Part 2 of 4      1913 - 1934

As best as can be determined, George and Emma Mason officially began the resort business in 1913. Prior to that time rooms were rented above the general store. As was noted by an advertisement in The Muskegon Chronicle, dated June 30, 1913, Lakeside Inn had opened for business, "Just Opened. Lakeside Inn New Sanitary Hotel, facing White Lake".

The Goodrich Steamship Lines, operating out of Chicago, docked at the end of Scenic Drive at the Michillinda Dock which was just to the left of the Inn.

In 1917, a ticket from Chicago to White Lake was $2.25 one way or $4.00 round trip. The ships would leave Chicago on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and leave White Lake on Wednesday, Sunday, and Monday. The SS Georgia was a frequently used steamer coming from Chicago.

The Steamers would dock at Sylvan Beach, Michillinda, Harvey's, and in Whitehall. Horse and buggies would meet the boats and carry the passengers to their summer homes or to the resorts. Additionally, small boats were used to ferry the people to other destinations on the lake.

The docks at Lakeside Inn (Michillinda) were very busy. In 1917, George Mason sold Lakeside Inn to Glenn and Gertrude Tallant who owned and operated the resort for 23 years.

Mrs. Tallant remembered they had to move the Inn, which now had 17 rooms, back from the shoreline because the water was so high that year. She said they could, "sit on the front porch and fish."

The Tallants operated an U.S. Post Office in the general store and delivered groceries around the neighborhood. Rates at the Inn were from $8.00 to $10.00 a week for food and lodging. In the summer, there were approximately 25 to 30 guests per week.

In the 1920's the steamship SS Carolina was used to bring visitors and summer residents to the White Lake and Sylvan Beach areas. This photograph shows the Carolina docked in front of Lakeside Inn Guests would come to the Inn and stay for several weeks, often coming year after year. Additionally, the area around Lakeside Inn, particularly the Sylvan Beach area, was a summer home to many Chicago residents.

Glenn and Gertrude Tallant added cottages along the lakefront and as years went by they further developed the resort. They added a screened-in porch across the entire lake side of the main building.

Families ate their meals in the dining room in the main lodge. They would come to spend a good part of the summer.

Women and children would often stay most of the summer with husbands/fathers coming for shorter stays.

A young Bill Budd sent this postcard to his father urging him to “come soon.” He let his father know where he was staying by using two X's above the windows.

In the 1920's, as car transportation was more available and roads were better developed, car traffic began replacing the romantic steamers and trains. Families could pack their belongings in their Ford Model T's and A's and travel from Chicago to White Lake in a day or two. During this time most of the resort owners lived in small rooms at their hotels. Many had homes in which they lived during the winter months. The Tallant's built a large, year-round home for themselves on the hill overlooking the resort on what is now known as South Shore Drive. Mrs. Tallant lived in this house well into her 90's and was an excellent source of resort history. She died in the 1970's.

Todd Groessl todd@lakesideinn.net 5700 N. Scenic Dr Whitehall, MI 49461 Phone: (888) 442-3304  (231) 893-8315 Fax: (231) 893-1368