09-21-2017 Tri-City Area History Page

Construction of Hotel Vincent, Benton Harbor 1924

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

This world is not my home!

Once in a while I have some long thoughts… and I hope, Dear Readers, that you won’t mind my sharing them with you. Lately I have had this picture in my mind that we are living in a huge mansion. And it was originally full of people we mostly knew. That was a safe, sunny feeling. We knew our world.

But over the years it has changed. Gradually, gradually the people we know have left. The house is just as full, but they are different people now. How can us help being a little sad… especially when some of those missing now were so close to us then. We try not to dwell on it, but I believe that these memories may be at least part of their immortality. They still live on in our thoughts. So, when they come into my mind occasionally, or when I dream about those long gone, I welcome them.

In my somewhat misspent life, I have been on many college campuses. And I have always enjoyed talking with the ministers, priests, and rabbis who serve the spiritual needs of college kids. They are a special breed… have to be to deal with those questing young minds. At the University of Michigan I talked with a priest at St. Mary’s Chapel. I wanted to know what his idea is of the afterlife! He said perhaps it is like before birth… a place of perfect contentment and peace. That is interesting, but none of us really knows.

So my memory ramblings are kind of exemplified by a story… one pre-Memorial Day, Marion and I went to Arlington cemetery north of Bangor. There my Grandpa and Grandma Davis, and my Uncle A. Everett Davis are buried. We had geraniums to plant, and did so with wind sighing through the huge grandfather maple overhead.

Afterwards I said, “I want to lean against the fender here and sort out some ideas for a few minutes.”

Marion got in the car and said, “All right, go ahead.”

This is what was in my mind: I looked at the monument… old, flaking off. And it is a shaft, shaped like a church pulpit, with an open book resting on it… a Bible, I’m sure. Silas W. Davis—died 1913, Ida Davis—died 1929, A. Everett Davis—died 1951. The plot looks old and undisturbed. The graves are all a little sunken in… probably none of them were buried in vaults. Their coffins have fallen in, and they are all going, or have gone back to the earth. They look as though they have been there for a long time, and they have! They have become part of the Grandfather Tree, the huge old maple whose branches overshadow our family plot.

Now, if part (at least) of our immortality is based on our being remembered and having changed something by our being here on earth, how much is left of them? After being buried now 104 years, 88 years, and 68 years respectively.

There are very few people, if any, in Bangor who would still remember them. After my family is all gone, will there be anyone here on earth who knows what they looked like? Probably not, except for family pictures in our archives. Does that mean then that they are totally gone?

No, they are still alive in that some of their genes have been passed along to us and through us to our children. My Grandma Davis was an artist. Likewise was my Dad. I see in some of our grandchildren that same artistic bent. In this park-like cemetery there is still the flaking monument… some dates.  Likewise some legal records preserved here and there. And now my stories, which may or may not survive through the ages.

I hope somewhere they are all in another existence. No one knows what it is like. Each of us will find out some day by saying, “Well, here I am in another existence, and I am really here!”

Or the extinguishing of the light, the eternal cocoon wrapping in silence will be the answer… and in our unknowingness, we will know, or not know. I hope there is knowing! I will try to keep my mind on that!

The Buddhist says, “We are all on the wheel of life… trying to work out the riddle of this existence. And doing the best job we can, so that next time around it will be better.”

The Transcendentalist says, “We are all part of the Great Oversoul. Our lives are like a small wave that laps up onto the shore… then goes back to the great body of water from whence we came.”

One of my friends, Bill Galbreath, said, “This world is not my home… I’m merely passing through!” Hmmm, perhaps more of a philosopher than he knew!

After some long thoughts on the subject, one of our daughters said, “You know, this part… what we are doing right now, is probably the hard part!” And that could be a comforting thought.

Meanwhile the sun was shining on that pre-Memorial day. Wind sighed through the huge maples in that old cemetery, and the lovely girl with whom I have spent so many years was awaiting me in the car. I climbed in, and she patted me, saying, “Everything all right?”

