Collection Item - Saugatuck-Douglas History Center

Charles E. Bird

Photograph

DescriptionA. Original studio portrait of Charles E. Bird as a mature man looking directly into the camera lens, 5x3.5" B. Modern photographic copy of portrait of Mr. Bird as a young man with dark hair and a drooping mustache, 6x4" C. Modern photographic copy of Mr. Bird as an elderly man beside his spouse Hattie Bird, 5x3.5" D. Modern photographic copy of Mr. and Mrs. Bird's 1876 marriage certificate (partial), 7x5" Original accession number is 89-1-26

Entry/Object ID

1989.01.26

Photograph Details

Type of Photograph

Print, photograph

Subject Person or Organization

Bird, Charles Edmund Sr. 1855-1941306 Butler/Landsharks/Tripp's/Kruger's/C.E. Bird's/Ensign Drug Store/Wilcox BuildingRogers & Bird Shipyard/LineBird, Harriet “Hattie” Louise (Moffat) (Wright) 1855-1944

Context

As a teenager, Charles Bird apprenticed at the Ensign Drug Store in Saugatuck. When Mr. Bird was in his 20s, he bought the Drug Store business from Mr. Ensign and ran it for 50 years. Along with R.T. Rogers, Charles E. Bird operated a ship-building company that produced steamships between 1885 and 1898. The first boat completed was the A.B. Taylor, named for a prominent local businessman. The shipyard was at 340-360 Water Street in Saugatuck, just upriver from Wicks Park. The site later owned by R.R. Phelps. Bird also owned a warehouse in Saugatuck and a pier at Pier Cove. He purchased the old Heath grist mill site on April 16, 1886. Rogers sold his shipyard interest to Calvin Whitney in 1896 and all boats were sold in 1889, due to the bad condition of the Saugatuck harbor. See Person Profile for more details.

Collection

Commercial businessesNauticalFamily History

Cataloged By

Winthers, Sally

Acquisition

Accession

1989.01

Acquisition Method

Found in Collection

Location

Box

031 A+B+C+D Photo Files

Create Date

10/05/2023

Update Date

02/06/2026