Keeping the Grand

Hotel in the family

BY SARA SYVERSON

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The descendants of Phillip H. Gross recently purchased the historic "Grand Hotel" building 200 block of North Minnesota Street with hopes of maintaining and preserving the building.

John and Anne Makepeace and Phillip T. Gross bought the building from Alan Gage and Mike Gag. The Makepeaces live in Shorewood near Minneapolis, and Gross comes from Boston.

"We purchased it for the historic significance for the family," said Anne Makepeace. "The neat thing is that the great-great-great granddaughter and great-great-great-grandson will own the building. It really is a family thing."

The Grand Hotel, which dates back to the late 1800s, is the last building in a succession of structures built in New Ulm by Prussian immigrant Phillip H. Gross.

In 1855, Gross built a wooden structure that came to be known as the Minnesota Haus.

Fire destroyed the Minnesota Haus in 1860. Gross then rebuilt immediately, constructing a two-and-a-half story building that was named Union Hotel. Its upper floor provided a facility for dances and theatrical productions.

During the Dakota Conflict of 1862, the Union Hotel became a make-shift hospital where William Mayo, father of the founders of the Mayo Clinic, attended to patients.

Fire struck again in 1875 and destroyed the Union Hotel. Gross then built a two-story brick structure, which was remodeled and expanded several times, and it was eventually dubbed the Grand Hotel in 1899. The building functioned as a hotel until 1970.

The building is on the National Register of Historic places. A plaque, located near the building's front entrance, was placed there by the great-great grandson of Phillip H. Gross, Phillip W. Gross, Jr. in 1998.

KNUJ AM 860 Radio now occupies on the building's top floor . The station holds a six-year agreement with the new owners to remain there, according to Anne Makepeace. Fudge 'n Stuff and Horizon Gallery are located on the main level.

The Makepeaces expressed interest in bringing in some restoration specialists to advise them on what may need to be done with the building. They are particularly concerned with the building's facade.

"We'd like to maintain and upgrade some of the systems within the building," said John Makepeace.

The Makepeaces are contemplating purchasing a historic buggy that was originally used at the Grand Hotel. They located the buggy in South Dakota.

"Eventually we plan to move to New Ulm," said Anne, "Someday we'd like to do something with the building ­ potentially."