The area which is now The Pointer Room at Stafford's Pier Restaurant in
Harbor Springs, Michigan is literally "on the water". It was the boat house
for the Harbor Point Association's taxi boat, THE POINTER, which ran
between Harbor Point and the Village of Harbor Springs. Because there are
no cars allowed on the Point, THE POINTER provided a vital link for the
residents of the Association during the summer months. There were a total
of three different vessels, all named THE POINTER, which ran from 1930
until 1962.
In May 1990, Stafford Smith, founder of Stafford's Hospitality, had the
last of these gracious yachts relaunched. This completely restored POINTER
is now on display outside Stafford's Pier where people used to catch the
boat for service to the Harbor Point Hotel.
Using vintage photographs by Virgil Haynes, Harbor Springs boat builder,
Steve Van Dam spent seven months creating an authentic restoration of THE
POINTER, complete to the green-upholstered interior seating and side
curtains. He added a beautifully designed compass rose table, ice storage
area and sink to make the vessel a bit more yacht-like.
As close as Mr. Van Dam can figure, this POINTER was a work boat built in
Chessel, Michigan in 1934 with a painted wood construction typical of
Scandinavian design
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