2024.04.11

According to Cynthia Sorensen, the site was once an orchard owned by Edwin House and his brother. Later, the land belonged to Mark Atwood. In the mid 1940s, William Sorensen and his brother Walter Sorensen attempted to purchase the entire parcel in a land contract, but in the end, William purchased only a section in the southeast corner. In the late 1950s, Bob Kobernik purchased the middle of the parcel and built a house that is still there. The west portion was purchased by Don Manchester who developed Manchester Lane. A rectangle labeled number 2 is within a lot purchased by Art and Nancy Francis. This lot is west of the Sorensen lot. The two-story part of the barn was remodeled by William Sorensen to make a dwelling. A chicken coop was demolished but its cement pad was reused. A rectangle labeled number 3 marks about where a motel was built. The motel did not succeed and was foreclosed.The property was next purchased by Lloyd J. Harriss to use as a residence. He kept the motel section to house visiting business people. Today [2024] the site is known as the Secret of Saugatuck Suites . A rectangle labeled number 4 marks where a fruit storage building that was remodeled into a rental duplex. The line of 20 small lots facing Campbell were not developed as draw. But at least five houses were built along Campbell including those occupied by Merle Malmquist, Saugatuck Councilperson Mark Bekken, and John Geier, a Citizens Bank manager.

Development, land1870 Fruit growing, farming, agriculture

Winthers, Sally

06/10/2024

08/22/2024