Upcoming Dine Around Events:
A
Delicious Series of Dinners and Parties
to support the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society
From gourmet dinners in exclusive homes to casual cocktail parties,
these culinary events feature great food and great times for a great
cause.
A Pleasant Evening
on Pleasant Street
Saturday, May 17 | 7:00 pm
Linda & Dick Riekse and John Cannarsa & Tim
Straker will host twin cocktail parties in their homes. Park once
and visit two wonderful Pleasant Street properties filled with
appetizers, drinks, friends and fun. $50 per person
On the Cusp of Summer
Saturday, June 14 | 7:00 pm
Celebrate the seasonal transition with cocktails and dinner at
the home of Jerry Carpency and Doug Turner. Meander the
grounds and sip drinks on the terrace while taking in sweeping
views of the Kalamazoo River Marshlands below. Meal prepared
by Christine Ferris. $150 per person
Dine around events sell out quickly.
Save yourself from worry or disappointment
by reserving your spot at the table right now.
Call 269-857-5751 or email
info@sdhistoricalsociety.org/
Renew Your 2014 Membership On-Line
If you haven't renewed your SDHS
membership for 2014, do it today. It's easy to renew your
membership on-line. Just click
HERE to
Keep History Alive
Join us
for the Historical Chronicle's 3rd Year!!
For a 3rd year, the
Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society will print the broadsheet, old
style, newspaper called the Historical Chronicle. As
you may know, this is a publication that is intended to amuse and
inform our visitors about our history and promote our local
businesses. 20,000 copies of the Chronicle are printed
and handed out at businesses, B&B’s, hotels, the Pump House
Historical Museum, the Old School House, and many other places that
visitors frequent.
Ad pricing starts as low as
$100 and the Chronicle will be handed out all summer
long.
Join us in supporting the
Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society and our community!
Click
HERE for 2014 Ad Rates and details.
Contact Kay Reckley, Editor at
kreckley@gmail.com or
616-283-1109 with any questions.
Welcome from Jack Sheridan and Chris Yoder leaders of the Society
Family History Group. Our regular meeting schedule is the first
and third Thursday of every month. Upcoming meetings are:
Thursday, February 20
Thursday, March 6
Please join us to see what we are all about and most importantly,
share "lessons learned" about the many tools available for family
research.
Believe it or not, somewhere around 10% of you, the readers of
this column have a great grandparent that came to this country on
the Mayflower! Based on genealogical arithmetic, this is a good
estimate. So depending on the size of our readership the number
might be one hundred or so.
Now the bigger question. How many of the one hundred know that?
Very few! If you know or have good reason to believe you are a
Mayflower descendant please let us know. If you would like to
determine that you have a Mayflower grand parent, the SDHS Family
History Group is the place to start.
A few of the basic facts on the subject are:
There are twenty nine adult Pilgrims known to have descendants.
The Mayflower Society has garnered the results of extensive
research on the first four generations of Pilgrim descendants from
1620 to the mid 1700s. In addition they have a database of
submissions of descendants requesting Mayflower Society
membership. These submissions have been proven and accepted by the
Mayflower Society.
For a small fee the Society will confirm that your tree [or
portions thereof] agrees with proven and accepted family trees.
It is estimated that there are as many as thirty million Mayflower
descendants in our country!
I must stress that your family history does
not have to have any connection to the Saugatuck-Douglas area !!!
If you need a really painless jump start - record what you know
about your parents, grandparents, and great grandparents and send
it along for a review by Chris Yoder or myself. The snail mail
address is SDHS Family History, Box 617, Douglas, Michigan 49406,
or email a copy to either
cyoder@tds.net or
jack.sheridan@gmail.com.
Give us time for an initial assessment.
We will soon be back to you with readily found data and with
suggestions on the next steps to take. Further help is always
available from the Family History group. Again, the only
requirement is membership in the SDHS.
Still wondering? Questions/comments/advice/needs - contact
jack.sheridan@gmail.com
269 857-7144 Chris Yoder
cyoder@tds.net 269 857-4327.
This newsletter column is written by Jack Sheridan.
