An Intimate Map of Saugatuck
Art
A black and white version of the birds-eye view of Saugatuck designed by Fred Stearns. Map is mounted on cardboard. Map has a decorative title box in the lower left corner adorned with a stereotypical "Indian maid" and mermaid. The map shows both old and new channels, boats on the lake and river, the swing bridge, a very bare Mt. Baldhead with people leaping down the slope, Ox-Bow, Goshorn lake, orchards, the Big Pool, the Big Pavilion, the lumberyard and buildings on Butler Street and many other charming details.
2008.03
Kalamazoo Lake
An Intimate Map of Saugatuck Michigan by Fred Stearns circa 1930 Fred Stearns was a student at the Art Institute of Chicago and first visited Saugatuck in 1907. He was art director of Burleigh, Withers, McCallum, Stearns and Jipson Co., a Chicago advertising firm that specialized in work for the auto industry. This map shows places that were important to Stearns — including the Ox-Bow School and a little boat at the lower right named Poison Ivy. Stearns wrote in the Chicago Tribune that “everybody who works amid the tumult of a big city will understand why Saugatuck, Mich. is my favorite town.”
Maps
1930+ Tourism, brochures, guides and maps
2008.03
Manchester, John
Donation
Stearns, Fred 1885-1967
1930
Map
Birds-eye view
Landscape
Tourist Art
Cardboard
Saugatuck, Michigan
Map
Lake Kalamazoo
Mt. Baldhead
Kalamazoo River
Big Pool
22-1/2 in
31-1/2 in
Flat Files drawer 12 tourism maps
Fair
Print dry mounted to board. Yellowing of paper and mount. Print also faded. Removed print from frame in September 2019.
Stearns, Fred 1885-1967
Caption fixed to back of frame with tape: Fred Stearns was a student at the Art Institute of Chicago and first visited Saugatuck in 1907. He was art director of Burleigh, Withers, McCallum, Stearns and Jipsson a Chicago advertising firm that specialized in work for the auto industry. This "intimate map" of Saugatuck shows places that must have been important to him - including Ox-Box School area and perhaps even the little boat at the lower right named, "Poison Ivy." Stearns wrote in the Chicago Tribune that "everybody who works amid the turmult of a big city will understand why Saugatuck, Mich. is my favorite town." Status: OK Status By: Eric Gollannek Status Date: 2019-09-18