The Sam Cohodas Lodge (also known as theMichigamme Lake Lodge) is a rustic lodge located off US-41 at the east end of Lake Michigamme near Champion, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991[1] and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1990.[2]
Sam Cohodas[]
See main article: Samuel Cohodas
Lodge History[]
In 1934, Cohodas hired local architect and Swedish immigrant David E. Anderson to design this lodge to serve as his personal residence as well as an entertainment center for his business. Finnish craftsmen built the lodge, using materials gathered from within 15 miles of the site, under the direction of Nestor Kallioinen, the region's finest log builder. Construction was finished in 1935, and the lodge served as Cohodas's wilderness camp until 1972. The lodge itself was later converted to a bed and breakfast, and remains largely intact.[2]
Description[]
The Sam Cohodas Lodge in significant as a distinctive example of a large-scale, vernacular rustic log resort architecture constructed in the early 20th century. It is one of the largest log structures in Michigan which does not use an independent superstructure for support.[2]
The lodge is a rectangular, two-story structure built of logs on the northern section of Lake Michigamme. The from facade is symmetrical with an enclosed central entrance porch, surmounted by a central dormer and flanked by two-story gable bays. The rear facade is asymmetrical with an intersecting gable over a centrally-locatedbalconette, and a rear entry. The lodge is built from locally furnished materials and features rustic ornamentation. The interior has a two-story greatroom, with the remainder of the rooms arranged in a surrounding U-shape.