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The history of Ottawa Beach - Page Four
The neighborhood had its own post office with the name Ottawa Beach beginning in August of 1886, two months after the Hotel Ottawa opened. For several years, mail was outgoing only. Apparently both the Macatawa and Ottawa Beach resort areas were known as Macatawa in the early days before the hotels were built as part of their respective resorts.
This postcard shows the Ottawa Beach Post Office in the early 1920s. This building is one of only two original hotel structures which exist today, the other being the red brick pumphouse located adjacent to the U. S Coast Guard Station.
This spectacular panorama was taken in the summer of 1905 from the second floor porch of the Hotel Ottawa. The post office structure is to the far left. Parkside Marina is now operating on this site - but the post office structure remains.
Photo courtesy George Whinery Archives.
Bill Murphy was an important figure at Ottawa Beach for decades. He first worked here as watchman/caretaker for the Hotel Ottawa. After the destruction of the hotel and with the creation of the Holland State Park, Mr. Murphy operated this lunchroom in the building adjacent to the casino. The post office is the low roofed building to the right in this photo.
