Doug Plasman Remembers the Barrel

Having grown up in Holland, MI in the 1950-60 the Saugatuck Mt Baldie was a every summer event.  My family and two other families from Holland would have a picnic every summer at the picnic table area at the foot of Mt Baldie.  A classic hamburg fry using the Coleman stoves made for a delicious meal.  The kids would all climb Mt. Baldie and view beautiful Lake Michigan.  No matter how much we had for supper it was never complete unless we stopped at the famous root beer barrel for the ice cold root beer that was served in frosted mugs.  If I am not mistaken I believe car hops would serve us.  It was some of the best root beer I would have ever taste.  I have lived in Grand Rapids most of my adult life and my wife and I would often take rides in  in the summer to Saugatuck.  I would often mention the famous root beer barrel to my wife and tell her the stories but so wished I could find out what ever happened to the famous barrel.  In 2010 we were coming back from a sunset at the Oval Beach andwe talked about the barrel again.  I took a few side roads and there we spotted the old barrel probably 50 yards off the road.  We got out of the car and walked by it.  Unbelievable!  We had found it!!!

My First Root Beer Float

Back in 1957, I had my very first root beer float here while visiting my Grandmother at her cottage (WIT’S END) on Campbell street backed up against the 7^th T of the now gone golf course.

I was just there last weekend and went “in search of”. It was bitter sweet as many of the old places are gone. The Redwood Inn, The Blue Heron, among a few. But most of all I would love to see the Root Beer Barrel back.

I took my wife up Mt Baldy after visiting the museum. The memories of those times visiting Nana and Grace (her friend that lived down at the end of Campbell) will be with me forever.

 Thanks for holding on to the memory for me.

BILL NORMAN

Downers Grove, IL