94. River Guild

Location: 161 Blue Star Highway, Douglas

The first building on this site housed the Douglas Lumber Company started by Sundin Brothers. The business sold lumber and specialized in custom cabinets and carpentry.

In 1930s, the building, dubbed River Guild Gallery, was redesigned by Carl Hoerman for use as a studio. In 1942 the structure was enlarged to become the River Guild, an artists’ co-operative launched by Walter Deinhart. The River Guild sold fine art, crafts, gifts and furniture. In the 1960s the building was purchased by the Gray family and renamed Gray Gables.

In the early 1990s, Saugatuck gallery owner Joyce Petter purchased the dilapidated structure. A serial restorer, Petter was game for extensive renovations. Under Petter’s direction the barn-like building was transformed into a 12,500-square-foot, two-story art gallery with elaborate doors imported from… Ohio.

During the renovations, Petter’s contractor uncovered a hand-carved wooden door adorned with the figure of a craftsman with a chisel and mallet in hand. This gem was the original door from Carl Hoerman’s River Guild Gallery, likely carved by Hoerman himself. Today the craftsman figure is the symbol of the J. Petter Gallery. A sly variation of the craftsman holding a bottle and hoisting a glass is used for the Petter Wine Gallery in the same building.