Name/Title
Half hull model, Summer GirlEntry/Object ID
2025.36.01Description
Wooden half-hull ship model for a motor launch named "Summer Girl." The model is constructed of slabs of wood and the front is polished and smooth. The back of the model, which includes metal wall hangers, is unfinished and includes notations about the boat and builder.Context
Description of the ship from "Built on the Banks of the Kalamazoo" by Kit Lane, 1993:
Summer Girl
According to the local newspaper the yacht Summer Girl was built by Fred Menier and launched in June of 1904. However, a half-model of the vessel that has been preserved has an inscription penciled on the back that cites Cal Heath as the builder. Since Heath was in poor health and had left the Saugatuck area early in 1904, it is likely that he was the designer and Menier the actual builder. The Summer Girl was 38 feet long over all, eight feet nine inches in beam and carried a 15 horsepower engine. According to the newspaper story at her launch, "When she is finished she will have a canopy and side curtains and seat 60 people. Her owner will take her to South Haven the 20th where he will run her this season."
However, instead of going to South Haven, by July 15 the Summer Girl had taken up a regular route between downtown Saugatuck and the mouth of the river and was declared "a first class craft and makes good time."Collection
Nautical, Transportation: water, 1880 Tourism steamship era -1930Cataloged By
Winthers, SallyAcquisition
Accession
2025.36Source or Donor
Troemel, StephenAcquisition Method
Donation, unconditionalLexicon
Search Terms
passenger boat, transportationDimensions
Height
2-1/2 inWidth
2 inLength
21 inLocation
* Untyped Location
Sec 6E Shelf S2Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Heath, Clarence "Cal" J. ?-1907, House, Edwin Harvey 1875-1958, Davis, Abbott B. Sr. 1896-1971, Davis, Abbott G. Jr. 1929-2006Create Date
August 26, 2025Update Date
August 27, 2025
![Given to me by Ed [Edwin] House. Refinished by Abbot B. Davis [Sr.] Saugatuck Michigan 1964](https://d8e7jbdw4fu0e.cloudfront.net/4124/8d43b5a1-821e-11f0-819d-e9a66710035c-vV6YF5v.lg@2x.jpg)