And I said, “Yup!  All OK!” And I thought, “The sun rises, the sun sets, and the earth still abides. We are still weaving golden threads into the magic tapestry of our lives in these storybook towns along the Paw Paw River.”

Watervliet District Library News

September is: Library Card sign up month!

Sign up or renew your card during the month of September to be entered into our drawing for awesome library bling.

Banned Books – September

Calling all Reading Rebels: Celebrate your freedom to read all month long and snap a photo to prove it! Our photo booth awaits you!

Teen Table Projects – September

A button maker is on the table all this month. Bring in your art or make it here and wear home your thoughts, talents & opinions.

Toddler Time

Sep. thru Nov. – Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Early literacy stories and games, designed to build pre-reading skills for little ones 18 – 36 months. Lots of fun for everyone! No registration is required for this drop-in program.

Red Cross Pillowcase Project

Sep. 30 – 1:30 p.m.

This project teaches children coping skills to help them deal with an emergency, using three steps – Learn, Practice and Share. Recommended for children in grades 3 through 5 (ages 8 to 11). Sign-up is required for this free program; call us or stop by to register.

Yoga

Monday mornings, 9 – 10 a.m.; Wednesday evenings, 7 – 8 p.m.; Wednesday evenings, 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. Chair Yoga

Coming Soon

Story Hour – Oct. thru Apr., one-hour class on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.

Coloma Library News

Story Hour

Story Hour meets on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Join Miss Amy for a craft, story and song time! Story Hour is for older toddlers and preschool-aged children. It is asked that all children be accompanied and supervised by an adult. There is no sign-up or fee required. Please call 468-3431 with any questions.

Book Club

The Coloma Library Book Club is meeting on Thursday, September 28 at 5:30 p.m. The title to read before the discussion is “Mrs. Sinclair’s Suitcase” by Louise Walters.  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. Call 468-3431 with any questions.

Hartford Library News

 Families are invited to join the “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program at the Hartford Public Library. This is a nationwide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to regularly read aloud to their children. By parents reading just one book a night can provide their children essential early literacy skills.

Reading to children from an early age can help close the vocabulary gap and prepare children to enter kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed. The program is available to all families with children between the ages of birth and five years. Registration is open.

Sign up for the program and receive a free bag of books. Prizes are given for every 100 books read. For more information call the Hartford Public Library at (269)621-3408.

Free book bag and books provided by the Pokagon Fund and the Hartford Public Library.

COLOMA

100 years ago – 1917

Due honor is paid to men departing to Camp Custer. A reception, parade, addresses given by local attorneys and a big dance all sent our men off with the greatest of honor.

A big shake-up in the M.E. conference appointments took place at its annual session in Traverse City. Returning to Coloma-Watervliet is Rev. C.E. Pollock.

After being dark for several weeks, the Coloma theatre will open again. Mrs. C.C. Alguire and Mrs. C. Vogt will manage the movie house.

60 years ago – 1957

The Salem Lutheran Church will celebrate its annual Mission Festival.  The public is invited to attend.

Extensive damage resulted as fire raced through a packing shed and tenant home on the Adolph Henke farm.

Glenn Murdock caught the “big one,” snaring a 20-inch black bass with an artificial night crawler at P.P. Lake.

Coloma has asked the State Water Resources commission for an extension of time in which to complete a sewage disposal plant. The city fathers also requested a federal grant to defray the cost.

30 years ago – 1987

Parents are concerned for the children’s safety while walking to and from school. This is the city’s responsibility and will be looked into.

Mary Spessard, consultant for the Coloma Schools, has assumed the presidency of the Council for Exceptional Children.

We remember those who have passed: Mrs. Bessie Marian Handy, 98; Arthur T. Gray, 59; Wanda Marie Barton, 68 and Mrs. Charles (Marguerite) Kibler, 64.

The Township of Coloma will receive quotations for construction of a garage addition to the existing Township Hall. Questions concerning specifications should contact Sternaman & Associates.

Coloma Chiropractic Clinic, Dr. Gary M. Washington – located on West St. Joseph Street.

