12-20-18 Tri-City History Page

The Paw Paw River Journal

To all the Christmases past Christmas of 1943 and I was 19 years old. It was my first year away from home. San Antonio, Texas, was bitterly cold. I always thought that state had warmer weather… not so that year! This was preflight training in the Air Force, and we lived in barracks without any heat. We had been issued winter uniforms, including a heavy overcoat. This made one more layer of comfort draped over our cots. Every morning at 5:45 a.m., the bugler blew Reveille… dress quickly and fall out in front of the barracks to stand at attention in formation. Five rows, shivering, turning blue in the bitter cold. Some of the guys got a bright idea. They could get out quicker if they didn’t completely dress. The overcoat covered everything. But our Sgt. soon caught on to that. He made us take off our coats, fold neatly, and place them in front of us on the pavement. Now the guys who weren’t dressed really turned blue while our wise old leader gave us a lecture on military protocol! They soon learned. And we all memorized the general orders. Because at night some of us had to stand guard through the bitter cold. All I can remember is one of the orders: “The guard shall walk his post in a military manner!” I stood out there, frosty midnight, stamping my feet to bring back the feeling. Looked up at the glittery stars overhead and thought… this is really no place for a small town boy from Michigan. My first Christmas away from home and family. I was feeling sorry for myself. The next Christmas I was halfway around the world. The very Northeastern part of India… called the Assam Valley. Our airbase was in the middle of a tea plantation. Hundreds of acres of tea bushes. Right through the center a landing strip 1-1/2 miles long. On each side concrete circles where stood our C-46 Cargo ships. They were the biggest twin engine airplanes we ever had. To the north Kathmandu and Mount Everest with the highest mountains in the world wrapping around us to the east and clear down to Indochina. Where we flew they were 14,000 to 16,000 feet. Most of the time we could see thunderstorms build over the peaks… sometimes up to 50,000 feet. To fly our routes to China we had to go through them. One night near Christmas I stood outside our tent looking at the sky. Glittering stars and constellations I’ve never seen before. The Big Dipper and the North Star were down below the horizon. I felt so alone… a stranger in a strange land. My friends and I went to the Christmas services, but it just made me all the lonelier. Those were the two worst Christmases! And the best? All the holidays before and since those years. When I think of all the people we’ve lost in the intervening time, it gives me a hollow feeling. So many! And now is a good time to think of them. It is a time to have family wrapped around us. We can’t help but think of some larger things too. What is the reason for our existence? Why are we here? There has to be a reason beyond mere chance! Someone, some being, started all this. There is purpose and design. And I’m afraid we are getting away from that. We live in an ever more Godless world. Recent events have convinced me that many people in positions of power are filled with hate, anger and selfishness. Common sense has flown out the window. This grand experiment in democracy has been in existence about 250 years. Are so many people willing to throw it away? Do they not care about even their own grandchildren and great-grandchildren? If those wanting to tear apart the government are successful, what will we have left? Unemployment is down; we are growing stronger in the eyes of the world. Weakness has never paid off! Some people have an unreasoning hatred for our president. He is an astute businessman. Yeah, I know, I know, the tweets! Sometimes they are too much. Some I find are right on the mark, and some are funny. But I’d like to ask you one question… are we better off now than we were, say, six years ago? I believe our president has negotiated us a long way back to a position of power and strength. There is one problem that worries me… the poor people who are trying to storm the border gates! What kind of a Christmas are they going to have? Who financed their long and arduous trek up through Mexico? Someone provides food! Someone must set up portable toilets and service them. Several thousand people could not make that long journey without help. Who is it? And what are their motives? They certainly do not have our best interests at heart… otherwise they would not have encouraged that invasion! Whatever happens the sun will still rise, the sun still set, and the earth yet abide. The Golden tapestry of life has added stitchery every day in these storybook towns along the Paw Paw River. We will celebrate the birthday of the child Jesus. Not just Christians… the approaching holiday belongs to everyone. And it is a time when we should stop and think… yes, we could do a better job! Merry Christmas, everyone! And a most joyful and Happy New Year!

Coloma Library News Holiday hours The library will be closed on Monday, Dec. 24 & Tuesday, Dec. 25 and Monday, Dec. 31 and Tuesday, January 1. The library wishes everyone a joyous holiday season! Please call the library at 468-3431 if you have any questions about closings.

Watervliet Library News Kids out on Holiday Break are encouraged to visit the library – they have table top board games, puzzles and of course books. Teen Table Projects: December Book-parts ornaments – yeah they’re messy! Do-it-yourself projects at the library for teens; all supplies provided. Story Hours Picture books, crafts and fun designed to inspire the love of reading! Wednesdays 10:30–11:30 a.m., Thursdays 1:30–2:30 p.m., for ages 3 – 5. Library Garden Park Purchase a Legacy Walk brick and celebrate a memory! Bricks are $75; 13 characters, 2 lines. Pick up a form at the library. Yoga Mondays 9–10 a.m., Wednesdays 7–8 p.m., Chair Yoga Wednesdays 6–6:30 p.m. Call 463-6382 with questions on any Watervliet Library activity.

Hartford Library news The Hartford Public Library would like to wish everyone a very, merry Christmas and Happy New Year. During the Christmas holiday break, the library will be showing the following movies each day at 2 p.m.: Dec. 26 “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”; Dec. 27 “The Santa Clause”; Dec. 28 “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure”; Jan. 2 “Incredibles 2”; Jan. 3 “Christopher Robin”; and Jan. 4 “Small Foot”. All movies come with free popcorn and drink. Any donation to help build their new library building would be graciously accepted. They need to raise $500,000 to complete the project. The new library will be the Art & Bonna Vanderlyn Community Center complete with community rooms and meeting areas, computer/ media room, tutoring areas, large children’s room, separate teen area, local history room and quiet reading areas complete with fireplace. Exterior and interior designs will be available in mid to late January. For information, call Stephanie Daniels, (269) 621-3408.

