Name/Title
How Douglas got its nameEntry/Object ID
2021.67.04cScope and Content
One typed page transcribing a letter from William A. May of Douglas about how Douglas came to be named Douglas as reported in the January 4, 1871 Lake Shore Commercial newspaper.
Handwriting suggests the author is journalist Bill Simmons.
Transcript:
Saugatuck—oldays
Nov 21
[Handwritten note]
29
Old Paper reveals how Douglas was named for May birthplace
There have been varying stories as to how Douglas came to be named Douglas. Some are supposed to be tales handed down from the past. The old Lake Shore Commercial has a version in the issue of January 4, 1877, which would seem as good as any.
It is given in a letter than William A. May of Douglas wrote to the Commercial:
“Noticing in your issue of Dec. 28th an article on ‘Douglas,’ I find you are puzzled as to the origin of its name. Being conversant with the christening of said village, I would like to say that the village of Douglas was platted by my grandfather, William F. Dutcher, and named after Douglas, capital of the Isle of Man and birthplace of my father, Frederick H. May, now of Allegan; in fact, my father named the place. The general impression that it is named after Senator Stephen A.Douglass is wrong and a glance at the manner of spelling the two names will at once show there is no foundation to the latter supposition.”Context
Filler material culled from back issues of local or regional newspapers by Commercial Record editor Bill Simmons in the 1950s.Collection
NewspapersCataloged By
Winthers, SallyAcquisition
Accession
2021.67Acquisition Method
FoundLocation
Box
164 General local historyRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Lake Shore Commercial Newspaper, Simmons, William "Bill" R. 1890/1-1966, May, Frederic Henry, May, William Augustus 1850-1935, Douglas, Stephen A. 1813-1861Related Places
Place
City
DouglasState/Province
MichiganCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaGeneral Notes
Note
Text written by Kit Lane for the 2009 Summertime exhibit
Douglas is named for Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man, a self-governing British Crown
Dependency located in the Irish Sea. It is where the Dhoo (“gray” in Manx) and the Glass
(“clear”) rivers meet. The Michigan town was named by Frederic H. May, who had been born in Douglas, Isle of Man, when his father was headmaster of a school there. Jonathan Wade who owned the land south of Center Street, founded his own settlement called Dudleyville, named for his brother. In 1870 the entire area of both communities was incorporated as the Village of Douglas. The name was readily accepted by the former Dudleyville residents who were mostly Democrats and had been supporters of Stephen A. Douglas against Abraham Lincoln in the presidential election of 1860.Create Date
March 6, 2022Update Date
March 20, 2024
