Name/Title
Saugatuck in the 1930sEntry/Object ID
2023.50.84Scope and Content
MY CHILDHOOD BLOCK by Margaret (Sessions) Clark
[Margaret (Sessions) Clark lived in Saugatuck from her birth in 1927 until 1945. We have previously published her recollections of the family store, p.173-175. This second installment includes Butler Street in the 30s, the Big Pavilion and other amusements.]
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Some of my earliest memories are things told to me, such as my coming into the world, August 2, 1927, I was born, in the early evening in Grandma Jarvis' house on the hill at 578 Mason Street. The Flotos owned the house next door, corner of Elizabeth and Mason. My folks had called Doctor C. C. Corkhill in Fennville to come as soon as he closed his office hours, that a baby was expected soon. It was reported to me that I arrived before the Doctor did.
Mother stayed home and took care of my brother Donald and me. I was told that the doves cooed all day and night and made her very depressed.
In 1930 Dad taught shop in the high school in the afternoons while mother ran the store. The next year a full time teacher was hired, but he was soon drafted into military service, and Dad returned to teach shop and some eighth grade classes.
"Uncle " Harry Newnham was the town maintenance man. He was often around working in the park or on the sheets. In the winter he put a plow on the front of his truck and used it to plow the streets. In the summer he repaired the streets. A trailer, attached to the back of his truck had hot tar in it. We would get a piece of tar and chew it. His official title was Street Commissioner.
Saugatuck was a popular summer resort; it was said at the time that the population was 500 in the winter and 5,000 in the summer. The resort people came mostly from Chicago. Many were single people who came and stayed in the various homes that had board and room or just rooms for rent. There were also those who lived in Chicago but had summer homes in Saugatuck, Douglas or over on Lake Michigan.
Al Capone was a well-known gangster from Chicago and some of his henchmen lived in Saugatuck. This was well known, but ignored. These people would buy some big grocery orders, as they did lots of entertaining and needed lots of food. I remember the first $100 grocery order we ever had from one customer.
On the corner of Hoffman and Butler Streets in the Heath Building was Bird's Drugstore where "Grandpa" Charles E. Bird filled prescriptions 7 days a week until his death. His son, John Bird, was also a pharmacist. I remember the soda fountain and the iron tables and chairs in the back and the drug store items in the front. Outside the back door of the drugstore was a 12 inch high cement step. We used the step to push off from when we were learning to ride a two-wheel bike.
Consumers Power Company was next to the store on Butler Street and the Jarvis Jewelry Store was next. Mr. Jarvis sat in the front widow repairing watches. he was also an optometrist and tested our eyes and sold us our eyeglasses. Mrs. Jarvis took care of the rest of the store where they sold gifts and souvenirs. They had a small kitchen in the basement.
Next to the Jarvis Jewelry store was Joe B. Zwemer Insurance and Real Estate Office. "Uncle Joe" and his wife founded the agency in 1907. They lived up on the hill at 345 Hoffinan Street. In the 30s their niece Saburna Jean Naughton lived with them and we would play in their yard. Uncle Joe also painted and he gave me his oil paints when I started to paint. Next door to the real estate office was Grandma Naughton's sundry store. She had baby clothes and some gifts.
Next to her store was Mrs. Blaine's gift shop, at 326 Butler Street. She had many beautiful unusual gifts which we loved to look at. She ran the store in the summertime as she was the high school English teacher in the winter. Beyond Mrs. Blaine's shop was the park. Here was a nice green lawn, a walk, through and around it, and lots of trees, and a drinking fountain. We enjoyed the big trees, for their cool shade.
Around the corner, behind Mrs. Blaine's shop facing the park was Dr. Walker's office. It was here that we were taken for our ailments, great and small. Dr. Walker was small in stature but great in his concern for the health of his patients.
Beyond Dr. Walker's office was an alley. Across the alley was the house where the Whipple sisters lived and beyond, the Casablanca Hotel, open only in the summer. A small green house was next to it, and then the big white Christian Science Church, it had a number of steps and big white pillars. We used to play on the railing behind this church.
Across from the park on Main Street was another vacant area. It had more trees and as I remember a cannon from the Civil War. It was here that we held the Memorial Day ceremonies. Mr. Brown was the only living veteran from the Spanish-American War. This area was not as well kept as the park.
