Collection Item - Saugatuck-Douglas History Center

Bird Center - digital images

Photograph

DescriptionEight postcards of Bird Center, a group of cottages on Lake Street. At least one cottage dates back to 1900 as it has the date scratched in the kitchen window. It was owned by the Bancrofts who added more cottages. By 1906 it was owned by Thomas Benton and Alberdine Dates and they called it Hillcrest Cottages. Some of the guests said it reminded them of John T.McGutcheons cartoons in the Tribune so they ran a sign up the flag pole with Bird Center on it and the name stuck. From that time on the houses took on bird names. In 1924 Elsie and Cary Bird bought the resort. In 1935 they were made into housekeeping cottages. In 1952, Bert and Jane Bird Van Dis took it over. They sold it to Dick Hoffman who separated the property and sold the river portion, part of which in now condos. The rest was later sold it to Vanden Broek. This entry also includes scans of photos of Bird Center from Jane Van Dis.