Rolling Back the Years

News from the Coloma Courier

100 years ago – 1923

The Berrien Springs football team met its second defeat at the hands of the local high school squad. Kilmark’s men presented a superior quality of football. The final score stood at 25 to 0.

Courier writer John Dickinson Sherman has an interesting heritage. Ancestors have been: signer of the Declaration of Independence; Civil war general; secretary of state under McKinley and vice president under Taft. Mr. Sherman’s articles are truly American.

60 years ago – 1963

Parallel parking on a trial basis was decided at the City Commissioners meeting. The Coloma Junior Chamber of Commerce will make an ice skating rink, using a city parking lot. Residents, please observe the no-burning rule, due to the dry weather.

The Coloma Comets, fresh from a 21 to 7 win over Cass, will take on their toughest opponent. They lock horns with Buchanan Bucks. Mike Quigley predicts a score of Coloma 20, Buchanan 19.

Joseph G. Albertson, Township Health Officer, passed away at Watervliet Community Hospital. He was highly regarded in the field of sanitary engineering. Supervisor Roger Carter stated, “It will be hard to replace him.”

30 years ago – 1993

Maureen Ovington and Billy Coleman are Homecoming Royalty. Both are seniors at Coloma High School.

We welcome Shelby Marie Stroder to the family of Keith and Tammy Stroder. Sister Jessica holds the new baby while brother Bradley looks on.

LOMA – The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford; Jurassic Park; Real McCoy; Man Without a Face. Admission $3

Nursery Notebook by Jackie Hammond… Can’t let the season pass without mention of the mighty Oak. Oaks have massive trunks and fire-resistant bark. I would like to hear from you more specifically.

Sarett’s educational natural history tour is first-class. We will visit New England’s Fall Colors and also Smokey Mountain Wildflower Pilgrimage.

Submitted by volunteer Sandi Musick Munchow at Coloma Public Library from the Coloma Courier newspapers donated by the Tri-City Record.

Hours: Mon-Thu 9-7; Fri & Sat 9-2

Phone: 269-468-3431

News from the Hartford Day Spring

100 years ago - 1923

Hartford fruit growers are completing one of the most unsatisfactory peach harvests in several years. The crop is estimated at little more than a third of a normal year, while the peaches have been unusually small and prices have not climbed as high as in many former short crop seasons. The Hartford Fruit Exchange has shipped eighteen cars of peaches during the season as compared with 26 cars last year.

Members of the Kiwanis club attended the second luncheon of the fall season and heard a pointed discussion of the prevailing disregard of law, by Rev. J.H. Balfour, pastor of the Federated church.

80 years ago - 1943

Members of the Hartford parent-teachers association attended the first regular business meeting of the school year and a reception for members of the faculty. Edward Bonning, program chairman, arranged the evening’s entertainment, including musical selections and introductions of nine new faculty members.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lee are now living in their new home at 17 North Maple Street, recently purchased from the Lida Gustin estate. Redecorating of the home, which has been vacant since the death of Mrs. Gustin, has been completed.

The Hartford Garden Club will meet at the home of Amanda Bowman. Topic for the afternoon will be “Chrysanthemum culture.” Roll call, bring some specimen from your vegetable garden.

60 years ago - 1963

A complete ban on all burning in Hartford, both village and township, was issued yesterday by Fire Chief Harold Walker. The order implements a statewide ban on burning issued by Governor George Romney. The fire chief said that no open fires will be permitted here until after a good soaking rain has fallen. Lack of moisture has made the entire area tinder dry with leaves and grass susceptible to the smallest spark.

The Hartford Garden Club’s October meeting will be a color tour of the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary at Gull Lake, followed by a luncheon.

The 75-piece Hartford High School marching band received a first division rating for the 4th straight time in a district marching festival in Dowagiac. The band, directed by William Achterberg, repeated its record of last year by winning a first rating from each of the four judges.

Submitted by Librarian Stephanie Daniels at Hartford Public Library from microfilm copies of the Hartford Day Spring.

Hours: Mon & Wed 10-7; Tue, Thu & Fri 10-5; Sat 10-2

Phone: 269-588-5103

News from the Watervliet Record

90 years ago - 1933

Oct. 28, 1933 was the 71st anniversary of Arno Hall’s birthday and he celebrated the event by sitting out front of his house between his two hard maple trees. Hall says he wants The Record to mention this in the “Thirty Years Ago items” in 1963.

Miss Arabell Ray has gone to Rochester, Michigan, to accept a position as a commercial teacher in the high school. Miss Ray has been employed in the office of the Watervliet Paper Company. She is a graduate of Watervliet High School and Western State Teacher’s College, Kalamazoo.

The Watervliet Firemen’s masquerade ball was held at the opera house and was attended by a large crowd.

60 years ago - 1963

Paul R. Kolenko has been appointed assistant manager of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company’s Benton Harbor district office. Kolenko is a graduate of Watervliet High School. He joined Metropolitan as an agent in the Benton Harbor office on Sept. 27, 1960.

Lyndon Thornton, Watervliet, went into the Marines on Sept. 26, 1963. He is stationed in San Diego, California. Also enlisting at the same time were Ray Rogalski and Jerry Latham.

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Cleary became the parents of a 7-pound girl, Theresa Lynn, on Oct. 17, 1963.

30 years ago - 1993

Sgt. Ken Vitale is the proud father of a baby girl, Mercedes Ann, who was born Oct. 8, 1993. She weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces.

WHS “Student of the Week” is Jami Olmsted. Jami is a junior and is involved in basketball, volleyball, softball, Student Council, and has been in the variety shows. One of her honors includes being named “Athlete of the Week” in the fall of 1992.

Watervliet’s girls kept their grip on first place in the Red Arrow Conference with wins over Hartford and Bangor last week. The Lady Panthers are now 15-1 overall and 9-1 in the conference to remain one game ahead of Bridgman who they will have to play in a showdown of conference powers.

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, 10-7; Tue & Thu 10-6; Fri 10-5; Sat 9-3

Phone: 269-463-6382