Hancock Building and the Miracle Theatre

George Birdsey built the Hancock Building with Pentwater cream bricks reclaimed from the old Valeria Hotel, not-so-fondly described by residents as the “white elephant” (Valeria Hotel) It was constructed on that site, at the corner of Second and Hancock Streets, after the last of the Valeria structure was destroyed by fire in 1929. The Miracle Theater was built inside the Hancock Building and was financed at least in part, by public subscription.

An interesting thing about this building are the Art Deco streamlined details of the 1930s. The two plain symmetrical wings with their vertical ribbon windows draw your eyes upward to the decorative brickwork at the parapet— a rare Art Deco building in the middle of the historic village.

Although the Miracle opened for movies officially in July 1930, the real grand opening was held during the 1930 Homecoming Week. That was when they dedicated the new Community Building funded through the efforts of the Pentwater Women’s Club. That summer over 1,000 visitors, representing every state in the union, attended Homecoming. Perhaps Birdsey named the new venue the Miracle theater because it, like the famous phoenix, rose from the ashes.

A 1930s advertisement proclaimed “all talking” movies at the Miracle. The popular theater was also used by the high school band and the high school theater group for concerts and plays and high school graduation ceremonies. On April 26, 1933, the Pentwater High School Senior Class presented the play “The Whole Town’s Talking” at the Miracle Theater. That same year in May, the Pentwater grammar school children performed “The Merry Land of Magic,” replete with princesses and giants and a large cast of townspeople. In the 1950s, the theater promised one big screen and a “crying room” for moms, so they didn’t have to miss the movie (and certainly they meant crying babies not crying moms). The theater manager in 1934 was William Yonkman, at that time, a ten-year Pentwater resident who believed in community service. Yonkman was the brother of U.S. Congressman Bartel Jonkman (note the name spelling difference) who preceded Gerald R. Ford as the district’s congressman until unseated by Ford in the 1940s. Yonkman served as village clerk and president, was a member of the Oceana Board of Supervisors, and ran for State Representative.

Today, the Hancock Building has a wrap-around stylish, modern balcony and railing. The building includes condominiums, public restrooms, an architect’s office, and a flower shop.

Selected Sources: “Pentwater Children Present Pleasant Operetta,” Ludington Daily News 5/21/1944. “Pentwater Seniors will offer Drama,” Grand Rapids Press 4/26/1933. “Annual Pentwater Homecoming is Set,” Ludington Daily News 7/5/1931.