NEWS FROM THE COLOMA COURIER

100 years ago – 1918 The 85th Division is expected to be brought to Camp Custer soon. The camp will be used for demobilization. Once this process is complete, the men will be discharged to their homes. Michigan is lagging in the purchase of War Savings Stamps and Thrift Stamps. Have you done your share in this savings movement, or have you been a slacker? Purchases may be made at the State Bank of Coloma. 60 years ago – 1958 Salem Lutheran Church will have its children’s Christmas Eve service. The children will sing many Christmas songs. Rev. R.E. Schaller is pastor. Mrs. C. Matlock wins the Courier Giv-A-Way Contest Grand Prize. She is the lucky winner of the RCA Whirlpool vacuum cleaner given by Fikes Appliance. At first, she couldn’t believe she had won. Seven-year–old Maurine King, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John King, won the Novice State Championship Baton Twirling contest. She is a student of Gyl Johnson, Coloma’s National Senior Baton Twirling Champion. Mr. and Mrs. George Vollrath are the proud parents of a baby daughter. She has been named Mary Grace. 30 years ago – 1988 The Coloma Pompon Squad, coached by Cathy Haley is headed to the Cotton Bowl in Texas. They have taken high honors at many competitions. They raised $9,600 for this trip. Great job girls! The City Commission and Township Board unanimously agreed with the Fire Department’s revised proposal. All 26 firemen will remain on the job. The United Methodist Church holds their Christmas Eve service. Diane Hogue and Carole Sternaman will direct the children in “A Night for Dancing.” Nancy (and Mr. Nancy) have hundreds of items under the tree. Visit Nancy’s furniture to reserve your special item in time for Christmas. Layaway & financing available.

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 & Thu, 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Sat, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Phone: 269-468-3431

NEWS FROM THE WATERVLIET RECORD

90 years ago – 1928 The operation of the two new big paper machines requires a force of 26 skilled paper machine men. Both machines are operated 24 hours a day with three crews to each machine on eight-hour shifts. The head machine tenders are Fred Hotelling and Jack Hanson. Mr. and Milton Stilwell are the proud parents of baby daughter born Sept. 30, 1928 at their home in Watervliet. A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Palmer at the Palmer home on St. Joseph Street, on Nov. 18, 1928. 60 years ago – 1958 Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Boyer celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary quietly at their home in North Watervliet. They have two sons, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild, all living in Watervliet and vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Earle R. Blanshan observed their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 24, 1958. They have six children, fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mr. Blanshan retired from the Watervliet Paper Company. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stolz are the proud parents of their baby girl, Denise Kay, born Dec. 12, 1958 and weighed 7 pounds 15 oz. 30 years ago – 1988 Despite the disappointments former employees for the Watervliet Paper Company may face the 1988 holiday season, their prospects are looking brighter. Final contracts establishing the One-Stop Workers Center were signed by the Watervliet Community Alliance to assist workers dislocated by the mill closing in Nov. 1988. Services to be provided at the center include job placement, job search skills, testing, basic reading and math skills training, counseling and support services. The first-grade students from Watervliet’s South Elementary School braved sub-zero temperatures to bring the joys of Christmas to the Watervliet business district. The rosy-cheeked youngsters gathered outside of the Record office and sang Christmas carols as the thermometer hovered near zero degrees. The weather may have been freezing, but the joy expressed by those little voices warmed ears of all who heard them. 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, Thu & Fri, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Phone: 269-463-6382

NEWS FROM THE HARTFORD DAY SPRING

100 years ago – 1918 A Christmas cantata will be presented at the Christian church. The Sunday schools of the Baptist and Congregational churches will hold their services at the Baptist church. The Sunday school of the Methodist church will offer a program and Christmas tree. A Christmas dancing party will be given at the Hartford town hall on Christmas night, December 25. Good music will be provided and the dance bill will be $1.00 plus the war tax. The heavy rains of last week played havoc with many country roads and for the first time this winter automobiles have frequently been stalled in the mud. Many a motorist has accepted the kindly offer of a farm team to extricate them from a muddy predicament. 75 years ago – 1943 The Park Hotel will soon reopen under its new ownership. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Brown, who recently purchased the 31 room hotel from Mrs. Donald Disbrow, announced that remodeling and redecorating would be completed early in January. The Hartford Art Study Group met at the home of Mrs. Elnora Chamberlin, whose cousin, Mrs. Maude Corey, a guest from California gave the day’s lesson. 50 years ago – 1968 A large nativity scene was put up in Ely Park featuring life-size figures. The scene is the second major Christmas decoration obtained by the city this year. The other is a large lighted ornament which hung across Main Street. A Christmas home lighting contest will be sponsored by the Hartford Jaycees. Residents of both the city and township are eligible to decorate their homes and yards to compete for prizes, according to Roland Nicholson, chairman. Displays will be judged by the Rev. Eric Gieb, Vernon Schmaltz and Mrs. Don Masini. Entry blanks are available at Don’s Newsstand. Steps were taken by the Board of Education last week to buy the former Methodist church site on Main Street adjoining the south grade school property. Most of the site has been vacant since the old Methodist Church burned a number of years ago. 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.; Thu & Fri, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Phone: 269-621-3408