The Northern Hotel

I took a walk around Old Town Fort Collins a few days ago, where I took the photograph on the left, showing the Northern Hotel in the background. It now houses seniors 55 and over, but started out life as the Agricultural Hotel, built in 1873. Fort Collins began as Camp Collins back in 1862 on the banks of the Cache La Poudre River, it's mission being to protect travelers on the Overland Trail from Indian attacks. After a flood, the camp moved to higher ground in what is now Old Town. However, the Indians never bothered anyone, and the camp closed in 1867. By 1872, Fort Collins was a thriving town serving farms in the area, and growing quickly. Thus the need for a hotel like the Northern. 

I had never set foot inside the place before this past Sunday, and was really quite impressed with the lobby, as seen in the photograph on the right. I took a peek up the stairs, where there appeared to be a common area with couches and chairs, but didn't want to go up there for fear of being arrested for trespassing (it would have made for a stressful afternoon). I didn't see anyone at the desk in the lobby, or I would have asked permission to walk up there. Maybe next time. By 1877 the Colorado Central Railroad had begun serving the area, and the hotel benefited from the traffic. The Northern stopped being a hotel in 1975 after a fire on the upper floors, although shops continued to operate on the ground floor. By the 1990s, those shops had disappeared, and a non-profit bought the place and turned it into an affordable residence for seniors. And happily, the ground floor of the hotel along College Avenue once again is occupied by shops, including Starbucks. I wonder if they sell coffee for 1873 prices at that location? I'll have to check that out.