Jerry Summers
A recent documentary on cable television hosted by commentator Stuart Varney traced the history of the Grand Hotel, located on Mackinac Island at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac within Lake Huron between the state of Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas.
In 1887 the hotel was constructed and completed, and like many great architectural buildings in the past, declined and faced the short-sighted prospect of being razed and its history being destroyed.
The special on the hotel demonstrates how something as beautiful and valuable as the facility can be preserved with some thought for the past. Today it stands as a monument that is a world class hotel that is constantly being updated for the present without losing the charm and dignity of why it was built in the 19th Century.
The banning of automobiles was enacted in the 1900s and the use of horse-drawn carriages is still the main mode of transportation on the island and prevents traffic jams. (The restriction is almost as effective as bike lanes.)
A review of the timeline of Grand Hotel is readily available by Googling the name on your computer or phone. The 1980 movie “Somewhere in Time” starring the late Christopher Reeve (Superman), beautiful Jane Seymour, and distinguished actor Christopher Plummer displays all of the beauty of the resort in a historical fantasy mystery.
The story of the Hotel Patten as one of the premier hotels in the South that started when it opened in 1908 is headed for a different ending. Unfortunately, when the hotel celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008, no deep-pocketed individual or charitable organization stepped forward to preserve the historical site.
Its smaller sister, the Read House, has been preserved and retained its historical character and timeline that makes it a popular tourist attraction. Except for the swimming ducks in the fountain at the Peabody in Memphis, it compares prominently with other still standing relics of a by gone era.
The future fate of the Patten is less favorable! Like the Grand Hotel and the Read House who both went through periods of decline but survived the greed, history eradicating developers, politicians, and misguided citizens, the Patten only awaits a wrecking ball or implosion fate when the cost of additional repairs get prohibitive.
The grande dame has been stripped of her rich furnishings, purchased as a generous federal tax write off project and continues to deteriorate as a poor substitute for another facility to take care of the ever-increasing haven for the homeless and needy in Chattanooga. (I do not suggest that the unfortunate ones should abruptly be thrown into the street during cold weather.)
The band aid effect of placing modern metal sculpture pieces in front of the building produces accolades from the art community and good media coverage but only provides a temporary additional distraction from the ultimate fate of the building.
(The spending of large amounts of tax money to repair the Patten by the foreign owners is greatly appreciated but does not prevent the ultimate demise of the headquarters of the home base of the Dixie Highway during its glorious but segregated era).
Move over Cameron Hill, the Patten Hotel is coming!
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You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com)