The Paw Paw River Journal

The greatest lawn chairs A few years back when Ken and Debbie Stephenson visited us, they said they would return and bring a sample chair that was manufactured in Hartford years ago. Ken’s great-grandfather was Lewis Walker, one of Hartford’s leading citizens back in the day. He had a factory on the northwest side of town where he manufactured lawn furniture. One of his star products was a lawn chair. The seat and back were striped awning material of bright colors. It was guaranteed never to tip over or collapse. Lewis Walker served as mayor of Hartford, and was instrumental in bringing the railroad to our town. A small man, very dapper, he always wore a suit, white shirt, and tie. If a little prim, he knew what was right and proper! For a period of time our friend, Leta Benjamin, was a housekeeper for him, and daughter Arlene was a small child. Arlene has told us memories of living in the Walker house. Quiet, nice furniture, and everything in its proper place. Lewis did not hold with drinking alcohol in any form. One time they’re going to have a dinner party and Leta was setting the table. As she got out the deceased Mrs. Walker’s wine glasses, Lewis said. “We won’t be needing those!” Arlene told us her mother was startled, but Leta replied, “Your wife served wine, and there’s no reason we shouldn’t.” She kept on setting the table and they had wine at dinner. All this happened years ago, and when we have been visiting with friend, Arlene, we have hugely enjoyed talking about those old times and people. And much to our surprise in recent years Lewis Walker’s great-grandson and his wife, Debbie, visited Hartford. He was searching for his roots and we got acquainted with them. They said they would be back because he wanted to donate one of the famous Walker lawn chairs to the Van Buren County Historical Society Museum. Well, this summer they made it back. Ken and Debbie brought one of the chairs to the museum. They visited with Arlene and Bob and Bette Latus. They wanted to see another Hartfordite with a lot of history knowledge, Genevieve Conklin, but she was not available. They then stopped in to visit me, and we had a marvelous time talking about old Hartford. They wanted to combine this trip with some other business, so they came up through Illinois and into Wisconsin. There they planned to take the ferry across Lake Michigan and down to Hartford. The weather got so bad the captain turned the ship around and back into port. So the Stephensons had to drive back through Chicago and around the lower part of Lake Michigan. Smart Captain! I have heard stories about horrible storms on Lake Michigan, which seafaring men say could rival the roughest weather crossing the Atlantic. Anyway, we had a good visit and talked over old Hartford times and Ken’s great-grandfather. Until just recent years we still had some Walker chairs. They sold a lot of them. Bob Latus told me that one time Lewis decided to do some aggressive advertising. He built on a truck chassis a sort of mobile home. That summer he hired a couple of college students to drive around various resort areas, or they would set up camp and proudly demonstrate Walker lawn chairs. In the truck they had probably a gazillion of the chairs to sell! I have no idea how successful they were, but Lewis was thinking! So I told the Stephensons my story about how we came to have the Walker chairs. One summer my sister and I were just kids, our cousins came up from Illinois to visit. They had heard about the famous chairs and wanted to buy some. Soft summer morning and we all went down to the factory to see the famous line of furniture. Lewis brought one of the chairs out on the loading dock to show us. He was at his dapper best, beautiful suit, white shirt and tie. I can remember it vividly… the chair was a beauty too! He set it up and launched into his sales pitch… “Now this chair, ladies and gentlemen, is so constructed that it cannot tip over! It will not collapse, and will never let you down! Now, if we can have someone demonstrate by sitting in it…” No one would volunteer! Wilma and I faded back into the crowd. We didn’t want to be drafted! Finally my mom, not wanting to embarrass Lewis, said, “I’ll try it!” She backed up and sat down. The chair collapsed, and she went over backward, feet waving in the air. We kids thought that was hilarious. But Lewis was so embarrassed! The color went out of his face… he had just snatched defeat from the jaws of victory! My mom was not injured, and everyone felt so bad about it they bought some of the chairs. As I said until recent years we had some in our family. The one Ken and Debbie brought for the museum was beautifully finished with bright awning colors for the fabric. We were so glad that now we have one for people to see, thanks to the Stephensons’ generosity. That makes one more golden thread woven into the fabric of the Great Tapestry of Life in these storybook towns along the Paw Paw River.