Behind the Christian Science church and along Water Street were the Pfaff and Huff families. The Maddens, on the corner of Water and Hoffman Street, ran the newspaper. The Commercial Record office where they wrote, typeset and printed the newspaper was a little building behind the house. We could see the paper being printed through the open door.
On Hoffman Street was another house with a big front porch that set back from the street. Next was a row of garages and the alley, behind our store and the drug store. This was the block around which my early days centered.
Back of this area lived Doc and Mrs. Waugh and son Mart. Doc Waugh was the superintendent of schools. Grandma Bundy, Ruth Waugh's mother, lived with them. Grandma Naughton lived in the next house. Next was Mrs. Blame's house, I don't know whether she lived in an apartment or owned the house and rented rooms.
Beyond this open area was Maplewood Hotel, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wicks. Mr. Wicks would take his little open taxi down to meet the bus when it came in from Chicago and take passengers and baggage back up to the hotel. I think he also delivered freight and newspapers that came in on the bus.
The Big Pavilion was at the south end of Water Street. One of the biggest events of the summer was the Artist's Ball. This included art shows in all the pubic buildings and on the street and a dance at the Big Pavilion, It was a very large building that was built on the waterfront for dancing. During the time of the Big Bands this entertainment was a real drawing card for the tourists from Chicago. We were not out at night very much, but once in a while Donald and I went over to the Pavilion and stood across the street and watched the dancers, men in coats and ties and the women in light chiffon flowing dresses, dance to the most exciting music. What a privilege it was to be part of that era.
There were large wooden shutters on both sides of the Pavilion which lifted up and it was through these windows that we could see the floating dancers and hear the "smooth" music. Hundreds of lights changed the room from reds to blue, etc. It was truly a wonderland to us. In the fall after the tourists went home we used the Pavilion for a skating rink. I was never very good at it but it did provide entertainment and the music was enjoyable.
The movie theater was on the end of the Pavilion. We were not allowed to go very often. One night the folks went to Holland to get groceries and left us home alone. Donald and I really wanted to see a movie that was showing, so we went. When we got home the folks were already in bed, not knowing that we were gone. We crept into the house and upstairs with each step squeaking, we were sure the folks would wake up but they didn't.. We didn't tell them until several years later about the incident.
Later my freedom was expanded to include the people and places in the adjacent blocks.
Across Hoffman Street from Bird's Drug Store was the tavern. This place we were told to give "a wide berth," but sometimes we would look in the door and see the thick smoke, and the dark interior, and hear the music before going on.
Next there were three little stores, one was a restaurant, another a gift shop, and next was the post office. This building was built by Doc Heath. The windows were not opened until they had the mail distributed. Dad would stand and visit with folks until the mail was ready. This was a place where gossip and news were exchanged every morning. I remember our box was at the very bottom (No. 58 I think) aid so quite early I learned the combination and got the mail myself.
Beyond the post office was Ross Phelp's Hardware. This was a big building where Ross and Myrtle Phelps carried most things needed in and around the home. After the hardware was Funk's Newsstand. The next building was up several cement steps, and was the other grocery store. It was an AG store on the corner of Butler and Mason Streets.
Across the street was Flint's Department Store. He carried bolts of fabric, shoes and ready made clothes. In fact there was not much he didn't carry. Above Flint's was Dr. Kreager's dentist office. He used to tell me that my father `hollered like an oyster peddler" while getting his teeth fixed. Dr. Kreager was fixing my teeth the morning after "The War of the Worlds" was broadcast on the radio. I had not heard it, but he was still concerned that it might have been true.
Around the corner behind or beside the grocery store was Fred Metzger's barbershop. It was here that we all went to have our hair cut.
Next to the barbershop was a small house, then a large hotel on the corner of Water and Mason Streets. It had windows all around and was called The White House. The Funks lived next door to this hotel, across from The Saugatuck Hotel and The Crow Bar. Next to the Funks lived Ross and Myrtle Phelps, and then a vacant lot and back to Hoffman Street.
Across the street from the alley behind Bird's drug store lived the Kreagers at 127 Hoffman Street. In addition to being a dentist he was village president for 12 years or so in the late 30s and early 40s. His wife, Allie, kept house and they also rented rooms during the summer as did many others.
