UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Mark your
calendar
PICNIC TIME AT MT. BALDHEAD!

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Wednesday, August 11, 6:00 pm at
Mt. Baldhead Park
Mark your calendar for our annual picnic. Bring your best
culinary creation, appetizer, salad, main dish, or dessert. Also
bring a beverage and tableware. After a very good meal, we will have
a quiz show with some great prizes!
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September meeting to be announced.
HAPPENINGS AT THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE
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Saturday, July 24, 5-8 pm, Still
Life Oil Paintings by local artist Cindy Peterson

Cindy Peterson is a classical realism painter who specializes in
still lifes. She earned a degree in retail management with a minor
in art history from Michigan State University. Cindy began her
career in the arts as a skilled printmaker who demonstrated a bold
contemporary style. After a successful entry into the art world with
printmaking, Cindy shifted her priorities to raising three
daughters.
Cindy did, however, continue to kindle her passion for art via
classes at the prestigious Ox-Bow Summer School of Art and through
tutelage with several local artists. In early 2009, Cindy began
studying with classical painter, Thimgan Hayden. Cindy became
immediately intrigued by the discipline and human appeal of
classical realism and then flourished as a classical realism
painter. She discovered her true artistic voice by utilizing natural
light, oils, and tools reminiscent of the Old Masters to create
exacting representations of every day objects.
Fully emerged from her brief hiatus from the art world, Cindy
continues to expand her portfolio in her Saugatuck, Michigan studio.
Her work exemplifies her own distinctive style that utilizes soft
lighting and brushstrokes, precise observation, simplicity, and
visual clarity to inspire still life representations. Influences on
her body of work include past masters Chardin and Vermeer, as well
as contemporary painters Juliette Aristides and Jacob Collins. Cindy
states that, "Above all, I strive for the purest simplicity and then
the mystery revealed within it."
TUESDAY TALKS
Mysteries, Memories & Old Tales
of Saugatuck & Douglas
●
Tuesday, July 27, Jack’s Photo Mysteries Game by Jack
Sheridan sponsored by Ozman Flowers & Firs
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Tuesday, August 3, Lost Saugatuck and Douglas Paintings
Rediscovered by Ken Kutzel sponsored by Judy Oberholtzer
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Tuesday, August 10, Saugatuck & Douglas Area Gay
History: A Preview of the Video by Steve Croley & Bridget McCormack
sponsored by
Saugatuck Brewing
Company
●
Tuesday, August 17, The Persistence of the Picturesque
in Landscape and Memory by E.W. Ross sponsored by
James
Brandess Studios & Gallery
●
Tuesday, August 24, Remembering Ox-Bow by Norm Deam
sponsored by
Button-Petter Gallery
DIXIE'S TUPPERWARE PARTY
SAUGATUCK-DOUGLAS
HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND
MASON STREET WAREHOUSE ARE PARTNERING FOR
ONE PERFORMANCE OF
Off-Broadway's
Hilarious
Dixie's Tupperware Party
Starring Dixie Longate |
 |
A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE
TUPPERWARE SALES AT THIS EVENING'S PERFORMANCE BENEFITS THE SDHS!
|
WHERE: |
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Mason Street Warehouse, in the Bertha
Krueger Reid Theatre at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts |
WHEN: |
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8:00 p.m. Friday, July 23 |
TICKETS: |
|
Available at the MSW office or by
calling (269) 857-4898 or may be purchased on-line by clicking
HERE. |
|
If you already have tickets for a different date, contact the
MSW Box Office at 269.857.4898 to exchange them for July 23,
purchase some Tupperware and support the Society. |
SOCIETY AWARDS

