City of Grand Haven history

They spent their first year in makeshift lodgings, but by the spring of 1835 they had erected permanent dwellings and the first sawmill.

Grand Haven, city, seat (1837) of Ottawa county, southwestern Michigan, United States, located at the mouth of the Grand River, about 15 miles (25 km) south of Muskegon on the shore of Lake Michigan.

In 1838 they built on too large a scale a stern-wheeler, the "Owashtenaw," which, after running at a loss for a year or two, was burned at the same time as the log mill.

In August 1839, Mehemiah Merritt was hired as the first lighthouse keeper.

John H. Newcomb built the first house and the first mill at Spring Lake in 1841.

In 1851 Henry Griffin was chosen superintendent and after a time was succeeded by Senator Ferry who held the post for ten years.

In April 1853 the steamer Detroit commenced the experiment of making regular trips to Chicago, and the "sawdust" road was made to the ferry.

In 1854 the population was 671, Spring Lake was then Mill Point, a mere lumbering place, the Washington was the chief hotel (since burned).

The lighthouse was operational again by 1855. - "Grand Haven History." Michigan History, michiganhistory.leader.msu.edu/grand-haven-history/.

In 1857 the school was moved into the new church, and in that year Miss Mary L. Ferry (now Mrs.

The road came into Ottawa County in 1858, and has been sold out by the bondholders, so that it is controlled by the Great Western of Canada, F. Broughton, managing director, and F. C. Stratton the local agent.

In 1867 it became a city, and in the same year the founder of the city Rev.

It was reorganized in 1869.

The discovery in 1870 of mineral-rich springs in the area encouraged the city’s growth as a resort.

1872, July 4th, formal opening of the Cutler House, cost f 200,000;

1874, opening of the Kirby House, cost $50,000, in which year pioneer C. B. Albee died.

The history of the Coast Guard in Grand Haven dates back to at least 1876 when the Eleventh District of the United States Life Saving Service established headquarters in town.

George Parks is the name of the new steamer purchased in 1877 at a cost of $3,000.

Safford, Sanford and Pfaff, and in 1880 Messrs.

List of Michigan Civil War Pensioners on the roll January 1, 1883

Following the reorganization of the Life Saving and Revenue Cutter services into the Coast Guard in 1915, Grand Haven became headquarters for the Tenth District.

Yearly, there are over 12 major festivals & parades throughout the town. It unofficially began in 1924 with a township picnic and now has an attendance of over 300,000 people, including high ranking dignitaries from all over the country.

Of special interest to local citizens was the arrival of the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba in December, 1932.

In February 1973, federal surplus property known as Grand Haven Coast Guard Rifle Range, Ferrysburg, MI, was assigned to the Department of the Interior for conveyance to the city of Ferrysburg for parks and recreation purposes.

The Group office moved to its current location in Grand Haven in 1988.

Grand Haven was declared “Coast Guard City USA” by Act of Congress in 1998.

In June 2005, the unit was changed from "Group Grand Haven" to "Sector Field Office Grand Haven."