| | | | | The Milner story begins with our founder, Mr. Earle R. Milner born on August 18, 1891 in Wardsville, Ontario. He attended grammar school and high school in Canada. In 1908 at the age of seventeen, Earle moved to Detroit to start a job with the Detroit Stove Company for $12 a week. He worked Saturdays at a shoe store and seven nights a week as an usher in the old Miles Theatre. Later he attended the Detroit College of Law in the evening. In 1916 at the age of 25, Earle had saved $400 from working hard at his multitude of jobs in his early years in Detroit. He took his savings and invested in his first hotel venture by buying 50% interest in a rooming house on Alfred Street in Detroit. The Alfred street rooming house prooved to be unsuccessful but did not damper Earle's dreams. A few months later he took a lease on the Royal Hotel on For, then came the Colonial Hotel on Library Street and then the Ford Hotel on the corner of LoBelle and Woodward. Just when Earle Milners dream was finally beginning to come together, World War I broke out and Earle felt compelled to join the Armed Forces and defend his country. In 1918, after the wars was over, Earle returned to Detroit and set out to find a job in his army clothing because he had no more civilian clothes. With just sheer guts, determination and hard work- Earle re-entered the hotel business and steadily one hotel at a time, built the first national standardized hotel chain. What he meant by standardized is, every Milner Hotel would offer the same fixed price, clean sheets, soap, bath and shower in the room or on the same floor. They would even do your laundry all for $1.00 a day or $4.00 a week. At the same time he developed the first Hotel Manager Training School which eventually developed into the first and finest in the country. The Milner chain was the fastest growing company of its kind in the nation. He centered the hub of his company in Detroit. The home office, who take care of the 200+ hotels was on the 36th floor of the Book Tower building and a warehouse serving all the Milner Hotels coast to coast with their own fleet of trucks was located on Jefferson and Orleans Avenue. In 1947 the Milner family suffered a great loss when Earle R. Milner age 56 suddenly passed away. The company was placed in turst until Earles son, E. Ronald Milner came of age to take over his fathers company. On April 1, 1961, E. Ronald Milner took over control of the company and immediately set out to acquire a staff of qualified individuals to move the company ahead with the times. Mr. Milner implemented new and faster service methods, stronger controls to eliminate waste and a dynamic and optimistic program of remolding and acquiring new properties. A part of the rejuvenation program was the establishment of a symbol to be associated with all Milner Hotels: A jolly little Scottsman. The Scottish theme was incorporated into all of the hotels, restaurants and pubs to insure positive identification of these hotels with the Milner organization. Mr. E. Ronald Milner carries on with his fathers ideals and philosophy to this day. Striving to make the Milner Hotels and Inns name known for its clean rooms, friendly service and comfortable reasonably priced accommodation. | | | | |