FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Merle Malmquist 269/857-4817 Dottie Lyon 269/857-8902 SAUGATUCK-DOUGLAS HERITAGE FESTIVAL AND HISTORIC HOMES TOUR SEPTEMBER 16-17-18, 2005 On September 16-17-18, 2005, the Heritage Preservation Committee of the Saugatuck-Douglas (Michigan) Historical Society will sponsor its fourth annual Heritage Festival. Building on the success of previous years’ events, many fun and educational activities will be available to entice adults and children to discover the rich historical, architectural, and agricultural heritage of the Saugatuck-Douglas area. The Festival will focus on Saugatuck-Douglas during the Civil War, expanding on the theme of this year’s exhibition at the Society’s award-winning Museum, “Lincoln’s ‘Ready-Made’ Soldiers: Saugatuck Men in the Civil War.” The centerpiece of the weekend will be an opportunity to tour of six private houses of the period during the Historic Homes Tour, “Home Sweet Home: Houses of the Civil War Era.” The three-day event will kick off on Friday night with an old-fashioned BAND CONCERT in the park, followed on Saturday by the HISTORIC HOMES TOUR; an HISTORIC HOMES LECTURE, “Victorians at Home: Architecture, Art, and Interiors of the Civil War Era”; TROLLEY TOURS of the area; guided VINEYARD TOURS at Fenn Valley Winery; a traditional "Clothesline" ART SHOW; a vintage “BASE BALL” GAME; and at dusk the spectacle of RIVERFIRE. The weekend’s activities will conclude on Sunday with a SPECIAL PIER COVE TOUR, “The Heritage of O. C. Simonds: ‘Orchard House’ and ‘Pier Cove Ravine Trust Arboretum.’” Designed for residents and visitors of all ages, many events are free. A description of the various events plus a schedule for the weekend follows on the attached pages. MORE ... ADD ONE – SAUGATUCK-DOUGLAS HERITAGE FESTIVAL The Saugatuck/Douglas area was fortunate in that it did not experience the devastating destruction of the fires that hit many Midwest frontier towns in the mid- to late 1800s. As a result, the towns of Saugatuck and Douglas provide a rare opportunity to observe pre- and post-Civil War architecture in a living environment, interspersed with structures that reflect the Arts & Crafts and Colonial Revival movements of the early 20th century. That architectural heritage, together with a setting of great natural beauty on the shores of the Kalamazoo River and Lake Michigan surrounded by the rolling agricultural vistas of Allegan County, provide the backdrop for a fun and informative experience for both adults and children at the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society’s fourth annual Saugatuck-Douglas Heritage Festival. The Festival’s goal is to increase awareness of Saugatuck/Douglas area history and architectural heritage as well as to promote heritage tourism. The ticket price of $20 includes admission to the Historic Homes Tour, the SCA Lecture, and the Special Pier Cove Tour. All other Festival events are free. Tickets will be available after August 1, 2005 at Uncommon Grounds Café in Saugatuck and at The French Cottage in Douglas as well as at the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Museum. On the day of the events, tickets can also be purchased at the home sites, at the Festival information centers located in downtown Saugatuck and in downtown Douglas, and at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. HISTORIC HOMES TOUR | “Home Sweet Home: Houses of the Civil War Era” Saturday, September 17, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Admission $20 Tour six Civil War era houses in Saugatuck and Douglas, including: 1. Mixer-Mueller House (Octagon, 1859/2005) 2. Wade-Bradley House (Folk Victorian, 1853/1990s) 3. Doud-Saks House (Victorian Mill Workers Cottage, 1855) 4. Harvey L. House House (Greek Revival, 1868) 5. Barr-Cappelletti House (Italianate, ca. 1875) 6. Burns-Yaksic House (Italianate, 1881/2004) The Historic Homes Tour will also include a refreshment stop at the Old School House (Italianate, 1866) on Douglas’s Center Street, one of the finest examples of 19th century school architecture in Michigan. 