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An Intimate Map of Saugatuck

Art
A black and white version of the birds-eye view of Saugatuck designed by Fred Stearns. Map is mounted on cardboard. Map has a decorative title box in the lower left corner adorned with a stereotypical "Indian maid" and mermaid. The map shows both old and new channels, boats on the lake and river, the swing bridge, a very bare Mt. Baldhead with people leaping down the slope, Ox-Bow, Goshorn lake, orchards, the Big Pool, the Big Pavilion, the lumberyard and buildings on Butler Street and many other charming details.
StearnsMap hi.jpg 950KB
SternsIntimateMapColor.jpg 12.6MB; Color version

2008.03

Kalamazoo Lake

An Intimate Map of Saugatuck Michigan by Fred Stearns circa 1930 Fred Stearns was a student at the Art Institute of Chicago and first visited Saugatuck in 1907. He was art director of Burleigh, Withers, McCallum, Stearns and Jipson Co., a Chicago advertising firm that specialized in work for the auto industry. This map shows places that were important to Stearns — including the Ox-Bow School and a little boat at the lower right named Poison Ivy. Stearns wrote in the Chicago Tribune that “everybody who works amid the tumult of a big city will understand why Saugatuck, Mich. is my favorite town.”

Maps1930+ Tourism, brochures, guides and maps

Voss, Mary

Stearns, Fred 1885-1967

1930

MapBirds-eye viewLandscapeTourist ArtCardboardSaugatuck, MichiganMapLake KalamazooMt. BaldheadKalamazoo RiverBig Pool

22-1/2 in

31-1/2 in

Flat Files drawer 12 tourism maps

Fair

Print dry mounted to board. Yellowing of paper and mount. Print also faded. Removed print from frame in September 2019.

Stearns, Fred 1885-1967

Caption fixed to back of frame with tape: Fred Stearns was a student at the Art Institute of Chicago and first visited Saugatuck in 1907. He was art director of Burleigh, Withers, McCallum, Stearns and Jipsson a Chicago advertising firm that specialized in work for the auto industry. This "intimate map" of Saugatuck shows places that must have been important to him - including Ox-Box School area and perhaps even the little boat at the lower right named, "Poison Ivy." Stearns wrote in the Chicago Tribune that "everybody who works amid the turmult of a big city will understand why Saugatuck, Mich. is my favorite town." Status: OK Status By: Eric Gollannek Status Date: 2019-09-18

01/28/2008

06/18/2024