HONORING THE VILLAGE OF CLINTON’S PAST
TWO ENDURING ESTABLISHMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT TO LAST
By Jenny Black
The Village of Clinton’s rich history and favorable location make it a great place to live, work, and visit. Incorporated as a village in 1837 and located in the northeast corner of Lenawee County along the River Raisin, Clinton was once known as the largest trading center west of Detroit. Clinton is now a charming historic town, known to many as the gateway to the Irish Hills. The stately architecture and unique character of the village’s downtown historic district allows folks a chance to slow down, take in the atmosphere, and enjoy a glimpse into the past.
In its early days, the Village of Clinton was a popular rest stop along the Chicago Road, originally the Old Sauk Trail, and now called US 12. The Old Sauk Trail was an ancient trail used by Native Americans for many years. When European settlers arrived in the area in the 1820s, the route was used as a stagecoach road from Detroit to Chicago and was referred to as the Chicago Road. The trip from Detroit to Chicago took approximately five days by stagecoach, so travelers were in need of rest and refreshment along the way.
The combination of the stagecoach stop on the Chicago Road and the location along the River Raisin made Clinton a thriving place. The river provided water power for the settlement, allowing mills to grind flour and saw wood. Within about ten years of its settlement, Clinton had ten general stores, several blacksmith shops, and a hardware store. Inns and restaurants sprung up to give relief to weary travelers.
In 1837, the first railroad on wooden tracks came up from Adrian and was used to transport cargo. The first passenger train came to Clinton in 1853. The Clinton Branch became an important line from Toledo to Jackson. The railroad yards were often full of sheep and cattle, coming into Clinton for fattening. Apples and wool were also important products shipped during that time. Clinton became the greatest trading point west of Detroit during these years.
Over time, the role of transportation decreased in importance for the village of Clinton. Due to the popularity of the automobile, the Chicago Road was paved in 1925. It continued to handle most of the Detroit to Chicago traffic until the opening of the I-94 expressway to the north in the 1960s. Also during this time, the railroad service became less necessary and gradually faded in frequency. Clinton’s role as a stop between Detroit and Chicago lessened, but the strong sense of community remained. Despite not being the quickest way to get from Detroit to Chicago, many travel along US-12 to enjoy its heritage and the quaint towns along the way.
The Clinton Inn
Honoring the Past with a Bright Future
Throughout the ups and downs and changes that come to all villages over time, Clinton has been able to hold on to its character as a historic town in a lovely location with a true downtown feel to it. The historic buildings, homes, and churches in the village reflect the architecture of former days. The Clinton Inn, a striking three-story building in the downtown historic district, is one such place. Embracing its heritage as a destination for travelers, the Clinton Inn has kept much of its original design, architecture, and woodwork, while modernizing for the comfort of its guests.
The only hotel still in operation in Clinton, the Clinton Inn was built by Alonzo Clark in 1901. The three-story brick hotel had 35 rooms and no running water. There were fireplaces throughout the building and it also featured a drummers room, where traveling salesmen would display their wares. A dining room offered upscale dining for business travelers.
The Clinton Inn (also called the Clintonian at times) went through various renovations and changes in ownership over the years, including the installation of indoor plumbing, bathrooms, and steam boiler heating system. For a period of time in the 1960s and 1970s, the building was converted to apartments. Then in the 1980s, the second floor was converted back to hotel rooms, while the third floor remained apartments.
In 2019, the Huffaker family purchased the Clinton Inn and began extensive work on remodeling and restoring the Inn to create a historical venue for private banquets, corporate events, weddings, bridal showers, and other special occasions. The Clinton Inn currently features a banquet room, coffee house, full ballroom, and three tastefully furnished hotel rooms, with more planned in the near future. There is also a fully equipped catering kitchen with all-inclusive packages for weddings and other events.
Jennifer Milligan has been the general manager and events coordinator for the Clinton Inn for four years. She appreciates the combination of rich history and modern comforts that the Inn offers.
“The Clinton Inn is a special place where people have the opportunity to have anything from a quiet weekend getaway to a larger event like a wedding, baby shower, business function, or other important occasion,” Milligan said.
One of the unique aspects of the Clinton Inn is that in addition to offering a charming setting to host a wedding, couples can take advantage of the all-inclusive aspect, which includes a personalized wedding coordinator, full service catering and bar options, commercial kitchen, personal chef, entertainment options, bridal suite, wedding photographer, and much more. Whether it is a large, formal celebration or a more intimate gathering, the staff at the Clinton Inn will tailor their services to fit the occasion.
“We really want to take the stress off the bride,” Milligan said. “With our all-inclusive wedding package, everything you need is right here and it makes planning much easier.”
