Hayward Park was an early 1900s summer boarding house originally owned and operated by Ambrose D. Hayward, for whom it was named.
Ambrose Darwin Hayward was born in Augusta, Maine June 8, 1825, the son of Arza and Temperance (nee Matthews) Hayward. He married Martha Wiley in Lowell, Massachusetts Oct. 15, 1851. Together they had eight children, five of whom lived to adulthood: Martha (1856-1939); twins Temperance (1858-1938) and Arza Sidney (1858-1947); Charles (1863-1938) and Nettie (1867-1955).
They were living in Chicago in 1856, and as he was in the lumber business, he maintained a close business relationship with Whitehall, having extensive dealings with the Covell brothers and interest in one of the mills. Ambrose bought land in the White Lake area in 1860 and eventually created Hayward Farm.
Ambrose died in Whitehall Dec. 15, 1910. Martha died in Chicago at the home of her daughter Temperance March 12, 1912. They are both buried in Oakhurst Cemetery.
Following his death in 1910, and that of his wife in 1912, Ambrose’s oldest daughter, Martha Jennie, and her husband, William Garber, continued to operate the White Lake resort hotel known as Hayward Park for a number of years.
Prior to coming to the area, Garber was in the grocery business in Lyons, Illinois from 1892 to 1906. He was born in Buffalo, New York Jan. 1, 1842. He married Martha Jennie Hayward in Chicago Nov. 14, 1888, and they had two sons and two daughters.
After coming to this area, Garber was a member of the Muskegon board of supervisors representing Fruitland Township in 1916 and 1917. He also served a few years as a member of District No. 5 school board.
William Garber died April 9, 1932 and his wife Jennie Hayward Garber died Oct. 31, 1939. They are both buried in Oakhurst Cemetery.
