale will explore the beginning of the Berg & Aaker business in Warroad and its growth over the decades. We'll also look at the Great Depression's effects on the hotel business. Stay tuned!

~ Erin Thompson, Museum Manager