2024.41

Found in Collection

To view this recording, scroll down to the bottom of this entry and click the blue web link. This video was created by Saugatuck-Douglas History Center volunteers or was donated to the Center in a good faith effort to preserve local history. If you feel this content should not be available to the public — or have additional information that will add context to this interview — please contact the SDHC Archives at [email protected].

DVD version

5 in

5 in

Video synopsis notes by Judy Anthrop, May 2025: Sylvia Bekken Randolph 2024.41.01 Interview with Helen VanMell Origins of 996 Holland Street, on the river, in Saugatuck, Mi. Moving the house from Singapore to Saugatuck on the frozen river Original stories of her youth, art school, marriage, life in Saugatuck, Oak Park, Ill. Wintered in Hawaii for 27 years. Her early life at Ox-Bow in the 1930s, then the Summer School of Painting History of instructors at Ox-Bow. Casa Blanca James Brandess/Marcia Perry Elsa Ulbricht Frederick Fursman Albert Kriebel Charles Longenbau (Charles Longabaugh?) Kathie Moore Cora Bliss Taylor Duke Ellington Martin VanLeuwen May Heath Jane VanDis Dick Hoffman Burr Tillstrom Ray Mason and Alice Mason at Ox-Bow Fred Randolph Swimming the river to school at OxBow Mother and Sister staying at OxBow also Taught 14 years in Waukegan High School Seniors in the country called 53rd Boondocks Furmsan had models outdoors in the nude and boys from town would sneak around Fursman and Kriebel had differences and Albert moved into Saugatuck and opened AK Studio. He taught landscape with oil and watercolor