Business Card from the Ossawinamakee – George Orr Collection donated by Chris Orr
During the late 1880s and 90s, Constant Moody Ruggles was the proprietor at the Ossawinamakee Hotel. Ruggles was a Civil War veteran from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, who first came to Manistique in 1875 with Ebenezer James. Ruggles was a partner in the James Bros. Sawmill which flourished briefly at the village of Jamestown on the Manistique River. He had diverse business interests including a butcher shop, stage coach line, livery stable and a strawberry farm. According to the above business card, Ruggles was also a guide for tourist fishermen seeking a good trout stream.
Ossawinamakee Stationery donated by Chris Orr
Ruggles owned the Eagle Livery Stable which was located between the hotel and the old Star Opera House. Guests at the hotel could rent horses, buggies and carriages from the hotel proprietor.
Ossawinamakee Laundry form donated by Chris Orr
In the 1880s the Ossawinamakee boasted a laundry for their guests. The laundry charged $.10 for each shirt, $.03 for each collar and handkerchief, $.05 per pair of cuffs, and $.08 for undershirts, drawers and nightshirts.
Ossawinamakee Breakfast Bell
Guests at the Ossawinamakee House were summoned to their breakfast by the ringing of the bell, pictured above. This must have been unpleasant for those travelers desiring to “sleep in.”
Room keys from the Hotel Ossawinamakee
In the days before plastic keys with programmable codes, room keys were a valuable commodity which the hotel did not want to be lost. Hence, they guaranteed postage for any key returned via U. S. Mail by those absent minded folks who left with a key in their pocket.
Salt Shaker donated by Alice Soukup
Toothpick Cup donated by Alice Soukup