The Spring Lake Basket Company was located on the shore of Spring Lake at the north end of Alden Street, the present day location of Cote La Mer Condominiums.  David Cline, part owner also operated the business which opened in October 1889.  Unfortunately, it burnt down on June 28, 1898 and the business folded. The property was then purchased by RossWay Manufacturing in 1930.

James Edward, Captain John Lysaught, and J.M. Cook established the Grand Haven Basket Company in 1897. The factory was a large, frame structure that occupied an entire city block bounded by Madison, Sixth, Elliott, and Seventh Streets. It had its own Interurban line next to the factory that allowed baskets to be shipped by Interurban freight cars.  They employed teams to haul logs to the basket company from as far away as Jenison. The company owned land on the present site of Grand Isle Marina. The timber on this land was used in the production of baskets and crates. They also had a little sternwheeler called “Allendale” which delivered baskets from Grand Haven up the Grand River to Grand Rapids.

Every modern device for production of veneer goods and baskets was installed in the factory. The average annual output was 150,000 berry crates, 1.5 million peach baskets, 200,000 celery crates, and 360,000 baskets for shipping smoked fish.  The company went out of business in 1925 and was then taken over by the Higman Package Company.

 

 

 

 

 

For research, geneology, or photo archive requests, please contact:

Meredith Meyer or call 616.842.0700 to make an appointment.