The General Squier Memorial Park is a park located at 4725 South Mill Road in Dryden Township in southeastern Lapeer County, Michigan. It was designated as a Michigan Historic Site on June 6, 1977 and later added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 5, 1986 as the Dryden Community Country Club–General Squier Historic Park Complex. The site is also known locally as the General George Squier Club or General Squier County Park.
General Squier held a great love for his community and showed this by establishing a country club in 1918 for the people of the entire area. The club was originally known as the "Golden Rule Club" for the general's only rule was that visitors should leave the grounds and equipment as they found them. In 1918, Squier purchased the old mill, built in 1871, and converted it into a cottage. In 1919 a building known as Forest Hall was constructed and served as the main meeting, dance and banquet area of the park. Other structures include a variety of rustic shelters, teahouses and a look-out tower. The general spent many hours of creative work in the tower as well as offering its use to the public.
The oldest structure on the 80 acre (33 hectare) site is a three-story timber mill dating to 1871. Other structures include a large single-story structure known as Forest Hall and a cottage, both built in 1917, and a two-story wooden lookout tower and tea house built in 1920. Other structures also contribute to the site's architecture. The complex served as the summer residence of Dryden native Major General George Owen Squier (1865–1934). After retiring from active military service, Squier converted his property into Lapeer County's first (and only) privately owned park—what he referred to as a free "Country Club for Country People." When he died, the property was renamed in his honor and continues to this day as a free recreational facility, which now includes a waterpark situated next to the old mill. Lapeer County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Commission now administers this quaint little country club.
Registered Site L0534
Location: 4725 South Mill Road
Dryden Twp, Lapeer County, Michigan