2021.41

Schmiechen, James A.

Donation

found in a box of papers donated by James Schmiechen

Page 1: Our families were introduced to Saugatuck approx 70 years ago. Initially our parents leased a cottage - (in the same site that the beautiful new brick home was built) - it came with outdoor plumbing and a outhouse, with the option to buy. Next door neighbor - a Mrs Mueller - have several lots up the road and sold one to the family. The price was right! Sewage flowered directly into the river - it wasn't until many years later that sewers were installed. The road leading up to Ox-Bow was dirt and gravel as was the road leading to the Oval Beach. Stairs did not exist getting to the top of Mt. Baldhead. There was a refreshment stand at the bottom of Mt. Baldhead - served ice cream, hot dogs, soda pop, candy, etc. The "Ferry Store" - adjacent to the ferry was initially a full grocery with fresh meats - was sold to Jim Gleason who discontinued the meat dept. - handling groceries; ice cream etc. only. He also delivered dairy products to the homes along the road. Page 2: The chained ferry - much larger than the existing one - would accommodate four cars at a time. (Cars were considerably smaller in those days) Charge was 25 cents including the occupants in the car. Pedestrians paid five cents. In addition there were flat row boats - that would take passengers to the other side of the river for five cents. No safety measures were provided like life preservers. In town was the post office - Flint's Dry Goods Store; the corner drug store, the Bird or Byrd Restaurant, the Pavilion - with movie theatre in basement. The Dance Pavilion - chard one dollar admission - once inside three dances for twenty-five cents. People danced to big named bands. Liquore was not served. The Pavilion was ?? people came from long distances to dance. Charles Boat House - provided outdoor motor boats, row boats, canoes - could rent a rowboat and/or a canoe for fifteen dollars a season. Wilson's ice cream store - next to the tennis courts - was a popular place for the kids - and adults too. Double dip ice cream cones ten cents.

11 in

8-1/2 in

Source: SDHS newsletter pg. 293 [The following is a series of recollections recorded by Ann Renaldi and Richard Vacco for a program at the museum. The cottage their family built was located on Park Street on the west side of the river.] Remembering Saugatuck-Douglas Years Ago by Ann Renaldi and Richard Vacco Our families were introduced to Saugatuck approximately 70 years ago. Initially our parents leased a cottage on the site where the beautiful red brick home was built later. It came with outdoor plumbing and an outhouse with an option to buy. Our next door neighbor was a Mrs. Mueller who had several lots up the road and sold one to our family. The price was right! At that time sewage flowed directly into the river. It wasn't until many years later that sewers were installed. The road leading up to the Ox-Bow was dirt and gravel, as was the road leading to the Oval Beach. Stairs did not exist for getting to the tap of Mt. Baldhead. There was a refreshment stand at the bottom of Mt. Baldhead that served ice cream, hot dogs, soda pop, candy, etc. The Ferry Store, adjacent to the ferry, was initially a full grocery, with fresh meats. It was sold to Tim Gleason who discontinued the meat department. He handled groceries, ice cream, etc. only. He also delivered dairy products to the homes along the road. The chain ferry, much larger than the existing one, would accommodate four cars at a time. (Cars were considerably smaller in those days.) Charge was 25 cents including the occupants in the car. Pedestrians paid 5 cents. In addition there were flat row boats that would take passengers to the other side of the river for 5 cents. No safety measures were provided like life preservers. In town was the post office, Flint's Dry Goods Store, The Corner Drug Store; The Bird or Byrd Restaurant, The Pavilion - with movie theater. The dance pavilion charged $1 admission. Once inside three dances were 25 cents. People danced to big name bands. Liquor was not served. The Pavilion was huge; people came from long distances to dance. The Charles [probably Hiestand] boathouse provided outdoor motor boats, row boats, canoes. You could rent a rowboat and/or canoe for $15 a season. The Wilson Ice Cream Store, next to the tennis courts, was a popular place for the kids and adults too. A double dip ice cream cone cost 10 cents.