What is Winsor McCay Park?
Winsor McCay Park is located in Spring Lake, Michigan, the boyhood home of Winsor Zenas McCay. McCay, born Zenas Winsor McKay on September 28, 1867, lived in Spring Lake, Michigan for the first 18 years of his life. His parents, Robert and Janet McCay, owned a home in the village on the corner of Meridian and Tolford Streets. Young Winsor was a student at Union School, which was located on the same parcel of land that today is known as Winsor McCay Park. The school incorporated all grades, from elementary to high school level. Winsor graduated from Union School in 1885, the same year he and his family moved to Stanton, Michigan.
The parcel of land in the developing stages for Winsor McCay Park currently features a historical marker from the state of Michigan, designating Spring Lake as Winsor McCay's hometown. The sign, pictured at right, was dedicated on June 16, 2009.
The land is historically significant due to the fact it is the location where Winsor McCay, at the age of 13, illustrated his first "commercial" for-sale illustration. In the fall of 1880, McCay illustrated a picture of passenger steamer, The Alpena, braving a Lake Michigan storm before she broke apart and sank, taking 80 lives with her. The young artist drew the picture on his classroom blackboard in chalk. An area photographer took a picture of it and prints of the photo were offered for sale. McCay recieved part of the proceeds, making it his first professional work as an illustrator. Two prints of "The Sinking of the Alpena" drawing are in the collection of the Ottawa County, Michigan Historical Society.
The parcel of land in the developing stages for Winsor McCay Park currently features a historical marker from the state of Michigan, designating Spring Lake as Winsor McCay's hometown. The sign, pictured at right, was dedicated on June 16, 2009.
The land is historically significant due to the fact it is the location where Winsor McCay, at the age of 13, illustrated his first "commercial" for-sale illustration. In the fall of 1880, McCay illustrated a picture of passenger steamer, The Alpena, braving a Lake Michigan storm before she broke apart and sank, taking 80 lives with her. The young artist drew the picture on his classroom blackboard in chalk. An area photographer took a picture of it and prints of the photo were offered for sale. McCay recieved part of the proceeds, making it his first professional work as an illustrator. Two prints of "The Sinking of the Alpena" drawing are in the collection of the Ottawa County, Michigan Historical Society.
Plans for Winsor McCay Park
There are several key features in the plans for Winsor McCay Park. They include a large Gertie the Dinosaur statue at the entrance of the park, to welcome visitors, and a bronze statue of Winsor McCay that will be placed next to the historical marker/sign. Gertie the Dinosaur stepping-stone footprints will meander through the park, leading back to a scaled-down replica of Union School. The schoolhouse, open to the public, will include information on Winsor McCay's childhood and a blackboard in the room for children to draw on.
The location of Winsor McCay Park, next to the Spring Lake District Library, is designated on the map with the number 1. It is exactly one block away from where the McCay home once stood, designated by the number 2, at the corner of Meridian and Tolford Streets.
Other additions are sure to unfold for the park, such as additional landscaping, and picnic tables for visitors. The Spring Lake District Library features a collection of Winsor McCay books, DVD's, and informational resources.
The location of Winsor McCay Park, next to the Spring Lake District Library, is designated on the map with the number 1. It is exactly one block away from where the McCay home once stood, designated by the number 2, at the corner of Meridian and Tolford Streets.
Other additions are sure to unfold for the park, such as additional landscaping, and picnic tables for visitors. The Spring Lake District Library features a collection of Winsor McCay books, DVD's, and informational resources.
Spring Lake Winsor McCay Commitee
Meetings held at the Spring Lake District Library / 123 East Exchange Street, Spring Lake, Michigan 49456
Mark Miller Lisa Donner Kevin Collier Elizabeth Wheeler Aaron Zenz
Mark Miller Lisa Donner Kevin Collier Elizabeth Wheeler Aaron Zenz
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Winsor McCay educated at Spring Lake Union School Winsor McCay entered Spring Lake Union School as an elementary level student in the fall of 1872. The school, built in 1869, accomodated all grades. By 1880 (pictured), the structure had grown from one to two stories in size, with over 200 pupils. McCay graduated from the school in 1885.