Coloma Library News Lest We Forget display

In honor of Veterans Day, the Coloma Public Library now has a display honoring military service installed by the local southwest Michigan group “Lest We Forget.” This tribute will be on display at the library through December 5. Thanksgiving Storytime Miss Alicia will host a special Thanksgiving Storytime Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 10:30 a.m. Regular weekly storytime for toddlers and preschool-aged children will start back December 3. Registration is not required to participate. Small Saturday Book Sale In support of Shop Small Saturday, the Coloma Public Library is having a clearance book sale in the library’s Community Room on Saturday, Nov. 30 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Unsorted books and materials will be 2 for $1 unless otherwise marked. Proceeds will help fund library programming. Book Club The Coloma Public Library Book Club is meeting on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m. The title to read before the discussion is The Good Neighbor: The Life and Times of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King.

Watervliet District Library News Story Hour

Story Hour for ages 3 – 5 is on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. (choose one) for the months of October to April. Picture books, crafts & fun designed to inspire the love of reading! Teen Table Projects November “Caption This” photos just begging for wit! STEM Kit Programs Snap Circuits – LEGO Robotics – Little Bits Electronic Inventions STEM kit programs for 8 years and up designed for small groups to work together to make an endless number of inventions. New groups are set up with participants’ schedule in mind. Interested? Sign up at the desk! Pinteresting Arts & Craft for Grown-ups: Monday, Nov. 25, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Rustic Wall Hanging Yoga Mondays 9 – 10 a.m.; Wednesdays 7 – 8 p.m.; Fridays 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.; Chair Yoga – Wednesdays 6 – 6:30 p.m.

Christian Church – Millburg Does anyone have any information about this church, the year it was built, pastors or location? If so, please contact North Berrien Historical Museum, 300 Coloma Ave., Coloma; 269-468-3330; info@northberrienhistory.org or find them on Facebook @northberrienhistory. From the photo collection at the North Berrien Historical Museum 300 Coloma Avenue, Coloma

NEWS FROM THE COLOMA COURIER

100 years ago – 1919 Coloma grieves over the passing of Mrs. Mary. B. Grant, wife of Postmaster Wm. Grant. She suffered a prolonged illness from cancer. Mrs. Grant was from estimable society and club women. The Coloma chapter of the American Red Cross continues its membership drive. The work is still extensive, even with soldiers and sailors at home. The blue and white squad of the Coloma High School had little trouble defeating the Hartford boys. Coach Miller praised their sensational passing. 60 years ago – 1959 Autumn’s first snow etched a wintry scene on the Fitz property bordering Paw Paw Lake Road. Gust Anton has moved into the Fikes Appliance store. He will continue to handle all service calls. He also continues his Swap Shop and used furniture business. HO 8-3266 A number of residents have gone deer hunting and brought home a deer. Congratulations to Louis Geresy, Jim Johnson Jr., Roy Kinzler, John McCrery Jr., and Pauline Jones. The Town & Country Club will conduct its third Muscular Dystrophy drive. Mrs. Robert Morlock is chairman of the drive. 30 years ago – 1989 We Asked You… “How do you cook a turkey?” The Pre School Learning Center children Dylan Crossman and Sarah Hood “actually don’t know. Mom just cooks it.” Clifford Tallman, Superintendent, writes a tribute article about Mary Alyce Hettig, a teacher for thirty-five years. Her daughter, Rebecca Freehling and son Marc are also teachers. Mary Alyce is making plans for new and bigger ideas in the field of teaching. Dale Stover, President of the Glad-Peach Festival feels the festival is at a crossroads. “We are becoming the finest family festival… more help is necessary to continue the growth.” Coloma’s newest business is Executive Real Estate, located on St. Joseph Street. Joan Schwartz or Darryl Williamson is eager to help.

