Shipbuilder’s House

Location: 345 Grand Street, Saugatuck
Date: 1884

John Baptiste Martel was a French-Canadian boat builder who lived in Saugatuck for over half a century, building Saugatuck steamers until 1897. The shipbuilding connection is evident in the Martel House, with carpentry work undertaken by George Hames and fancy scrollwork executed by William Finley. The window frame decoration is of an oakleaf-and-acorn motif. The house was later purchased by a Chicago industrialist and restored by the noted Chicago interior designer Florence “Danny” Hunn in the 1940s. At that time the rear coach house was relocated and attached to the house, and a bay window was added to the north side to mirror the one on the south side.