Saugatuck's Vic Bella and Judy Hillman win top
Historical Society honors.
Judy Hillman has received the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society's
top-honor Charles J. Lorenz Award of Achievement for 2010 and Vic
Bella has won the Society's Volunteer Of The Year Award. Both are
residents of Saugatuck.
The Lorenz Award was established by the Society in 1997 to honor the
memory of Charles Lorenz, who gave generously of his time, talent,
money and energy in the formation and development of this
organization. Winners are selected each year by a special Society
committee, recognizing distinguished leadership in fulfilling the
Historical Society's mission to "help the community understand its
past and use its history to shape its future and preserve its
quality of life".
Hillman's selection cited her talents and volunteer efforts as
principal designer and design team leader for all eight of the
Society's Museum exhibits since 2003, and as one of the key persons
credited with establishing the Society’s Museum state-wide
reputation for exhibition excellence. Her design work on the
Society's Museum exhibits have twice received first-place awards
from the Michigan Museum Association.
Trained in graphic arts at Western Michigan University, she later
became Assistant Professor of Art and Design at Hope College, and
has guided the design of books and promotional materials for Hope's
De Pree Art Center. A member of the Saugatuck Historic District
Commission, she also has served as photographic stylist for Herman
Miller, a member of the Holland Area Arts Council, a trustee of the
Holland Historical Trust.
The Volunteer Of The Year Award honors outstanding service to the
Society during the past year. Candidates are nominated by standing
committee chairs, with Board members excluded from eligibility, and
winners are selected by majority vote of the Board.
Bella's selection cited his constant readiness to help with The Old
School House renovation, Museum exhibit preparation, fund-raising
promotions and numerous other Historical Society activities.
His involvement with Saugatuck began with vacationing and sailing
here in the 1960s, and after retiring from a 30-year career in
public education -- most recently as Director of Counseling and
Guidance for the Brandywine Public School System in Niles, Michigan
-- he built his home here in 2000. Bella also volunteers as a
Disaster Action Team member for the Allegan County Chapter of the
American Red Cross, and is a member of the Saugatuck Historic
District Commission.
WINIFRED CUMMINGS WALKER'S AUTOGRAPH BOOK

Winifred Cummings
Among several items recently received in the archives is a 1890s
autograph book which belonged to Winifred Cummings Walker
(1873-1960), wife of beloved Saugatuck doctor Robert J. Walker. It
includes 35 inscriptions by her friends from the late 1880s and
early 90s (including the young May Francis (Heath) and members of
the 1891-92 Saugatuck Union School Class). Young minds turned poetic
as they looked forward to life's promise. Examples include:
"Always be truthful, and mind your Ma"
Mae Martel, Douglas Union School, Dec. 16, 1890
"Passing through life's field of action,
Lest we part before its end,
Take within your modest volume,
This memento from a friend."
Lena Randall, Jan, 17, 1889
"Of all the glorious pictures,
That hang on memory's wall,
There is one of a band of school girls,
That seemeth the best of all."
Florence Beebe, Douglas, 1/14/91
"The past is a dream,
The present a strife,
The future a mystery,
Such is life."
Cora Hollister, South Haven, Mar. 31, 1892
"I wish you health,
I wish you wealth,
I wish you gold in store,
I wish you heaven after death,
What can I wish you more?"
Nellie Seastrum, May 1, 1888
Click
HERE to see the full autograph book (and links to
biographical information on some of the students)
submitted by Chris Yoder
|
COME TO THE DEDICATION CEREMONY!
On Saturday, August 14, 2010, at 1pm, a memorial plaque will be
dedicated to honor Saugatuck historian May Francis Heath
(1873-1961). The ceremony will be held in the town square and all
three of Mrs. Heath's great-grandchildren will be present. Let's
have a good turn-out as we honor Mrs. Heath for her invaluable work
in preserving and celebrating the history of Saugatuck!
In Honor of Our Storyteller

MAY FRANCIS HEATH
1873-1961
~ ~ ~
Saugatuck
Historian
Writer
● Teacher ●
Artist ● Civic Leader
TO THE PEOPLE OF SAUGATUCK
BY FAMILY, FRIENDS & THE SAUGATUCK-DOUGLAS
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
AUGUST 2010
|
WHAT YOU MISSED
Wednesday, July 14 at the Old School House
A Tale of Two Wedding
 |
 |
Jim Hanson presents his family story.
Photo courtesy Chris Yoder. |
Eugene J. Hanson and Dorothy L. Audette,
August 1940.
Photo courtesy
Jim Hanson |
Every seat in the Old School House's meeting room was filled for Jim
Hanson's "A Tale Of Two Weddings". This extensively-researched
family history told the story of his grandparent's and parent's love
affair with the Saugatuck area, starting with Harry and "Nettie"
Hanson Saugatuck honeymoon in 1910.
Highlights from Jim Hanson's presentation included a beautiful
selection of vintage family photos, tales of ancestral Norwegian
woman crossing the Atlantic alone, an investment in turkey chicks
that took to the trees, and a turtle soup that not even the pigs
would touch.
Are you interested in learning more about your family history?
Contact Jack Sheridan at 269.857.7144
DIRECTORY ERROR
Our sincere apologies for listing the wrong cell phone number for
Secure n Safe, LLC in this year's Society Directory Sponsor Ad. The
correct cell phone number is shown below. Please make the correction
in your copy of the Directory.


