Name/Title
Boating article 1940Entry/Object ID
2023.50.90Scope and Content
Digital image of August 18, 1940 Chicago Tribune newspaper clipping titled “Young and Old Enjoy Boating at Saugatuck” by Lolita LinnContext
This article about boating in Saugatuck was found in an old scrapbook kept by Mrs. George Quick, now in the possession of the John Dyer family of Saugatuck. Lolita Linn may have covered the Michigan vacation coast for the Tribune. The article lists many Chicagoans who were part of the boating scene in the 1940s including George Quick, W.E. McCollum, William S. Spieths, William W. Merrill, Henry and George Hungerford, Webster D. Corlett, Louis Hanson, Tom Sawyer, John ford, Herman Reiningas, Snow Haskins, Herbert and Eleanor Ullman, and Charles E. Atwood.Collection
SDHS NL Inserts, Nautical, 1930+ Tourism, activites, tours and attractionsCataloged By
Winthers, SallyAcquisition
Accession
2023.50Acquisition Method
Found in CollectionNotes
SDHS Newsletter insert page 231Location
* Untyped Location
Digital data in CatalogItRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Fort, Robert "Harry" 1875-1954, Saugatuck Yacht Club, Crawford, George Robert "Bob" 1913-1999, Lake Shore Chapel Shorewood, Shorewood/Hemlock Terrace, Crawford, Evelyn (Wright) 1877-1966General Notes
Note
This information was OCR text scanned from SDHS newsletter supplements. Binders of original paper copies are in the SDHC reference library.Note
This article inspired James Schmiechen to write the following text for the 2009 Museum exhibit "Summertime"
6. Boating A Sunday Afternoon On the Harbor in the 1940s
[PHOTO 1: Saugatuck kids sailing (Buz Heuchen)
“The youngsters of Saugatuck, Mich., have the steady eyes and poised ways of those who go down to the sea in ships. Of course, the ship may only be a tiny sailboat and the sea is a lake and a river….”
[PHOTO 2: pick one from a collection of boats around the Big Pavilion
“…Cape Cod never bred more enthusiastic sailors than those who play along the water fronts of Saugatuck.”
[PHOTO 3: George Worthington or in motorboat with Pavilion in background]
“The lad who guided us down the three mile channel of the Kalamazoo River seemed dwarfed by the gigantic dance hall on the riverfront, but we never doubted for a moment that he was master.”
[PHOTO 4: Venetian festival photo (from archives?)
“Supper has to wait in Saugatuck until the sun goes down, for old and young were out in their boats, participating in an unstaged, but most effective Venetian parade.”
[PHOTO 5: one or more SYC club photo –with people getting into boats
“Beside the harbor where the yachts and sailboats come to rest is the clubhouse of the Saugatuck Yacht Club. In 1933 a group of boys whose principal summer diversion was sailing boats decided that Saugatuck should have a yacht club. This year the club has 93 members….”
[PHOTO 6:
“Harry Fort, marine engineer and artist of Saugatuck, encouraged the boys by designing and building a model 16 foot sailing boat which he called a “papoose” –which the boys came to build their own, and race.
[PHOTO 7: Jackson Park-Saugatuck race photo(s) (archives)
Last month, an early club member, George Quick, of Chicago and Saugatuck gave a dinner picnic in honor of yachtsmen completing the 5th annual Jackson Park, Chicago—Saugatuck sailing race. Many Chicago sailors are active in the Saugatuck Yacht Club.
The Scene: This story is based on the Chicago Tribune article, “Young and Old Enjoy Boating at Saugatuck,” Sunday Edition, August 18, 1940, by Lolita Linn, with photos from the 1940s and 1950s added for this exhibition from the SDHS archive.
Local Historic Context: The arrival of the leisure culture by the 1880s, meant new pleasure boating opportunities for “summer
people.” A variety of vessels, often built in Saugatuck boat yards, were
offered by local entrepreneurs: steam driven beach “launches” that carried
customers to Saugatuck’s large Lake Michigan beach house, flat bottom
river boats provided river excursions, and riverside boat liveries provided
rental boats for visitors and cottagers. By the 1920s large private
yachts were part of the local scene and the era of the family
powerboat had arrived. Then by the 1930s regattas
were part of the summer action with the coming of the Jackson Park Yacht
Club’s Chicago-to-Saugatuck Race. Old riverboats were replaced by
paddle boats, the most popular one was built in 1953 (the
Island Queen). Marinas were built and the Saugatuck Yacht Club was
formed in 1934 in order to popularize sailing among all
ages. Few locally built boats were as present on the waters as the
Club's small wood racing craft, Papoose and
Lightning classes. Few mid-century boats caused as much attention as did
the cruisers, of which the West Michigan built Chris Craft led the boat
fashion parade.
Create Date
December 31, 2023Update Date
January 1, 2024