The historic Forest House in South Haven is being purchased by the Historical Association of South Haven so it can be preserved for generations to come. Association President James Ollgaard tells WSJM News the Forest House, at 313 Center Street, was built in 1853.
“I speculate that it probably was called Forest House because it was right in the middle of a forest, and it housed the lumbermen who came to Michigan to cut down the primordial forests that were here,” Ollgaard said.
Ollgaard says the building was at first located at the same spot as Clementine’s today, but in the 1890s it was moved to make room for the bank the Clementine’s building originally was. Now it’s right next to Clementine’s. It was used as a hotel for years.
“When it was first built, it was probably more like a dormitory on the two upper floors, but the last time I think anybody rented rooms there was in the 50s and the 60s.”
That’s the 1960s. Ollgaard says the top two floors have been untouched since. The Historical Association of South Haven is buying the property from the estate of Jack Cook, a longtime area CPA who recently died. The plan is to preserve the building and offer some historical association programming there. The price has not been disclosed, and the sale is expected to take a few months.