A SPECIAL THANKS FOR SUPPORT OF SDHS
The Society would like to thank
the following companies and individuals for their generous gifts and
donations to the Society's programs. Your support of these companies
would be greatly appreciated.
2010 Tuesday Talk Sponsors
●
Button-Petter Gallery (sponsor of two Tuesday Talks)
●
Clearbrook Golf Club & Restaurants
●
Harbor Duck
Adventures
●
Jane & Al Osman, Osman's Flowers & Firs
●
Judy Oberholtzer
●
Saugatuck
Brewing Company
●
James
Brandess Studios & Gallery
SDHS Membership Directory
Sponsors
Thanks again to the all the advertisers in your 2010 Membership
Directory - individuals, businesses and SDHS's marketing partners (Saugatuck/Douglas
Business Association - SABA,
Mason Street Warehouse and the
Saugatuck Center
for the Arts).
Lakeshore
Lodging, Saugatuck, 866.795.9454 for providing lawn mowing
and snow plowing services for the Old School House History Center.
Secure n Safe, commercial
and residential alarm systems, 616.405.0635 or 269.561.2305 for
donation and on-going service of both the Museum and Old School
House alarm systems.
Both Lakeshore Lodging and
Secure n Safe are advertisers in the 2010 SDHS
Membership Directory.
NEW MEMBERS SESSION
The second "SDHS 101" session of the
year is coming up and is a great chance for new members and
interested former members to learn about the Society and the
opportunities that it has to offer. There will also be a discussion
of this year's exhibit that celebrates the 100th anniversary of
Ox-Bow.
The session will be held on Saturday, July 31, at
the Old School House beginning at 10:00 a.m. If you are able to
attend, please call Nyla Hensley at 269-857-5704 or email
noteablenyla@yahoo.com
WALKING TOURS
Volunteers are needed to guide visitors on the Society's summer
Walking Tours. You don't need to be an expert, but you must enjoy
interacting with visitors who are interested in local history.

 |
Thank you all for participating and providing your opinions,
feedback and comments regarding the recent poll sent to you. We
would like to share the results with you at this time.
|
Questions 1: Which programs are of interest and would
you like to be actively involved or continue to remain involved?
Museum Exhibit |
80.6% |
Heritage Weekend |
69.4% |
Annual Museum Opening Party |
58.3% |
Monthly Meetings |
52.8% |
OSH Programs |
33.3% |
All others |
25.0% |
Several comments ask what is OSH? It is the Old School House
History Center located in Douglas across from the Library.
Question 2: Which programs/events should be top
priority? The percentages are from the category "A must".
Walking Tours |
83.0% |
Heritage Preservation Weekend |
82.9% |
OSH Programs |
81.0% |
"About It" Series |
56.7% |
Trolley Tours |
51.0% |
"How To" Guide |
44.8% |
Heritage Preservation Boat Tour |
29.4% |
Question 3: Of the programs listed which are
you willing to be involved in or presently are involved in as a
volunteer.
Heritage Preservation Weekend Home Tour |
On the day |
51.6% |
Part of planning |
9.7% |
Coordinate planning |
6.5% |
Start to finish |
3.2% |
Participate only |
29.0% |
Heritage Preservation Boat Tour |
On the day |
15.8% |
Part of planning |
10.5% |
Participate only |
73.7% |
Walking Tours |
On the day |
20.0% |
Part of planning |
6.7% |
Participate only |
73.3% |
"How To" Guide |
Part of planning |
10.0% |
Start to finish |
20.0% |
Participate only |
60.0% |
"About It" Series |
On the day |
10.0% |
Part of planning |
10.0% |
Start to finish |
20.0% |
Participate only |
60.0% |
OSH Programs |
On the day |
23.1% |
Part of planning |
7.7% |
Guide the planning |
15.4% |
Participate only |
53.8% |
Question 4: What is the preferred way to get
information to you and contact you?
Email |
90.9% |
Newsletter |
38.6% |
Telephone |
20.0% |
SDHS Web Site |
25.0% |
Snail Mail |
13.6% |
Facebook |
4.5% |
All who left their contact information on the survey will be
contacted and we thank all of you for your participation and
continued support of SDHS. A discussion with the SDHS Board to
discuss the next steps is in order.
The Heritage Preservation Group
SOCIETY IS ON FACEBOOK
Mix it up with the Society's Facebook community. Click on

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MEMORIES OF MAY FRANCIS HEATH:
A SERIES
May Heath and the Saugatuck Centennial of 1930 - Eighty Years
Ago This Month |

