Parade in Watervliet – 1943

 North Berrien Historical Museum is always interested in photos, stories or information sharing.  The museum can be contacted at 269-468-3330 or by email to info@northberrienhistory.org.

From the photo collection at the North Berrien Historical Museum

300 Coloma Ave., Coloma, MI

The Paw Paw River Journal

Losing pets

We just heard from one of our favored daughters that they lost a pet. Gato was a huge cat… I don’t know how he got so big, but in the cat world he was gargantuan. And he lived for some 15 years, which was pretty good for someone his size. Naturally the family is upset. When we lose a valued pet, it is almost like a family member has gone, crossing the Rainbow Bridge into the next life.

Then I remembered a while back I had a column on this very subject. It appeared in The Tri-City Record, published in Watervliet in substantially the same form. So I got it out to send to them as a sort of tribute to a friend who had departed this life. Then I thought… how about other people? Some of you may have lost a pet that was a close member of the family. So this is for all of you too!

Lately I have been thinking about the larger picture regarding this earthly existence… what comes after our life.  And all of the magnificent animals we have known over the years… what happens to them.  They have been such an integral part of our journey.  One of my favorite writers of poetry, James Dickey, has speculated on it too.  He wrote a poem, “The Heaven of Animals.”  Having owned several dogs in his hunting and fishing days, he poses a pretty convincing case that our companions in joy and sorrow… those loyal pets… must also have a stake in something beyond this earthly existence.

Pets such as the little Schnauzer, Muffin, our son had… here was a comedian if there ever was one. She loved to chase fire crackers… scare the mailman when he came to the door…and could hear the opening of the cookie jar from anywhere in the house.

And the little black and white wriggler named Molly.  Owned by oldest daughter and husband, she was one of the children in their family, and wanted… demanded… every treat and privilege that the small humans received. She refused to be a second class citizen!

And the Irish setter, Jefferson, owned by next-to-oldest daughter. It was for one time arranged that she should enjoy motherhood. She produced so many little red-headed puppies there were not enough faucets to go around. This dog thought she was human, and took to motherhood rather indifferently. When we came into the driveway, she would rush to meet us… dropping puppies off all along the way.

And Toby, that beautiful German Short Hair you see at the heading of my column each week. Ostensibly belonging to our youngest daughter, she was really half our dog. Whenever her owner wanted to go on vacation, or one time when she lived in a pet less apartment complex, Toby would come to our house on vacation.  I can still remember working at my desk in lamplight… she came and sat next to me, laying her head on my knee and looking up with soulful eyes.  She was saying to me: “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be… you are my person!”

I’ve not said anything about the cats our children have owned.  Admittedly, I am a dog person.  But there have been a few of the feline persuasion that insisted on being reckoned with. The only one I will mention here is an elderly spinster tiger cat, owned by next-to-oldest daughter and husband.  Whiskers refused to be taken for granted, and insisted on living life on her terms. When thwarted in one of her enterprises, I have watched her sit and swear.  Yes… she was swearing… I could tell by the look on her face… could almost hear the naughty words she was saying!

All the pets we have known… none of them completely ours… but always available when we wanted animal companionship. I would like to think that writer James Dickey is onto something.  In “The Heaven of Animals,” he speculates that for them heaven must be a place of perfection. The landscape bursts with flowers in the richest woods, the deepest fields. And it is a place not without blood. For the predators have perfect teeth, and the victims know in a perfect joy that this is also their destiny.

In the poem he says, “If they have lived in a wood, it is a wood. If they have lived on plains, it is grass rolling under their feet forever…” Isn’t that something to consider… a place of perfection! I know there are mean dogs in this world. But mostly they have been made mean by human beings for mean purposes.  The best dogs I have known had magnificent personalities and joyfully shared in their masters’ triumphs and tragedies.

Surely there must be such a place of woods and fields forever, where the German Short Hair that sat by me at my desk, resting her chin on my knee, can run and run with supple joints. The Irish setter will forever range grassy meadows to flush the wary quail. Little Muffin will chase mailmen to her heart’s content, and Molly, the black and white wriggler will have a surfeit of treats dropping from the dinner table.

And what about Whiskers… her tiger coat will ripple over smooth joints no longer wracked by arthritis… and there will be no swearing… just mice, mice, mice everywhere in the meadow. All of our pets that have shared our lives… and our memories… they deserve to share more than that. May God grant that such is the case.