 
Click on the picture for a
higher resolution copy
The William "Bill" Simmons story
Last week I browsed Bill Simmons' photos – for the umpteenth
time. The more I look at them the more I treasure them!
Many readers of this column know the history of Bill and his
photos. For those who do not, the history is worth relating
again.
Recently I have done a bit of digging into his family history
and have set up a brief family tree in the SDHS collection.
Bill died here in 1966 at the age of seventy five. Working
with the help from census data, I see he was born in Neodesha,
Kansas in 1891, the son of George Simmons and Myrtle Moore
Simmons. His father George, born in Illinois, was a railroad
conductor, probably sent to Neodesha by the railroad. Mother
Myrtle was born in northeastern Indiana.
By 1910 the family is in Ellsworth, Kansas. George is now a
railroad brakeman, son Bill driving a livery truck. There are
two younger siblings, Russell and Ruth. In 1920, they are in
Terre Haute, Indiana where George is again a conductor and
Bill is the managing editor of the Greater Terre Haute Club.
Looking at the 1930 census, the family is living in Chicago,
George is a conductor and Bill is a newspaper reporter. The
other children have left the household but Bill is living with
his parents. I was unable to find him in the 1940 census but I
do find a 1942 WWII draft registration record. His address is
Ellis Avenue, Chicago, his mother a personal contact and his
employer is Time Inc.
The rest of the story is drawn from my memory bank. Bill began
coming to Saugatuck on a regular basis about 1940 and within a
few years moved here permanently. In Chicago he had been a
reporter and photographer, at least part time for Time Inc. He
loved photography and sharpened his skills here. Also a
reporter, he was twice editor of the Commercial Record. He had
his own portrait photo studio of sorts and also did commercial
photography for advertising illustrations. He produced things
like local directories and event calendars.
I have the sense that he was reserved and well liked. Many of
his photos are of people, he loved to shoot the pretty girls –
a good example is the Ed Mar Seabee shot above. Though that
photo is an exception to his usual scene treatment – most
people in his shots are looking away from the camera.
The SDHS has some 2000 negatives shot by him and donated by a
family member in 1998. A few years later, digital technology
made it possible to turn the negatives to viewable positive
images. The expertise of Dick Haight made this possible and
that project was the reason for my initial involvement with
the SDHS.
The photos made possible a time trip for me back to the mid
century Saugatuck of my youth. What a pleasure they have been.
I am so lucky!
Many of the Bill Simmons' images are available for your
viewing on the
SDHS website and in the SDHS book OFF THE RECORD.
Next month we will travel back in time to the Big Pavilion
movie theater.
This newsletter column is written by Jack Sheridan.
Click on the picture for a
higher resolution copy
News
from the Archives
A photo of the Chain Ferry ca 1920
(Click on the image for a higher resolution copy)
|
2014 Monthly Programs and Tuesday Talks Line-Up
If you would like
to sponsor one of the Monthly Programs, please
REPLY to this email and we'll be in touch. Sponsorships are $150
MONTHLY PROGRAMS
l March 12, Last
Stop Saugatuck with Norm Krentel
The History of the West Michigan's Interurban Train
l April 9,
Extreme Yachts and Classic Boat Restoration with Jonathon
Reus
Inside Saugatuck's Macatawa Bay Boat Works
l May 14,
Dunelands Diary with April Scholtz
A Naturalist Takes Us Behind the Scenes at the Saugatuck Harbor
Natural Area Sponsored by Sharon
Kelly
l June 11, To the
Dunes with The Hiking Group
Photos & Stories from the State Park Hiking Group
l July 9, From
Branch to Basket: At the Pleasant Hill Farm with Joan
Donaldson
l August 13, Picnic
+ Gallinipper Talk + Beer with Jim Schmiechen
l September10, Country
Life: The Felt Estate on the Midwest Riviera with Patty
Meyer
l October 8, Tales
from the Cemeteries with Kit Lane and Marsha Kontio
l November 12,
Michigan's Hottest Town Revised with Mike Sweeney
l December 14, Holiday
Party at the SCA
If you would like
to sponsor one of the Tuesday Talks, please
REPLY to this email and we'll be in touch. Sponsorships are $150
TUESDAY TALKS
l July 1, Bee Garden
Buzz ("MisBeeHiving") with Ruth Johnson & others
l July 8, Maryjo
Gets You to Talk About Art with Maryjo Lemanski
Sponsored by Sharon Kelly
l July 15, The River
and Harbor: A Status Update with Bob Sapita
l July 22, Houses on
the Move: Four Historic Restoration Stories (Presenters to
be determined)
l July 29, Birds of
the Dunelands with Rick Brigham
Sponsored by Sharon Kelly
l August 5, Tales of
the Silver Screen with Mike Sweeney and Mary Ann Curtis
l August 12,
Arriving In Style: The Automobile (and Bus) as Saugatuck & Douglas
History with Jim Schmiechen
l August 19, What
Did You Do Last Summer? with Ruth Johnson, Kids
Summer Camp Review
l August 26,
Gangster Stories: Fact or Fiction - Bring Your Story with Jim Schmiechen, Kit
Lane and the Audience
Garden Happenings
"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant."
