Rolling Back the Years

News from the Coloma Courier

100 years ago – 1923

Members of the I.O.O.F. and the Rebekah’s have the honor of entertaining the “Twenty-five Year League” at their hall. All members are guests at the banquet.

The first dancing party will be a Hallowe’en party at Bunker’s opera house. The Good Fellows Club sponsors this event.

Coloma’s big country fair and fruit festival will be staged in the old Masonic room in the Grant building. Many attractions are being arranged.

60 years ago – 1963

City Mayor Glenn Randall has received a petition signed by all but one merchant on Paw Paw Street. They are protesting the parallel parking. Merchants believe this type of parking eliminates many parking spaces.

Victor Wier, high school principal, presents Senior August Pupedis with a National Merit Scholarship Letter of Commendation.

The Self Culture Club library committee and city and township representatives will meet. Discussion will center on the establishment of a community library.

The annual Halloween party for children of the Coloma area will be held at the Coloma Township Hall. The Coloma Jaycees are sponsoring the event, with assistance of various groups and merchants.

30 years ago – 1993

David Bauer is promoted to Eagle Rank. Boy Scout Troop #696 honored the 14-year-old during a Court of Honor ceremony. His service project was improving the ballpark for the Coloma/Hagar Baseball Association.

Enchanted Forest at Deer Forest – Trick-or-Treating on Storybook Lane, a Haunted Barn, “Spooky Train,” and Kiddie Rides. Don’t miss the John Dudley Spook-tacular Magic Show.

LOMA THEATRE – Great movies daily – Monday Guest Day, 2 admissions for $4. Thursday BYOB for free popcorn.

Dellwood Inn - Since 1943 - Homecooking and Daily Specials.

Coloma posts Community Trick or Treat Hours for city and township.

Washington Elementary School will hold their Winter Carnival and Craft Show. Games begin at 1:00 p.m. and include prizes for children.

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

News dispatches say that the potato crop is 50,000,000 bushels short this year but the shortage is not apparent around Hartford. Local farmers are just now gathering an excellent crop of tubers. One unusual complaint is heard, however, and that is that many of the potatoes are so large that buyers are rejecting them. The local crop is also a fine quality.

Frank Arras has traded his farm one mile east of the village, known as the Jones place, to Charles Macie, for residence property on Cortland Avenue in Chicago.

80 years ago - 1943

The annual PTA Halloween party will include entertainment for children of all ages. The high school band, under the direction of E.A. Boisman, will lead a parade up Main Street from Abrams’ store. Children from kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to participate and compete for prizes for their costumes. Arlyn Spaulding will give away Halloween pumpkins at Jim’s hardware. After the parade, group games and contests will be staged followed by refreshments at a huge bonfire. There will be dancing in the high school gymnasium for high school students and any persons beyond high school age who wish to attend as guests to the PTA.

Art Study class met at the home of Marion Anderson with Maud Corey of California as honored guest. The lesson for the day was presented by Mrs. William Watson.

60 years ago - 1963

A ban on burning within the village was lifted by Fire Chief Harold Walker after light rain fell over the weekend. However, no burn permits were issued.

The Varsity Club won first prize in the high school homecoming Friday. Five floats took part in an afternoon parade and then filed past the grandstand at the homecoming football game. The junior high float placed second and the senior float placed third.

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

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Phone: 269-588-5103

News from the Watervliet Record

90 years ago - 1933

After nearly seven years of service as Watervliet city clerk, D. C. Hawks decided to accept the position of superintendent of state highway maintenance for Berrien County.

Watervliet was host to a meeting of the Fourth Congressional District Rural Letter Carriers’ Association. The meeting was attended by representatives from all over the district.

Dudley Sherwood sailed from New York on the steamship “American Trader.” He will spend one week in London, after which he will sail for India, where he will serve under the Ceylon and India General Mission.

60 years ago - 1963

Shirley Benjamin has been elected vice president of her college residence hall at Ferris State College. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Benjamin is a junior in the School of Commerce.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bridges celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary with dinner at Tosi’s. They were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick Kinyon. A dinner party was held at the Bridges home honoring their anniversary.

30 years ago - 1993

Congratulations go out to Tiffany Hummel, a sophomore who was chosen as WHS’s “Student of the Week.” Some of her honors include receiving the ninth-grade science award. She is also active in band and choir and is employed as a maintenance worker at South Elementary School.

Watervliet Boy Scout Troop #696 held its Fall Court of Honor and a reception on Oct. 24, 1993 at the Knights of Columbus Hall. This Court of Honor not only handed out the badges, ranks, etc., earned over the summer, but also presented three Scouts with their Eagle Rank. The new Eagle Scouts are David Bauer, Shane Peterson, and Jason Walker. The Troops Drum & Bugle Corps presented the opening and closing ceremonies.

Students planning to pursue a post-secondary vocational or technical course in a school or college leading to an associate degree, diploma or certificate, but less than a baccalaureate degree, are eligible to compete for $2,000 grants offered by the Elks National Foundation. The Elks National Foundation trustees have set aside $788,000 for the grants for the 1994-95 and 1995-96 academic years.

Submitted by Sally Q. Gonzalez from files at Watervliet District Library of the Watervliet Record newspapers donated by the Tri-City Record.

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