Schuch Hotel

Written by Anna Mae Maday, Manager, Eddy Historical & Genealogy Collection of Hoyt Public Library in Saginaw, Michigan
September 2000

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Do you remember sitting in the "Amen Corner" at "The Schuch" during the 1940's or 1950's? Were you one of the cast members of Pit & Balcony Community Theater who met at "The Schuch" after performances? Or did you participate in peanut nights or sing-a-longs in the 1960's? Perhaps you enjoyed frog legs on the Friday night buffets of the 1980's? Many Saginawians and former residents have pleasant memories of good times shared at "The Schuch."

It was claimed that the hotel building at 301 North Hamilton Street was built in 1868. We know that the hotel originally known as Brockway House was built at that corner in 1873 by Louis H. Brockway. By 1876 that establishment was operated by H. M. Benson and wife Margaret. The Benson House was sold in 1879 to David Crowley who had another hotel in Saginaw City known as the Crowley House. David Crowley remodeled his new purchase, built an addition, and renamed it Crowley House. Between 1905 and 1912 the hostelry was called Hotel Ames by owner W. S. McLean (or McLain). Henry L. Schuch purchased the hotel in 1912 and ran the business with the help of his son John P. Schuch. It was as "The Schuch" that the facility became legendary. John P. Schuch had been the county sheriff, a state Senator, a member of the American Legion, chairman of the draft board, an antique collector, a member of the Pit & Balcony theater group, and a founder of the Saginaw Valley Historical Society. John P. Schuch was a bachelor. He was proud of his hometown and its heritage. An avid collector, he filled the hotel, bar, and restaurant with items from Saginaw's colorful past. Among these items were log rafting pins, lumbering tools, and a Civil War revolver formerly owned by Michigan governor Aaron T. Bliss. There was also a large painting of Little Jake Seligman. John P. Schuch decorated the premises with collections of beer steins, Toby mugs, snuff boxes, shaving mugs, muskets, theater programs and many other treasures. He claimed that John L. Sullivan, world champion boxer, had stayed in the hotel in 1884 and that Congressman Joseph W. Fordney had been hotel clerk during the lumbering era.

John P. Schuch operated the business until his death in 1953 and the establishment remained in the Schuch family until 1962. But the Schuch business name remained until the early 1990's. Saginawians still continue to make memories at the old hotel in its reincarnation as present-day "Zinggers."

• McDonald, Thomas. Parade Of Saginaw Folks I Wish I Had Known. Vol. I.
• Saginaw Evening News. May 19, 1905.
• Saginaw News. June 27, 1948, January 31, 1953, February 4, 1972.
• Saginaw News. September 29,1986.
• Schuch, John P.Michigan's Old Inn.

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