Saugatuck Pump House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saugatuck Pump House
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River side of pump house
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 735 Park St., Saugatuck, Michigan |
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| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | John W. Alvord |
| Architectural style | Vernacular brick |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000943 |
| Added to NRHP | December 29, 2015 |
The Saugatuck Pump House, now known as the Pump House Museum, is an important old building in Saugatuck, Michigan. You can find it at 735 Park Street. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. This means it's recognized as a historic place worth protecting.
Contents
History of the Pump House
Why Saugatuck Needed a Pump House
In the early 1900s, Saugatuck was becoming a very popular resort town. But the town's water system was not very good. It used old cisterns and private wells. Several fires had destroyed wooden buildings in town. After a big fire in November 1903, the town decided it needed a better water system.
The people of Saugatuck voted to spend money to build a new water system. In 1904, they hired an engineer named John W. Alvord. He designed a large 100,000-gallon water tank, called a reservoir. This reservoir was built on a high point west of the Kalamazoo River.
Building the Pump House
The plan also included pumps to send water to the reservoir. A main pipe would then carry water back into the town. Work on the system started in May 1904. The first part of the pump house was finished by August. By October 1904, the entire water system was working.
When it was first built, the pump house had two powerful gasoline-powered pumps. These pumps pulled water from seven wells. They then sent the water up to the reservoir. In 1912, the pump house was made bigger. A new section was added to create electricity for the town. The building was used for both water pumping and making electricity until about 1930.
From Abandoned to Museum
After 1930, the water pumps and electric generators were moved to a different place. The pump house was left empty and forgotten. By 1970, the building was in very bad shape. Part of one wall had even fallen down. The town planned to tear it down.
But in 1972, a kind couple from Chicago, Dr. and Mrs. William Shorey, stepped in. They offered to rent the building from the town for twenty years. They wanted to fix it up and use it as their vacation home. In return, they would restore the building. The town agreed. The Shoreys removed the old equipment, fixed the brickwork, and put on a new roof and floor. They turned the old pump house into a cozy cottage.
In 1992, the Shoreys' rental agreement ended, and Mr. Shorey had passed away. The town then rented the pump house to the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society. This group cleaned up the inside and opened it as the Pump House Museum. In 2001, they added a new entrance area. Inside the museum, volunteers create new exhibits every year. These exhibits teach visitors about the local history of Saugatuck.
What the Pump House Looks Like
The Saugatuck Pump House is a one-story building made of red brick. It has a sloped roof and sits on a strong concrete foundation. The building was built in two parts. It is about 58 feet long along the river side. The wider part is 27 feet wide, and the older part is 22 feet wide.
The pump house is located on the west bank of the Kalamazoo River. It is right across from downtown Saugatuck. The roof has wide edges that stick out. On the river side, there are four sets of three windows. These windows have white tops that look like old colonial style. On the road side, there are two sets of three windows and two sets of two windows. The roof was once covered with slate, but now it has asphalt shingles.
Inside, the building has two connected rooms and a small bathroom. You can still see the original wooden ceilings. Some of the brick walls are also still exposed. Other parts of the inside are covered with drywall. Outside the building, there is a paved path and a small garden.