7. The Old School House (Italianate,1866) In addition to the tour houses open for view, a guided street walk of Douglas will also be available to highlight the many other fine Civil War era buildings in the village. (See enclosure for more information about the homes.) HISTORIC HOMES LECTURE | “Victorians at Home: Architecture, Art, and Interiors of the Civil War Era” Saturday, September 17 | 10:00 a.m. | Admission included with Historic Homes Tour ticket, or $5 separately The Saugatuck Center for the Arts will present a lecture that will illuminate various aspects of the dwellings and decorative arts that shaped the domestic scene in the 1850 to 1870 period, with special emphasis on the homes tour houses. The SCA event will serve as an informative background and introduction to the Historic Homes Tour. SPECIAL PIER COVE TOUR | “The Heritage of O. C. Simonds” Sunday, September 18, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Admission included in the Historic Homes Tour ticket, or $5 separately Drive to Pier Cove or, to facilitate parking, a trolley will be provided for the short trip to Pier Cove (about 10 minutes south of Douglas) to tour the Orchard House Cottage (Greek Revival, 1855/1908) and the Pier Cove Ravine Trust Arboretum, both creations of Simonds, one of America’s foremost landscape/garden designers at the turn of the 20th century (Morton Arboretum, Graceland Cemetery, etc.). Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the trolley will depart from the Saugatuck Center for the Arts (400 Culver Street, Saugatuck) on the half hour, with the last departure at 2:00 pm. RIVERFIRE | A Spectacle of Bonfires on the Water Saturday, September 17 | 8:00 p.m. | Admission free As darkness falls, a Voyageur canoe will glide silently across the water propelled by 12 men and women to light a series of bonfires on the Kalamazoo River off of scenic Wade’s Bayou Park, located at the east end of Center Street in downtown Douglas. This mystical combination of earth, water, and fire, will be preceded by a narration set to music, commemorating the river and its significance the area’s history. Live folk music will precede and follow the presentation. MORE … ADD TWO – SAUGATUCK-DOUGLAS HERITAGE FESTIVAL TROLLEY TOURS Saturday, September 17 | 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. | Departs from the Information Booth opposite Saugatuck City Hall | $7 Get oriented to the Saugatuck, Douglas, and the lakeshore area and be entertained by stories of the area’s history and its residents on this lively trolley tour. The tour lasts approximately an hour and 15 minutes. OLD-FASHIONED BAND CONCERT | “The Sounds of the Civil War” Friday, September 16 | 8:00 p.m. | Wicks Park Gazebo | Admission free The 20-member Casco Band will kick off the weekend with a concert of civil war era music by America’s most beloved band composers. The open-air concert will take place in the gazebo on the waterfront at Wicks Park, Water Street, Saugatuck. (Rain location: Saugatuck Woman’s Club, Butler and Hofmann Streets, Saugatuck) FENN VALLEY VINEYARD AND WINETASTING TOURS Saturday, September 17, 2:00 to 4:30 p.m., on the half hour | 6130 122nd Avenue, Fennville | Admission free The climatological effect of Lake Michigan makes the Saugatuck-Douglas area especially amenable to fruit growing. Since the 19th century, the fields and orchards of the Saugatuck-Douglas area have contributed signifcantly to the local economy. Learn about winemaking and taste the wines as you tour the vineyards on these fun hayride tours. Fenn Valley Vineyards, family owned and operated, produces premium award-winning wines. Experience how they combine the art of old world winemaking with the benefits of modern viniculture. Located just a few minutes drive from Saugatuck/Douglas, take the Fennville Exit #34 off I-196 (or take the Blue Star Highway to M89), go East on M89 and follow the signs to the vineyard. “CLOTHESLINE” ART SHOW Saturday, September 17, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm | Beery Field, downtown Douglas | Admission free Members of the Saugatuck Douglas Art Club will revive the Club’s time-honored tradition of showing their work hung on clotheslines. This low-key, nostalgic event will provide an opportunity for visitors to peruse and buy locally-produced art. Children can try their hand at painting and hanging their work. (Rain date: Sunday, September 18) VINTAGE BASE BALL GAME Saturday, September 17 | Practice begins at 3:00 pm | Game at 4:30 p.m. | Beery Field, Douglas | Admission free Cheer on the Douglas Dutchers as they battle the Ludington Mariners at a vintage “base ball” game as it was played during its earliest years, from 1850 to 1880. You’ll discover that the rules of the game are quite different! Hot dogs, peanuts, and lemonade