Protect the Historic Dutcher Lodge Before It’s Too Late

Who is impacted?

The entire Douglas community stands to lose a vital part of its identity. The Dutcher Lodge, built in 1875, has long served as a civic and cultural hub—from its origins as a Masonic lodge to its decades as City Hall. Generations of residents, including my own family, have lived, gathered, and governed with this building at the heart of town life. As a third-generation community member and board member of the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center, I know firsthand how much this place matters—not just as architecture, but as memory, tradition, and community.

What is at stake?

The City of Douglas is preparing to sell the Dutcher Lodge to help fund its relocation to the former hospital complex off Wiley Road. We understand the City’s financial needs. But once sold, there is nothing preventing a developer from demolishing this historic structure. The Dutcher Lodge’s designation on the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites is an honor, not a protection. Due to the lack of a historic district in Douglas, this building could be razed, and with it, an irreplaceable chapter of our community’s story. This is not an anti-development petition—we’re simply asking for a common-sense safeguard: that the City make demolition off-limits as a condition of sale, most likely by including a restrictive covenant in the deed that either prohibits demolition outright or requires City Council approval before any such action is taken.

Why is now the time to act?

We’ve heard that the City is already soliciting bids, and that decisions are coming soon. Time is running out. The Saugatuck-Douglas History Center would love to purchase and preserve the building and turn it into a cultural and community center—but absent major donations, it most likely cannot. So we the signers of this petition are asking the City to do the next best thing: protect the structure, no matter who ends up owning it. This building was made viable for public use thanks to the efforts of local preservationists, including the Douglas Historical Preservation Committee. At a minimum, the City owes it to the community to ensure that its sale does not become its destruction.

In the event that funds cannot be raised by concerned citizens to keep the Dutcher Lodge in public hands, we—along with the broader community and the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center—stand ready to work with whoever purchases this building to preserve its historic character. We simply ask the City of Douglas to give us that chance.