Early Memories of Saugatuck, Michigan : 1830-1930
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, Mich: 1930

H. L. HOUSE

Among the first really scientific fruit growers in Saugatuck was Harvey L. House who bad faith in the fruit growing business and knew that it could be gone into with profits and his farm surely demonstrated that fact.

He was married to Miss Jessie M. Wright in 1856, both being natives of New York where they lived until 1867 when they came to Saugatuck via Chicago, and came from that place to Saugatuck on the very first trip of the Ira Chaffee, on August 1, 1867. The family consisted then of Walter, Alice, Herbert and Jessie, and Edwin the youngest child was born in Saugatuck. (The daughter, Alice, is deceased).

(The old Ira Chaffee which was built in Allegan in 1867 was burned at the Soo in 1900 it having had its cabin cut down to the decks and made into a coal barge).

Upon arriving in this wilderness Mr. House bought 80 acres near the cemetery which is now “The House by the Side of the Road,” now the home of Edwin House and family.

Mr. and Mrs. House were characters of influence and stability in the community and were worthy members of the Congregational church which they helped organize and of which they are pillars of strength and uplift for humanity. They were specially sympathetic for the unfortunate and welcomed to their home Mrs. W. E. Rumohr, Flossie Dennis, who later became Mrs. G. F. Westphal, and while they were not children of their flesh, they loved them as their own. Mrs. House was ever a willing helpmate to her husband, she taught the Ward school a few years and always has been an important factor in the history of the community.

Mr. House was called "Over There," July 7, 1897 at the age of seventy-two and Mrs. House followed, and both are missed in civic and church circles where so many years they took active parts.