In addition to the beaches, in the late sixties and early seventies one of the defining elements of my Saugatuck experience was this bar, in the basement down the steep, narrow stairs accessed throught the door on the right. On Friday and Saturday nights it was crowded and noisy, but on weeknights it was friendly, relaxed and laid-back. There was a patio in the back, next to the river, that partially flooded during high water. I couldn't find any trace of this place on my recent visit. I think the site is now a parking lot for a condo development.
There were several of these old hotels around the town, too. They were rickety firetraps, and nowadays their beds would be banned from POW camps as torture devices, but they were cheap. When you're twenty-something and out for a fun weekend, who needs comfort? They've all been replaced by cute, quaint & cozy B&Bs
I photographed this mill in 1968. I can't remember exactly where it was in Saugatuck, and I don't know if it still stands. I didn't see it on my recent visit, but I didn't look for it, either.
A few days ago after attending a Saturday meeting in Chicago, I took a Sunday drive up into Michigan a little ways and visited some of my old haunts from years ago. I've interleaved the photos from different times, trying where possible to match up similar locations. These next few are from my most recent visit.
1970
1974
2007
1970 - Notice the gas street light on the far left
2007
1970
1974
2007 pre-season
1974
2007
1968
2007 - This sculpture garden is beside the brown brick building in the above 1968 photo
Beautiful blues in that window. I'd like to see it from the inside with bright sunlight behind it.
My idea of the quintessential summer place.
1970
1974 - notice the high water
2007 - The ferry hasn't started for the season. Compare the fares with earlier photos.
1972 - Keewatin was built in Scotland in 1907 and steamed across the Atlantic to Montreal, where she was cut in two. She was towed through the St. Lawrence Seaway and Welland Canal and reassembled at Buffalo, and worked in Canadian Pacific Great Lakes service for nearly sixty years. She is preserved and on display at Douglas, open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
2007
It looks like someone's sawmill reconstruction project has gone dormant:
1970 - The road to Oval Beach
1974 - in the Dunes
1974 - Up and over Mount Baldy
2007 - Heading on down the road through the dunes to Oval Beach
Linear Mode
