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Lane history from the 1968 Centennial Edition

Archive
Photographs of historical articles written by Kit and/or Art Lane for the Saugatuck Centennial special supplement to the Commercial Record, August 15, 1986. To view the entire pages, see the web link below.
Front page; History of Saugatuck in Stories and Pictures
Saugatuck today, from the air. (Photo by Prosch-Jensen) Indians Met At Saugatuck In The Spring; Mentions Ottawa and Pottawatomie people, Mt. Baldhead--Lookout For Centuries Artists Find ScenicHome in Saugatuck; Mentions John Norton, Art Institute of Chicago, Mr. Johannsen [Johansen?] Frederick F. Fursman, Alfred Krehbiel, Ox-Bow Summer School of Painting, Cora Bliss Taylor, Taylor Art School, AK Studio, Carl Hoerman, Christiana Hoerman, Chalet Art Gallery, John Polka, Saugatuck Art Gallery on Culver, Clothesline shows in Village Square by Saugatuck-Douglas Art Club What Time's The Next Boat; The Western Allegan County Telephone Co., the first cooperative telephone company in the state and possibly the first in the country, began in 1894 as a way for farmers in the fruit belt to contact the lake pier at Ganges and find out when the boat was coming. Mentions H.H. Hutchins, C.E. Bird, Rogers and Bird Company, Western Allegan County Telephone Company, Tri-County Company, and Union Telephone Company which in 1956 merged with the General Telephone Company, D. M. Force in reconditioned New Net For New Fish; Mentions the Bird and Roger's Cuckoo tug, Charles and Henry Schriver, Capt. John Martell, Shriver Brothers (tug), Fishtown, sturgeon, whitefish, alewife, Bob Peel, Keith Chambers, Southern Lake Michigan Fisherman's Association, Thomas E. Mullen, Capital I, Paul Peel, Chamber Brothers, Dave Lake, Bullhead, Joann, Rube Sewers, Thora Ann, Harry Decker. His Words Salute Saugatuck; George Coutoumanos Of Many Names, Only Saugatuck Stuck; Platted in 1834 with name Kalamazoo, 1836 Bronson took over name Kalamazoo, 1835 Newark, E.F. Greenman, Churches Rise Along With Village; Mentions Rev. J. Rice Taylor, All Saints, Christian Reformed Church at Morrison's Hall, Moore Hill on Holland St., Reformed Church moved to East Saugatuck, Congregational at Pine Grove School in 1860. Methodist society formed 1865, built church 1881, moved it down hill in 1915. Peaches Arrived Before Settlers; Peach Orchard Point and the origins of peach farming, steamer Charlie McVea, big freeze Oct. 10, 1906 Lane history from the 1968 Centennial Edition picture number 13 Along The Saugatuck River; About Saugatuck, Connecticut in Westport Third Celebration in 50 Years; explaining the meany centennial Ox-Bow-Part Of Saugatuck's Artistic Tradition; Evolution of the Summer School of Painting to Ox-Bow Ships Link Saugatuck With World part 1; O.R. Johnson, Francis C. Stockbridge, Lintsford B. Coates, Ira Chaffee, Fred May, George Dutcher, G.P. Heath, A.C. McMillan shipyards, George P. Heath, R.T. Rogers, C.E. Bird, A.B. Taylor, Pilgrim, Bon Voyage, Bon Ami, Wilson line, John A. Aliber, Anna C. Wilson, Graham and Morton line, City of Saugatuck, City of Holland. Ships Link Saugatuck With World part 2; Bob Stephenson, Goodrich Transit Company, North American, South American, Georgian Bay Line, overwintering steamships at Pavilion dock, Ottawa Beach Hotel fire 1926, boats moved to Lake Macatawa, United States, Bon Voyag THE BIG PAVILION--AN ERA part 1; Mentions Saugatuck Amusement Corporation, H.H. Engel, David Reed, E.E. Weed aka Elmer Weed ada Deac' Weed, D.F. Ludwig, dancing, colored lights, chandeliers from Midway Gardens in Chicago, orchestras, Frank Barbino, Art Kassell, Danny Russo, Jimmie Garrgan, Jimmie Joy, movie theater, THE BIG PAVILION--AN ERA part 2; Mentions Air Dome or Airdome, WBM or WIBM Radio Station broadcast, The Dock cocktail lounge, Joe Gerkin on the organ, use as Liberty Port during WWII, Herb Byfiled, John Constantine, Herb Shutter, dancing, Robert