[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14974]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAURIUM MANOR INN

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I 
acknowledge the 25th anniversary of the Laurium Manor Inn in Houghton 
County, MI, which was celebrated on September 14, 2014. I extend my 
heartiest congratulations to Dave and Julie Sprenger, who purchased a 
vacant historic mansion 25 years ago with the intention of opening a 
bed and breakfast. The Sprenger's vision resulted in a small business 
success building on the rich history of Michigan's Copper Country to 
attract today's travelers.
  Nestled in the heart of the Keweenaw Peninsula's copper country in 
the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and built for Thomas H. Hoatson, Jr., 
owner of the Calumet and Arizona Mining Company, this mansion started 
off as a 13,000-square-foot home for the Hoatson family. It remains the 
largest mansion in the western portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 
The extravagance of the structure was by far its best known feature. 
From the embossed elephant leather on the walls, to the grand staircase 
which spans three floors, to the hand-painted wall mural, stained glass 
windows, and giant Corinthian columns, the Hoatson mansion was the 
epitome of opulence. Mr. Hoatson, Jr., a Houghton County native of 
Scottish decent, made his fortune in the copper mining and banking 
industries. He spent $50,000 building the mansion at a time when miners 
were making 25 cents an hour.
  Undaunted by the prospect of restoring this enormous and ornate 
structure, Dave and Julie Sprenger bought the mansion in September of 
1989, opened it as a bed and breakfast, listed it as the Laurium Manor 
Inn on the National Register of Historic Places, and established it as 
a heritage site within the Keweenaw National Historical Park. This has 
been no easy task. In addition to the constant renovations and repairs, 
the remote location of the village of Laurium, the harsh winters of the 
Upper Peninsula, and the changeable nature of tourism have all 
challenged the Sprenger's small business. However, throughout all of 
this, the Sprengers have persevered and continue to provide quality 
service to the local community and visitors from around the world.
  As a senior member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship 
Committee, I recognize the important role small businesses play in 
creating jobs and growing the economy, and this bed and breakfast is no 
exception. I am delighted to congratulate Dave and Julie Sprenger on 
the 25th anniversary of their flourishing small business, which 
contributes to the local economy and enriches historical experiences 
for tourists and residents alike. I wish them many more decades of 
success.

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