Blue Tempo Building
2017.13.02
Print, photograph
Davis, Donald "Toad"Beuerle, LouisDemeter, Edward J.F. 1909-2000
The building that became the Blue Tempo lounge was located on Culver Street just east of the pie factory. The structure had its beginnings in an old wooden ice house, insulated to keep Kalamazoo River ice cut during the winter from melting before it could be used for summertime purposes. In 1926 the Beuerle family added rooms extending behind to Kalamazoo Lake and advertised it as Saugatuck's first motel. It was sold about 1950 to Ed and Marie Demeter and became the Ed-Mar Hotel. The Demeters owned it for a decade and sold the hotel in February of 1960 to Donald "Toad" Davis. The Blue Tempo closed in 1975 and Davis had sold the building when it burned in an early morning fire July 22, 1976. Windjammers of Saugatuck, a condominium, is now located on the site.
Music: JazzBuildings: Lost
Voss, Mary
Jul 1962
029 Jazz
Good
Blue Tempo/Ed-Mar/Louis Beuerle Hotel ?-1976
Status: OK Status By: Mary Voss Status Date: 2017-05-08
Toadville U.S.A. [Buildings that were proposed and not built can often be as interesting as those that were actually constructed. The Society archives recently received an old petition with two pages of signatures supporting Donald "Toad" Davis in his proposal to erect "a unique atmosphere" for a bar and restaurant that would feature jazz bands. The petition is undated but it states that it pertains to the plan of remodeling and operation of what had been known as the "Ed-Mar", which in the future would be known as "Toad-ville USA" Jake Ihle was to be a partner in the project. The Ed-Mar, on Culver Street in Saugatuck was transferred from Ed and Marie Demeter to Davis in February of 1960. Signatures on the petition include most of the business owners in downtown Saugatuck at the time as well as several village government officials.] TOAD-VILLE U.S.A. House of Music General explanation of proposed plan to create a unique atmosphere and structure that will be in keeping with village charm and Art theme. Bar & booths will be in now present basement. Dance floor and band will be located in basement also. Rear outside screened in area will permit dancing under the stars and also afford river view. Inside space will also be allocated to dance floor. The upstairs which is now allocated to bar space will house restaurant with window display of open charcoal grill. Restaurant entrance will be in front of building where bar door is now located. Bar entrance will be through toad's mouth on west side of building. Bar seating capacity will seat approximately 150 persons. Booths will each have individual themes, such as, Western, Gay 90's, Knights of Old, etc. Tables will be made from barrels using formica tops. Bar will be of brick with indirect lighting effect on brick. Bandstand will have Italian flashing lights above to resemble stars. African band mural will be painted on wall behind band stand with illuminous [sic] paint and lit with black lights. City mural leading to Village of Saugatuck will cover one wall. Mural and paintings will be on display in keeping with the Art theme of Saugatuck. GOOD band for dancing year around. Fountain display in center of bar with colored lights that change. Built in wall aquarium with variety of fish. --- (The proposal was denied and Davis instead created The Blue Tempo. The building was painted light blue and remodeled to look vaguely like a castle. The only thing remaining of Toadville U.S.A. was a cut-out depiction of what the entryway would have looked like that remained on the front lawn for several years.)
05/08/2017
11/09/2023