Philetus Purdy barns and landing log slide

Photograph

-

Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society

log slide: cut pine logs waiting for the spring melt-flood to carry them downriver to the lumbering mills.: May be Purdy's Riverside Farm in the distance.
log slide: cut pine logs waiting for the spring melt-flood to carry them downriver to the lumbering mills.

May be Purdy's Riverside Farm in the distance.

Name/Title

Philetus Purdy barns and landing log slide

Entry/Object ID

2022.58.02

Description

Two photos mounted on heavy card. Both were in a manila envelope with "Philetus Purdy Barns & Logslide, Riverside Drive (130th) and 63rd St." Photo one shows three men standing among multiple piles of cut logs. Behind them is a split rail fence and up on the river bank are barns and a farm house with a water-pumping windmill. Image area 4.25x6.25" Photo two shows a man standing with a flock of chickens outside a shed. To the right, a man stands on a sleigh harnessed to a team of dark horses, behind another man stand on a wagon harnessed to a dark and light horse teams. Behind them, a large barn with shed roof addition. Image area 5x8"

Photograph Details

Type of Photograph

Print, photograph

Subject Person or Organization

Gravel Pit/Indian Cut/Purdy's Landing/Mack's Landing

Acquisition

Accession

2022.58

Acquisition Method

Found in Collection

Notes

Note in SDHS newsletter, below, says photos were from Lorenz collection.

Location

Box

089 Ghost Towns

Condition

Overall Condition

Poor

Notes

Photos are significantly faded. Catalog images have been contrast enhanced.

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Purdy, Philetus "Fleet" 1835-1922

General Notes

Note

Mention of the logslide/landing photo from the December 2016 SDHS newsletter By Mary Voss Last month we reported on our receipt of a large collection of historical documents and photos from the late Charles Lorenz. What fun to find such great pictures as we begin to work through the Lorenz collection! The image above is of the Philetus Purdy Landing on Riverside Dr. and 63rd. It's not often that these old pictures have the location identified. No date is listed but I'm assuming it must have been in the heyday of logging in the 1870-1890s. An accompanying photo of the men of the Fennville Gun Club was dated 1878. Most of what we have gone through so far is research material for Charles' book on the early history of Saugatuck. We were able to purchase a used copy on-line, privately published in 1983. It will be interesting to compare the finished product with the research when we receive the copy.

Note

Jack Sheridan's comments on CatalogIt entry 2022.58.02 There have been a lot of related Purdys in the area going way back This photo location is Mack’s Landing [written on back of photo]. Philetus Purdy was born in New York State 1835. Was living in Saugatuck 1850. At least one of his occupations was fruit farmer. He may have had the nickname “Fleet”. In the photo below [last photo in entry], that is Fleet sitting at the table second from left [he has the winning hand]. These guys are all mariners. There was a Kalamazoo River steamer with the name Alice Purdy. There is a photo of it docked at Mack’s Landing.

Create Date

July 26, 2022

Update Date

March 31, 2024