Frank Kern writes:

Mary Nuechterlein, curator of the Frankenmuth Museum gave me another excerpt from the 1905 Saginaw Post-Zeitung regarding the building of the addition, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

The excerpts were in German, then translated as follows:

 

4 May 1905

...-Dehmel & Galsterer sind mit Transportieren des Commercial House beschaftigt.

    Dehmel and Galsterer are moving the (frame) Commercial House (Hotel).

 

15 June 1905

...-Das Fundament fuer Lorenz Kern's Hotel ist fertig.

    Lorenz Kern's hotel foundation is finished.

 

13 July 1905

...-Gottlieb Kern hat mit dem Legen von Backsteinen am Commercial Hotel begonnen.

    Gottlieb Kern has begun laying brick for the Commercial (House) Hotel

 

20 July 1905

...-Der este Stock des Commercial House ist vollendet; es wird das groesste Hotel in Frankenmuth werden.

    The 1st floor of the Commercial House is finished; it will be the largest hotel in Frankenmuth.

 

24 August 1905

...-Frau Lorenz Kern liegt an einem Nervenleiden schwer krank darnieder.

    Mrs. Lorenz Kern is very ill due to a nervous disorder.

 

7 December 1905

...-Das Commercial House ist noch nicht eingeweht, wie sonst_erichtet wurde.

    The Commercial House has not yet had its dedication, as was earlier reported.

 

11 December 1905

...-Das Commercial Hotel ist fertig und letzten Freitag ist Gastwirt Kern in seine Wirtschaft eingezogen. 

Es ist eins der am besten eingerichteten Gasthaeuser in der Stadt und der freundliche Leiter wird es an nichts fehlen lassen.

    The Commercial Hotel is ready and last Friday innkeeper Kern moved into his inn.  It is one of the best built guesthouses in the city and the friendly manager spared no pains.

 

So as you can see, Grandma Kern must have gotten ill during the year long project of moving the old hotel to the back of the lot, and then building the "new" hotel.