(ANNA TURNER | The Miami Student)
For the past decade there has been a rumor circulating throughout Miami University. Some say it's an urban myth. Some say a friend of a cousin's friend knows someone who's been there. It's a rumor that's been passed down from senior to first-year, year after year...
So, in the essence of spring romance — you'll understand soon — it's time to tackle this myth. Discover the truth. Find out what really goes on behind the doors of … the St. Clair Motel.
The Subject
Watch a documentary about the Saint Clair Motel. Produced by Miami students.
The myth is about the St. Clair Motel in Eaton. Most Miami students drive by the decrepit motel every time they head home from winter break. Anyone driving along U.S. 127 passes it as they go north to Dayton, Chicago, Michigan or Cleveland. The motel is an old two-story building that sits just off of the road. All of the windows are always shut tight. Blinds down. No light peeks through.
Random dirty chairs and cigarette butts cover the stone porch. ‘No loitering' signs are posted outside of the building. One old sign sits outside of the tall motel. It clearly used to light up — but doesn't anymore, like it hasn't worked in years. The sign reads "St. Clair Motel," the words "No Vacancy" appear right above the name.
The Myth
It's a brothel … or at least that is the story that has made its way around Miami. Most people say it's the old sign that sparked most of the rumors. Miami students say it is the florescent sign's constant claim of "No Vacancy" that spurred an interest in the St. Clair.
It seems bizarre that in a town as small as Eaton — population 8,000 — that one dinky motel could consistently produce no rooms available? Who are in these rooms? What could they be doing?
And with that, the brothel conclusion was born. For those of you unfamiliar with the term brothel, it more or less equates to a whorehouse.
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Rumors that prostitutes resided in the rooms began to circulate. People claimed a pimp ran the motel and that "customers" were assigned to particular rooms, where they encountered the awaiting woman's services and then would leave.
It's believed asking for "change for a penny" at the front desk is the secret code to receive the services of a prostitute.
While some of these varying rumors are more than outlandish, one can't help but believe there's a strand of truth somewhere in them.
Maybe it is a brothel? Maybe the people of Eaton enjoy having this particular service at their constant disposal? That's just enough "maybes" to try and seek out the truth, if you ask me.
Nothing But The Truth
Camcorder in hand, two girls from my media class and I headed out to Eaton on a hunt to debunk the St. Clair Myth.
Before knocking on the door of the motel itself, we figured we'd first try our hand talking to a few people in Eaton.
One young man, around age 30, wearing a black suit and tie stopped to chat with us as we were surveying the outside of the motel. He wore a nametag that read, "Zachery Sites, Jesus Saves Us." Yeah.
He wanted to know what we were doing in the area. We told him a bit about the St. Clair Motel rumors and how we wanted to uncover the truth about its happenings.
He was intrigued."I'm new to town and don't know anything about it," he said.
We asked him if the motel was condemned — another rumor that's been circulating the streets.
"No, I'm pretty sure there's people living in it, there's one guy who always comes onto the porch to smoke," he said. "But, I'm not really sure what goes on, if you know what I mean."
Oh, we know.
Officially intrigued, we decided to seek out another Eaton resident. Sure enough, a 50-year-old woman in a baby blue tracksuit strolled by us.
We stopped her and began explaining why we were here and what we were investigating.
"What's a brothel?" she said. She asked to remain anonymous.
A whorehouse, we replied.
The woman's face instantly turned from friendly to stern.
"That is false information," she said. "I don't know where you heard it from, but that is definitely false."
And with that she stomped away from us, shaking her head.
We decided going on the words of either Mr. Sites or Miami students who "swear" it's the truth wouldn't be enough. It was time to enter the motel.
Overcoming our nerves, we walked up the dirty, old steps. We knocked on the door. No one answered. Again, we knocked.
Finally, an old man came to the door, cigarette in hand. He said he's lived in the motel for the past five months.
However, he, along with the owner of the motel and the Eaton police, declined to comment on the St. Clair's status as a brothel.
So, the rumor will have to maintain its position as a rumor. There are conflicting opinions on both sides, both of which can neither be confirmed nor denied.
We'll just have to leave it up to you.
Do you have change for a penny?
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