Name/Title
Raising the Roof researchEntry/Object ID
2021.41.94Scope and Content
Gray, 3-ring binder filled with research compiled or written by James Schmiechen and William T. Kemperman.
Pages include:
- Test print of information about Comstock Farmhouse from "The House Beautiful" Sept. 1905
- Saugatuck plat map reference drawings and photocopies, 14 pages
- Single page compilation of newspaper mentions of labor problems and the Knights of Labor
- Kemperman notes about Wallace Griffin, Timothy Coats house, Twin Oaks, Jay Meyers, Johnson House/Frolic Inn, 758 Pleasant/House of Seven Gables, Rogers Building/Surrey Shop, 640 Pleasant, August Pfaff, Louise M. Kleeman, Arthur L. Weed, Dykstra Funeral Home, 1034 State Street/Phelps, Sutton home at 736 Pleasant
- handwritten Schmiechen notes about lumber and industry on the flats
- photocopy of Julia Morrison Francis obit with information about Morrison homestead
- fax of lot 220 on Water Street ownership history
- handwritten Schmiechen notes about lots 56 Wickwood, 57 Timothy Coates, 38 525 Butler Heath home Judson, 106 Miller Robinson, lot 65-55 Maplewood, Singapore Bank building, 186 Union House, 72, 73, 98, 99. 103, 105 Timmel Collection, 106
- Pg. 59-68 of file "Raising the Roof 1999" with information about Water St. south, Richards Furniture Factory, Hough Warehouse - Saloon, Moore warehouse, Court - Ludwig Lumber Yard, Lake House, Empire Saloon - Empire Hall - O.R. Johnson Store - Saugatuck Lumber Company, Mason Street slip/warehouse, Lots 137, 143, 144, Rode/Miller Saloon, Ebmeyer Shingle Mill lots 139-140 current site of Coral Gables
- Pg. 1-16 of file "Raising the Roof 1999" with information about Saugatuck Flouring Mill/Hotel Butler, Saugatuck Village Hall/new engine house, Odd Fellows Hall/Kilwins and building to south Thomas Greene, Thew building/Ivy Lodge/Bay building, Pumpernickles/Union Hotel (not Union house), Nichols building/walz meat market, Maplewood
- Pg. 36-60 of file "Raising the Roof 1999" landscape-printed Information about Butler Street east, Michael B. Spencer, Timothy Coates, Mrs. C.L. Goodrich, Newark House/Saugatuck House, Rogers house, Breuckman House/Saugatuck Womans Club, Lots 107 108 109 110, Congregational church, lot 96 George Hames, Butler Street east 1873 Morrison Tannery, Morrison Hall, Farnhams gallery, Morrison home, Sherwood house, George Sherwood, buildings destroyed in the fire of 1886 inc. Old Higley Market, Nies building, Stimson office, Margaret Goodrich lots, Mrs. C.B. Coats (nee Florence I. Heath's) millenary shop, Saugatuck House Hotel, Metzger/Arnold/Cook/Wallin building, Tibbits lot 147, Rogers/Roche building lot 134, Reuben T. Rodgers building
- Pg. 17-30 of file "Raising the Roof 1999" that tracks succession of building around Saugatuck village square including residence of Miller Robinson, Charles Annabel, S.P. Johnson, Hiram R. Ellis, Mrs. Olive Barnett, Barnett building, Edward Lown, August Pfaff Jr., I.F. Geer, Jacob Aliber, Dan Mather, Henrieeta Whipple, Mrs. Louise Aliber, Mrs. Amond Mather, Leonard S. Brittain, Otis O. Hauke/Commercial Record building, Lewis Howard, Bird's drug store
- Two pages 1868-1876 tracking of lot 106, NW corner of Butler and Hoffman aka Wilcox building, Wilcox furniture store, G.D. Wilcox photo gallery, Bird & Wells furniture store, Austin Miles shoe shop, Guy Ames, L.A. Phelps, Saugatuck literary association reading rooms, Lonsbury of Allegan, H. Bird & Co., E.J. Tedmon, Dr. Mathers office, Austin Miles grocery, P.H. Peterson variety store, John Hayward meat marked, K.S. Jones jeweler, Blackman Brothers meat marked, Bebee & Dempster millinery, Lincoln Shepherd or Sheperd harness shop, James Davis meat market, Fritz Walz market, Charles Thew attorney office, Phelps & Heath, Darius C. Barker, William Turrel
- Six pages printed on pink paper with short blurbs about historic Saugatuck buildings including the Butler Hotel, Saugatuck Village Hall, 102 Butler, 110 Butler E.E. Weed home Bay Building Charles Thew house, Dr. Walker's building, 326 Butler, S.A. Morrison home/Leland lodge, Leland alley, Roda's Saloon and Billiard Hall/William G. Butler homestead/Pumpernickles, 238 Butler/Brandess gallery/Old post office, Chris Walz meat market/East of the Sun, Bird's corner drug store/Pumpernicles, Kollens Antique Store at 120 Butler, John Francis home at 134 Butler/Elms, A.B. Taylor/IOOF hall/Flint/Kilwins, 121 Butler, Casual Man building at 133 Butler, Sandbar Saloon, Rose garden/Flint's shoes/Clapp's grocery, George Walz meat market, Fruit Growers state bank, Saugatuck house/Hamilton Hotel, Parrish drug, Dr. James Cook building/Global restaurant/Phils, Brigadoon, Captain Roger's house, Bruckman home, Singapore bank buildingContext
This primary-sourced data tracked the Saugatuck locations and ownership of business and residence in the 1800s. It informed Jim Schmiechen's book "Raising the Roof: A History of the Buildings And Architecture in the Saugatuck And Douglas Area" and the SDHS's 1999 museum exhibit of the same name.Collection
SDHC Exhibits, Buildings: Commercial, Buildings: Homes, cottages and private residences, Buildings: LostCataloged By
Winthers, SallyAcquisition
Accession
2021.41Source or Donor
Schmiechen, James A.Acquisition Method
DonationArchive Details
Creator
Schmiechen, James A., Kemperman, WilliamDimensions
Height
11 inWidth
8-1/2 inDepth
3/4 inRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
202 Butler/Pumpernickle's/Carl's AG/Richard Roda's Billiard Hall/Union Hotel 1870, 102 Butler/Saugatuck Village Hall, 152 Butler/Kilwins/Flint's Quality Store/Landmark Building/A.B. Taylor Store/Odd Fellow Hall, 40 Butler/Hotel Butler/Grist Mill/Haymarket/Dutch windmill, 252 Butler/Tuck's Pandora Christmas Shop/East of the Sun/Cabin Tavern/Walz's Butcher Shop/Nichols Bldg.Copyright
Copyright Holder
Kemperman, WilliamCopyright Date
1998Notes
"Raising the Roof 1999" pages contain footnote that reads "copyright 1998 William T. Kemperman"Create Date
January 17, 2026Update Date
January 17, 2026
