Braumart offers new cookbook featuring Dickinson Inn recipes
The Braumart Theatre is releasing the “Dickinson Inn Cookbook,” featuring 100 original recipes from the former historic Dickinson Inn. Proceeds from sales will go toward restoration of the 100-plus-year-old theatre, which is just a block from the original site of the now-demolished Dickinson Inn. Purchasing the first two copies of the cookbook, from left are recipe curator Debbie Gursky, The Braumart Director Jinx Brew and Paul Jerks and Traci Pietrantonio, grandchildren of Paul and Irene Dishnow, who ran the inn for a period of time. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
This 1945-1950 view of The Dickinson Hotel at 101-105 W. B St., Iron Mountain, is featured on the cover of “Dickinson Inn Cookbook” that goes on sale Thursday. Warren Scherer sold the hotel to Lou Henry of Crystal Falls and his son-in-law, David M. Kennedy, in September 1944. They operated the hotel until November 1969. (Photo provided by the Menominee Range Historical Museum)
This 1950-1960 photograph of the Dickinson Hotel, 101-105 W. B St. in Iron Mountain, highlights the special ski trains and ski buses that came to Iron Mountain to enjoy the slopes at Pine Mountain during the 1950s and ’60s. Shown is a Trailways Bus marked “special” parked in front of the hotel. The Dickinson Hotel catered to the ski crowd. David Kennedy, far right in the black overcoat and hat, did much to promote ski weekends, including a “wheeled” horse-drawn sleigh. The photo is featured in the “Dickinson Inn Cookbook.” (Photo provided by the Menominee Range Historical Museum)
The Braumart Theatre is releasing the “Dickinson Inn Cookbook,” featuring 100 original recipes from the former historic Dickinson Inn. Proceeds from sales will go toward restoration of the 100-plus-year-old theatre, which is just a block from the original site of the now-demolished Dickinson Inn. Purchasing the first two copies of the cookbook, from left are recipe curator Debbie Gursky, The Braumart Director Jinx Brew and Paul Jerks and Traci Pietrantonio, grandchildren of Paul and Irene Dishnow, who ran the inn for a period of time. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
This 1945-1950 view of The Dickinson Hotel at 101-105 W. B St., Iron Mountain, is featured on the cover of “Dickinson Inn Cookbook” that goes on sale Thursday. Warren Scherer sold the hotel to Lou Henry of Crystal Falls and his son-in-law, David M. Kennedy, in September 1944. They operated the hotel until November 1969. (Photo provided by the Menominee Range Historical Museum)
This 1950-1960 photograph of the Dickinson Hotel, 101-105 W. B St. in Iron Mountain, highlights the special ski trains and ski buses that came to Iron Mountain to enjoy the slopes at Pine Mountain during the 1950s and ’60s. Shown is a Trailways Bus marked “special” parked in front of the hotel. The Dickinson Hotel catered to the ski crowd. David Kennedy, far right in the black overcoat and hat, did much to promote ski weekends, including a “wheeled” horse-drawn sleigh. The photo is featured in the “Dickinson Inn Cookbook.” (Photo provided by the Menominee Range Historical Museum)
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IRON MOUNTAIN -- The flavors of a bygone era in Iron Mountain are being preserved in a new cookbook featuring 100 original recipes from the historic Dickinson Inn.
The Braumart Theatre is bringing the collection to the community as both a tribute to one of the downtown's former fine dining landmarks and a fundraiser to support the continued restoration of the century-old theatre.
The "Dickinson Inn Cookbook -- Historical Recipes: Beginning of a Collection" will go on sale starting 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at The Braumart for the Girls Night Out event. Cost is $30 each.
The project began with a remarkable discovery and a generous gift.
When the Kennedy family, who owned and operated the Dickinson Inn for 25 years, was cleaning out their home, they uncovered four boxes filled with recipes used during its years of operation.
The recipes were given to family friend, Suzie Neitzel, who later passed them along to The Braumart's Director Jinx Brew, to use as a possible fundraiser.
"When the Friends of the Braumart bought building in 2016, she gave us the four boxes of recipes, along with three books of photographs," Brew said. "It has many pictures of dining room table setup with their fine china and elegant buffets. They were known for their beautiful displays."
Brew said she and Debbie Gursky had discussed the possibility of creating a cookbook nearly 10 years ago, but other commitments kept the idea on the back burner.
Earlier this year, the two revisited the project, and the work of bringing the Dickinson Inn's culinary history to life got underway.
Gursky, who had worked at the Dickinson Inn, was the natural choice to help select the recipes. With her background in food and cooking, she brought both professional experience and personal memories to the project.
