Rolling Back the Years

News from the Coloma Courier

100 years ago – 1923

The Coloma I.O.O.F. hosted the Veteran Odd Fellows Club of Berrien County. The Rebekahs served the banquet at which covers had been laid for about 200. Sincere praise was given of this splendid treatment.

The Covert football team proved a poor opponent when they were defeated by a score of 40 to 0. Coach Kilmark used second team men during the game.

A settlement of the family troubles has been reached concerning the H. W. Jacobs family of Hagar Township.

60 years ago – 1963

Life Memberships in American Legion Post 362 were awarded to: Earl Rockwell, Wilbur and Charles Coleman, Roy Leedy and Harry DeField. The Colemans, father and son, both have served as commander in the Legion organization.

An organizational meeting of the Library Committee featuring the Self Culture Club met. Later they will meet with a state library consultant.

A request to the Berrien County Highway Department was sent. The township would like several roads to post speed limit signs.

City Commissioners granted John Mastri permission to build an eight-unit bachelor apartment building on his property on Leedy Street.

30 years ago – 1993

Township officers, Chief Phil Cottier, Michael Prince, Thomas LaVanway and Roy Davis, receive Professional Excellence commendation plaques. Praise was given for a job well-done in solving a series of burglaries.

Deer Forest will open evenings for the Christmas holidays. Due to the overwhelming response to the park’s Halloween festivities, owner Chris Hilton looks forward to this Christmas season. A very full schedule of activities is planned.

Christmas Open House at Brick School Gift Shop, corner of Friday & Hill roads. For holiday family fun, visit Jollay Orchards.

Add a Special Touch! Home Town Flowers

Travis Becht was selected to be representative of the American Legion at Boys State.

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

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News from the Hartford Day Spring

100 years ago - 1923

A fire alarm called the fire department to the Jasper Pitcher home in the southwest part of town where a defective chimney had permitted sparks from the stove to ignite the roof. The flames were soon extinguished, but not until considerable damage to the roof had resulted. Yesterday’s alarm had confirmed an old tradition among Hartford firemen that three fires always come in quick concession. Last Thursday the Frank Goss home burned. Monday an alarm was turned in from the school house when an explosion of chemicals occurred. The fire at the Pitcher house completed the cycle and the fire fighters are now expecting a vacation of some duration.

80 years ago - 1943

The Hartford Woman’s Club met at the home of Mrs. Elinora Chamberlin. The Rev. Lester Clough, pastor of the Methodist church, spoke to the club on the “Status of Christianity in the World.” He gave the thought of Christianity for world peace and how to live harmoniously in a land of plenty. The Hartford club voted to pay its share of a nurse’s scholarship fund.

60 years ago - 1963

Ray Grosse retired as a postal clerk, bringing to close a connection with the Hartford Post Office of 30 years duration. Grosse, who left high school in his senior year to join the army in World War I, started his association with the postal service in 1933 as a mail messenger. He also served in the following years as a temporary substitute carrier on both rural routes and as a substitute clerk. For many years, his aging red station wagon was a familiar sight on the streets between the post office and the railroad depot.

The village council voted its unanimous approval of a proposal to change Hartford’s government from a village to a home-rule city form. The proposal will go before the voters at a special election in December.

Liquor, money and cigarettes were taken in a break-in at the Van Buren Sportsmen’s Club. According to the state police, entry was gained with a key or through an unlocked door in a new addition, then by removal of a door window. Taken from the clubhouse were 40 to 45 bottles of liquor, eight cartons of cigarettes and $30 to $35 in change.

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

Boy Scout Troop 62 of Watervliet has a good way of training its new members. When a new member joins, one of the boys in the first-class rank will teach him until he is a second-class Scout. The boys who are stars or veterans will specialize in a certain duty of the Scouts, until he thoroughly knows all there is to know about it. When these boys have learned these things, they endeavor to teach other boys.

Maurine Miller, formally from Watervliet, has been elected secretary and treasurer of the Wisconsin Home Economic Association by a unanimous vote. Miller is a teacher at the Milwaukee Vocational School. There are 8,000 to 10,000 pupils in attendance, from 14 to 18 years of age; 250 teachers are employed, 60 of whom are home economics teachers.

60 years ago - 1963

Army PFC William L. Simmons is participating in the second phase of Operation BIG LIFT in Germany, a NATO field training maneuver. Simmons and other members of the 2nd Armored Division were airlifted to Germany prior to the NATO maneuver. The 18-year-old soldier, a driver in Company C in the division’s 17th Engineer Battalion at Fort Hood, entered the Army in Jan. 1962 and completed basic training at Fort Knox, KY.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Marvin became the parents of an eight-pound ten-and-a-half-ounce boy, Robert Thomas, on Nov. 14, 1963.

30 years ago - 1993

Congratulations to Jessica Hauch who has been chosen Watervliet Junior High’s “Student of the Week.” Jessica enjoys all of her classes, especially doing projects and being with her friends. She is hoping to join the volleyball and track teams this school year. Presently, she plays piano and is a member of the Junior High Honor Club.

The Lady Panthers basketball team jumped out of the blocks quickly and never looked back to an easy 70-27 victory over Decatur in the Class C District basketball championship game on Nov. 18. Watervliet shot 52% from the floor and had 26 steals on defense.

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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