The entire contents of this internet document are Copyright 2003 by the Ottawa Beach Historic Committee.
Website designed, written and constructed by Dan Aument
This photo shows the ashes of the Lakeland following the fire which destroyed it in April of 1914. The two story concrete tower at the right survives to this day, but its original use remains a mystery. The hotel was being cleaned when the fire broke out, and only a few pieces of furniture were saved and taken to one of the other Heath cottages where they remain to this day. The Heath daughters, who worked as maids at the Lakeland, were reported to be happy when the Lakeland burned because they wouldn't have to work there anymore. The “Shuffle Inn” cottage is now situated on lots 80 and 81.
In August of 1910, a fire destoryed the Dutton, Steinhardt, Ross and Bates cottages which were among the Lake Michigan lakefront cottages on the north end of the neighborhood. In this composite picture, these cottages may be seen in the background. The little boy holding the hands of two ladies is Edward Wells, who spent over eighty summers at Ottawa Beach.
The Wells family lived in the cottage built by Nelson Mills in 1910 on Lot 9. As a young man, Ed Wells enjoyed sailing and operating a ham amateur radio station where -even into adulthood - he communicated with other short-wave radio operators around the world by Morse code, never by voice. In the 1950‘s Mr. Wells was Justice of the Peace in East Grand Rapids. He provided free legal representation for the West Michigan Park Association for many years and he was one of the people who saw to it that Ottawa Beach remained stable and preserved in its original configuration. In this view to the east, the Jenison Park dock is at the far left, with the two story tall Macatawa Yacht Club to the right of it. Mr. Wells died in the winter of 2000-2001
The fourth cottage built by Mr. Heath was a small hotel or bed and breakfast on lots 80 and 81 at the end of Auburn Avenue. Pictures of this structure are rare - Here is a newspaper ad for Mr. Heath’s Lakeland.
The history of Ottawa Beach - Page Eleven
