Schmiechen/Carls letters

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

2021.41.92

Scope and Content

Letters to the editor, local officials written by Dr. James Schmiechen and Ken Carls about local issues from 1983 to 2001. Some letters are drafts, others are newspaper clippings. 1983 July - Opposing school board decision to reduce tuition rates for children of employees of the school district by Carls to editor 1985 August - "A Problem of Scale" pushing back on pleas to increase tourism by Carls to editor 1986 - Property tax appeal for 128 Van Dalson by Schmiechen to Elise Christenson, clerk, Saugatuck Board of Review 1986 October - "More parking space questioned" by Schmiechen to editor 1986 December - Concern about Van Dalson street end by Schmiechen plus reply by Laverne Serne, Saugatuck city manager 1987 June - Opposition to proposal by neighbor Alois Masters for boardwalk and pier construction at 612 Park Street by Schmiechen to Saugatuck city planning commission 1987 - multiple letters about the prospect of a McDonald's franchise in Saugatuck. "Midwest Village, Slow-Paced, Fights Plan for Fast-Food Outlet" New York Times, 19 July 1987 by Isabel Wilkerson, photocopy "McDonald's may drop Saugatuck plan" Grand Rapids Press, 25 August 1987, photocopies 1988 September - Notice of public hearing notice, Saugatuck zoning board of appeals for Cary & Cheryl Masters property at 630 Park St. 1989 - Summary of Sand Dunes Statues and State of Michigan 85th legislature, Enrolled house bill no. 4296 “An act to provide for study, protections, management and reclamation of Great Lakes sand dunes,” photocopies 1989 - two letters by Carls about growth, parking, tourism, river traffic, and police costs 1989 - multiple letters by Schmiechen, P.G. Walter and Ed Lark about excessive power boat noise, traffic and wakes “Kalamazoo Lake & Waterway, Michigan Pleasure Boating” guide provided by Joint Waterfront Committee of Saugatuck, Douglas and Saugatuck Township. 1990 - List of concerns about areawide Parks Planning Committee Plans including state of Mt. Baldhead park, noise from Gleason’s landing, lack of sidewalk/bikeway to Oval Beach, expansion to Saugatuck High School weight room, preservation of wetlands at Park x Campbell, additional boat launches and marine safety 1990 - Faux “crisis” to be addressed with August offshore power boat races, Saugatuck and Felicia Fairchild’s CVB’s prioritizing tourism economy over needs or wishes of tax-paying residents 1994 - Opposition to Van Dalson Street water main project 1994 - Disappointment that Chain Ferry not operating before Memorial Day weekend by Leslie M. Ellwood of York, UK, to editor. 1994 “Council agrees to review boat-launching policy” Grand Rapids Press, about residents having to pay to launch boats at city ramp. 1995 - Scolding Saugatuck council about decision to not endorse a human rights statement 1999 “Comments to the City of Saugatuck Historic Commission Meeting July 29, 1999” by Carls about King organization to construct a large “Riverwatch” complex on the former Fruit Exchange site [aka Coghlin Park] with packet of photos of local historic structures as examples of aesthetic options. 1999 - Request that Saugatuck Zoning Administrator to not allow “improvement” of variance granted to 716 Park [Economos cottage] by Schmiechen. 2001 - Letter to Schmiechen from Karen Tews about museum garden improvements and funding; concerns about the heavy Tuesday Talk chairs scratching the museum floors; hostile Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society members pushing their way into Tuesday Talks after the lectures had started or when room was filled to capacity; SDHS board’s interest in attracting more visitors to the museum by holding the Tuesday Talks there when, in Tews’ opinion, “the same 50 people [all members] come every week” and parking is inadequate; Tews suggests moving Tuesday Talks to All Saints Church vestry, Womens’ Club, or Vince Skutnik videotaping the presentations for the local cable channel.

Context

Long-time summer residents, Carls and Schmiechen closely watched changes to the towns, especially those near their dwelling on Van Dalson.

Collection

Education and schools, Development, resistance to, Property records and tax assessments, Transportation: highway and road infrastructure, 1960 Gay/LGBTQ+ culture, Nautical

Cataloged By

Winthers, Sally

Acquisition

Accession

2021.41

Source or Donor

Schmiechen, James A.

Acquisition Method

Donation

Archive Details

Creator

Schmiechen, James A., Carls, Ken

Date(s) of Creation

1983 - 2001

Dimensions

Height

11 in

Width

8-1/2 in

Location

Box

103 Schmiechen, James

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Belle Rive cottage/Gaiety Inn, Schmiechen, James A., Carls, Ken, 612 Park/Holiday Hill, Effie Haworth Nest Studio/McDonalds site/Ida Reds/Crafts Store, Coral Gables Challenge Cup/Offshore Racing Events, Masters, Alois A. "Al" 1919-2008, Tews, Karen, Coghlin Park, Walter, P.G., Fairchild, Felica, 95 Blue Star/Saugatuck-Douglas Convention and Visitors Bureau/You'nique, Economos, Mike

Create Date

December 29, 2025

Update Date

December 30, 2025