About this time we also began to cross Butler Street in front of the store. Across from Mrs. Blame's shop was Wilson's Ice Cream store. They had many varieties of ice cream. For a nickel we got a great big dip. It was often hard to decide which flavor I wanted. Aldean Jarvis came with her folks to her father's shop about this time and she would tell her folks, "Margaret has a nickel. Can I have one?" At the same time I was telling my dad, "Aldean has a nickel. Can I have one?"
Next door to Wilson's Ice Cream Shop were two other stores. One summer, about 1934, while Grandma Douglas lived with us, she opened a Brown Bobbie Shop in this building. Brown Bobbies are triangular donuts made in an iron that cooked both top and bottom like a waffle iron. They were advertised as greaseless donuts. This machine is the only one like it I have ever seen. She bought it used. She would make 12 or more dozen, some with different colors of frosting and some plain. I have the original recipes in my records. The machine I gave to our daughter, Virginia.
Artists were a large part of our summer life. We would spend afternoons wandering from one painter to another watching them paint. In the park, on the walks throughout town, along the waterfront, painters would be sitting on their folding stools, with wooden easel and their paint box. Some were painting in oil, some in watercolor. Their work held a real fascination as we sat on the grass and watched the white canvas or paper take on color and design. We were privileged to see some of the well-known famous Chicago-Saugatuck artists at work during this time and art galleries were plentiful. Although Saugatuck was an art colony from its beginning we were able to live there during the depression and life was simpler.
Yet to come the Great Depression and growing up in the Saugatuck school system.Collection
SDHS NL Inserts, Commercial businessesCataloged By
Winthers, SallyAcquisition
Accession
2023.50Acquisition Method
Found in CollectionNotes
SDHS Newsletter insert pages 173-176.Location
* Untyped Location
Digital data in CatalogItRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Clark, Margaret Ruth (Sessions) 1927-?, 308 Butler/American Spoon/Sessions IGA/, Corkill, Dr. Clifford 1896-1955, Newnham, Harry W. 1891-1970, Bolton, Red, John, William and Robert, Bird, Charles Edmund Sr. 1855-1941, 306 Butler/Landsharks/Tripp's/Kruger's/C.E. Bird's/Ensign Drug Store/Wilcox Building, Bird, John Moffat 1899-1973, 310 Butler/Fenn Valley Tasting Room/Consumers Power/Village News & Tobacco, 314 Butler/Olive Mill/Huff Antiques/Jarvis/Niles Jewelery Store, Jarvis, Leroy Dillon “Roy" or "Jarvie” 1887-1949, 318 Butler/It Is What It Is South/Hopper/Zwemer Agency, Naughtin, Saburnia, Zwemer, Joseph Benjamin 1879-1945, Walker, Dr. Robert J.1869-1944, Whipple, Henrietta (Hopkins) 1865-1951, Hotel Casablanca/Grace Hotel/Roamers Inn 1904-1969, Christian Science Church/Barnett Bldg., Waugh, Lloyd Hall "Doc" 1897-1955, 428 Butler/Maplewood Hotel b.1860/facade 1923, Big Pavilion 1909-1960, James Brandess Gallery/Old Post Office Shops, Glik's/Oostings/Saugatuck/Seymour/Ross Phelps/Schnobel's Hardware Company, 218 Butler/Village Newstand/Funk's News, 152 Butler/Kilwins/Flint's Quality Store/Landmark Building/A.B. Taylor Store/Odd Fellow Hall, Kreager, Dr. Herman E. 1883-1939, Good Goods/White House/James Dole house/106 Mason, 325 Butler/Santa Fe Trading Company/Old World Bakery/Rosemarie/Wilson Ice Cream, 326 Butler/Grins/Martha Shop/Dr. Walker's office/Miller Robinson/Turell Building, 133 Main/Design Shop/Whipple Sister's House, Tuck's Pandora Christmas Shop/252 Butler/East of the Sun/Cabin Tavern/Walz's Butcher Shop/Nichols Bldg., 132 Mason/'Round the Corner Ice Cream Shoppe/Model Laundry/Metzger Building, 220 Water/Coral Gables/Hotel Saugatuck/Columbia Hotel/Leiendecker's InnGeneral Notes
Note
This information was OCR text scanned from SDHS newsletter supplements. Binders of original paper copies are in the SDHC reference library.Create Date
November 25, 2023Update Date
July 13, 2024
