Rosemont, Bryan family story

Archive

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Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society

BryanFamilyca1893.jpg 928KB: Willis Simon, Samuel Willison, Nellie May, Ellen Serene Olsen
BryanFamilyca1893.jpg 928KB

Willis Simon, Samuel Willison, Nellie May, Ellen Serene Olsen

Name/Title

Rosemont, Bryan family story

Entry/Object ID

2023.10.389

Scope and Content

Text and images from story previous available on the pre-2023 SDHC website. The content has been moved to the online catalog for safekeeping.

Context

Rosemont, Douglas, Michigan --- by grandson Bob Erickson - April 2009 The Rosemont property became a fruit farm in the 1870s. The owners planted and farmed a large peach orchard; It was very productive. Samuel Willison Bryan Jr. (born Kalamazoo, Dec. 24, 1847) and Ellen Serena (Olsen) Bryan married in 1882. In 1886, they purchased the 40 acre farm. The property, which originally extended east from Lake Michigan and north from Center Road, would eventually be occupied by a number of private dwellings, the Douglas Public Beach, the Rosemont Resort, a chestnut grove and portions of the Golf Course. Unfortunately, in the 1890s the area peach growing economy suffered major losses due to weather and several genetic malignancies. Trees began producing deformed fruit. The government eventually required the cutting and burning of entire orchards to prevent further spread of the disease. The Saugatuck Township property tax in 1896 was $17.76, based on an assessed valuation of $1000. Children Nellie, Willis, Lillian and Hallie were born in the farmhouse. About this time, the Lake Shore area was becoming a vacation destination. The Rosemont (initially named Rose Mont) was established by 1904 after an addition was built onto the front of the new building. Samuel had some understanding of hotel management since his parents had operated a hotel in Kalamazoo. Initially, the resort served meals. The lower level of the rear building was occupied by dining and kitchen areas. Over time it became a Rooming facility and later a Bed & Breakfast. The lake shore area became part of the Village of Douglas in 1904. Hallie and Douglass built homes just to the south of the resort. Willis built his home along Center St. Over time all other lots abutting Lake Shore Drive and Center St. were sold. Samuel died in 1918. After Ellen died in 1938, Nellie, and later Douglass & his wife would operate the business. It was sold to M. Sajak in the 1970s. It is now called the Rosemont Inn.

Collection

Buildings: Homes, cottages and private residences, 1900 Lakeshore community, Family History, 1880 Tourism steamship era -1930

Cataloged By

Winthers, Sally

Acquisition

Accession

2023.10

Acquisition Method

Found in Collection

Location

* Untyped Location

Digital data in CatalogIt

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Rosemont Inn/Rosemont Lodge/Rose Mont, Bryan, Douglass C. 1901-1977, Bryan, Ellen Sirena (Olsen) 1861-1938, Bryan, "Willis" Samuel Willison Jr. 1847-1918, Bryan, Willis Simon 1888-1972, Miot House

General Notes

Note

This information was copied from the pre-2023 SDHC website. The location of an original version was unknown at the time of cataloging.

Create Date

January 11, 2024

Update Date

August 16, 2025