In 1880, Winsor's teacher, Hattie Schofield, allowed him to illustrate on her classroom blackboard. Schofield was an accomplished portrait artist who recogized talent in the youth. |
The McCay home on Meridian and Toldford Streets Robert and Janet McCay came to Spring Lake, Michigan, in 1866. Robert was lured to the area by businessman Zenas Gilbert Winsor, who hired him as a deliveryman. In 1870, Robert purchased half a lot on Meridian and Tolford Streets, and built a home. The residence burned down, as the result of an area lumberyard fire, on October 8, 1871. The home was rebuilt at the same location. The McCays resided there until departing Spring Lake, in 1885. The McCay home is seen at the lower left, behind the church.
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Winsor McCay's first commercial/professional illustration: "The Sinking of The Alpena" created in 1880
The passenger steamer The SS Alpena departed the Grand Haven, Michigan port the evening of October 15, 1880, with 80 aboard. Early the next morning, a fierce Lake Michigan storm battered the vessel, breaking her apart, to sink. There were no survivors.
Shorty after the disaster, 13-year-old Winsor McCay illustrated a depiction of the steamer's fate on his classroom blackboard, using chalk and charcoal accents. An area photographer captured the image on film. Prints of the illustration were sold, with Winsor receiving a percentage. Thus, it became his first "commercial," or professional, illustration.
Two prints of the drawing, seen at left, are in area historical collections.
Shorty after the disaster, 13-year-old Winsor McCay illustrated a depiction of the steamer's fate on his classroom blackboard, using chalk and charcoal accents. An area photographer captured the image on film. Prints of the illustration were sold, with Winsor receiving a percentage. Thus, it became his first "commercial," or professional, illustration.
Two prints of the drawing, seen at left, are in area historical collections.
Spring Lake's 1870 census reveals the secret behind McCay's actual birth year
Thank 1870 Spring Lake census taker, Gaines Madison Barney, for the confusion as to what year (Zenas) Winsor McCay was born. While the month and day have been consistent throughout history, September 26, the precise year has remained a subject of debate. However, there's no debate Barney had a routine when recording children's ages. If a child's birthday was to occur within a couple of months, he rounded up to the next age. When Barney stopped at the McCay home on August 16, Winsor McCay was age 2. Since the boy's birthday would occur the following month, Barney wrote down 3. An examination of verified birth dates of other children recorded in Barney's 46 page census, conducted from August 10-18, confirms the pattern.
How West Michigan entrepreneur Zenas Gilbert Winsor figures into the McCay tale
Winsor McCay was born Zenas Winsor (originally spelled McKay) McCay, named for his father's employer, Zenas Gilbert Winsor, pictured at right. Mr. Winsor met the artist's father, Robert McCay, around 1862 in Ontario, Canada, and hired him as an employee. Mr. Winsor was living in New York at the time, but establishing a business of purchasing and shipping goods in his former hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He offered Robert McCay a delivery job that brought he and his bride, Janet, to Spring Lake in 1866. In appreciation, and due to their growing friendship, Robert McCay named his firstborn Zenas Winsor McCay. Mr. Winsor became a grandfather figure to the young artist.
It was that close association that also spawned the illustration "The Sinking of The Alpena" in 1880. Aside from operating his business, Mr. Winsor was employed as a ticket agent for the Crosby Transportation shipping line in 1875, working at the Grand Haven port, just a few miles away from Spring Lake. It was Zenas Gilbert Winsor who sold every ticket to passengers boarding the ill-fated steamer, The Alpena, on October 15, 1880. After the ship broke apart with all lives lost, Mr. Winsor was in charge of notifying families, concerning the deceased, and of making arrangements for the shipping of remains.
