Early Memories of Saugatuck 1830-19301. Saugatuck, Mich --History 1830-19302. Michigan--History 1830-1930Fishtown

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Status: OK Status By: Mary Voss Status Date: 2018-01-17

About May Heath's "Early Memories of Saugatuck" The Saugatuck Centennial of 1930 drove May Francis Heath to complete and publish her long planned book of Saugatuck history. She wrote in the Preface: "For a number of years, in fact ever since my girlhood days, has a plan been living in my mind whereby someday I would attempt to write, or rather compile, the many bits of early Saugatuck history which have come to me through the associations of the years, all pertaining to its early settlement---" "For much of my information I am indebted to letters and clippings written in the day when the woods were lonely and the paleface had few neighbors except the Red man; some of my sketches are written on torn scraps of paper, showing not only the scarcity of paper, but the pioneer spirit of thrift as well. Interesting accounts were often told to me by my grandfather Morrison as we drove through the country and along then old lakeshore road.---" Her selection as General Chairman of the Centennial was testimony to May's reputation as a local historian. After many months working and writing, her diary records on May 11th "Work all day on my book. Even Doc Proof Reads" and the 12th "Go to Grand Rapids- Eerdmans (publisher), with my book to publish. Here's hoping". The next day (the 13th) was her 57th birthday. Her books arrived from the publisher on 27 June 1930, and the first ten of them sold the following day. An early article in the SDHS newsletter (below) outlines the four additional editions which were published in May's lifetime and describes how to tell the difference between them: 1946, 1947, 1953, and undated (with a photo added of William G. Butler). Most recently, the many hours of effort by Rob Carey and Mary Lyons allowed the SDHS to reissue this wonderful volume in ____. As one of the final acts of the May Heath Study Group, and in commemoration of the Golden Anniversary of her death in Sept. 1961, a "Memorial Edition" is being prepared which we hope will be available in time for the 2011 museum opening. It will contain a special introduction by May's three great-grandchildren and a collection of family photographs. Early Memories of Saugatuck Michigan; 1830-1930 (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.; Grand Rapids) 1930. History of Saugatuck published in commemoration of the community's centennial in 1930. Includes a large section of family history mostly gleaned from newspaper obituaries. Illustrated with 12 full page drawings by Saugatuck artist Carl Hoerman. This is often considered the "basic primer" of Saugatuck-Douglas history. May Francis Heath (the Francis was a maiden name, not a middle name) was the granddaughter of early Saugatuck settler Stephen A. Morrison. She was a founder of the Saugatuck Woman's Club, chairman of the Saugatuck Centennial of 1930 and a driving force in the community until her death in 1961. Some of the information in this book, especially as it relates to the Morrison family is found nowhere else. There are several errors, especially in dates, but most of these are picked up by Mrs. Heath from the 1880 county history, one of her major sources. The listing of boats built in Saugatuck, compiled for her by Cappy Brittain and Carl Bird, is far from complete or perfect, but offers a good starting place. Early Memories of Saugatuck was published in five distinct editions over a period of 25 years. -- Earliest edition, (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publ. Co.: Grand Rapids, Mich) There is no publication date or edition designation anywhere in the book but other sources indicate that it was issued to for the centennial of 1930. The book is larger than subsequent editions, 6 x 91/2, 225 pp., with a black spine with title, and black and white boards. It has the word "DEDICATED" at top of title page verso, no printed name at end of foreword, last biography Adrian C. Zwemer. No canoe graphic on title page. -- "Second edition, 1946" (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, Michigan) Smaller than the first edition, 5 1/2 x 8 3/4, 228 pp., red boards and no spine title. Beginning with this edition the book had an ivory and black dust jacket. The body type appears to have been reset, and a small canoe appears on the title page. In "Bits of Biography" Samuel Willison Bryan, Capt. Dennis Cummings, Patrick Devine, Fayette Hollister, Warren Prentice, Martinus Van Leeuwen, James G. Wark, John Wheeler have been added. Last biography Adrian C. Zwemer. -- "Third Edition, 1947" (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, Michigan), 5 1/2 x 8 3/4.228 pp., red boards and no spine title. "Singapore" by Fred Davis has been replaced by "Saugatuck Song.", last biography Adrian C. Zwemer, frontispiece, May Francis Heath. -- "Fourth Edition, 1953" (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, Michigan) S 1/2 x 8 314, 228 pp., red boards and no spine title, last biography Prof. P. A. Latta. Frontispiece, May Francis Heath. -- Last edition, no date or edition designation (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan) 5 1/2 x 8 3/4.228 pp., maroon boards and no spine title. Printed signature but no typeset name at the end of the foreword, last biography Prof. P. A. Latta. Frontispiece, May Francis Heath with William G. Butler on the other side. This edition went through many printings. No one is quite sure how many copies were printed. Eerdman's claims they have no records about the publication. New copies were still available at Force's Gift shop in Saugatuck as late as 1968. Used copies are often found in bookstores in Michigan and nearby states. Anything less than $30 is a good buy. Some libraries have an index to the book which was done in the 1940's by an area DAR chapter. Mrs. Heath's, great-grandson Bill Bleeker said he has recently found what looks like plastic plates used to print the last edition in the attic of Heathcote, the Heath family home on Butler Street. At this time the family has no plans to reissue the book.