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A “ribbon” cutting was held last week at The Reverie Retreat. Guests included former owners Duane and Beverly Ingraham, Ludington Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Brandy Henderson, and Mayor Bruce Krieger.
Historic Scottville home finds new purpose as retreat center.
SCOTTVILLE — One of Scottville’s historic homes is now a place intended to inspire creativity. The Reverie Retreat, 110 N. Columbia Ave., opened in March and serves as a self catering retreat center. Owner Becky Alway is marketing the center for creative hobbyists such as quilters, sewers, scrapbookers, and knitters/crocheters. But, the retreat is open to most any type of group that would like to rent it for a minimum of two nights or for day use, Becky says. She also intends to use the space to teach children and adults the crafts of sewing, quilting, and creative art classes.
“I got interested in quilting when our oldest daughter was born 5 years ago,” Becky says. “I joined the a local quilting group that meets weekly at the Scottville Area Senior Center to make charity quilts. The women there wrapped their arms around me and shared their craft. Then, they started to invite me to out-of-town retreats that would last a few nights. The retreats were great opportunities for bonding and creating. Very inspiring. Most of the quilters would get up early and quilt into the night, each day.
“After doing some research, I realized that there weren’t many places in this area that offered such a service, directly targeted to this market.”
Becky started to develop a business plan and determined that Scottville would be a great place to locate the retreat. She and her husband, Rob, live in another historic home in Scottville.
“I wanted a place close to our home and Scottville is in a convenient location near highways US 31 and US 10. This will bring people to Scotttville and they will visit other local businesses.”
Plus, when the house at 110 N. Columbia Ave. came up for sale, it was a perfect fit.
The Edwardian style home was built in 1909 and was first owned by John and Catherine Mack. John Mack owned a general store in Scottville and a farm in Logan Township, both businesses were a partnership with Ludington lumber baron Justus Stearns.
(See more history below).
“Rob and I are committed to helping revitalize Scottville and believe that niche market businesses, such as this, are key to its future success,” Becky says. We also believe that this business could inspire other entrepreneurs to invest in Scottville. “We own two other businesses in town, Media Group 31 — which owns Mason County Press — and Alway Photography.
Reverie is defined as “a state of being pleasantly lost in one’s thoughts; a daydream.”
“It’s a fitting name for the feeling we get when we find a hobby that we love…it does something to our soul,” Becky says.
While the Reverie Retreat is marketing towards groups that will rent it over several nights, Becky has another motive for the house. “The past couple generations have lost such traditional skills as quilting and sewing, that connection from learning from someone in their family” she says. “I want to offer classes for children and adults on select days of the week or weekend where they can be connected with a mentor. We want to make sure that this is available for everyone and we are also seeking groups or individuals who could sponsor children/adults and their materials for a class(es) who are in financial need. We will supply the sewing machines for them. There is a new trend and interest in our youth and adults to learn these skills, but it’s difficult to find teachers.” This will also give children and adults a sense of confidence within themselves and teach them a skill they can pass down.
Becky says she plans to begin offering the classes this summer.
For more information on the Reverie Retreat, visit www.TheReverieRetreat.com or Facebook. Call 231-845-9198 or email info@thereverieretreat.com for more information.
History:
– 1882: Records indicate that John Mack moves to Scottville and becomes a partner with Justice Stearns, operating a general store — Stearns & Mack — in Scottville, along with a farm in Section 24 of Logan Township (Carr Settlement), likely to provide food for Stearns Siding lumbering town located in western Lake County. Catherine Coburn, Mr. Mack’s future wife, is a secretary for Mr. Stearns. Mr. Mack becomes one of the founders of State Savings Bank of Scottville (modern West Shore Bank) and builds a building for the bank located next to his downtown store.
- 1909: John and Catherine Mack move into the home built at 110 N. Columbia Street. Shortly after this time, Mr. Mack builds a building at 132 S. Main Street. The business will eventually be known as J.N. Mack & Son. In 1939 that business is purchased by Ray Schulte who later partners with Charles Thompson and renames the business Schulte & Thompson Menswear. The building is now the southern portion of the former South Main Tavern.
- 1941: Mr. Mack passes away at the age of 90.
- 1945: Mrs. Mack passed away at the age of 87, bequeathing the home to her son, George, and his wife Flossie.
- 1949: George and Flossie Mack sell home to Glenn and Jessie Wallace who lived next door at 108 N. Columbia Street (the house continues to be in the Wallace family, owned now by their granddaughter Jill Parsons and her husband, Jerry). Glenn Wallace served as Scottville mayor and owned the Four Star Theater in downtown Scottville and the Star Lite Drive In in Ludington.
- 1964: House is sold to Bruce and Marilyn Biegalle.
- 1965: Mr. Biegalle dies at the age of 45, about six months after purchasing the home.
- 1968: Duane and Beverly Ingraham purchase the house from Mrs. Biegalle. Mr. Ingraham began his teaching career at MCC in 1957 and retired in 1993. Mr. Ingraham taught full time from 1971 to 1995.
- 2011: John and Lisa Runk purchase the house.
- 2017: The Wicklow Group, Inc., owned by Becky and Rob Alway purchase the house.
This story is copyrighted © 2018, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
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