She spent about four days going through the boxes, carefully reviewing the recipes and selecting 100 for the first cookbook.
"The printed recipes are all scanned original copies. Nothing has been changed or improvised," Gursky said.
As she reviewed the collection, some recipes brought back memories of dishes she had prepared during her time at the Dickinson Inn. Others stood out because of their ingredients and the combinations she believed everyone would enjoy.
Gursky said selections were intended to appeal both to a cook and those looking for a nostalgic connection to the Dickinson Inn.
"There are so many -- I had to pass over a lot of good ones," Gursky said.
If the first edition is well received, they hope it will be the beginning of a series. The additional Dickinson Inn recipes, photographs and materials, including menus and memorabilia, could be incorporated into future editions.
For generations of area residents, the Dickinson Inn was much more than a hotel. It was a destination for fine dining and a gathering place for weddings, reunions, birthday celebrations, holidays and other special occasions.
"A lot of things happened at the Dickinson Inn. That was like the hub of the community," Gursky said.
The Dickinson Inn was known for its elegant atmosphere, beautiful fine china, serving dishes, linens and carefully arranged dining displays. It offered an experience that was distinctive for the area and made special occasions even more memorable.
"It was 'the place' for fine dining," Brew said.
"You didn't find that back then, only in the big cities," Gursky said.
Gursky remembers working alongside Chef Paul Dishnow, after taking a French cooking class.
"He was thrilled to have me -- we were on the same page with a lot of stuff," she said.
One memorable undertaking involved preparing about 150 individual beef Wellingtons, along with all the accompanying courses. "He couldn't believe I knew how to do all this stuff," she said.
She also remembered working with Irene Dishnow. "In the kitchen, she was all business," Gursky said. "I loved working there, it was so much fun."
Among the Dickinson Inn's best-remembered specialties was its Schaum torte, a dessert that became a favorite with diners. Gursky said it was served with ice cream, fresh strawberries or raspberries and whipped cream.
The story of the Dickinson Inn dates back to September 1887, when ground was broken for construction of the Commercial Hotel on West B Street, holding a grand opening in January of 1888. William H. Jenkins leased the hotel in May of 1889. Several other businessmen operated the property over the subsequent years.
In early 1903, Frank M. and Claude Milliman of Belle Plaine, Iowa, purchased the property. They owned and operated the Milliman Hotel, at 101-105 W. B St., until 1936, making three additions to the structure during their ownership.
After a brief period under another manager, Warren W. Scherer of Crystal Falls purchased the property in 1937 and operated it as the Dickinson Hotel until September 1944. Scherer sold the hotel to Lou Henry of Crystal Falls and his son-in-law, David M. Kennedy. The family also acquired a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in 1961.
In December 1969, the Kennedys sold the Dickinson Hotel to a new corporation, Dickinson Hotel Inc., whose officers included Glenn A. Anderson, president; Margie L. Anderson, vice president; and Paul B. Dishnow, secretary and treasurer; with Irene H. Dishnow as a director.
Paul and Irene Dishnow's granddaughter, Traci (Dishnow) Pietrantonio, said that her grandparents ran the established inn until Paul passed away in 1980 and Irene's retirement.
"After a short time, my father (Jay Dishnow), along with several other investors, took over the Dickinson Inn," she said "My grandmother did continue to work for them for sometime after."
The Dickinson Inn closed its doors after brunch on June 7, 1987. Commercial National Bank & Trust Co. purchased the property three days later, and demolition began July 18, 1987. The building's loss marked the end of an important chapter in downtown Iron Mountain's history.
The cookbook represents another way for the community to preserve pieces of its past.
Community members have continue to supported the Friends of the Braumart's restoration efforts and share photographs, memorabilia and stories connected to the theatre and the surrounding downtown area.
The Dickinson Inn cookbook expands that effort by celebrating another beloved downtown landmark located just a block down from the theatre and the people, traditions and gatherings associated with it.
Brew credited Gursky for carefully curating the recipes and William J. Cummings for providing the historical information that helped bring the project together.
"We are thrilled to share these culinary treasures with you," Brew said.
The Braumart team hopes the time-tested recipes will inspire people to gather around the table, try something new and enjoy a little taste of Iron Mountain's past.
And while the cookbook celebrates the Dickinson Inn, its purpose also looks toward the future of The Braumart.
"Your support will help preserve our special piece of community history for generations to come," Brew said.
In addition to the GNO event, copies of the Dickinson Inn Cookbook will be available online at www.thebraumart.org or by writing to The Braumart Theatre, P.O. Box 156, Iron Mountain, MI 49801.
"Thank you for helping us keep our local history alive -- one story, one recipe and one delicious meal at a time," Brew said.
Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.