2025.36.01

Description of the ship from "Built on the Banks of the Kalamazoo" by Kit Lane, 1993: Summer Girl According to the local newspaper the yacht Summer Girl was built by Fred Menier and launched in June of 1904. However, a half-model of the vessel that has been preserved has an inscription penciled on the back that cites Cal Heath as the builder. Since Heath was in poor health and had left the Saugatuck area early in 1904, it is likely that he was the designer and Menier the actual builder. The Summer Girl was 38 feet long over all, eight feet nine inches in beam and carried a 15 horsepower engine. According to the newspaper story at her launch, "When she is finished she will have a canopy and side curtains and seat 60 people. Her owner will take her to South Haven the 20th where he will run her this season." However, instead of going to South Haven, by July 15 the Summer Girl had taken up a regular route between downtown Saugatuck and the mouth of the river and was declared "a first class craft and makes good time."

NauticalTransportation: water1880 Tourism steamship era -1930

Winthers, Sally

08/26/2025

08/27/2025