May at the 1930 Centennial Ball |
Local residents of mature years may remember the Saugatuck
"centennial" of 1968 and the Douglas "centennial" of 1970,
which commemorated the formal incorporation of each city.
Posters from these events can still be found at the Douglas
antique mall. Forty years earlier, on July 14-15-16, 1930,
there was a first centennial. This one celebrated the
settlement of the community by William Butler, who arrived
here in the fall of 1829. May Heath was General Chairman of
the 1930 centennial committee. She instigated the celebration,
orchestrated the many events, and even wrote a 228 page local
history which was published in time for the celebrations.
In November 1929, May had attended the Van Buren County
Centennial in Paw Paw, MI to get ideas for a Saugatuck
celebration. On Feb 14, 1930, the Commercial Record reported
on a public meeting in the village hall, during which May
Heath "was chosen chairman of the meeting and also chairman
of the Centennial organization, a wise choice, since she will
inspire the whole corps of assistants by her own enthusiasm.
She was also given power to appoint all the committees and the
several committee chairmen will form an executive committee to
formulate and promote a working plan." The July dates were
selected to align with the annual Jackson Park (Chicago) Yacht
Club regatta on 15 July. |
The next month, the paper announced Mrs. Heath was writing "a
history of the early days of Saugatuck" and she solicited
input from readers. In April, the name became "Saugatuck
Centennial and Homecoming" as an emphasis was being given to
the return of former residents to the festivities. Chairs were
appointed for the following committees: Publicity;
Program-Speakers; Program-Music; Band Music; Exhibits; Evening
Water Carnival-Boat Races-Venetian Night Parade; Indian
Relics; Parade Arrangements; Marking Landmarks; Flower
Exhibit; Posters; Float Suggestions; Old Time Pictures; Art
Exhibit.
A "Centennial Open Forum" began appearing in the Commercial
Record in early April in which Mrs. Heath shared plans,
letters from former residents, poems and other items of
interest each week leading up to the celebrations. Over 2000
pamphlets were distributed in Chicago at the Motor Boat Show,
post cards were available from the Commercial Record office to
send announcements to friends and family, and local students
competed to produce posters advertising the pending events.
The program announced was:
MONDAY, July 14, Morning: Reception and registration, pioneer
exhibits and antiques each day at the Village Hall, art
exhibit. Afternoon: Columbine Garden Club flower show, ball
game between local team and Riordan Drugs. Evening: Old-time
costume ball at Big Pavilion. At the old fashion ball, Mrs.
Heath was presented with a corsage by Saugatuck mayor Dr. H.
Kreager.
TUESDAY, July 15, 10 a.m.: Big Parade of progress; 2 p.m.:
Water Carnival, yacht and other races; 7:30 p.m.: Venetian
Night parade; 9 p.m.: Fireworks. Fifty-seven floats were
registered in the parade.

May Heath on the Heath Float
WEDNESDAY, July 16, Morning: Motor trips; dedication of Jay D.
Myers memorial and memorial to old Indian burying ground; 1:30
p.m.: Speaking by prominent statesmen and a musical program at
Big Pavilion; 3:00 p.m.: Baseball between the local and House
of David teams.
 |
 |
The Monuments Today--Myers, Left; Indian
Burial, Right |
Florence Brittain, granddaughter of Jay D. Myers (for 21 years
the captain of the chain ferry), unveiled his memorial bench;
and twelve-year-old Johnson Fox, a member of the Pokagon Band
of the Potawatomi Indians, unveiled the memorial boulder.
After college, Florence moved away, married, and died in
Florida in 1992. Johnson Fox, after college and military
service, lived out his life in Saugatuck and died here in 2009
at the age of 90.
Dr. Frank W. Greiner, who came from Seattle, WA to attend the
centennial, wrote: "There are many people who aspire to
public leadership with the thought of either honor, profit or
position; but of self aggrandizement in some form, Mrs. Heath
works with no such thoughts; with her it is simply to bring
about the object sought, the good and pleasure of all. To the
people of Saugatuck I want to say you are peculiarly fortunate
to have her as a citizen. Boost her as she boosted this
centennial. She deserves a big place in your hearts."
Honor her, and what she did for the village she loved, by
attending the dedication ceremony on August 14, 2010, 1pm, in
the Saugatuck Public Square.
submitted by Chris Yoder
For more information about the 1930 Centennial, see the
newspaper clipping section of the
May Heath Memorial Project window at the SDHS web
site. The Pathe Newsreel people were scheduled to film the
events, but they had equipment problems in Kalamazoo and
returned to Detroit. Do you have any photos in your attic of
these celebrations?
Donations are still welcome, for memorial, an eventual small
marker for the Treaty Oak, and other programs through Sept.
2011. Make out checks to "The Saugatuck-Douglas Historical
Society" marked for "the May Heath Memorial Fund." We are also
still collecting photos of May, of her paintings, and personal
recollections from people who knew her. Contact Chris Yoder,
cyoder@tds.net
(269) 857-4327 or Marsha Kontio (616) 566-1239. |
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