06-01-2017 Tri-City Record Area History Page

Photo of inside Steve’s Roller Rink (Steve Bearty)

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 Avenue, Coloma

The Paw Paw River Journal

D Day memories

There is a cemetery at Normandy, France… it is a small piece of America. The reason?  It is the final resting place of almost 10,000 American boys who participated in the D Day Invasion of Europe exactly 73 years ago according to my calculation.  This is almost the very anniversary!  And it shouldn’t pass without our marking it as a special day of remembrance!

What’s so special about Normandy?  It was the beginning of the end for World War II in France and Germany.  Taking back all of Europe would not be easy, but we had several local boys who were willing to do the job.  I’d like to mention a few of whom I know, and my thanks to Karl Bayer and Don Oderkirk for calling one of them to my attention.  Both Karl and Don participated in the later campaigns of the Vietnam War.

The cemetery at Normandy is beautiful… grassy, silent, and well tended.  Many Americans visit there every year.  There are probably more, but I know of one local boy from Coloma who is buried there.  He is the one Don called to our attention.  Rows upon rows of crosses, and on one of them is inscribed the name Stanley Suwarsky.  And he was most likely the first to be killed in that operation.

Some had to be the first to go in.  They were called The Pathfinder Group and consisted of volunteer paratroopers who were dropped in silently to mark the area for all the later troops who would parachute behind the enemy lines and disrupt their communications.  Stan Suwarsky was one of these.  And he deserves a special thank you prayer from all of us.  According to reports he was shot while still in his parachute harness, thus becoming most likely our first casualty.

A friend of mine, Ray Sreboth, remembered Stan.  He was one of ‘the big kids’ at Boyer School when Ray’s family moved out from Chicago to a farm near Coloma.  Ray said that Stan was big, athletic, strong and handsome… a person to admire.  He looked forward every day to walking to school, because he passed the Suwarsky farm and would meet Stan and his siblings to walk with them.  One of Stan’s sisters was younger and in Ray’s class.  These are the guys who invaded Europe and won the war there.

There are several others I knew (God rest their souls).  One was Jack Larsen.  He was my principal when I was teaching at St. Joe High and was instrumental in my getting a fellowship for a year at Yale University.  He landed in one of the first waves of men at Normandy, and he had no more than started to wade ashore when he was hit in the elbow by enemy fire and put back on the ship to be hospitalized in England.  He said it was really a ‘million dollar wound,’ because many in his group never made it through the landing.

Then there was a good friend of mine, Russell Kime.  He went through ‘The Battle of the Bulge,’ and was wounded.  But he never talked much about it.  Later he was also one of the last in our area to contract polio… just before the Salk vaccine came out.  How ironic to make it through such horrible battles, only to be laid low later by a polio bug!  We visited him just before he left this world, a patient in assisted living.  He still had his sense of humor, and we talked about old times.

The last veteran I want to mention is Manley Yeckley.  He was one of twins, large and jovial, and he and Irving were among the ‘big kids’ when I was going to school here in Hartford.  His dad was Roy Yeckley, holding the office of Justice of the Peace here in Hartford above a restaurant on Main Street for many years.  Manley went into service and lost his life in The Battle of the Bulge.  In charge of a machine gun crew, he volunteered to go (under fire) for supplies and ammunition.  Crawling back to their position, he was hit by enemy fire, but made it in with the supplies before he died.  He was awarded The Silver Star posthumously.

If you have never visited a National Cemetery, you should!  Guess I began the habit of visiting them when I was a child.  My dad was an amateur Civil War historian and on vacations we went to many of them.  Of course, the greatest one of all is Arlington, at Washington, D.C.   We have such memorials from every war in which we have lost men and women.  We also have one over near Battle Creek.  They are all so well tended and peaceful.  I’ll have to admit, the older the war the less it seems like a cemetery to me, and the more like a beautiful park.  Places like the Revolutionary War battlefields and cemeteries are more worn down and park-like.

We even have one of our own from that first war.  On the west side of Hartford is the Pioneer Cemetery.   A Revolutionary War veteran is buried there.  Francis DeLong has been resting in that hallowed ground for more than 150 years!  He was once a vital, young man who took his musket and went to fight the British Redcoats for our freedom. And he came back here to settle on a farm northwest of Hartford.  Birds sing in that quiet cemetery, and when I am there, I get the same feeling… lost life… lost in a good cause, that we might live in freedom!

