Historical Preservation

Jimmie Haile's Tavern

Circa 1833

Saugatuck, MI USA

With its side-wing and large colonnaded front-gabled central structure, Jimmy Haile’s Tavern & Residence (1840) is the oldest known existing structure in the Saugatuck area.  For many years it has been the focus of  stories about early pioneer life.  Over the years this structure served as a mill, a farm, a dance hall, community center, stage stop, and so on.  It is recognized as one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in Allegan County,  Michigan.   Haile, who fought in the War of 1812, came to Michigan with his wife Martha—purchasing 1,200 acres of land in Saugatuck Township.  His mill was one of three early pioneer sawmills in Saugatuck township.  The water powered mill stood back from sixty foot bank of Lake Michigan next to a little creek.   The mill was built by Joshua Weed, an inventor-builder, who also built mill at Pier Cove and was the founder of the famous basket factory in Douglas, Michigan.

"The ‘Jimmy Haile place’ was not only noted for its having the first country saw mill, but the residence was a large rectangular frame house, the second floor of which was fitted out as a community hall, and here it was that gatherings of all sorts were assembled. It was the only place where public dances could be held for years before the main street of Fennville was more than a frog pond and breeding place for mosquitoes. It was a landmark, and distances and times were recorded from the ‘Jimmy Haile place.’" [from Recollections of the Pioneers of Western Allegan County, by Henry Hudson Hutchins. 1919.]  

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This picture was taken from under the house looking at the remnants of the timber frame which supported the house.  The hand hewn twelve inch wide by twelve inch tall timber frame originally supported the side walls of the house.  This section is indicative of the condition of most the timber frame.  Due to dry rot, insect and water intrusion damage, most of the timber has disintegrated.

In this section of the house the remnants of the rotted sill beam have been removed.  A new sill beam has been constructed and installed.  In this particular area of the house, the dry rot continued up the side of the house twenty-four inches.  The rotted wall has been cut away and removed and a new stud wall is in the process of being constructed.

Steel support beams are being installed under the house.  Twenty-eight  thousand pounds of steel will be used to lift the house and allow for the earth to be excavated from under it.

Above Right; the house has been elevated forty-eight inches above its' present elevation.  The old foundation has been removed and is now ready for its' new foundation.

Above Left; This is the last rock removed.  It weighs approximately 5000 lbs. and served as the base for a corner of the foundation.  One wonders if in 1833 when the house was constructed   if he rock was placed there, or the rock was there and the house built on top of it.        

A few views of the Completed Job!

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