Sergeant of the Butler Hotel and Marina. Cement foundation now the Singapare Yacht Club parking lot. Channel Replaces Rivers Mouth; Mentions Kalamazoo lighthouse, Stephen D. Nichols, Capt., W.B. Franklin, lagoon, Fresnel, Frederick F. Fursman, Arthur F. Dam, tornado April 3, 1956 SAUGATUCK WAS EARLY INDUSTRIAL CENTER Lane history from the 1968 Centennial Edition picture number 22 Butler Opens Wilderness part 1; Mentions William Gay Butler, Emily butler, J. Wittenmeier, S.E. Mason, J. Griffith, Oka Town, Abija Chicester, Edward Johonnet, Robert Crosby, Daniel Plummer, Stephen D. Nichols, H.H. Comstock, Benjamin Plummer, Stephen A. Morrison, Johonnet and Crosby Tannery, Singapore 1837 Saugatuck tax rolls listed the families of W. G. Butler, Daniel and Benjamin Plummer, Johonnet and Cros-by, Stephen A. Morrison; a Mrs. Jones, James McLaughlin and a floating population of lumbermen and Indians. Nine years later the rolls had diminished a little and listed families of S. A. Morrison, M. B. Spencer, W. Go Butler, S. D. Nichols, James Melaughlin and Sam Underwood. Butler Opens Wilderness part 2, Setting For Two Novels; Mentions James Gay Butler, 1868-Ready To Become Village part 1; Mentions 1868 Village incorporation, A.B. Titus, H.H. Stimson, 1868-Ready To Become Village part 2 Teacher Was Paid In Meals; Mentions Benjamin Plummer, Mary Elizabeth Peckham aka Mrs. S.A. Morrison, 1852 Singapore or Ward school on Singapore (Dugout) Road north of Slumber Bluff farmhouse in Pine Trail Camps, Halverson Farm, Pine Grove School on Mary Street, Elsa Ulbricht, Union School, Saugatuck Seeks Railroad, Interurban Serves Resorters; Columbus, Lima and Milwaukee Railroad Company, describes Interurban route, Saugatuck- -Cradle For 200 Ships; Shipbuilding, boat building, boat works, log rafts, James Bush, Milo Winslow, C.C. Trowbridge, Helen Mar, Aunt Betsy, Ira Chaffee, Mayflower, Octavia, Crook, John B. Martel, James Elliot, Capt. R.C. Brittain, C.E. Brid and R.T. Rogers, Pilgrim, A.B. Taylor, Bon Voyage, Bon Ami, Marinette launch, Minter, Dick Hoffman, Carl Bird, R.E. Peterson, River Queen Boat Works. Capture of Jeff Davis; Capture of Confederate president Jefferson Davis, May 10, 1865 in Georgia as related by Levi Tuttle and Benj. Colf. Mentions Col. Prichard. American Civil War. Also bit about Red Ribbon Club at Morrison's Hall. Fire Chief Had A Trumpet; Densmore, hook and ladder company, fire department organized, Babcock fire extinguisher, water system, hydrants, 1879 clerk's office burned destroying village records, night watchman, 1902 hose cart, Model T. truck converted into fire vehicle with hose box, 1920 American-LaFrance pumper with chemical unit, Maurice Herbert and Harry Newnham hand-built truck, white truck from the American Fire Apparatus Company built on Ford chassis. List of Saugatuck Village presidents; 1868 - H. B. Moore 1870 - John Bacon 1871 - S. A. Morrison 1872 - Randolph Densmore 1873 - Isaac Wilson 1875 - Daniel L. Barber 1877 - L. B. Coates 1878 - Horace D. Moore 1879 - Alfred B. Taylor 1880 - James G. Williams 1881 - Wallace B. Griffin 1882 - James G. Williams 1883 - Daniel L. Barber 1884 - 85 Frank A. Winslow 1886 - 1892 - John F. Henry Nov. 1892 - James M. Pond 1893 - 96 - Fred Wade 1897 - 98 - Samuel C. Reed 1899 - Fred Wade 1900 - 01 - John H. Pear 1902 - John Koning 1903 - 04 - John H. Pear 1905 - 06 - H. M. Bird 1907 - 10 - W. G. Phelps 1911 - 12 - William R. Takken 1913 - 14 - Frank J. Comstock 1915 - 16 - Clarence Wade 1917 - W. H. Allen 1918 - Clarence Wade 1919 - 20 - Waterman G. Phelps 1921 - Clarence Wade 1922 - Joseph B. Zwemer 1923 - Clarence A. Lynds 1924 - 83 - Dr. H. E. Kreager 1934 - 35 - Clarence A. Lynds 1936 - 38 - Frank W. Sewers 1939 - Frank J. Comstock 1940 - 42 - F. Ed Force 1943 - 49 - Clarence Lynds 1950 - 51 - Frank Wicks 1952 - 55 - George C. Wright Nov. 1955 - Roscoe Funk 1956 - Roscoe Funk 1957 - 60 - Richard G. Hoffman 1961 - Lynn McCray

