Name/Title
North American docked in SaugatuckEntry/Object ID
2021.103.17Description
Photographic exhibit #10 from legal complaint filed on June 20, 1967 in Allegan County by plaintiffs Walter and Elizabeth Coburn, [proprietors of the Ship 'N Shore Hotel/Motel/Boatel] vs. defendant Kalamazoo Ferry Company [Peterson] about the trimming of vegetation and installation of pilings by the eastern Chain Ferry landing.
Yellow Plaintiff's Exhibit sticker on back of photo is dated 3-26-68.
This is a reprint of a historic photo of Saugatuck's riverfront. It does not show Saugatuck in the mid-'60s.
The photo shows two large steamships docked in Saugatuck. The ship closer to the Big Pavilion is likely the SS South American. If so, the photo is prior to 1924 when she was fitted with a second smokestack. (see Context for more analysis of the photo's date). The ship on the left (downriver) is the SS North American. The photo is taken from Mt. Baldhead. The tall smokestack of a basket factory in Douglas and the bridge between the villages is visible at the top of the image.
The structure visible on the shore between the steamships, wrapped in a tall white fence, is the Airdome outdoor movie theater. The Airdome was demolished in 1920.Photograph Details
Type of Photograph
Print, photographSubject Person or Organization
South American (ship), North American (ship), 220 Water/Coral Gables/Hotel Saugatuck/Columbia Hotel/Leiendecker's Inn, 40 Butler/Hotel Butler/Grist Mill/Haymarket, 340-360 Water/Dockside Marketplace/Boatyard Village/Hiestand's Edgewater Boat Livery/Heath Grist Mill, Goodrich Transit Co. warehouse/East Shore Pavilion Skating Rink/Brittian Boatyard, Airdome 1913-1920Subject Place
* Untyped Subject Place
Kalamazoo RiverContext
James T. Faasen believes this photo was taken before 1915 because:
1. the ship docked at the Big Pavilion is the steamer United States that stopped running to Saugatuck just after the 24 July 1915 Eastland disaster in Chicago.
2. the East Shore Pavilion is still in its pre-1922 location
3. the Edgewater Boat Livery is still in its old locationCollection
Mount Baldhead, Views from, Nautical, Transportation: waterCataloged By
Winthers, SallyAcquisition
Accession
2021.103Source or Donor
Saugatuck-Douglas District LibraryAcquisition Method
DonationLocation
Filing cabinet
Files Accession NumberRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Chain Ferry LandingsPerson or Organization
Coburn, Walter L. 1907-1970, Ship-N-Shore Hotel 1959-, Coburn, Elizabeth "Betty" J. 1920-1970Create Date
December 30, 2021Update Date
August 13, 2025