And now Gato has crossed The Rainbow Bridge… he can roam the Elysian Fields forever… there will never be a longing now for more food. His smooth coat will ripple with pleasure. He has joined all of the other pets that became part of our lives. They share our joys, our sorrows, and have been companions in good and bad times. Without them we would be lesser persons as we weave golden threads into the tapestry of our lives in these storybook towns along the Paw Paw River!

Coloma Library News

Baby and Me Program

The library will be offering a “Baby and Me” program on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. beginning on March 24 and continuing through April 28. This program is for babies, young toddlers and their parents/caregivers. Join Miss Holly for a short story, interactive play and songs as well as an opportunity to introduce babies to the library. If you have any questions please call the library at 468-3431.

Fandom Fest

Announcing Fandom Fest! On Saturday, April 1 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at The Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College all geeks, nerds, and fans of nerdy, geeky culture are invited to this “comic-con” style event that will host artists, exhibitors, a gaming space, maker activities, a LARPing demo, costume contests, and more. Do not miss out on this unique, free event. Fandom Fest will appeal mostly to adults and teens, younger children who wish to attend with their families are encouraged to come between 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. for a special family time. For more information visit the event’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/swmfandomfest.

Read with Spirit

The library is offering a program for children to read to Spirit, a certified therapy dog, on Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Children may sign-up for a 15-minute slot by stopping in at the front desk or calling the library at 468-3431. Reading to therapy dogs is a fun way for children to build reading confidence and fluency.

Story Hour

Story Hour meets on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Join Miss Amy for a story, craft and song time. Story Hour is a free weekly program for toddlers and preschool-aged children, it does not require sign-up.

Book Club

The Coloma Library Book Club is meeting on Thursday, March 30 at 5:30 p.m. The title to read before the discussion is “A Tale for the Time Being” by Ruth Ozeki.  Generally, depending on demand there are titles available for check-out at the front desk. The book club regularly meets every other Thursday and is always looking for new members.

Watervliet District Library News

Story Hour:

Wed. 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. and

Thurs. 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

This class is offered for ages 3 – 5.  Join us for stories, crafts, show-and-tell and snacks every week through the end of April.

Toddler Time:

Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. in April & May

Thirty minutes of music, stories and activities for little ones age 18 – 36 months designed to inspire the love of books and learning.

Yoga:

Monday mornings at 9:00 a.m. and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m.

Teen Table Project for March

Teen Tech is on the Table!  Pick up a tech challenge sheet; complete the tasks to be entered into $20 Amazon gift card prize.

Third Monday Book Club:

Mar. 20, 7 – 8 p.m.

Check out your copy of the March pick, The Couple Next Door, and hold on to your seat. Goodreads calls this Shari Lapina novel, “fast paced and addictive.” Join us on March 20 and let us know if you agree. A thriller of a book awaits!

Adult Coloring Class:

Last Monday of every month,

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Savor a relaxing evening of creativity just for grown-ups.  We’ll help you unwind with colored pencils & paper; tunes and edibles, too.

COLOMA

100 years ago – 1917

 Plans are being made for this year’s Chautauqua. Coloma will be entertained with singers, lecturers, concerts and a clay modeler.

The marriage of Mrs. Hulday Enders and Clarence Auble occurred at the home of Justice Miller. Following their two weeks’ trip, they will take up residence in the bride’s farm.

Several Coloma ladies attended the Berrien County Suffrage Association meeting.  A sale will commence to raise funds to apply on the county’s $1,000 pledged amount.

60 years ago – 1957

 The prospects of landing high in the Little Eight conference baseball standings appear bright for the Coloma Comets. Coach Patterson has his hopefuls practicing.

Judith Kibler won the junior high school declamation contest. Second place winner was Fiona Pitcher and Richard Helbling took third place.

George Smart, local band director, was rushed to Mercy hospital after he was stricken in the band room. Roland Krell drove him and Smart will undergo examinations.

Missionary Miss Jennie Ball spoke to 100 women on her work in the Far East. She displayed a collection of ivory, ebony, silk and other Indian articles. Refreshments were served.

30 years ago – 1987

 Groundbreaking for the new fire station took place. Those participating were: Fred Martin, William Spearitt, Jack O’Brien, Miss Coloma Sara Oderkirk, Mayor Glenn Randall and Township Supervisor Rodney Krieger.

Reconstruction of the Defield Road bridge has been included in the critical bridge funds for Berrien County. No date has been set.

