Ottawa Beach Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ottawa Beach Historic District
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ottawa Beach Rd., Park Township |
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| Area | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| Built | 1886 |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/craftsman, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000451 |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 1995 |
The Ottawa Beach Historic District is a special neighborhood in Park Township, Ottawa County, Michigan. It's located right by the beautiful Lake Macatawa. This area was recognized as a historic place in 1995. It's like a time capsule, showing how people used to spend their summers long ago!
Contents
Discovering Ottawa Beach's Past
How Ottawa Beach Began
Long ago, in 1885, a group of important people from Grand Rapids, Michigan bought some land. They were part of something called the West Michigan Park Association. This group included leaders from the Chicago and West Michigan Railway.
In 1886, they planned the land into 150 spots for cottages. They also set aside space for a hotel and a boat dock. This dock would connect to the railroad's station in Holland, Michigan. There were also open park areas and beach property.
The members of the Association chose their cottage spots by drawing lots. The railroad company built the Hotel Ottawa. Soon, people started building their own summer cottages. The very first cottage was built around 1887 or 1888. By 1890, about twenty cottages stood there.
Growing as a Summer Resort
Besides the Association members, many other people visited Ottawa Beach. Some stayed at the hotel for the summer. Others came just for a day to enjoy the beach.
In 1890, the railroad built tracks directly from Holland to Ottawa Beach. This meant trains could come right to the resort, replacing the boat dock. The Hotel Ottawa became very popular! It was made bigger in 1890, then again in 1896, and one more time in 1901.
The Chicago and West Michigan Railway later joined with the Pere Marquette Railway. The new company kept owning the hotel. Meanwhile, about twenty more cottages were built in the 1890s. Another twenty or so were added in the early 1900s.
Famous Cottage Owners
The first people who owned cottages at Ottawa Beach came from many different backgrounds. Most were successful business people. For example, Charles M. Heald, a railroad manager, owned a cottage. J. Boyd Pantlind, who managed a big hotel in Grand Rapids, also had one.
Other notable owners included Melville R. Bissell, who started the Bissell Carpet Sweeper Company. General Lewis W. Heath, a friend of President James A. Garfield, also had a cottage. He owned a large hat and fur company. Interestingly, Gerald Ford Sr., the father of President Gerald Ford, also owned a cottage here!
Changes Over Time
In 1913, the railroad sold the hotel and resort land to J. Boyd Pantlind. Sadly, the hotel burned down in 1923 and was never rebuilt.
In 1925, Pantlind sold the beach resort property to the state of Michigan. The state turned it into the famous Holland State Park. Most of the remaining cottages in the district were finished in the 1910s and 1920s. Some other guesthouses and lodges were also built. A couple of grocery stores opened in the area too.
Over the years, Ottawa Beach has kept its old-fashioned charm. Some parts of the resort, called "parks," stayed undeveloped. This was due to some old legal agreements. Also, many cottage lots didn't have road access. This helped keep new construction and modern changes from happening.
Exploring Ottawa Beach's Cottages
Ottawa Beach has two main groups of cottages. They were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These wooden homes are built in rows along the sandy slopes of a hill called Mt. Pisga.
Cottage Clusters
There's a "lower" group of cottages at the east end of the resort. These homes look out over Lake Macatawa. The "upper" group is at the west end, with views of Lake Michigan. The cottage lots are arranged in parallel rows. They face pedestrian walkways, not big roads. Other parts of the resort are planned as "parks." These are open areas meant for all residents to share.
What the Cottages Look Like
Most cottages at Ottawa Beach are summer homes. Few are set up for winter living. They are made of wood, often with wood siding on the outside. Nearly all cottages have wide porches, called verandas, along the front. Many even have parts of the porch on the upper floor!