Submitted by volunteer Sandi Musick Munchow at Coloma Public Library from the Coloma Courier newspapers donated by the Tri-City Record. Hours: Mon & Fri, 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Tue, Wed & Thur, 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Sat, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Phone: 269-468-3431

NEWS FROM THE HARTFORD DAY SPRING

100 years ago – 1919 The L.P. Walker saw mill has closed temporarily. A force of men from the mill is now engaged in cutting timber on the Wm. Traver farm south of town. Mr. Walker purchased 40 acres of timber at the west end of the Traver timber tract. The Traver timber is one of the few remaining large timber tracts in this section. The new village ordinance and agreement, entered into by the village council and the electric firm of Anderson Brothers, appear in this issue of the Day Spring. Local people who desire to know the complete terms of the new agreement are thus afforded an opportunity. 75 years ago – 1944 The Hartford Garden Club met at the home of Mrs. Paul Richter last Friday afternoon. Mrs. Arthur Dowd read a paper on “Evergreens”. The December meeting will be announced later. Wildlife enthusiasts sped to the river Sunday forenoon after Harry Allen and Lloyd Blyly reported the presence of rare visitors. There, floating leisurely on the surface of the lagoon, were five trumpeter swans. The first so far as local memories go to visit Hartford’s wildlife retreat in years. The swans were not the only Sunday visitors at the lagoon. Two wild geese, several flocks of ducks, helldivers and gulls were making a stopover at the swampy river rendezvous. 50 years ago – 1969 Five Hartford hunters didn’t let the snow bother them a bit on the opening day of deer season. They filled their licenses before noon and they didn’t go more than two miles from Hartford to do it. The quintet bagged a buck and a doe east of Hartford and two does west of Hartford. Sgt. Dan Lee Shirley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Shirley is home on leave after serving in Vietnam with the army. While serving there with the 82nd airborne he was awarded three medals: A Bronze Star, an Air Medal for 25 missions over enemy territory and an Army Commendation Medal. Following his leave he will report for duty at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Submitted by Librarian Stephanie Daniels at Hartford Public Library from microfilm copies of the Hartford Day Spring. Hours: Mon, Tue & Wed, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thur & Fri, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Phone: 269-621-3408

NEWS FROM THE WATERVLIET RECORD

90 years ago – 1929 The first improvement made in what is now the City of Watervliet was the sawmill at the mouth of Mill Creek, which was built by Sumner & Wheeler in 1833. After completing the mill they hired two brothers named VanDusen to run it. The VanDusen brothers lived in a shanty built of slabs and were undoubtedly the first white settlers at Watervliet. There was a family gathering at the A.J. Clark home in honor of Mrs. Clark’s father, A.J. Kelly, who celebrated his 82nd birthday on Nov. 28, 1929. Isaac Moffat put up the first storefront building which stood sideways north of the Odd Fellow Hall. In 1862 or 1863 it was moved south, placed endways and converted into a dwelling house. 60 years ago – 1959 Claude A. Wigent, who entered the armed forces in April 1959 and took basic training at Fort Ord, CA, is now in Aughburg, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Johnson are the proud parents of their baby boy, Kevin Wayne, born Nov. 10, 1959. Arthur W. Helweg was among the 33 students in Miami University’s School of Education recently made members of the Miami Chapter of Kappa Phi Kappa. Arthur is a second year student at Miami University, majoring in education under an N.R.O.T.C. scholarship. 30 years ago – 1989 Danny Iliff has been chosen Watervliet South Elementary School’s “Student of the Week”. Danny is a first-grader and an exceptional student, talented in many areas. For the second year, there will be a downhill ski club in Watervliet for students in grades 6 – 12. Ski trips will be to Bittersweet Ski Area near Otsego. Watervliet Public Schools Employee of the Month for October 1989 is Rosemary Smith, teacher aide in the Adjusted Studies classroom at South School. Rosemary started work in the fall of 1976 helping in the kitchen and lunch room at the high school. The following year she became a teacher aide. She has had a great impact on many special education students over the years. Submitted by Sally Q. Gonzalez from files at Watervliet District Library of the Watervliet Record newspapers donated by the Tri-City Record. Hours: Mon & Wed, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Tue, Thur & Fri, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Phone: 269-463-6382