Rolling Back the Years

News from the Coloma Courier

100 years ago – 1923

Are you ready for the Coloma Fair? The Masonic rooms in the Grant building have been converted into a “Fair Ground.” The Parent-Teachers’ Association is raising funds for purchasing school equipment.

The Clover Leaf Club ladies met with Mrs. George Friday, with their husbands and invited friends. The beautiful home was tastily decorated.

The Mothers and Others Club of the Washington school will serve a plate supper at the schoolhouse. Adults 35c

60 years ago – 1963

The largest group of citizens attended the city commission meeting. The question of parallel parking was aired. Many objections came out during the discussion.

Baldwin Field in Watervliet is the scene of the annual gridiron classic between the Comets and Panthers. It will take a hurricane to keep a capacity crowd away.

A “get well quick” gift has been sent to Police Chief Chester Krutel. He is convalescing at the Veterans Hospital in Ann Arbor.

The annual Halloween Party for the children was held at the Coloma Township Hall. The Coloma Jaycees are sponsor. In an article by the Benton Harbor Community College on the origins of Halloween it says today's Halloweening is all "treat" and no "trick."

30 years ago – 1993

Several lovely young ladies will compete for the title of Miss Coloma. The theme for the contest is “Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice.” Chairmen for the event are Harold Bragg and Jim and Sherry Polashak.

A mere 86 voters turned out for the municipal elections. Results are, Clerk: Martha Darling, Treasurer: Fred Munchow, and Commissioners: John Briney, Genevieve Long and Robert Wooley.

The wedding of Erin Lee DeFields and James Michael Schlaman will take place at Midway Baptist Church. Officiating clergyman will be Mark Cowell. Erin is the daughter of David and Victoria DeFields. James is the son of John and Helen Schlaman of Warren, Michigan.

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

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News from the Hartford Day Spring

100 years ago - 1923

Sometime early yesterday morning, a thief entered the office of the Hartford House and secured $20 from a small safe kept under the office desk. Either the safe was unlocked or the thief worked the combination. Roy Hinckley notified the sheriff’s office as soon as the theft was discovered yesterday. Thieves also made a haul of $26 from the office of the Hartford Lumber & Coal company on North Center Street a few days ago.

80 years ago - 1943

The Halloween party sponsored by the Parent-Teachers Association which was given Saturday evening, October 30 was attended by more than 150 children and parents. Ward Plants, general chairman for the event stated that he was particularly impressed by the cooperative attitude of both youngsters and adults in contributing to the success of the entertainment. Approximately 75 persons attending the evening dance in the high school, played cards and games and danced to the school record machine. Donuts and cider were served. Decorations were chosen for the gymnasium to harmonize with the Halloween theme.

A fire at the Robinson farm southwest of Hartford Saturday evening completely demolished garage and house trailer. The Hartford Fire Department was called at 8:30 and spent more than half an hour battling the flames and protecting nearby buildings. Neighbors who were stranded by the blaze helped to save a nearby straw stack which was threatened when wind carried sparks toward the stack.

60 years ago - 1963

A Halloween costume parade for boys and girls will be sponsored by the Parent-Teachers Association at 7 p.m. today at the high school gymnasium. Captain Kangaroo and Mrs. Green Jeans will award prizes of $1, 50 cents and 25 cents for first, second and third places in each of three categories. Costume categories to be judged are most original, storybook, best hobo, funniest, most gruesome, best animal, warriors and worst witch and best homemade costume.

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

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News from the Watervliet Record

90 years ago - 1933

The Berrien-Cass County Boy Scout Council is sponsoring an "Achievement Roundup," the campaign to continue through Boy Scout Anniversary Week next February. The goal of the drive is five new troops of 150 first-class Scouts, 200 second-class Scouts and 1,200 merit badges. Victor Quigley, of Watervliet, has been named one of the corral bosses.

The national officers of the American Red Cross consist of a president, two vice presidents, a counselor, a treasurer, a chairman, two vice-chairmen, and a central committee of 18 members. The President of the United States is president of the Red Cross by reason of his office. John Barton Payne, the present chairman, receives no salary for his services.

60 years ago - 1963

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Pflugradt drove to O'Hare field to take their son, Pvt. Frank Jr. who left for Hawaii by way of California. Recently graduated from the 3rd Armored Division Tank School, he was one of the top three in his class.

Edward L. Harper, fireman apprentice, USN, is serving aboard the icebreaker USS Glacier, which departed Boston to participate in the Navy's ninth consecutive Antarctic expedition. Glacier will spend five months south of the Antarctic Circle in the McMurdo Sound area, where the Navy maintains its logistics supply outpost. The icebreaker will cut a ship channel out of fast bay ice—a channel which last year extended for sixty-seven miles through ice twelve feet thick.

30 years ago - 1993

Tony Anderson, General Manager of Cellular One, donated a new cellular telephone to the St. Joseph Catholic School bus for emergency use. Until the donation of this phone, there was no way for the school to communicate with the bus, so this was a much appreciated donation. Anderson presented the cellular phone to Beth Martin, treasurer of the school's Parent Booster Club in Watervliet.

From The Paw Paw River Journal by Roy Davis, “According to stories I have heard, the trumpeter playing Taps was first heard in the Union Army during the Civil War. It spread all over the North and then across enemy lines. For the first time that I know of in the South, Taps were played at the funeral of General Stonewall Jackson. The practice spread and spread, until it became common all over in our armed forces. During my hitch, many a time I stopped to listen late in the evening on some Air Force base to the haunting notes of Taps: ‘Day is done... Gone the sun... From-the-lake, From-the-hill, From-the-sky. Rest in peace, Soldier Brave. God is nigh...’”

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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