Established in 1907, Cobbs & Mitchell Inc., was an esteemed lumber company of the area when the lumber industry was at its peak. The company was basically the backbone of the town until the timber ran out, and many streets are named after the men that ran the business. More recently, regional Michigan Department of Transportation offices occupied the building, but using only a fraction of the space. MDOT chose to move out of the historically protected site after estimated costs of updating wiring and plumbing were $3 million.

This is the Director’s Room, the largest in the building. It’s paneled with red birch stained dark mahogany and floored with red oak. It was decided during construction that the building would be a showcase of local woods (nine total) and each room was finished differently, right down to the window hangings.

The state of Michigan acquired the building in 1939. With the exception of some new light fixtures and furniture, basically nothing was changed ever since.

Potential customers were not only surrounded by beautiful wood work (in this case clear hemlock walls and beech stained walnut floors), but they were also bribed with food and cigars in the lower dining room. Hard to pass up a deal after that.

Lastly, the offices of the Mitchell brothers, finished in curly red birch in its natural color. I’m really curious about this building’s future; bids for reuse are currently being reviewewd. Either way, it’s the coolest building in town, and I hope it finds good use.