Hillsdale hotels fill up fast; parents look farther

Parents go to extremes to make sure they have housing for their students' graduations

By: Casey Cheney

Posted: 4/23/09

Though their daughters will graduate in 2010 and 2012, Nancy and Patrick Timlin started searching a year ago for the lodging they would use during their daughters' commencement weekends. They have already booked the Hillsdale House Bed and Breakfast on Union Street for both years.

"It's hard to get into the Dow Center every time, so we chose to find an alternate route," Nancy Timlin said.

She said she knew she would have a hard time when she called Rooms at Grayfield, where she and her husband stayed previously, to find it booked on the weekend of graduation in 2010. The Dow Center told her she would have to go on the waiting list if she wanted a room that weekend.

Jo Bates, director of operations at the Dow Center, said this happens for every commencement weekend.

This year several different departments have reserved the Dow's 36 rooms for speakers, the Board of Trustees and those receiving honorary degrees, Bates said.

She said Dow employees won't know if any rooms will be available until closer to graduation. If any rooms remain available after the departments finalize their guest lists, she said the staff will start releasing rooms to those on the waiting list.

When the Dow fills up, Bates said Dow employees direct parents to other places in Hillsdale, or at least provide a list of local lodging with phone numbers.

"We make suggestions on places we think are appropriate and offer phone numbers," she said.

As the weekend of graduation approaches, Bates said local motels and bed and breakfasts will call if they have rooms available.

Cheryl Rogers, aide to Jo Bates, said she offers to put callers' names on the waiting list, but won't make any promises. The Dow provides names and numbers for lodging in other cities, such as Coldwater, in case Hillsdale fills up.

"I doubt if Hillsdale County has enough space for everyone," she said. "We just don't have that many rooms in Hillsdale."