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Michigan Railroad Antique or Vintage Postcard item: RPPC Real Photo postcard, Color Chrome, or Printed Photo image collectible postcard. If a Photo and not an RPPC card, it is something that would be of interest to Postcard Collectors and History Buffs of all types. See the complete description below.

AARR Ann Arbor Railroad History and Heritage, VIEW OF FRANKFORT DEPOT too!!!...NW Frankfort Elberta MI c.1908 RESORT & AARR ERA beautiful Historic Royal Frontenac Hotel, DESTROYED IN FIRE in 1912. Built by the Railroad by the same builders as Mackinac Islands historic Grand Hotel, in 1902...last image supplied for additional reference only.

1902-1912…The Royal Frontenac Hotel was built by the AARR Ann Arbor Railroad Company “for the sole purpose of popularizing beautiful Frankfort, and no attraction and accommodation that money, skill, and ingenuity could provide would be omitted.” It took more than two years to build and opened in July 1902. The 3-story hotel was a whopping 500 feet long and offered nearly 250 rooms with all the latest amenities of the times, including telephones in every room, a cigar and candy store, a beautiful bar room, a game room, and even slot machines, (not exactly legal but permitted in some parts of Michigan at the time).

The Royal Frontenac was a hot destination, with visitors coming on passenger boats from Chicago, St. Louis, and Milwaukee and by rail from Toledo, Ann Arbor, and Detroit. During July and August, extra Pullman cars were used to accommodate the crowds coming north. It was a bustling resort. Besides the modern rooms, the resort offered amenities including horseback riding lessons, boat excursions, and swimming instruction.

Sadly in 1912, the structure burned to the ground during a mysterious fire. It happened on a cold January night when the hotel was empty and local residents were gathered at a dance at the nearby Eagles hall. They were about to call it an evening when the fire alarm sounded. There was no saving the Frontenac. The fire was burning furiously before it was discovered, and the townspeople, many of whom had gotten up from bed to run to the scene, realized the hotel was a goner. The fire was unstoppable, but it started at one end of the long structure and had not yet reached the other.

So, the sack of the doomed Royal Frontenac began. Some people reasoned that the furnishings would be destroyed anyway, so why not take them? Some reasoned – or so they said later – they removed items from the hotel merely to take them home and protect them for the owners. Whatever the reasoning, the parts of the hotel not yet reached by flames were stripped of beds, bedding, linens, food, utensils, chairs, tables, lamps, rugs, mirrors, pictures, and anything else that was portable. It was a sad ending to a grand structure. (Credit Harbor Light Resort for information)...

The history of railroading in Michigan began in 1830, seven years before the territory became a state, with the chartering of the Pontiac and Detroit Railway…and the rest of the story as they say reflects our Michigan Railroading History and Heritage! Over the next year we will be offering hundreds of wonderful RARE views (most all RPPC Cards) which are duplicates from a huge collection and will include PMRR, AARR, MCRR, GR&I, GTRR, GTWRR, NYCRR, D&M, SOO, DUR, Copper Range, LS&MSRR, BCG&A, DT&IMN&E and so many others.

Please Note: We provide high-resolution scans and cropped views for your review. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us with any questions. We do not knowingly sell reproductions, so you can be assured these are historically significant, antique, or vintage items!

Shipping Discount for multiple card "Winners"! Order tracking...We post "Buyer Feedback" at the time of shipping!

Shipped very well package, USPS 1st Class postage, or Priority Mail with tracking!
Quantity shipping discount refunds sent along with all shipment (dollar bills) where they apply!

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UpNorth Memories Postcards, Historic Photographs and Paper Collectibles!

Don Harrison...The UpNorth Memories Guy! Traverse City, Michigan.

#upnorthmemories Mobile Format Modified: updated 8-13-2022 #upnorthmemoriescollection