The Hotel Bancroft: Flamingo Room Becomes the Log Mark Room
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As soon as it opened in October 1859, the Bancroft House became a hub of business and social life in East Saginaw--of course, food served in its dining rooms was key to its success and reputation. The original hotel was demolished in 1915, but the following year, a new building was dedicated. It provided space for a number of public dining options. The most visible was a café:
“On the Genesee Avenue front is the elegantly appointed cafe opening on the corridor which leads from the ladies’ entrance to the rest room and lobby. It is richly decorated in white and gold, and the small paned windows and large mirrors set in the opposite wall are exceedingly attractive features. At the west end of the café is a private dining room, fittingly decorated and furnished in the prevailing style.” (James C. Mills, A History of Saginaw County Michigan.)
Advertising, sometimes referred to the eatery simply as the Bancroft Dining Room. The restaurant included a dance floor and successfully transitioned and survived prohibition, unlike another venue within the hostelry, the Hotel Bancroft Roof Garden--an open-air entertainment venue on the south side of the building. In 1934, the cafe gave way to the Flamingo Room. The paper proclaimed:
“As a fitting observance of seventy-five years of continuous service to Saginaw, the Hotel Bancroft, on its Diamond Jubilee Anniversary, September 7, 1934, announces the opening of the Flamingo Room. This room is entirely new and the furniture, decorations, and service, give to Saginaw one of the outstanding Cafes in Michigan. Your inspection is cordially invited.” (The Saginaw Daily News, September 6, 1934).
By 1939, the Flamingo Room was complemented by the Airport Bar, and both thrived.
An article in The Saginaw News announced: “Bancroft ‘Flamingo’ Doomed.” The June 24, 1954, article continued: “Workman Friday will begin the Bancroft Hotel’s $150,000 remodeling project,” General Manager J. James Ruttman said Thursday. The improvements will mark the passing of the hotel’s famous Flamingo Room, or main dining room. It will be open for guests this evening for the last time.” The Bancroft Hotel had been sold to International Hotels, Inc., and they undertook a massive remodeling project in 1954. The work included over-flooring the two-story lobby to create a larger ballroom and replacing the Flamingo Room with a themed restaurant and bar: the Log Mark Room and adjoining Boom Room--the bar was named in honor of the watery holding pens for logs. Advertising touted:
“It was here [in Saginaw] that the thousands of sawlogs were separated and herded to sawmills on the Saginaw according to their ‘mark,’ which was stamped with heavy hammers, bold and colorful as cattle brands of the west. And so the log mark, symbol of our first days, is the motif for our new Log Mark Supper Club – a memorial to the echoing fame of Michigan’s lumber industry. And we welcome you to a pleasant pause with us in ‘The Log Mark’ . . .to memory of a time when there were sawlogs on the Saginaw! Now, in this historical setting of Saginaw’s early days we continue to serve you the same world famous Bancroft food at the same reasonable prices.” (The Saginaw News, November 10, 1954.)
The Log Mark Room operated through the 1970s. When the hotel was converted into apartments in 1980, the Log Mark closed, and the fittings were sold. However, key elements celebrating Saginaw’s lumber heritage were added to the Castle Museum’s collection. They are featured in our current exhibit, Changing Tastes and are a visible reminder of the Hotel Bancroft’s claim: “This fine hostelry knew the lumberjacks who fell the woodland giants and made Saginaw one of the Midwest’s most prosperous cities.”
Note: Before making and consuming today’s recipe, we encourage you to go out and explore. The space once occupied by the Flamingo Room, which became the home of the Log Mark Room, is now occupied by Gordie’s Bar. Although the décor may be different, the same small paned windows still frame the view of Genesee Avenue.
This link will take you to yesterday’s artifact post about a fragment of carpeting from the Bancroft Hotel’s Log Mark Room.
*Scans of the architectural drawings for the 1916 Hotel Bancroft building are available online through the Art Institute of Chicago.
The Recipe – A Tribute to the Log Mark Room’s Pink Sawdust
The Hotel Bancroft was famous for its version of corned beef hash – a rather straightforward preparation with one major and magical addition: heavy cream. However, the hotel and its restaurants were known for much more.
That said, as the Castle Test Kitchen has yet to discover a secret stash of Hotel Bancroft recipes, we turned to a circa 1960 Log Mark Room menu for inspiration. As we reviewed the menu, we chose something emblematic of the restaurant’s theme--a somewhat enigmatic after-dinner drink--the Pink Sawdust. Described in the menu as a “Delightful After Dinner Drink, Log Mark Original, 95 cents.”
Beyond its name, the only clue is an accompanying illustration suggesting that it might have been served in a martini glass. However, that clue may be misleading. The illustration might have been intended to represent another offering - the Silver Jack Special – a potent drink costing $1.55 and limited to two per customer. Even without a drink, we are totally confused. However, we offer our tribute to the Log Mark’s long-forgotten Pink Sawdust.
1 ½ oz. London Dry Gin
½ oz. Applejack or Apple Brandy
¾ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
¼ oz. Grenadine
1 Egg White (for foam)
Garnish: Brandied Cherry or Maraschino Cherry
Instructions:
Prep: Chill a coupe or cocktail glass.
Dry Shake: Add the gin, applejack, lemon juice, grenadine, and egg white into a shaker without ice. Shake vigorously for 15-30 seconds to emulsify egg white.
Wet Shake: Add ice to the shaker and shake again for 10-15 seconds until well-chilled.
Strain & Garnish: Strain into the chilled glass and garnish with a cherry.
