Our History

The Doherty Hotel Opens

The headline for the April 11, 1924 Clare Sentinel read, “NEW HOTEL DOHERTY NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC.”

The Yoke

An old fashioned ox yoke hanging on the wall in the front lobby of the Doherty Hotel has raised many questions about the Doherty’s history. The late ex-Senator, A.J. Doherty, owner of the hotel, revealed a considerable amount of history when urged to tell the story connected to the ox yoke. He claimed the net cost of the yoke was $11,000.

Mob Shooting In Clare

The most infamous happening at the Doherty Hotel was on May 14, 1938 when Central Michigan oil promoter, Carl Jack Livingston, shot and killed Isaiah Leebove in the Tap Room of the hotel.

Leprechaun Lounge

On the main floor of the hotel, in the Leprechaun Lounge, a story appears on every wall. In the 1930’s a poor man, who could not afford a home, traded his talent for a place to stay. The painted story begins with a leprechaun village beggining to make their ale. We see every step involved in completing their task, and at the end, we see the villagers celebrate their completion.