Coloma lost to the Cassopolis Rangers 25-6. Now, 0-2, Coloma travels to Lakeshore this Friday.

HARTFORD

100 years ago – 1917

Complaint is made by a number of farmers that motorists are monopolizing the hitching rails in Hartford, designed for the accommodation of horse drawn vehicles. Hitching accommodations for horses are now provided on Center and Maple streets and in a vacant lot off the south Main Street alley, while with exception of an occasional sidewalk ring Main Street is devoted to the parking of automobiles.

The S.M. Carp canning factory is putting up about 1,000 bushels of peaches and plums a day this week and about 60 women employed at the factory are making from $1.75 to $3.00 per day in the canning, while one woman yesterday made $3.18.

75 years ago – 1942

This weekend will mark the opening of the Kroger Super Market in Hartford, with a special sales event being advertised for recognition of the grand opening. Under the direction of Manager Gerritt Keech and District Manager Herbert Corum the transfer was made overnight from the old location near the Main and Center street corner to the remodeled building on the west end of the Main Street business section across from the village park. The entire building, formerly occupied by the Ford sales and service, has been redecorated, partitions torn out, new lighting fixtures installed and the whole space laid out for the convenience of Kroger patrons.

The Hartford Garden Club met at the home of Mrs. Mabel Richter. The topic for the day, “Fall Planting and Transplanting” was given by Mrs. Kate Day.

50 years ago – 1967

The Band Boosters met recently for the first meeting for the season. The need for new band instruments was discussed.  There will be no contests and no new faces in the Nov. 7 city elections. Councilman Arthur Hope, mayor pro-tem, is the only candidate for mayor, John Laman, who now holds the mayor’s post, is unopposed for election to the city council for the remaining year of Hope’s council term. Three incumbents filed petitions to seek reelection for two-year terms. They are Councilman Ray Knapp, Gene Larson and Jack Vint.

WATERVLIET

90 years ago – 1927

On Oct. 7, 1927, the Commission directed City Engineer Stevens to prepare plans and estimates for the widening of the South Main Street pavement between the railroad tracks and St. Joseph Street and also to prepare plans and estimates for a trunk line sewer from Pleasant Street to the river in accordance with the general sewer plan for the city recently prepared by Mr. Stevens.

Ward Morlock was awarded four firsts and two seconds on his exhibit of pigeons at the Van Buren County Fair. There were over one hundred of the birds exhibited at the fair.

A public telephone booth has been installed by Stanley Monroe in the Nu-way Store.

60 years ago – 1957

City Commissioner and former Mayor Thomas O’Hara, is the proud owner of a new installation for his car, a mobile telephone unit which permits him to call any telephone number or receive any in the United States while traveling along the highways. Although some of the doctors in the area and some of the heavy equipment operators have two-way radio installation in their cars, operating on their own assigned frequency. It is believed that the mobile automobile installation is the first one in Watervliet.

Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Williams are the proud parents of their baby boy, Ronald Lee, born Sep. 22, 1957 and weighed six pounds four ounces.

Mr. and Mrs. Earl Weber are the proud parents of their baby girl Charlotte Rena, born Sep. 17, 1957 and weighed six pounds four ounces.

30 years ago – 1987

A 105-pound pumpkin was grown in the Parsons Street garden of Charlie Meagher. The Watervliet resident says it is the largest pumpkin he has ever grown.

Erwin Conrad Wells, a Community Hospital employee for twenty years, was nominated for the 1987 Employee of the Year award by secret ballot. This award goes to an individual exhibiting outstanding achievement above and beyond the requirements of his or her job classifications. He was presented with a plaque.

The last of four children of Jerry and Mary Jane Hiler, Watervliet, fifteen-year-old Todd Hiler has been his father’s legs for about five years. Confined to a wheelchair, Jerry is afflicted with multiple sclerosis. Unaware of the life as his father’s helper but respectful of his citizenship, cooperation and scholarship in school, Todd’s teachers have selected him as Watervliet Public School’s ‘Student of the Week’ for Sep. 30, 1987.