--- Anne Bradstreet
It has been a long time since we've had a true Michigan winter.
Let's not complain for this is what our gardens need! and believe it
or not, there is an end in sight. The days are getting longer and
the birds are really starting to sing. Before you know it our
Daffodil Trail is going to explode with color, but, in the meantime,
let's keep dreaming.
The Landscape Committee is dusting off its cobwebs and starting to
think of spring maintenance and the installation of our Orchard and
School Yard Stations. Kristi and Jim are diligently working on our
graphics with hopes of installing them this spring, while Lee and
John are booking tours of our garden for the summer. We are also
fine tuning our text for giving tours, so anyone who would like to
help this summer will be able to walk visitors through our garden
and answer questions.
The Root Camp committee is eagerly planning, developing and loving
our new summer camp. The camp will run for a week in June and a week
in July. It will be open to twenty kids per session between the ages
of 6-11. The camp will mimic a day at school very much like Laura
and Mary Ingalls, while educating the kids on our local history and
conservation efforts promoted in our garden. More information and
sign up will happen in March.
On a very sad note, David Mueller, Kristi's best friend and husband,
died February 1. We will miss him so very much. Our prayers and love
go out to her and their kids, Nellie and Henry.
See you next month, The Landscape Committee
Cameras
Ready to Roll for Michigan Hometown Stories!
Yes, Virginia . . .there is a
Michigan Hometown Stories: Saugatuck Douglas! Things
got quiet last year for a number of reasons on the project, but
we're happy to report that shooting has begun on the WGVU
documentary project to tell our story to the PBS world!
Corporate sponsorships have
been slow to come in for the show, but many generous, local people
have made gifts to the project along with the Michigan Humanities
Council.
WGVU and the Society board have
agreed to move forward with the TV show as a half-hour rather than
an hour. This means we have begun shooting footage around town to
capture our winter charm and will begin to plan production and
complete a script in March. There will be more interviewing and more
shooting around the towns over the summer.
We hope to have the program
ready to premiere by the end of 2014! The production team welcomes
your input and suggestions, and additional donations could make it
possible to create a longer program. If you have ideas on possible
corporate sponsors or wish to make a tax-deductible gift, please
contact either WGVU Assistant General Manager, Ken Kolbe, at
kolbek@gvsu.edu or our
Society member and leader of the local production team, Jon Helmrich
at
jhelmrich@earthlink.net or 269-857-3574.
The Michigan Hometown
Stories team thanks everyone for their support and patience.
We will keep you posted on further developments. Remember to smile
if you see a camera crew!
submitted by Jon Helmrich
News
from the Art Gallery
We started the new year with
the acquisition of a wonderful gem, a crayon pastel drawing given to
us by Cynthia Sorensen, our very generous member and volunteer.
(Click on the image for a higher resolution copy)
Pictured above, the tiny (6.5"
x 8.5") dune/pier scene was signed by F. Lightbody. Does this name
"ring a bell" with anyone? More research may reveal information
about the artist, but anything you could share would certainly help.
The new work will be available for viewing as soon as it can be
rematted/refitted.
