The Development of East Park
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The South Shore of Round Lake

The Development of East Park, also, The South Shore of Round Lake. . , Chamber of Commerce and Parkside Restaurant, ca. 1938. Charlevoix’s first Chamber of Commerce building occupied the curent performance pavilion site. Built in 1925 originally as an open-air bandstand, it was soon closed in to resemble oriental pagoda. The Parkside restaurant, with its Charlevoix welcome signs, appears at left at the Mason Street corner. This area became the southern portion of the original East Park. The old Chamber building vanished when a modern building replaced it in 1968. , The Depression Era Waterfront In 1929 and well into the 30s, the Great Depression hit Charlevoix hard. No funds were available for anyone to maintain their Bridge Street waterfront properties. These all decayed until walking along and over this thirtly debris-clogged and vermin-infested area actually became both dangerous and unhealthy. , East Park, ca. 1940 North of the Parkside, East Park developed in stages beginning in 1937. After the Hotel Charlevoix in the middle of the block burned in 1935, the City realized the potential for creating a splendid park four blocks long. But the building owner north of Cisco Street refused to sell, so East Park remains configured much as it was in the late 30s. , East Park Waterfront, ca. 1955. Funds became available after World War II to improve the waterfront and marina shown here in the 1950s. Safety was not a primary concern then as no protective fencing or barrier stood between the East Park grass and Round Lake's waters. The docks in use from the 1950s until 2008 were fixed and could not be adapted to changing water levels. , East Park and Marina, 1960. For seventy years, the northern, larger portion of East Park looked pretty much like this. The two buildings flanking Mason Street were removed in the 1990s, which would soon allow the two park sections to be joined. Redesign debate and planning started in 1998. Finally, in 2007, a rapidly aging park and inadequate dockage area began to be transformed. , East Park and Marina, 2009. After two years of complete rebuilding, a magnificent new East Park reopened for business. So impressed was the American Planning Association by what Charlevoix had done that on its annual Honors list for 2009, in company with Chicago’s Lincoln Park and the squares of Savannah, Georgia, the APA declared East Park and its marina to be one of the Ten Great Places, subcatetory Public Spaces, in the United States. , (side two) , South Shore of Round Lake with Booth Fisheries, ca. 1910. The south shore of Round Lake developed in the 1880 after the west Bridge Street shore filled up over the pervious decade. Mainly maritime-related business appeared along this area. The large building here was the northern Lake Michigan headquarters of Chicago-based Booth Fisheries. By 1908, Charles had become the largest fish exporting point on the Gerat Lakes. , Antrim Street dock, ca. 1910. Schooners were once the primary of freight shipment on the Great Lakes, and Charlevoix was once a principal port of call. Often, so many were in the harbor at one time they had to the up six or more abreast, shown here at the Antrim Street dock in the early 1900s. Crew members hopped from boat to reach the shore. , Waterfront, early 1930s. Charlevoix’s first five pleasure boat docks were installed beween Mason Street and Antrim Street, both of which extended to the waterfront at the time, in the late 1920s. Soon after, a paved road was laid along the wharf between the two streets. Boat owners could simply drive down, park, enjoy their boat ride, dock, then drive back up to Bridge Street. , Round Lake, ca. 1935. During the Great Depression, the entire Round Lake waterfront fell into decay. Many docks lost their planking or disappeared into the water altogether. Signs were posted to warn people away from the worst areas, Those daring to walk along these remnants could end up in a doctor’s office for serious splinter removal. , Round Lake, South Shore, 1950s. The late 1920s waterfront drive disappeared by World War II, to be replaced by wood, then cement walkways as seen here. In the 1950s, the south shore of Round Lake was still occupied by mainly maritime businesses. These would gradually leave the south shore as the few remaining worked their way over to lake Charlevoix, and resort housing replaced what had once been a bustling maritime scene. , The Beauty of Round Lake, 1930s. The eternal beauty of Round Lake attracts thousands upon thousands of people to Charlevoix every year. At right center appears the 135-foot Reomar IV, the private yacht of Ransom E. Olds, founder of Oldsmobile, who summered in Charlevoix from the 1920s to 1950. The Reomar IV’s boathouse behind the yacht was converted into a residential condominium.