When I am in one of those final resting places, hallowed ground, I have a sense of all those servicemen and women.  Something of them is still there.  They gave all they could, their very lives.  Never will they come home to embrace a loved one, watch their little children grow.  They will forever remain young, strong, vital in our memories.  Our country was built on their sacrifice.  Because of them we still live in freedom, weaving golden threads into the tapestry of our lives in these storybook towns!

Coloma Library News

Coloma Lioness Club Donation

 The library has been able to add quite a few large print titles because of a generous donation from the Coloma Lioness Club. The library is appreciative for the continued support they have received from the Coloma Lioness Club throughout the years. Stop in and see what new large print titles are available.

Summer Reading Club

“Build a Better World… READ!!”

Readers of all ages are invited to explore how books can be used to “Build a Better World” during the Summer Reading Program. The 2017 Summer Reading Program is open to young people, babies through young adult, with programs, prize drawings, storytimes, a reading club and more. Registration for “Build a Better World” begins on June 5. For more information, call the library at 468-3431 or visit www.colomapubliclibrary.net.

Book Club

The Coloma Library Book Club is meeting on Thursday, June 8 at 5:30 p.m. The title to read before the discussion is “Physics of the Future” by Michio Kaku.  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.

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.

Watervliet District Library News

 LEGO donations needed – any and all LEGOS not used anymore, take them to the library.

Summer Reading Program – Build a Better World, June 12 – July 30, 2017 – Thursdays for all ages and Make it Mondays for K-6 graders and their families.

The events for Summer Reading Program:

June 15 – Shake, Rattle & Roll with Dynamic Assem

June 22 – Cup Stacking with Jim Merrills

Jun 29 – Wildlife Safari

Jul 6 – Dr. Tom’s Silent Theatre

Jul 13 – Upcycle, recycle & bicycle: Earth fest

Jul 20 – Build a Better World with Music Lady

Jul 27 – Pizza Party

The events for Make-it Mondays:

Jun 12 – build it with building squares

Jun 19 – Build it with LEGO

Jun 26 – Paper Mache Sculptures

Jul 3 – Build it with TP rolls and straws

Jul 10 – Paper Towel Marble Runs

Jul 17 – Build it with Cups & Plates

Jul 24 – Inventor’s Box

This year, the library is pleased to partner with Watervliet Public Schools to provide free lunches for kids & teens following each Thursday program.

Michigan Notable Book Tour will grace the library on June 26, 2017 with Dustin M. Hoffman, author of “One-Hundred-Knuckled Fist: Stories” winner of the 2015 Prairie Schooner Book Prize. He brings to life the narratives of Midwestern blue-collar workers. Readers are invited to peek behind the curtain of the invisible, but ever-present, “working stiff” as Hoffman reveals their lives in full complexity, offering their gruff voices without censorship. Yet many will identify with the characters at the heart of these stories that work with their hands and strive to escape invisibility while never losing sight of their own human value.

Yoga every Monday morning at 9:00 and Wednesday evening at 7:00

COLOMA

100 years ago – 1917

The Pony Contest now has over thirty boys and girls entered. The contestants are desirous of your help in securing votes.

Coloma bore out its reputation for patriotism in the celebration of Memorial Day. The parade was under the direction of Comrade W.A. Baker, who rode a white charger. It was the longest parade ever, extending from the cemetery to the business district.

60 years ago – 1957

Principal Victor Wier presented certificates of merit to seniors during senior class day. Judith Bachman, Janice Freier and Jacqlyn Stoll were among recipients.

The Comets fell back on the losing side of the ledger when Hartford scored four runs in the seventh inning to defeat them 6 to 4. William Leedy, Ronald Clark and Bob Baiers gave it their all.

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse E. Shine observed their golden wedding anniversary at the Furman room of the First Congregational Church. Mrs. Shine was the first traveling vocal music teacher in Berrien County. Mr. Shine was employed at the Watervliet Paper Mill.

30 years ago – 1987

Martin Quigley Jr. was appointed as a commissioner, filling the vacancy left by Vicki Cox. He was sworn in by Clerk Shirley Eggermont.

Susan Olney receives the CHS Green & Gold Award, announced Principal Harold Wheeler. Recipients possess outstanding school citizenship, leadership and accomplishment and personality.

Miss Leigh Ann Turner was named 4th runner-up to Miss Michigan National Teen-Ager Pageant.

The Patrice School of Dance will perform their 28th recital. The Coloma Junior Class is sponsor and receives all proceeds. Over the last twenty years, proceeds have totaled $10,068.

We Asked You… “Should Jim & Tammy Bakker be allowed back in the PTL?” A big NO comes from Geraldine Nicholson, Jim Frazier, Mike Stewart, Betty Schneider, Mike Yoho, and Ben Gale.

