George Cochran, Prominent Bemidji Contractor, would donate a site and purchase $1,000 in stock to establish a summer hotel on the shores of Lake Bemidji. He made the proposition to the Commercial Club. He believes such an institution would pay for itself in one or two seasons. Thousands of people will come to Bemidji if proper accommodations can be given them. One hotel will not be sufficient. During the winter, Mr. Cochran has had men at work preparing logs to be used in the construction of from twelve to fifteen cottages to be placed on his property at the head of the lake. Whether the hotel proposition goes through or not, the cottages will be erected. The buildings will be of various sizes and will be provided with large screen porches, the front, facing the lake, being entirely screened while a portion on the east side of such cottages will have a porch. Fireplaces will be built in each cottage.
Already Mr. Cochran has received many applications for the use of the cottages and he is of the opinion that no matter how many he would construct, the demand would keep them occupied during the outing season. The Cochran Hotel Scheme was endorsed by the Bemidji Commercial Club and it was decided to advertise for a hotel man who might be interested in the summer hotel proposition in Bemidji. (April 1, 1914)