Mel Hershaw interviews 2005 and 2010
Name/Title
Mel Hershaw interviews 2005 and 2010Entry/Object ID
2024.41.231Scope and Content
Video recording [synopsis needed] - [if you found this video informative, consider sending your summary of its content to the SDHC Archvies at archives@mysdhistory.org.] VIDEO: mentioned Shooting Gallery, Crampton Mfg, Pavilion; Carp Fishing; Ferry St. Pollution, Doad Wilson, ... AUDIO: One-hour 2010 audio recording of Chris Yoder driving a car with Mel Hershaw in the passenger seat. Conversation begins with reminiscing about the Springer family as they head out Old Allegan Road (once called the New Richmond Road, Mel notes). Other topics mentioned include Captain Wilson's coal yard, Lortin Dairy or Lortin Farm that bought sour cream to make butter [possible site of Kruger commodities/Darling/Dar Pro in 2025], Mel’s wife Gert volunteering as an enemy aircraft spotter at an observation tower near the original location of the Douglas Root Beer Barrel, insurance agents Ev Thomas and Lem Brady, a Hershaw house at 6594 Old Allegan Road. They look for the Marriott and Hershaw farms somewhere along 60th Street and the Kalamazoo River, and then drive through town northbound on Water Street and southbound on Butler Street. After passing Dr. Walkers house, Mel remembered Cassy Jordon, who had a chauffeur Smitty, and owned funeral parlors in Chicago. On Water Street, they pass the site of the Big Pavilion where Mel worked in the skating rink and in the skate room repairing roller skates. Mel did yard work for the Barretts, who owned the Pavilion then, and did yard work for them at their home at 96 Lakeshore Drive by Wiley Road. Mel pointed out 326 Water Street, the Bentley Suites, that was built by Charley Hiestand for an astounding cost of $5000. Mel mentioned that Billie's Boathouse was rough on a Sunday night when the fishermen came in (as was the Cove in Douglas) and pointed out the site of the Sewer's boat barn and Demerest fishing shanty. At the William Johnston house at 100 Lucy, formerly the site of Cappy Wilson's coal yard, Mel recalled that Johnston was a wealthy Chicago race track owner yet he won the prize, a television, at the Big Pavilion. As they turn to drive south on Butler, Mel mention that he lived in the apartments above the Koning Hardware store as a newlywed. The 12-foot ceilings ("can you imagine?") made it hard to heat with a stove. Mel mentioned the Maplewood, Dr. Walker's office, Wilson's ice cream parlor and the Wilson-owned Saugatuck gallery building next door, Sessions grocery, Tripps drug store, Jarvis the Jeweler, Consumer Electric, Log Cabin Tavern, Reeds grocery in Pumpernickles, Freddie Flints, Green Parrot, Agnes Davis, Hodges Restaurant open 24-hours, working at a four-lane bowling alley in the Leland Department Store building, and John Ball restaurant.Collection
Industry and manufacturingCataloged 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
Hershaw, Melvin Arthur 1921-2020Interviewer
Van Singel, Henry Richard 1927-2015Interview Date
Jul 20, 2005Length of Interview
31Dimensions
Dimension Description
DVD versionWidth
5 inDepth
5 inLocation
Oral History DVD/CDs
AWS/VidArch SSD/DVD originals drawer