Whitehall in Muskegon County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

White Lake Yacht CLub

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2017

1. White Lake Yacht CLub Marker (side 1)

Inscription.
side 1
By 1897 most of White Lake’s bustling sawmills had given way to cottages and small hotels. Promoters advertised the area’s cool temperatures as relief from the summer heat of cities and drew thousands of people to the area, many from Chicago. During the winter of 1902-3 the White Lake Yacht Club formed. The club hired Chicago architect Robert Rae, Jr. to design the clubhouse, which opened in 1906 with a large ballroom and bays for boats.

side 2
By 1922 summer tourists were traveling more by car than by boat, and golf surpassed sailing in popularity. The White Lake Yacht Club fell into disrepair. In 1925 Henry Sturtevant saved the building, mostly with his own funds, and Clarence Pitkin brought national power boat races to White Lake. Interest revived and the club reopened, offering a sailing school, boat races, swimming lessons, and social events to members and their families.

Erected 2006 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number L2184.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.

Location. 43° 21.782′

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N, 86° 24.453′ W. Marker is in Whitehall, Michigan, in Muskegon County. Marker is on South Shore Drive, 0.3 miles east of North Scenic Drive, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located beside the White Lake Yacht Club main entrance gate. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6748 South Shore Drive, Whitehall MI 49461, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lumbering on White Lake / Staples and Covell Mill (approx. 4½ miles away); Jean Baptiste Recollect Trading Post (approx. 9.9 miles away); Muskegon Fishing Reef (approx. 10.2 miles away); Bluffton Actors' Colony / Buster Keaton (approx. 10.7 miles away); Muskegon Log Booming Company (approx. 11.6 miles away); Restoration on the South Branch (approx. 11.6 miles away); Old Indian Cemetery (approx. 11.7 miles away); Union Depot (approx. 11.7 miles away).

Also see . . . White Lake Yacht CLub History. (This link also presents many interesting historic photos.) Possible locations for the new club included Long Point, Birch Brook, and two sites at Sylvan, this divided the group and George Mason came to the rescue by offering the present site. Starting in October 1905 Fred McGuire spent countless hours organizing the committees to raise funds and decide on the site for the Club. May 28, 1906

White Lake Yacht CLub Marker (<i>side 2</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2017

2. White Lake Yacht CLub Marker (side 2)

saw a lease finally signed with George Mason for 69 years at a $1.00 per year. With an option to purchase for $1000.00 during the first five years. Also the clubhouse had to be started by July 1, 1906 and completed by July 1, 1907, and cost not less than $2500.00 according to the lease. (Submitted on July 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

White Lake Yacht CLub Marker (<i>tall view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2017

3. White Lake Yacht CLub Marker (tall view)

White Lake Yacht CLub Marker (<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2017

4. White Lake Yacht CLub Marker (wide view)

White Lake Yacht CLub (<i>view from near marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2017

5. White Lake Yacht CLub (view from near marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 178 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.