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October 11th
Second Saturday Series with Kate Ptak: Life & Accomplishments of W.P. Kavanaugh
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Join us for the 2025-2026 Second Saturday Series with Kate Ptak: Life & Accomplishments of W.P. Kavanaugh.

We will delve into the story of W.P. Kavanaugh (1870-1932), an exceptional individual whose impact
was felt deeply in the community of Bay City, and
beyond. Though he passed away in 1932, leaving grandchildren who never knew him personally, his legacy as a leader and innovator lives on.

W.P. Kavanaugh was a true man of his times, recognizing and seizing the incredible opportunities that early 20th-century America offered. He began his career in the heart of the Great Lakes' greatest
fishery, Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron, at a time when these waters were a major source of freshwater fish globally. Recognizing the high demand for freshwater fish, he quickly became a major player in the commercial fish industry.

W.P. was a savvy businessman and entrepreneur who built a series of five fish houses from Bay City to Alpena to process and ship fish caught by others. He was a leader in the commercial fishing industry,
heading associations and committees, and an articulate spokesman who used the press to raise public awareness of important issues.

Outside the fish industry, W.P. tried real estate development, when he established the Aplin Beach Resort community on Lake Huron close to the old Wenona Park that is now the Aplin Beach neighborhood at the northern end of Patterson Road.

Beyond his business acumen, W.P. was also a conservationist who fought against pollution of waterways by companies including Dow Chemical, and a champion for the riparian rights of waterfront
property owners. He was a good citizen, deeply involved in the greater Bay City community, and a devoted family man.

This lecture is the culmination of dedicated ,albeit amateur, research, building upon the foundational work of Donna and John Kavanaugh, who began gathering information about W.P. in 1989. We are excited to share the full story of this remarkable man, a "mover and shaker" of his era, with you.


We hope to see you there!


Event Sponsor: ROWLEYS WHOLESALE


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