For this one, we went so deep into the archives we swear we saw an anglerfish!
The Riggs Hotel, later the Everette House, was built in 1837 by Col. William Fenton and Robert LeRoy soon after they purchased Dibbleville from Clark Dibble.
Col. Fenton remembered that, although at that point unfinished, the Riggs Hotel was the focal point of Fentonville celebrations for 4th of July, 1837.
Fenton recalled, "Shiawassee, Livingston and Oakland Counties turned out in numbers large for the time, and seats of rough boards were placed for the assemblage as they gathered to that promising building... the hotel."
"Esquire Mc Omber delivered one of his finest speeches, a free lunch was zealously partaken, and toasts were patriotic to the core. To crown all, we had as usual not only great heat, but a violent thunderstorm just at the close of our feast, which shook the earth and heavens, and made the building tremble, and dishes rattle."
The Riggs Hotel was eventually purchased by AJ Phillips and demolished to make way for his private office. The AJ Phillips Historical Museum now stands on that spot! We have a key from the Riggs on display.
There are no known pics of the Riggs Hotel itself, but it's in the background of at least two classic 1890's Fenton photos, which we attach for you.
Original source can be found here.
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