The Kirby House: Then
Sarah M. Kirby moved to the Saugatuck/Douglas area in 1872. She met Frank Kirby, a Douglas businessman, and later married him in 1883. In 1886 she bought property, which the Kirby house sits on, from her parents. Sarah proceeded to purchase the house under her name, which was very uncommon for the time, considering women couldn’t even vote. The house was built between the spring of 1887 and May of 1890. The Kirby house was built to be used as the family’s home.The couple had two children together, Lois Faith and Willard. Frank died in 1918.
In the 1920’s Sarah rented the house out for tourists to stay in. When Sarah left the area in 1932 she left the house and property to her daughter Lois Faith, who was a local nurse. At the time Saugatuck and Douglas was in need of a hospital, so Faith turned the Kirby house into just that. It started out as a small three room hospital and slowly expanded. Many Saugatuck and Douglas residents were born at the Kirby house or cared for there. It stayed as a hospital for some time, but in 1957 the hospital was moved.
From 1957 to 1987 the Kirby house was used for many different jobs, like a real estate office and an antique shop. In 1983 the house was turned it into a bed and breakfast. In 1998 Ray Riker and Jim Gowran purchased it and ran it as a bed and breakfast, where many memories were created.
Hannah Driy
In the 1920’s Sarah rented the house out for tourists to stay in. When Sarah left the area in 1932 she left the house and property to her daughter Lois Faith, who was a local nurse. At the time Saugatuck and Douglas was in need of a hospital, so Faith turned the Kirby house into just that. It started out as a small three room hospital and slowly expanded. Many Saugatuck and Douglas residents were born at the Kirby house or cared for there. It stayed as a hospital for some time, but in 1957 the hospital was moved.
From 1957 to 1987 the Kirby house was used for many different jobs, like a real estate office and an antique shop. In 1983 the house was turned it into a bed and breakfast. In 1998 Ray Riker and Jim Gowran purchased it and ran it as a bed and breakfast, where many memories were created.
Hannah Driy
My mother, Sarah M. Kirby, built this house
But when she moved away
She left it to me that day
That day in 1932
Douglas needed a hospital
I was a nurse as many knew
I knew what I needed to do
So a hospital that house became
Three rooms were all there was
Small, yet it got the job done
Being the only hospital it was number one
And it will go down in history as the one and only
I treated many patients every day
You can still meet people born there
Or others who remember the care
The hospital filled an important job
I still hear the newborns wail
The murmur of thank you’s from the patients
These noises are the hospital’s foundation
They are the memories left behind
The hospital moved away, but the memories did not
My mother’s house, as solid as a rock, still stands
As the history grows and expands
The Kirby house is a legend and won’t be soon forgotten
Hannah Driy
But when she moved away
She left it to me that day
That day in 1932
Douglas needed a hospital
I was a nurse as many knew
I knew what I needed to do
So a hospital that house became
Three rooms were all there was
Small, yet it got the job done
Being the only hospital it was number one
And it will go down in history as the one and only
I treated many patients every day
You can still meet people born there
Or others who remember the care
The hospital filled an important job
I still hear the newborns wail
The murmur of thank you’s from the patients
These noises are the hospital’s foundation
They are the memories left behind
The hospital moved away, but the memories did not
My mother’s house, as solid as a rock, still stands
As the history grows and expands
The Kirby house is a legend and won’t be soon forgotten
Hannah Driy
Kirby House: Now
In fall of 2013, Jay Paul Deratany used the home as base-camp for his movie “Saugatuck Cures.” After shooting the movie, Jay Paul decided to take the Kirby House give it a modern look and feel, yet keep its architectural integrity. Renovations on the home began in February 2014 and The Kirby reopened as a boutique hotel in August 2014.
It now remains at it’s original location in Douglas at the corner of U.S 31 and Center Street. It continues as a seven room bed and breakfast. It is modern version of the old Kirby house; the outside has the original look while the inside is modern. It is nicely located only two blocks from downtown Douglas. The Kirby house continues to be a place for creating memories.
Hannah Driy
On the corner of US 31 and Center Street
The Kirby house is pretty neat
It was built forever ago
The Kirby house is memories willing to show
A bed and breakfast with seven rooms
Staying there will make happiness like a flower, bloom
After a long and eventful day
The Kirby house is the place to stay
Reopened in August 2014
The Kirby House is really keen
With a modern look and feel
The Kirby house is the real deal
If what’s needed is relaxation and fun
The Kirby house has a ton
Only two blocks from Douglas’s downtown
There are smiles as bright as sunshine, never frowns
With beautiful rooms and awesome food
The Kirby house is a good mood
Billions of memories will be made
That will never fade
Hannah Driy
I am the Kirby House
Built in 1887 by Sarah M Kirby
At first all I ever was, was a house
Lived in by the Kirby family
But when a hospital was needed I took that role
Many were born and cared for in me
In the end I just wasn’t big enough
The hospital was moved and I was sold
Now on the corner of US 31 and Center Street I sit
Filled with memories of life and of death
You can still hear the wail of babies
No longer am I a hospital
I am now a bed and breakfast
I look a little different
I have a more stylish spirit and sense
I am a timeless sight, rich and fixed with history
I am like a history book
My walls can talk with all of the memories
Hannah Driy