History of the Heather House

Nestled along the banks of the St. Clair river, The Heather House is Marine City Michigan's only Bed & Breakfast. The home was completed in 1885 after two years of construction, a stunning example of the traditional Queen Anne Victorian style architecture made popular at the turn of the century.

Its original owner, William Sauber, a cheif engineer with the Mitchell Shipping Line, was general manager and secretary of the Marine City Suger Factory, Secretary of the Salt and Block Works, and was Mayor of Marine City.

He also had a ship named for him.

Captain Sauber traveled the lakes extensively in the wooden ships of that era bringing various goods to and from the Great Lakes. The waterway remains a very important shipping route to this day. An afternoon at The Heather House enjoys a glass of wine on the wraparound porch watching the freighters go by.

Captain Sauber built the elaborate mansion to be his family home. He was born in Berlin, Germany in 1848, he had 10 children and died in 1916. Today, the home's master bedroom, The St. Clair room is available for reservation.

The house originally had 12 rooms including a conservatory, a tower room, and four fireplaces. It also had a Turkish bath in the basement which Mr. Sauber installed. as well as a gas-generating plant. In about 1910, he converted the gas lighting fixtures to electricity.

After half a century of ownership by one family, (1950) the property passed into other hands. Don Ashley purchased the property from Clair Miller Wills. He renovated the entire building and made the house into 4 apartments. The upstairs porches were enclosed at the time.

Later, in 1991, the house was purchased by Heather and Bill Bokram. Heather had a keen eye for art and design, and she is also credited with founding the Historical Society of Marine City. Today, you can see some of her original mosaic artworks in the many parks along the river.

Together, she and her husband turned the house into a Bed & Breakfast and gave it the iconic name. It has remained a pillar of the community ever since, for all the public to enjoy.

In 2014, the Bokrams retired and sold the house to Mark and Helen Lally. Helen has been in the food business since she was 14, and her cooking is highly praised by guests.

Today, Mark and Helen will be your friendly and gracious hosts. We look forward to seeing you!