HARTFORD

100 years ago – 1917

The affairs of commencement will monopolize public attention in Hartford next week when fifteen members of the senior class of the Hartford High School will receive the diplomas which mark the completion of their high school careers. Two vacant chairs will be evidence in the class circle attesting to the absence of two high school boys who have responded to the call to the colors and who are now wearing the uniform of Uncle Sam’s army.

Beneath cloudy skies but with a kindly postponement of rain, Hartford paid a fitting tribute to the soldier dead this morning. The attendance was the largest in years. The students of the public school made the best showing they have made in years. A total of 265 pupils were in line, carrying flowers to strew on the soldier’s graves and they were headed by 27 Boy Scouts under the direction of Rev. T. Porter Bennett.

75 years ago – 1942

The Hartford Woman’s Club is being entertained by Mrs. Lucy Champion and her daughter, Ethel Champion.

The American Legion Auxiliary rummage sale is planned for two days. Those who wish to contribute to the sale are asked to telephone 73 or 61 and the donations will be picked up. The sale will be in the village council.

Lt. Thomas Pollard spent the weekend at home on leave from Fort Benjamin Harrison where he is stationed while receiving instructions on the duties of a chaplain. Mr. Pollard conducted the Sunday morning services at the Keeler and Hartford Methodist churches.

50 years ago – 1967

Two Hartford residents will staff the new Hartford office of First Savings Association when it opens in late June. Appointment of Gale Weberg as manager and Mrs. Roger Sexton as head teller was announced by Harry S. Palmer, executive vice president of First Savings. Weberg has lived in Hartford since 1960. His wife is the former Myra Smith. They have three sons. Mrs. Sexton is the wife of Roger Sexton, a high school teacher. She formerly was employed at Monsanto Agricultural Center at Hartford.

Summer band program will begin June 19 and run through July 28. During the six weeks program senior band will meet from 7 to 9pm on Mondays. Junior band will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30am to 11:30am.

Petitions seeking a special election for the first amendment to Hartford’s three-year-old city charter were filed last week with City Clerk Louise Engle. The petitions seek to vote on making the positions of city clerk, city treasurer and city assessor elective rather than appointive, and specifying that one person cannot hold more than one of those offices.

WATERVLIET

90 years ago – 1927

Recently Louie Warren of south Watervliet had a piece of glass removed from his foot that he had been carrying around for thirty-six years. When he was a boy, Mr. Warren ran a piece of glass into his heel while walking around barefooted. The foreign substance, which was a quarter of an inch in size, had given him no trouble for many years until recently. It had worked its way around to the side of the foot and began to hurt. He finally went to a surgeon who cut it out.

Five Watervliet students graduated from Western State Normal – Rex Clark and Raymond Moody received BA degrees, Keith Elliott received a BS degree, Ruth A. Healy received a teaching certificate and Alma Malkowski received a limited teaching certificate.

Announcement has been made that Clarence Harter is returning to his former position in charge of the book mill at the Watervliet Paper Company. This will make a strong combination whereby C.O. Thome will be in charge of construction and maintenance, Jacob Kuss in charge of the coating department and Mr. Harter of the book division.

60 years ago – 1957

Miss Donna Kay Collins, Watervliet, student at Michigan State University, was initiated into Kappa Phi Sorority at the university.

Arthur Helweg, Watervliet, received word this week that he has been awarded a $230 scholarship for the Naval Division of Culver Military Academy summer term. In addition to the academic review he will participate in music, band and voice and be a member of the Culver Chapel Choir. His Naval training will be in communication. He was sworn into the U.S. Naval Reserves by his father, Commander Otto Helweg. Arthur reached his 17th birthday the week before.

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Cheshire, Watervliet, are the proud parents of their baby boy, Michael David, born June 3, 1957 and weighed 6 pounds, 1/2 ounce.

30 years ago – 1987

On June 4, 1987 a pipe bomb exploded and temporarily cut off the water supply to the Watervliet Paper Company. Ronald James Kehoe, Watervliet, called local police and confessed to planting the explosive device in a well housing near Hays Park in Watervliet.

James H. Keech, a veteran Watervliet teacher, was honored during a Governor’s Dinner on May 26, 1987. An expert on Japanese language and culture, Keech is one of only nine Michigan teachers chosen to participate in a teacher exchange program with Shiga, Japan. The program is endorsed by the Michigan Department of Education and is included as a part of the Global Education program.

On June 5, 1987 during the 98th WHS commencement exercises, it was announced that 30 of the WHS graduating seniors were awarded scholarships.