Name/Title
Recollections of the 1930s and 1940sEntry/Object ID
2024.41.323Scope and Content
[synopsis needed] - [if you found this video informative, consider sending your summary of its content to the SDHC Archives at archives@mysdhistory.org.]Context
Three classmates remember the highlights of their school-age years in 1930s and 1940s in Saugatuck. Mary Lea (Bird) Jones, Margaret (Sessions) Clark and Katherine (House) Allen were classmates from 1927-1945. The Birds ran the drug store and the Sessions ran the IGA grocery store in the Heath building on Butler Street. Katherine House was the daughter of Edwin House and a niece of Dr. House.
There were 13 students in their school class, but only six went straight through to finish high school. The women reminisce about injuries patched up by the stern Dr. Walker, school plays and church performances, Doc Heath, and other people about town. Special attention is given to Mrs. May Francis Heath and how she saved the big oak (Charter Oak) on Holland St. and was a role model for young women in the area.
Interview conducted at the Edwin House-Allen residence on Holland Street.Collection
Education and schools, Childhood, Commercial businesses, May Heath, Churches and religionCataloged By
Winthers, SallyAcquisition
Accession
2024.41Acquisition Method
Found in CollectionCredit Line
To view this recording, scroll down to the bottom of this entry and click the blue web link.
This video was created by Saugatuck-Douglas History Center volunteers or was donated to the Center in a good faith effort to preserve local history. If you feel this content should not be available to the public — or have additional information that will add context to this interview — please contact the SDHC Archives at archives@mysdhistory.org.Oral History Details
Interviewee
Clark, Margaret Ruth (Sessions) 1927-?, Jones, Mary Lea (Bird) 1927-2007, Allen, Katharine "Kiff" (House) 1926-2012Interviewer
Sherman, Arlene BirkholzInterview Date
Jul 16, 2007Length of Interview
53Dimensions
Dimension Description
DVD versionWidth
5 inDepth
5 inLocation
* Untyped Location
AWS/VidArch SSD/DVD originals drawerRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Sessions, Stuart Nathaniel 1901-, Bird, Dorothy "Dolly" Elizabeth (Waltz) 1891-1983, House, Edwin Harvey 1875-1958, Walker, Roderick Adam "Rod" 1888-1966, Saugatuck Public School 1897-1950, 306 Butler/Landsharks/Tripp's/Kruger's/C.E. Bird's/Ensign Drug Store/Wilcox Building, Riverside Heights/House-Allen houseCreate Date
May 2, 2025Update Date
May 2, 2025