SDHS Newsletter

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.