The Disney Channel – Free Sneak-A-Peek Week – Watch on Cable Channel 19.

Mrs. Lois Wier, school nurse, was honored at a retirement party in the Coloma Junior High School Media Center. Her duties included screenings, detection of problems, consulting with teachers and home visits. Lois also instituted a dental health program. In retirement, she plans to “take it easy.”

HARTFORD

100 years ago – 1917

 Through the kindness of the committee, Mrs. Elinora Chamberlin, Mrs. Fay Dunnington and Miss Marie Heald, the members of the Hartford Woman’s Club and their guests heard a very interesting lecture yesterday, given by Miss Lou Eleanor Colby of New York. Miss Colby is a lecturer, author, artist and art critic. Under the title of “Color in Costume and in the Home”, she sketched, told opposite stories, dressed paper dolls, discoursed learnedly on the spectra, and showed the application of knowledge of it in everyday life. She said that color was one of the first things to attract the eye of a baby and continues to be equally attractive all through life. The influence of color can be very great; she maintains and should always be used with great care in decorations in the home. Red is exciting and stimulating; blue in great quantities is depressing. Yellow is cheerful; and green the most restful color.

Mrs. Grant Van Woert and son, Charles Van Woert, have closed their bakery on west Main Street and the business has been taken over by Charles Unrath, who owns the building and the greater part of the equipment. Mr. Unrath opened the bakery again last night and will conduct it for a time.

75 years ago – 1942

 Twenty young men from the Hartford area were called this week to service in the U.S. Army under the selective service program. Twelve of the boys left Monday and were inducted after a physical examination at Kalamazoo. Eight are scheduled to receive their final examinations Friday. All of the men will enter service immediately.

On Tuesday morning several members of the American Literature class presented a fifteen minute radio skit entitled, “The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table.” The story dealt with the romance of Oliver Wendell Holmes.

The senior Girl Scouts, Tuesday evening, went roller skating on the sidewalks of Hartford, as some of you might have noticed or heard. It was the first time in a long while that several members have skated but no one was seriously injured.

50 years ago – 1967

 Fifteen girls will compete for the title of Miss Hartford 1967 in a contest to be held Friday, March 31, at the high school gymnasium. Miss Cindy Cade, Miss Hartford 1966, will crown her successor.

The Hartford Garden Club met at the home of Mrs. Richard Conklin on Friday. The program for the day was “Basic Landscape Gardening,” given by Mrs. Clare Lamb.

WATERVLIET

90 years ago – 1927

 Dr. F.W. Brown again demonstrated that he has skill as a politician as well as a physician and was re-elected as mayor of Watervliet for the third time by a plurality of 47 over his nearest opponent.

W.J. Kiefth has returned from Grand Rapids and re-opened his upholstery and repair shop in the old cider mill building on East St. Joseph Street.

Advertising on Mar. 25, 1927: Hats for Men, $3.50 to $5.00; Shirts for Men, $2.00 to $3.95; Silk Umbrellas, $5.50 at H.G. Geisler. Ahhh – the good old days!

60 years ago – 1957

 Private Roger King arrived in Watervliet from Fort Carson, Colorado following the completion of his basic training. He will report at Fort Benning, Georgia on Aril 5, 1957 for further training.

Pfc. Robert Atherton, who has been stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, arrived home on March 22, 1957, accompanied by his brother Jack, who had gone to Texas to drive back with his brother.

Rev. and Mrs. W. Thompson are the proud parents of their baby girl, Ester Elaine, born March 21, 1957 weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces.

30 years ago – 1987

 Jim Kolosowsky of Watervliet had an outstanding season wrestling at Grand Valley State College. Kolosowsky, a sophomore, wrestled at 134 pounds. His team, the Lakers, coached by Jim Scott, won the Great Lakes Conference meet and tied with Ferris State for the GLIAC crown.

Panther ingenuity is what Doug Mundt, Louis Brule and Paul Pipkins used to save the Watervliet School District $800 by taking the movie projector to the wood shop and using an air hose they removed a large piece of film from the track. The movie projector is now in good working order.

Coast Guard Fireman Apprentice Steven J. Erwin, son of Walter and Beverly Erwin, was graduated from Coast Guard recruit training. Erwin attended the eight-week training at the Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May, New Jersey. Among the subjects he studied were first aid, Coast Guard history and seamanship, communication, damage-control firefighting and physical conditioning.