Granot Loma
Encyclopedia
Granot Loma is an estate located on County Road 550 north of Marquette, Michigan
, constructed in the tradition of the Adirondack camps of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1991.
, the son of Samuel and Juliet Kaufman. Louis was educated in Marquette, and worked as a bookkeeper at the Iron Bay Manufacturing Company for two years. When he was 19, he became a messenger for the Marquette County Savings Bank. In 1898, he became the cashier-manager of that bank, and in 1901 became the vice-president of Marquette's First National Bank. In 1906, he was named president of First National. By this time, Kaufman was associated with both the First National Bank and the Marquette County Savings Bank, and he was a director or officer for a number of other local mining, railroading, or insurance companies.
In 1910, he became the president of Chatham National Bank of New York, although only after receiving special dispensation allowing him to remain president of First National Bank of Marquette. The bank soon merged with Phenix National to form the Chatham Phenix National Bank and Trust Company. This was the first of many mergers; by the time Kaufman retired in 1932, the bank had increased 50-fold in size.
In addition, Kaufman was elected to General Motors's board of directors in 1910. He had a major role financing William C. Durant
and his 1913 reorganization of Chevrolet
and General Motors
. Kaufmann remained on GM's board for 22 years, and was chairman of their finance committee.
In 1900, Kaufman married Marie Julia Young; the couple had five children.
for the construction. Construction was complete in 1923 or 1924, with some additional interior work continuing through 1927 or 1928.
The Loma Farms complex, designed to provide income and supply food for the lodge, was constructed in 1927 by the Bartlett Construction Company of Eau Claire, Wisconsin
. Bartlett used a number of designs provided by the Louden Machinery Company of Fairfield, Iowa
.
Kaufman held an opening bash in 1927 to celebrate the completion of Granot Loma. Guests who stayed at Granot Loma over the years included tennis star Bill Tilden
, George Gershwin
, Mary Pickford
, Fred Astaire
, and Cole Porter
.
Louis Kaufman died in 1942; his wife Marie died in 1947. With Marie's passing, the farming operation ceased. One of the couple's duaghters lived there for a few years, but by 1950 the lodge was essentially abandoned. Granot Loma was finally sold by the Kaufman family to Tom Baldwin
in 1987. Baldwin renovated the house, and in 1991 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Loma Farms is a planned farming complex which includes thirteen buildings constructed of vitrified clay tile, situated about one-half mile from the lodge complex.
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
, constructed in the tradition of the Adirondack camps of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1991.
Louis Graveraet Kaufman
Louis Graveraet Kaufman was born on November 13, 1870 in Marquette, MichiganMarquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
, the son of Samuel and Juliet Kaufman. Louis was educated in Marquette, and worked as a bookkeeper at the Iron Bay Manufacturing Company for two years. When he was 19, he became a messenger for the Marquette County Savings Bank. In 1898, he became the cashier-manager of that bank, and in 1901 became the vice-president of Marquette's First National Bank. In 1906, he was named president of First National. By this time, Kaufman was associated with both the First National Bank and the Marquette County Savings Bank, and he was a director or officer for a number of other local mining, railroading, or insurance companies.
In 1910, he became the president of Chatham National Bank of New York, although only after receiving special dispensation allowing him to remain president of First National Bank of Marquette. The bank soon merged with Phenix National to form the Chatham Phenix National Bank and Trust Company. This was the first of many mergers; by the time Kaufman retired in 1932, the bank had increased 50-fold in size.
In addition, Kaufman was elected to General Motors's board of directors in 1910. He had a major role financing William C. Durant
William C. Durant
William Crapo "Billy" Durant was a leading pioneer of the United States automobile industry, the founder of General Motors and Chevrolet who created the system of multi-brand holding companies with different lines of cars....
and his 1913 reorganization of Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
and General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
. Kaufmann remained on GM's board for 22 years, and was chairman of their finance committee.
In 1900, Kaufman married Marie Julia Young; the couple had five children.
History
Kaufman began building Granot Loma in 1919, for use as a summer residence. He hired Marshall and Fox of Chicago as architects and employed three hundred local craftsmen, and was believed to have hired local expert log builder Nestor Kallionin to oversee the construction. He imported pine logs from OregonOregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
for the construction. Construction was complete in 1923 or 1924, with some additional interior work continuing through 1927 or 1928.
The Loma Farms complex, designed to provide income and supply food for the lodge, was constructed in 1927 by the Bartlett Construction Company of Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
. Bartlett used a number of designs provided by the Louden Machinery Company of Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield is a city and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,464 in the 2010 census, a decline from 9,509 in the 2000 census. - History :...
.
Kaufman held an opening bash in 1927 to celebrate the completion of Granot Loma. Guests who stayed at Granot Loma over the years included tennis star Bill Tilden
Bill Tilden
William Tatem Tilden II , nicknamed "Big Bill," is often considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. An American tennis player who was the World No. 1 player for seven years, he won 14 Majors including ten Grand Slams and four Pro Slams. Bill Tilden dominated the world of...
, George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
, Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
, Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
, and Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
.
Louis Kaufman died in 1942; his wife Marie died in 1947. With Marie's passing, the farming operation ceased. One of the couple's duaghters lived there for a few years, but by 1950 the lodge was essentially abandoned. Granot Loma was finally sold by the Kaufman family to Tom Baldwin
Tom Baldwin (trader)
Lucian Thomas Baldwin III is a bond trader investor and founder of the Baldwin Group of companies. He was described by the Wall Street Journal as the trader who can singlehandedly move the Treasury bond market...
in 1987. Baldwin renovated the house, and in 1991 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Description
The estate of Granot Loma sits on 5,180 acres of woodland located along the Lake Superior shore. The lodge is an enormous, L-shaped structure built of logs over a steel frame and with a slate roof. The lodge includes a 60-foot long greatroom and 26 bedrooms.Loma Farms is a planned farming complex which includes thirteen buildings constructed of vitrified clay tile, situated about one-half mile from the lodge complex.