Plus, the authentic historic ambience of the Inn cannot be beat, making it an attractive destination for those who want to enjoy the small-town charm and beauty of the nearby attractions in the Irish Hills.
According to Milligan, the Inn draws guests from out of town, as well as those who live close-by.
“Our clientele is a good mix, with people coming from Toledo, Jackson, Flint, and Ann Arbor, as well as local people,” Milligan said.
In addition, the Clinton Inn hosts a variety of community events throughout the year, including live music during the Fall Festival, a Halloween family-friendly night with trick-or-treating and a photo booth, a comedy night fundraiser to help out a local family, and a wedding expo, just to name a few.
The Clinton Theater
A Downtown Gem
Located just a few buildings down from the Clinton Inn is the historic Clinton Theater. This classic single-screen movie theater originally opened in 1939 and is still operating today. During a time when many movie theaters have disappeared due to online streaming services and the Covid-19 pandemic, the Clinton Theater has managed to remain, offering a combination of old fashioned charm and modern movies. Not to mention they are known for delicious popcorn and affordable prices. With tickets at $5 per person, a family can enjoy a night out at the movies without breaking the bank.
The Clinton Theater has been under the ownership of Frank Cianciolo and Karie Dorsten since 2001. Though the movie industry has seen its share of fluctuations, especially in recent years, Cianciolo and Dorsten enjoy keeping this small theater going through it all.
“The Clinton Theater is a social place. We know many of our customers and they are a friendly bunch of people,” Cianciolo said.
Theater-goers appreciate not only the affordable prices, fresh popcorn topped with real butter, and first run movies, but also the small town atmosphere and the cozy size of the theater.
According to Cianciolo, in addition to local people, many of their customers come from out of town because they find that it’s worth the trip.
“We have people come to the Clinton Theater from all over, simply because they don’t want to go to the big box theaters,” Cianciolo said.
The strength of these long-time historic buildings and businesses is an inspiration to those who value the strength of history and the powerful connections of a community. For many residents and business owners in Clinton, they appreciate the fact that their village is a special place.
Cinaciolo captures the essence of the satisfaction folks get from living in a charming historic community:
“Being a small family-owned and operated theater, we don’t have time to take vacations,” Cianciolo said. “But who needs to go on vacation, when it is so sweet right here?”
To find out the latest events and details about the Clinton Inn, visit the Clinton Inn website at theclintoninn.com or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/theclintoninn.
To keep up with the latest information and movies at the Clinton Theater, you can visit their website at clintontheater.com and follow them on Facebook at
facebook.com/TheClintonTheater.
Several Ways to Appreciate the History and Natural Beauty of Clinton and the Nearby Irish Hills
The Clinton Inn Whether you are looking for a quiet getaway or a beautiful place to host a special event, the Clinton Inn is the perfect place. With fully furnished hotel rooms and a historical venue for private banquets, corporate events, weddings and more, this carefully restored and renovated Inn is located in downtown Clinton. They also offer community events throughout the year. For more information, visit the Clinton Inn website at theclintoninn.com or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/theclintoninn.
The Clinton Theater Located in downtown Clinton, the Clinton Theater is a classic, single-screen movie theater that features first run movies, great concessions, a friendly atmosphere, and affordable prices. To find out what’s showing, visit their website at clintontheater.com and follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/TheClintonTheater.
The Clinton Fall Festival One of the largest and longest-running fall festivals in Southeast lower Michigan, the Clinton Fall Festival draws large crowds and features multiple streets full of vendors, crafters, food booths, live music, entertainment, carnival and more! It is typically held on the last full weekend in September. Check their Facebook page for the most up-to-date information at facebook.com/clintonfallfestival.
Southern Michigan Railroad Society The Southern Michigan Railroad Society, Inc. is dedicated to building an operating museum railroad and preserving its historical railroad era (1838-1982). The organization aims to promote the awareness of railroading through educational and social activities involving its members and communities of Tecumseh and Clinton. Some of the events include fall color tours, trips between Tecumseh and Clinton, and Santa Express trains. Visit their website at southernmichiganrailroad.com and Facebook page at facebook.com/southernmichiganrailroad for more information.
Hidden Lake Gardens Nestled in the heart of the Irish Hills just outside of Clinton, Hidden Lake Gardens is a sprawling natural oasis including hiking trails, a canopy walk, bonsai collection, a collection of dwarf and rare conifers, visitors center, demonstration gardens, conservatory, and more. Owned and operated by Michigan State University, Hidden Lake Gardens also offers events throughout the year. Visit their website at ipf.msu.edu/hidden–lake–gardens and follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/HiddenLakeGardens for more information.