will, of course, be available. MORE … ADD THREE– SAUGATUCK-DOUGLAS HERITAGE FESTIVAL LIVE ART: PLEIN AIRE PAINTING AT THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE Saturday, September 17 | 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Admission Free While enjoying refreshments on the Saturday Homes Tour, watch area artists capture the Old School House in a variety of media. SAUGATUCK-DOUGLAS HISTORICAL MUSEUM Friday through Sunday, September 16 -18 | 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m. | Admission free Visit Saugatuck-Douglas’s award-winning museum to witness the current exhibit, “Lincoln’s ‘Ready-Made’ Soldiers: Saugatuck-Area Men in the Civil War.” Through text, letters from the field, photographs, a battle map, and music, the exhibit portrays the experience of Saugatuck-area soldiers during the war, from their decision to go to war to their return home. The Saugatuck-Douglas Museum, dubbed the “best little museum in Michigan,” is located in the historic village Pump House on Park Street in Mount Baldhead Park on the Kalamazoo River warterfront on the west side of the river across from downtown Saugatuck. It is a convenient walk from the west shore chain ferry landing, or free parking is available at Mt. Baldhead Park. The book by the same title that accompanies the exhibit is the 8th in a series of award-winners published by the Society. The book chronicles the lives and events of the more than 200 soldiers from Saugatuck and Ganges Townships that served in the war. 224 pages in length, it contains upwards of 90 illustrations—many of Civil War soldiers and veterans. INFORMATION Information booths will be located in downtown Saugatuck at the one and only stoplight, corner of Butler and Lake Streets, and in downtown Douglas at Dutcher Lodge/Village Hall, corner of Center and Union Streets. Brochures and maps of the area will be on hand, and Heritage Festival volunteers will answer questions about the weekend as well as sell tickets for the Historic Homes Tour. See also the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society website: www.sdhistory.org. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS and DESCRIPTIONS OF HOMES follows on next pages. MORE …… ADD FOUR – SAUGATUCK-DOUGLAS HERITAGE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday, September 16, 2005 SAUGATUCK-DOUGLAS HISTORICAL MUSEUM EXHIBITION “Lincoln’s ‘Ready-Made’ Soldiers: Saugatuck Area Men in the Civil War” 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m. Admission: Free OLD-FASHIONED BAND CONCERT 8:00 p.m. Wicks Park Gazebo, Water Street, Saugatuck Admission: Free Rain location: Saugatuck Woman’s Club, Butler and Hofmann Streets, Saugatuck Saturday, September 17, 2005 HISTORIC HOMES TOUR “Home Sweet Home: Six Houses of the Civil War Era” 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission: $20 HISTORIC HOMES LECTURE “Victorians at Home: Architecture, Art, and Interiors of the Civil War Era” 10:00 a.m. Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck Admission: included with Historic Homes Tour ticket, or $5 separately TROLLEY TOURS Noon, 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Departs from the Festival information booth opposite Saugatuck City Hall Tickets: $7 SAUGATUCK-DOUGLAS HISTORICAL MUSEUM EXHIBITION “Lincoln’s ‘Ready-Made’ Soldiers: Saugatuck Area Men in the Civil War” 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m. Admission: Free LIVE ART: PLEIN AIRE PAINTING AT THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE Area Artists Depict the Old School House 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission: Free “CLOTHESLINE” ART SHOW 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm Beery Field, Douglas Admission: Free Rain date: Sunday, September 18 FENN VALLEY VINEYARD AND WINETASTING TOURS 2:00 to 4:30 p.m., on the half hour 6130 122nd Avenue, Fennville Admission: free Take Fennville Exit #34 off I-196 (or take the Blue Star Highway to M89), go East on M89 and follow signs to vineyard VINTAGE BASE BALL GAME Douglas Dutchers vs. Ludington Mariners Practice begins at 3:00 p.m., game at 4:30 p.m Beery Field, Main at Center Street, Douglas Admission: Free RIVERFIRE “A Spectacle of Bonfires on the Water” 8:00 p.m. Wade’s Bayou Park, Center Street at the River, Douglas Admission: Free Sunday, September 18, 2005 SPECIAL PIER COVE TOUR | “The Heritage of O. C. Simonds” Tour of Simonds’ Historic Orchard