Thank you, Cynthia, for another
generous gift to us all. Ken Kutzel, Art Collection Manager
art@sdhistoricalsociety.org
Saugatuck's Philatelic Connection
contributed by Chris Yoder
Did you know that there is a US
postage stamp which is connected to Saugatuck? The Great Lakes
steamer depicted on this 1 cent stamp (Scott#294 - issued May 1,
1901), sailed for 17 years as the "City of Saugatuck".
The stamp was part of a special six-stamp series designed to
advertise and commemorate the Pan-American Exposition held in
Buffalo, New York in 1901 to celebrate the New World's progress
during the 19th Century.
Scott #294
(Click on the image for a higher resolution copy)
The stamp's central design was
entitled "Fast Lake Navigation". At time of issue, the craft was
called "City of Alpena" and was operated
on the Great Lakes by the Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Co.
The City of Alpena, 1907
(Click on the image for a higher resolution copy)
The ship had been built in
1893, was 285 feet long and was operated by 2000 horsepower steam
engines. It replaced an earlier vessel of the same name which was
lost in October 1880 en route from Grand Haven, Michigan to Chicago,
Illinois
According to C. Patrick
Labadie, Historian Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary:
|
"It carried as many as 400 passengers along with significant
cargoes of 'package freight' . . .merchandise and foodstuffs
to supply the needs of local communities. They provided a
critical link to big cities like Toledo, Detroit and Saginaw,
in the years before completion of railroads and highways to
the communities of booming Northeast Michigan. The CITY OF
ALPENA was taken off the "Coast Line to Mackinac" in 1921 when
the lumbering industry had moved to the West Coast and
railroads connected most of the towns in the region. She
operated afterwards on Lake Michigan as the CITY OF SAUGATUCK,
and ended up in the late 1930s as a barge, carrying pulpwood
and later petroleum products. The once proud ship was
eventually broken up for scrap in 1957." |
The Goodrich Transit Company of Chicago assumed
ownership of the craft in 1921 and renamed it "City of
Saugatuck" in 1922.
"The Vessel Histories of Sterling Berry" reports
the following detailed events in the life of the steamer
(1893-1957):
• Steel sidewheel overnight passenger vessel
Built at Wyandotte MI by Detroit Dry Dock Co., Hull 114
• Launched March 13, 1893
• Dimensions: 275' LOA, 266' LBP, 38'4"
beam, 24' depth power - 2 decks, coal-fired boilers, vertical beam
engine, 2400 IHP
• Enrolled at Detroit MI June 24, 1893 to: Detroit & Cleveland
Steam Navigation Co., Detroit MI, David Carter, Mgr. Home port
Detroit MI)
• Firm name changed 1898 to Detroit & Cleveland Navigation Co.
• Renamed City of Alpena II 1912
• Sold Dec 22, 1921 to Graham & Morton Transportation Co., Chicago
IL
• Renamed City of Saugatuck 1922
• Fleet merged 1925 into Goodrich Transit Co., Chicago IL (home
port to Duluth MN)
• Firm went bankrupt in 1933 and vessel taken over by Michigan
Trust Co.
• Sold Dec 16, 1935 at Marshal's sale in St. Joseph MI to Roen
Steamship Co., Sturgeon Bay WI, Capt. John Roen, Mgr.
• Towed to Sturgeon Bay. Converted 1939 to crane-equipped pulpwood
barge at Sturgeon Bay WI by Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding & Dry Dock
Co. and renamed Leona
• Remeasured to 241.7 x 38.5 x 13.3, 999 GT, 999 NT
• Sold July 13, 1945 to Northern Paper Mills Co., Green Bay WI.
• Transferred 1946 to Canadian subsidiary (home port to Sault Ste.
Marie ON) and renamed Normil
• Enrolled Canadian 241.0 x 39.0 x 13.3, 987 NT, Can 176163
• Firm merged 1956 into Marathon Corporation of Canada Ltd. (home
port to Port Arthur ON)
• Scrapped 1957 Menominee MI
Photo of the "City of Saugatuck"-
compliments of Jack Sheridan Perhaps looking west from around the
Chain Ferry Landing
(Click on the image for a higher resolution copy)
Welcome New Member
We would like to welcome a new member who has joined the
Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society since the last newsletter.
l Shannon Connell, Fennville, MI
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