Clark Mills built the first hotel in the village in 1840-41. He named
it the "Mills Hotel" after his wife, Lucy Olds Mills. They had 7 children.
He kept the hotel for three years and then traded it to his cousin James
Yake, for 40 acres of land, where the present golf course is today. It was
said that Mr. Mills lost the hotel in a poker game but later got it back.
Mr. Mills became involved in local government and became the first Probate
Judge for Sanilac County. Mr. Mills passed away in 1865.
James Yake restored the hotel and made it one of the most popular places along the lakeshore. Mr. Yake later sold the hotel to Mr. Mills daughter Nancy and son-in-law Jacob Buel. The place was eventually torn down in 1859.
John L. Woods rebuilt on the site and opened the Cadillac House Hotel on July 4, 1860. The hotel was named for General DeLaMotte Cadillac, who founded Fort Ponchartrain in Detroit in 1701. The hotel has passed through many hands, and is now the Cadillac House Restaurant.
