Saugatuck (& Singapore), MI ~ 12/3/20

Saugatuck was established in 1868 on the banks of the Kalamazoo River and is a charming town whose population balloons in the summer up to 3000 from about 1000. Early on, the town decided to keep out chain restaurants and hotels so everything you see is local.

What brought us here today was the story of the town that disappeared, Singapore, currently buried under the sand.

Apparently, the Chicago fire of 1871 finished off Singapore's lumber industry and the population moved away. Nothing remains of Singapore but the three buildings that were moved out of Singapore and currently stand in Saugatuck, as if Saugatuck wasn't historic enough on its own.

Here is 333 Lucy, one of two 'Singapore' houses, this one undergoing some major renovation:

and 996 Holland.

The third building is the most interesting as it was the Singapore Bank Building, currently serving as a gallery and bookstore at 317 Butler. Sadly, this business established in 1981 is going out of business but the building remains a historic landmark.

That was the end of our Singapore-Saugatuck connection so we turned our attention to other historic buildings in this quaint town.

Reed's Livery, from 1905

The Maplewood Hotel - 150 years old

The Wickwood Inn, built in 1937 as the family home of then Mayor Wick (and currently using a sign that would drive me away rather than draw me in :-) )

Bay Building, built in 1896 and displaying a unique 'found' object on its exterior.

Village Hall, built in 1880, is where the Singapore Historic Marker can be found.

It also has its own historic marker.

Phil's Bar & Grille sports an old theater marquee and I don't know if the building was originally a theater or if Phil just acquired a unique way to celebrate people's birthdays.

What is currently operating as a Christmas/Pandora shop was built in 1896, and the very active Butler Pantry has been in business for 40 years. (Only a handful of shops were open although cars lined the main streets.) We also came upon this tiny, 240 SF house on Water Street.

The long-time, now retired, rector of the All Saints' Episcopal Church in Saugatuck has a second career as a mystery writer, with the stories based in Saugatuck, and the titles are irresistible (find them on Amazon or in a Saugatuck bookstore - G. Corwin Stoppel).

The last marker we found in town was this one commemorating the first Indian Burying Ground, 1800-1850.

Details are a little murky with some websites saying bodies were found during 1930 construction and moved to a mound nearby (?) and others saying remains were found and excavated back in 1869 and moved to Riverside Cemetery. That's all the information I could find on a quick search.

Saugatuck is known as an artist's town, evidenced by the many galleries (normally open) and by public art.

Even this restroom was blessed by a Georges Seurat reproduction.

Before we headed home, we went to check out Saugatuck Dunes State Park, and what a treasure it is. There are miles of trails strewn throughout the dunes and we took the .75 mile hike to the beach.

Finally we could hear the water, the wind picked up, and we were suddenly on top of a dune looking down on Lake Michigan. It was spectacular! 

There was a steep descent to the lake and we'll save that for another day.

Thanks, Saugatuck, for an interesting and beautiful day!