House and Pier Cove Ravine Trust Arboretum Sunday, September 18, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Admission included in the Historic Homes Tour ticket, or $5 separately Drive to Pier Cove or, to facilitate parking, a trolley will depart from the Blue Star Antique Pavilion in Douglas on the half hour, with the last one departing at 2:00 pm. SAUGATUCK-DOUGLAS HISTORICAL MUSEUM EXHIBITION “Lincoln’s ‘Ready-Made’ Soldiers: Saugatuck Area Men in the Civil War” 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m. Admission: Free MORE … 2005 HERITAGE FESTIVAL HISTORIC HOMES TOUR “Home Sweet Home: Six Houses of the Civil War Era” Saturday, September 17, 2005, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 1. The Mixer-Mueller House (Octagon, 1859, with several restorations since 1993) A ship captain’s house built by one of America’s most famous “modern” architects of the pre-Civil War era. It was of an “open-plan” house, with claims of air conditioning, separate spaces for children, and so efficient that servants were not needed. 2. The Wade-Bradley House (Folk Victorian, 1853, addition, 1990s). Built by the founder of Douglas—the mill owner Jonathan Wade. It was the home of the first child born in Douglas, and part of a neighborhood of mill worker houses. 3. The Doud-Saks House (Victorian Mill Worker’s House, 1855) A house of many lives. The original part of the house is a one-up-one-down mill worker house—with 100 years of additions. Now restored as a spacious and contemporary cottage. NOTE: The Wade-Bradley and Doud-Saks houses include a guided street walk that highlights several additional mill worker houses, a ‘country gothic’ church, and a blacksmith shop that were part of this Lake Michigan port village. In addition, visitors will get a peek at a Lake Michigan ship captain’s house and an authentic World War II Quonset hut that is now used as a summer cottage. 4. The Harvey L. House House (Greek Revival, 1868). With frieze-band windows under the front eves, this farmhouse is in a “countrified Greek Revival” manner. The farm was begun in 1867, and by 1875 it boasted 1,300 peach and quince trees in cultivation—in addition to a vineyard. By the 1930s the family was selling their own cherry soda. 5. Barr-Cappelletti House (Italianate, ca. 1875) This farmhouse is a finely preserved and classic example of Italianate architecture, both front and rear. An old barn foundation is used as a garden wall—with a new barn and studio in compatible scale and style. Winner of a 2005 Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society “Heritage Preservation Award” 6. The Burns-Yaksic House (Italianate, 1881) A good example of a one-story brick Italianate “cottage” and porch, recently restored —with a cleverly designed addition to the rear that allows the house to maintain its original integrity. Mr. Burns was a Saugatuck “Butler Street” grocer. Winner of a 2005 Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society “Heritage Preservation Award” NOTE: The Bar-Cappelletti House and the Burns-Yaksic houses include a guided street walk that highlights other Italianate structures in the Old Allegan Road area, including a house built by a Lake Michigan ship’s captain. 7. The Old School House (Douglas Union School) (Italianate, 1866) Refreshments will be served at the Old School House in Douglas, one of the finest examples of 19th century school architecture in Michigan—and the oldest existing multi-room school house in Michigan. Listed on both the National and State Register of Historic Places. Exterior viewing only. Special Live Art: Plein Aire Artists-at-Work Exhibition. SPECIAL PIER COVE TOUR “The Heritage of O. C. Simonds” Sunday, September 18, 2005, 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A short drive—or to facilitate parking, take our trolley—to Pier Cove, about 10 minutes south of Douglas. Those who elect to take the free trolley will have the benefit of a short background lecture on Pier Cove and Simonds during the 7-minute ride to Pier Cove. Trolley leaves on the half hour from the Saugatuck Center for the Arts beginning at 10:30 a.m., with the last departure at 2:00 p.m. 1. Pier Cove Ravine Arboretum Walk: An early Lake Michigan shoreline reforestation project by one of America’s foremost landscape designers, O. C. Simonds. 2. The Orchard House, Pier Cove: A fine Greek Revival house exterior with interior “arts and crafts” period changes of the 1890s.