Historic, Haunted, and Survived Three Fires

Here we go again...another place that says it's "Michigan's Most Haunted Place.” This time it's the Holly Hotel in Holly.

It's not for me to say, claim, or pooh-pooh, but there are plenty of professional people who believe it definitely is haunted. And I don't mean ghost hunters or paranormal investigators, but supposedly 'reliable' news reporters. Guests of the hotel and employees have all been witnesses to some kind of eerie happenings.

Like what? Well, according to hollyhotel.com. “many people have smelled cigar smoke, even though they didn't know that original owner of the Inn smoked cigars. The descriptions of flowery perfume is often strikingly similar as well, and, for some reason, the meat cleaver is the favorite toy for a little girls’ spirit who still plays in the kitchen and on the banquet room steps.”

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The perfume scent is believed to be that of Nora Kane, a frequent visitor, who has also been heard playing the piano. The owner from the late 1800s, John Hirst, was the cigar smoker, and his dog Leona is believed to haunt the place as well, rubbing up against people, barking, and running through the halls.

Or could the 'spirits' be of those who maybe perished in one of the hotel fires?

The Holly Hotel was home to two major fires: one in 1913 and another in 1978. What makes this so odd is the fact that the 1913 fire took place on January 19 and the 1978 fire took place EXACTLY 65 years later, on the same day and time!

The hotel suffered a third bad fire on June 21, 2022.

Aside from any possible paranormal activity, there are plenty of historic facts about the hotel that include the infamous visit by temperance advocate Carrie Nation and the fights in Battle Alley. The hotel has been entered on the National Register of Historic Places.