Scope and Content[Reprinted from the August 17, 1859, issue of the Grand Haven News] "On Saturday last some one hundred and thirty Muskegonites, and about thirty citizens of Grand Haven, left this port at 11:15 A.M. per steamer Huron for the mouth of the Kalamazoo. The morning was as beautiful as the most devoted lover of pleasure excursions could desire, which added to the well known politeness of Capt. Morgan and his crew, promised to the company a season of recreation and enjoyment. The scenery along the route was of course not of the most interesting character; for a glance over the broad expanse of water which was the only thing to be seen on the west, was all that was necessary to reveal all the beauties it had to present. The sand hills, however, afforded a little more of thought for colloquial discussion. At about one o'clock we met the schooner "Wm. Tell," the only vessel that we saw while outward bound, except a small sloop. We had expected to give our neighbors at Holland a passing call, but time forbade. At about two o'clock we arrived at the mouth of the Kalamazoo. Its entrance is very narrow -- only thrice or four times the width of the Huron -- but it soon widens out to about twenty rods wide [about 330 feet]. It continues this width up as far as Newark, with only a little variation. On the left at the mouth stands the old stone house, once connected with the lighthouse, which blew down about a year ago, and two other small buildings. On the opposite side there are seven little houses, which I judge belong to fishermen [likely Fishtown]. Soon after entering the river it winds around northward, then southward, forming an "ox bow" on the left hand side of which, between the river and lake, there is a low ridge of sand hills, and on the opposite side, within the bow, a small bayou and a high hill covered with scrubby pines and small hushes. At the bottom of the bow there are two steam mills and four or five houses. This clump of buildings with those at the mouth constitute Singapore. From the mouth to Newark, some four miles, the sand hills, covered with shrubbery, come down nearly to, and rise very abruptly from the bank. Newark [Saugatuck] is a town, as I was told, more than twenty years old. It now contains about fifty dwelling houses, less than half of which are painted, three stores, one hotel, three mills, and one school-house. Upon inquiring of a citizen whether they had a church in their village, I was answered, "no; but we have a plenty of whiskey shops." "City lots" I was informed were selling "not at all" but were valued at about fifty dollars per lot for the best ones; the poorest ones I did not price. The hotel is very well kept -- I judge by the way its landlord got up the dinner; my only query in regard to the matter was, how does he manage to live'. To say nothing of other things, I think one thing indicates a large per centime [French penny] of old fogyism to be present in the composition of the inhabitants, that is, the cemetery is situated in the midst of the village, on the corner of one of the business streets, and fenced with an old Virginia rail fence. I would like to suggest to our Newark friends that one of those spare blocks, back on the hill, would be a much more suitable place for a cemetery. Here we had the pleasure of seeing the eighth wonder -- seven having been known in ancient times. It consisted of a small boat, about twenty feet long, propelled by steam. I suppose it might safely carry a dozen passengers, provided they all should sit still. The man "at the helm" was sitting on a stool, with a small wheel, less in circumference than many of the ladies' hats, between his knees. The paddle wheels were about the size of a common carriage wheel, with engine to match. On the whole it was the most unique and curious craft that I have yet seen. At 5:30 we started for home. Just before us the "Ellen Pike" was towed out into the lake for Chicago, and at Singapore we left the "Sea Star," loading with lumber. In about twenty minutes from the time we started we were once more on the broad bosom of Lake Michigan, running due north and bound for the Haven and Muskegon. We arrived at the Haven at nine o'clock, all considerably fatigued, but well pleased with the excursion. The "good nights" to our Muskegon friends and Capt. Morgan, were not forgotten of course, and wishing them a pleasant ride the remainder of the trip we departed from them and welcomed again our homes in the sand, with which we were all better satisfied than when we left them."