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MARQUETTE -- Downtown Marquette's Hotel Janzen's 130 years of history has seen the Spring Street building face many challenges while providing shelter for many generations of citizens.
Built in the early 1890's, the Hotel Janzen was built near the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway depot. The railroad, later known as The Soo Line, would have provided the hotel with plenty of guests who would enjoy the Janzen's incredibly modern amenities: hot and cold running water.
As rail traffic waned in the city, so too did the hotel. Over the years, the building fell into disrepair, to the point of being issued condemnation notices in 1977 because it could not meet the health and safety standards at the time.
Difficulties continued in 1983 when damage from a fire made it look as if the Hotel Janzen would be demolished. The building was saved by the "Save the Janzen" committee, led by then-City Commissioner Robert Kulischeck who raised a significant amount of money to repair the building.
Since 1984, the Hotel Janzen has operated as a nonprofit shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness in the area, partnering with United Way of Marquette County.
Randy Crouch can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 542. His email address is rcrouch@miningjournal.net
