Name/Title
Pete Hansman on Shorewood and Saugatuck Yacht ClubEntry/Object ID
2024.41.217Scope and Content
E. J. “PETE” HANSMAN (born 1920)
Content:
Early days in Shorewood (1940-50s), the development of the Saugatuck Yacht Club (design, funding and building).
The Burman family (Peteʼs first wifeʼs parents and his childrenʼs grandparents) history; purchase of their cottage and its history.
Early Saugatuck Yacht Club sailing days on Lake Kalamazoo with races and instruction; Peteʼs 1948 wood Lightning class sailboat.
Discussion among three generations of SYC sailors discussing the similarities and differences in the SYC programs. Ian Shanahan (age 16) joins Pete and Mary to discuss their club sailing experiences.
In 1942 Pete Hansman found himself in a Navy Dougless Dauntless dive bomber where for four years he “softened” the beaches in the South Pacific for the Allied Forcesʼ landings. When he mustered out in 1946 he went to work for General Electric in a sales capacity. Pete has had a presence on the Saugatuck lakeshore since the late1940s. It was in Shorewood that he met his wife and, through her, received his introduction to sailing.
In the 1950s Pete became an active member of the Saugatuck Yacht Club and was instrumental in raising the funds to buy the land, design and build the present yacht club building. He recalls that a Frank Lloyd Wright studio architect designed the building and a local contractor built the structure largely single-handed.
At that time Lightnings and locally built Mowers were the racing boat preferences and Pete owned a 1948 Lightning on which he won significant races.
At 90 he can still be found puttering on his vintage wood Lightning moored in the new club docks. Sailing, however, involves the help of his daughters. He divides his time between LaGrange Park, IL and his Shorewood summer retreat with his children and grandchildren.
J.Shack - Interviewed July 2011Cataloged By
Winthers, SallyAcquisition
Accession
2024.41Acquisition Method
Found in CollectionCredit Line
To view this recording, scroll down to the bottom of this entry and click the blue web link.
This video was created by Saugatuck-Douglas History Center volunteers or was donated to the Center in a good faith effort to preserve local history. If you feel this content should not be available to the public — or have additional information that will add context to this interview — please contact the SDHC Archives at archives@mysdhistory.org.Oral History Details
Interviewee
Hansman, Pete 1920-2012Interviewer
Shack, JohnInterview Date
Jul 1, 2011Length of Interview
54Dimensions
Dimension Description
DVD versionHeight
5 inWidth
5 inLocation
* Untyped Location
AWS/VidArch SSD/DVD originals drawerRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Saugatuck Yacht Club, Shorewood/Hemlock TerraceCreate Date
November 9, 2024Update Date
May 2, 2025
