Peek at the Past
Harbor Beach Resort
by Leonard DeFrain

This association was organized in the summer of 1895 by southern Michigan and Ohio people who wished to secure the benefits of a summer outing without the trouble of housekeeping, on the one hand, and on the other, to escape the many annoyances of a public summer resort. This association is incorporated with a capital of $15,000 and owns the fine wooded property of about 75 of what is now known as Harbor Beach.

The grounds of the association lie just south of the Village of Sand Beach in a fine old grove of spreading oaks and towering pines. There is a frontage of ¾ of a mile on the bay, enclosed by the breakwater, nearly two miles long. The beach property is broad and covered with clean white sand. The building sites are on high ground about 100 feet from the water affording a fine view of the harbor and passing boats. One may sit in his own cottage and see the enormous tonnage of the Great Lakes passing his very door. Puffing tugs, swift steamers and majestic sailing vessels are always in sight, constituting in number and size a tonnage five times as great as that of the Suez Canal.

One must close their eyes today and visualize the way it was way back in the late 1800s. The sailing boats that hauled freight back then are long gone. The 200-300 foot steamers are long gone, now there are 1,000 footers out there. One can sit along the beach for long periods of time and not see a ship pass.

In 1898 the "so called new club house" was completed at the Harbor Beach Resort. The dining hall had seating for 150 people. The staff had living quarters upstairs.

The fire was reported at 4:55 AM on Aug. 14, 2005, with the help of five fire departments. All surrounding buildings were saved. All buildings were made of cedar sidings and most of the homes were surrounded by trees.

Plans to rebuild were soon in progress. The building to house the staff has all ready been started and will be separate from the next "new club house", which will start in the spring of 2006.