It was that close association that also spawned the illustration "The Sinking of The Alpena" in 1880. Aside from operating his business, Mr. Winsor was employed as a ticket agent for the Crosby Transportation shipping line in 1875, working at the Grand Haven port, just a few miles away from Spring Lake. It was Zenas Gilbert Winsor who sold every ticket to passengers boarding the ill-fated steamer, The Alpena, on October 15, 1880. After the ship broke apart with all lives lost, Mr. Winsor was in charge of notifying families, concerning the deceased, and of making arrangements for the shipping of remains.
The sinking of The Alpena wasn't a surprise for many Spring Lake area residents
The sinking of the The Alpena wasn't a surprise for many residents, upon hearing of the disaster. In fact, the condition of the ship concerned many. Crosby Transportation did little to maintain the steamer. As a result of its sinking with no survivors, lawsuits dragged on for many years, dragging Zenas G. Winsor into civil court to testify. While Mr. Winsor bore no responsibility for the maintenence of the vessel, or the disaster, the emotional toll on the man caused him to retire from virtually all business ventures shortly thereafter. This news clipping, at left, appeared in The Spring Lake Republican newspaper.
Did Spring Lake sleepwalking event influence McCay in creating Little Nemo?
There is little doubt that Winsor McCay's comic creations were influenced by things he experienced and saw in life. Is it possible, then, that a childhood classmate of the young artist, who made national news for a daring sleepwalking escapade, figured into the character Little Nemo? On the evening of July 11, 1875, Robbie Patterson, who was seven years older than McCay, attended Spring Lake Union School, and lived close by, crawled out of his second story bedroom window and took a stroll on the roof of his home.
The story, covered locally, was picked up by newspapers across the country from coast to coast, placing Spring Lake in a national spotlight.
The article read, in part: "The boy climbed to the highest point of the Gothic tower, and although the surface was very uneven, explored the whole top of the building without a misstep. After remaining upon the roof for nearly an hour, he returned to the rod, climbed down to the second story, and getting into the window of his own room, went to bed, where he was found asleep soon after. Upon being awakened, he remembered nothing of the strange trip, and was very much frightened when told where he had been."
Did this event in some small way influence the creation of Little Nemo? Perhaps.
The story, covered locally, was picked up by newspapers across the country from coast to coast, placing Spring Lake in a national spotlight.
The article read, in part: "The boy climbed to the highest point of the Gothic tower, and although the surface was very uneven, explored the whole top of the building without a misstep. After remaining upon the roof for nearly an hour, he returned to the rod, climbed down to the second story, and getting into the window of his own room, went to bed, where he was found asleep soon after. Upon being awakened, he remembered nothing of the strange trip, and was very much frightened when told where he had been."
Did this event in some small way influence the creation of Little Nemo? Perhaps.
Books on Winsor McCay's first 18 years of life as a resident of Spring Lake, Michigan
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Two books have been published exclusively highlighting Winsor McCay's period as a resident of Spring Lake, Michigan. Winsor McCay: Boyhood Dreams and Winsor McCay's The Sinking of the Alpena are written by Spring Lake Winsor McCay committee member, Kevin Scott Collier. Both paperback books, available from Amazon, are at the Spring Lake District Library to check out and read.
Winsor McCay: Boyhood Dreams focuses on McCay's life, interests, and family while growing up in Spring Lake. Winsor McCay's The Sinking of the Alpena focuses on the young artist's first "commercial" illustration and the history behind it. |
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The Spring Lake District Library Winsor McCay collection and resources
To learn more about the artist and animator, visit Spring Lake District Library, on 123 East Exchange Street, which features a collection of Winsor McCay materials. This includes a number of books about McCay by a variety of authors, as well as large volumes containing full-color reprints of his most popular comic strips. A DVD collection of McCay's animated cartoons is also available. The library has placed on display a large print of Winsor McCay's "The Sinking of the Alpena" illustration. Learn more about McCay.
