1890
Sarah M. Kirby House
A Brief History
The story of the Kirby House is just as interesting as the story of the woman who had the house built, Sarah M. Gill-Kirby.
The house, built in the Queen Anne Victorian architecture, is a Michigan Registered Historic Site. It was built as a private residence for the Kirby family and the first mortgage is dated May 26, 1890. The Kirby family continued to live in the house until 1932.
Mrs. Lois Faith Nevens, a nurse, converted the home into the Douglas Community Hospital for residents of, and travelers through the Douglas-Saugatuck vicinity. The Kirby House was the community hospital from 1932 until 1960, until changing health care needs required the construction of a new hospital facility, which was dedicated in 1960.
For the next decade the home went through a number of transitions, including being know as "the haunted and abandoned house" of the area. In the early 1970's the house received a new lease in life when Ev Thomas, a childhood friend of John Nevins (Sarah's grandson) purchased the home and started the first step in renovating the "old hospital." Ev used this building as his real-estate office and his antique shop. In the late 1970's the house was sold and returned to a private residence/boarding house.
In 1983 Loren and Marsha Kontio, frequent Saugatuck vacationers, purchased the property and began extensive renovations. In May of 1984 they opened the third bed and breakfast in the area, The Kirby House. As Saugatuck grew to be a hot vacation spot, so the guests of the Kirby House grew. In 1996 the Kontios were ready to place this "painted lady" into the hands of new caretakers and they put the home up for sale.
In 1997 Jim Gowran and Ray Riker started looking at properties to purchase for a bed and breakfast. Although the Kirby House was their primary choice, they felt it was out of their league financially. However, they took the advice of friends and locals and made an appointment to look at the Kirby House. Upon first entry into the home they knew "this was the one." It immediately had a "homey/comfortable" feel to it.
By April of 1998 Jim and Ray had left their home and jobs in Detroit and were signing the purchase documents for the Kirby House. In May of 1998 the Kirby House reopened for business as a bed and breakfast under the care of Jim Gowran and Ray Riker.