2021.18.93

These short, informative articles are an excellent starting point to learn about local history. Many of the topics were expanded into books by Kit Lane.

1830 Settlement, pioneer era1870 Fruit growing, farming, agriculture0001 Anishinabek/Ojibwe/Odawa/BodéwadmiChurches and religionLiterature, poetry and memoirSaugatuck, governmentEducation and schoolsTransportation: waterTransporation: Rail - other than Interurban1899 Interurban electric train -19261910 Ox-BowArt schools and colonies other than Ox-BowUtilities and public infrastructure1845 Fishing, commercial1909 Big Pavilion -1960Nautical1840 ShipbuildingMilitary, wars and veteransFires and fire departments

Winthers, Sally

013 Centennial Celebrations

Digital data in CatalogIt

Butler, William Gay 1799-1857Nichols, Stephen D. 1806-1887Plummer, Benjamin 1802-1885Crosby, R. RensselaerJenkins, Adelbert Eugene 1863-1929Gerber's Landing/Peach Tree Landing/BreeseHutchins, Harrison 1815-1893Coutoumanos, George 1876-1962Morrison, Mary Elizabeth (Peckham) 1816-1881Saugatuck Union School 1866-1896Saugatuck Public School 1897-1950Ox-Bow Inn/Riverside Hotel/Shriver family homeOx-Bow/Summer School of ArtRiverside Rest/Bandle Farm/Bandle's Addition 1890-2024Fursman, Frederick Frary 1874-1943Clute, Walter MarshallPark House/888 Holland/Clover's Waffle House/H.D. Moore residenceTallmadge, Thomas Eddy 1876-1940Rupprecht, Edgar A.United States (ship) 1909-1946Bob Stephenson (boat)Graham & Morton Transportation Co. 1874-1950Interurban Railroad 1899-1927Goodrich Transporation CompanyNorth American (ship)South American (ship)Bon Voyage (ship) 1891Mount Baldhead Dune/ParkLane, Kit 1939-2024Lane, Arthur Leroy Sr. 1901-1996MacsaubeeKrehbiel, Albert Henry 1873-1945Norton, John Warner 1876-1934Taylor, Cora Bliss 1889-1986Hoerman, Carl 1885-1955Chalet Studio and Art GalleryHoerman, Christiana A.Polka, John 1930-2006Tri-County/Western Allegan County/Ganges Telephone CompanyForce, Delos Mettier 1859-1939Force's FloristsShell/Force's Snug Harbor/Interurban StationCuckoo (ship) 1907Big Pavilion 1909-1960Old Harbor/Channel piers pre-1906/Ox-Bow LagoonSaugatuck Harbor Piers/Channel 1906-presentKalamazoo Lighthouses 1839/1858/1956-presentIra Chaffee (ship) 1867G.P. Heath (ship) 1871-1887A.B. Taylor (ship) 1884 / Ottawa 1902-1910John A. Aliber (boat) 1897-c1927Davis, Jefferson F. 1808-1889Tuttle, Levi 1829-1921Saugatuck Township Fire DistrictWard School/Singapore School

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04/19/2025