Avalon, Norton and Merrill Cottages

Archive

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Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society

Name/Title

Avalon, Norton and Merrill Cottages

Entry/Object ID

2021.87.86

Scope and Content

The Local Observer newspaper Remembering When - Our History article titled "Interior Classics" LO87 October 5, 2006 By Jack Sheridan, Jim Schmiechen and Rob Carey. Digital files use to create this article and associated resources at 2021.72.02

Context

INTERIOR CLASSICS Here are a few more interesting local history stories that were uncovered when working on the book and museum exhibit (open through October) titled “Raising the Roof—Second Story.” As someone who teaches about architectural/urban history, I have come to realize that preservation and protection of the built environment is one of the best ways to preserve and give meaning to “community” and its collective memory. Congratulations to the hundreds of Saugatuck-Douglas area folks who have preserved, restored, reconstructed our local structures—our sense of place. By Jim Schmiechen Above - Avalon Cottage, Interior At one time this is one of the best-known cottages in Saugatuck—built high on a dune overlooking, both the Saugatuck harbor and Lake Michigan (one can find it’s remains by hiking up the first trail that goes off to the right as one climbs up Lone Pine dune, just off Park Street). Its owner, the Chicago-Michigan land speculator, W. S. Harbart appears to have come to Saugatuck through his support of Reverend Gray, the founder of what is now Presbyterian Camps. Here the cottage appears to be in the classic Arts & Crafts manner—stick furniture, wood plank walls, stone fireplace—and plenty of windows. Photo from about 1900. Below - John Norton’s Cottage Living Room, Saugatuck Tucked away in the wooded dunes, here is another Arts & Crafts classic: wood, wood and more wood. Barn-sash casement windows, unfinished wood walls, the mandatory fireplace, craftsman-style furniture and plenty of nooks and shelves for books and mementoes. Support beams are hand-carved by the cottage children. Norton was one of Chicago’s best know muralists. Photo 2004 by Dick Haight. Above - The Merrill Cottage, Interior Overlooking Lake Michigan, this Lake Shore Drive cottage was the summer home of the South Bend industrialist Peterson D. Merrill and his family from 1937 until recently when it was moved (several hundred feet to Lake Shore Drive) and reconstructed by Chris Shay. Merrill grew up in Chicago, fought in World War One, and first came to Saugatuck to attend Camp Gray—where he met his future wife. He was interested in steel production and had a small iron forge built on his property for hand production of hardware for this house (and it is said, the fine hinges for the Saugatuck Congregational Church). The local architect-painter Carl Hoerman was the architect—giving it one of the many classic “Hoerman” fireplaces, which was moved along with the house. This interior photo is from 2005. This very fine Hoerman “Arts & Crafts” house can now be seen from Lake Shore Drive, just north of M-89 intersection.

Collection

Remembering When

Cataloged By

Winthers, Sally

Acquisition

Accession

2021.87

Source or Donor

Sheridan, John "Jack" O. 1938-

Acquisition Method

Donation

Location

* Untyped Location

Digital data in CatalogIt

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Werme, Bill 1949-, Carey, Rob 1928-2019, Sheridan, John "Jack" O. 1938-, Lane, Kit 1939-2024, Merrill, Peterson D., Hoerman, Carl 1885-1955, Shay, Chris, Harbert, William Soesbe 1842-1919, Avalon, Harbert Cottage

Related Publications

Publication

Local Observer

Create Date

January 1, 2022

Update Date

April 6, 2024