Name/Title
Saugatuck HouseEntry/Object ID
2021.87.108Scope and Content
The Local Observer newspaper Remembering When - Our History article titled "The Saugatuck House"
February 2, 2005. LO03
By Jack Sheridan and Jim Schmiechen.
Digital files use to create this article and associated resources at 2021.72.02Context
No text file found. Below is OCR scan of document
Some twenty years after William G. Butler built his first cabin, the only boarding house in the area was located in Singapore. Visitors to “The Flats” usually stayed with the S. A. Morrison family. According to James E. Sheridan in “Saugatuck Through the Years”, Mrs. Morrison eventually tired of these casual guests in her home and suggested that a commercial establishment be built to house visitors to the village. Mr. Morrison, being an understanding husband and a wise man, persuaded Mr. R. S. Smith, of Battle Creek, a builder and carpenter by trade, to build a hotel here. As an inducement to Mr. Smith, Morrison contributed financial backing and a desirable lot that fronted on Mason St. between Butler and Griffith Streets. Accepting the offer in 1852, Smith proceeded to build a fine and substantial structure, perhaps even a pretentious one, and named it the Saugatuck House.
Saugatuck House was a success and relieved Mrs. Morrison of her burden. However, a feature of the Saugatuck not pleasing to the temperance beliefs of the Morrisons was the inclusion of a bar within the hotel. The first chapter in the history of this establishment ended, in Sheridan’s words, “ Certainly the hotel bar made it a more convenient place for those who had a taste for whiskey, a common drink of the times. R. S. Smith had some fame as a frequent imbiber and was one of his own best customers. During a period of intemperance, Smith was drowned in New Richmond in a boating accident. An unkind wit of the day noted that this was a fine example of a victory for water over whiskey... Smith’s heirs sold the Saugatuck House to Whitney and Strong who were proprietors for many years thereafter.”
At some point later in its life the establishment was renamed Hotel Hamilton. In 1913, the building was dismantled to make way for the Parrish Drug Store building which is today the home of the Saugatuck Drug Store.Collection
Remembering When, Commercial businesses, Buildings: CommercialCataloged By
Winthers, SallyAcquisition
Accession
2021.87Source or Donor
Sheridan, John "Jack" O. 1938-Acquisition Method
DonationLocation
* Untyped Location
Digital data in CatalogItRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Sheridan, John "Jack" O. 1938-, Schmiechen, James A., 201 Butler/Saugatuck Drug/Rexall/Parrish's Drug/Hotel Hamilton/Saugatuck House 1852-1913, Smith, R.S.Related Publications
Publication
Local ObserverCreate Date
September 22, 2022Update Date
February 8, 2024
