South Shore Marina

South Shore Marine finds its genesis in the ambitions of a guy named Harry Pillinger, back in the late 30’s. Recognizing a need for some sort of commercial marina service, he went into action. The property adjacent to the WL Yacht Club was owned by a certain Mrs Olson, who ran a small restaurant at the top of the hill (Olson’s Nook). He bargained with her, and agreed on a price of $2000 for the waterfront lot (75ft of frontage). Securing a small bank loan, Harry went to work, building a rough 8×12′ shack on the beach, which featured a removable, one-plank pier. He was in business. Skipper’s Landing was born!He fashioned a spartan living renting sail boats (three ancient A Scows, once part of the WLYC fleet) and power boats. He and his wife, Stella, finished the first marina building in ’43. Then he got summoned by the Navy to in the Pacific theater. Returning from his tour of duty in ’46, he and Stella improved the operation substantially, expanding the building, and the dock facilities, while moving into boat sales and repair, plus storage. He also installed a marine railway, and built sheet piling in front of the building to prevent erosion. In ’54 a large display room went atop the 60×120′ storage building, which became a showroom for boats, motors, marine hardware, and clothing. From there on it continued as a beloved fixture on White Lake’s south shore for every kind of boater; whether seeking fuel for a day trip to the Magic Dune (and iced beverages for sustenance), or weary seafaring adventurers in need of safe haven for a few hours or a few days, or local sailors who wanted to hang out in the retail space upstairs (and shoot the breeze with the Old Salt himself, or his colorful wife), shopping for repair supplies or utilitarian clothing for foul weather forays. Skipper’s Landing became a nexus for the local nautical culture, forging a symbiotic relationship with their neighbor a few feet to the East – the WL Yacht Club.In the late 80’s, Harry and Stella sold the business to the enterprising Bruce Baetzel, a scow sailor who’d grown up loitering around the Yacht Club and Pillinger’s as a young dock rat. He renamed the enterprise (South Shore Marina), and expanded the dock amenities with a gift store and a waterside cantina, often featuring live entertainment – usually strumming singer-songwriter types, crooning about rum and lost love. Bruce maintained Harry’s tradition in every way possible, including being a requisite waterfront character of the highest order. He carried the torch – and then passed it.Now the marina enters a new phase, with new owners and managers, in the process getting a welcome facelift and refurbishing, both above, and beneath, the water surface. Long may it serve the boating community in this magic little stretch of White Lake shoreline!