Rolling Back the Years

News from the Coloma Courier

100 years ago – 1923

Saturday is “Tag Day” for the Self Culture Library. Its new home is in the front room of the I.O.O.F. building. All day you can buy the library tag, paying any price you wish from five cents up.

A municipal Christmas tree will be erected. Mrs. Charles O. Ball solicited funds to defray the expense. Gifts will be given to all children participating in the program.

60 years ago – 1963

Study results shared concerning the combined Coloma-Watervliet school district. Coloma is the 8th largest district in the county. A new high school would cost $2,180,500.

Arrests have been made in a series of burglaries. Break-ins occurred at Bachman’s Standard Service, Jack’s Grill, the Coast-to-Coast Store and the Pizza Den.

A tractor Jim Hembree was driving smashed through a door on his welding shop, “Guess my foot slipped…,” he explains. He was charged with reckless driving.

Comets play their first basketball game against the Lakeshore Lancers. Del Qualls, Ron Dunning, Wayne Hazen and Art Fredricks spent time on the floor.

30 years ago – 1993

Susan Beth Olney, 24, was crowned the 1994 Michigan Apple Queen. Her sponsor was Greg Orchards. Photography was provided by Sheila LeBeau.

Educator Cindy Baird is battling a brain tumor. Make a holiday donation at the State Bank of Coloma to the fund in her name.

Deer Forest is open for Christmas. Visit Christmas Tree Lane, leading to Santa’s Workshop and Santa himself. Thank you, Karl Bayer, for the photo.

Marc Rankin, volunteer with Animal Aid showcases many dogs and cats waiting to be adopted.

John’s Glass – Full Line Glass Shop –N. Church Street ph. 468-4227

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

The big event of the year will be the Community Christmas gathering at the high school on Christmas Eve. Proposed by the Woman’s Club and fostered jointly by them and the Kiwanis Club. A municipal Christmas tree will be illuminated a week before the event and a grand finale will be given when Santa, himself comes down the chimney and out of the fireplace. He will distribute gifts to the children and it is hoped that these children will all be happy to receive them.

80 years ago - 1943

Presentation of the annual Christmas program will be in the high school auditorium with the central theme of “Carols for Christmas,” emphasizing the familiar and more traditional Christmas songs. Music by the glee clubs, junior choruses, and grade school children will be directed by Miss Ilah Decker, music instructor. The audience will be given an opportunity to participate in singing a number of seasonal melodies, ranging from a 17th century score to the popular “White Christmas.”

Christmas decorations of balsam and red berries, and the glow of candlelight amidst a setting of feathery juniper and pine cones greeted members of the Philharmonic Club as they gathered in the home of Marion Mortimer for their regular meeting Wednesday evening, Dec. 8. Mrs. Mortimer had offered to act as hostess when illness made it necessary for Mrs. Harold Haight to cancel her plans to entertain the club.

60 years ago - 1963

A century old farm home was gutted by fire Tuesday night. Known as the former Orley Brown home, it has been occupied for the last 10 months by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Deringer and their year-old son. Deringer is employed by James Fellner, who owns the house. The fire was discovered by Mrs. Deringer, who fled with her baby to the Axisom home across the road, from where the alarm was given. Because of a misunderstanding of directions, firemen were delayed in reaching the burning house. Firemen were able to bring the blaze under control. Most of the damage was at the rear portion of the house. The fire appeared to have started near a chimney which served two wood burning stoves.

The Lion’s Club again this year will sponsor a Christmas theater party for children through the sixth grade. Youngsters attending are asked to bring a can of food for the Christmas baskets.

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

Watervliet, along with thousands of other communities, is about to welcome the New Year, 1934. What the next 12 months may have in store for this country and its people in the way of happiness and prosperity only the passing of the days and the months of the New Year can determine. One thing is certain and that is that the outlook is distinctly brighter than it was twelve months ago.

Then, the nation was at the lowest point industrially and financially that had been experienced in any other period of its history. The banking structure was on the verge of collapse and did collapse in February with the closing by the presidential proclamation of all the banks in the country.

60 years ago - 1963

Christmas is in the air. Everywhere there is evidence of this festive holiday which for nearly 2,000 years has been celebrated by Christians everywhere. Christmas is derived from the Latin words “Christes Masse” and means “Mass of Christ” and the observance of Christmas began back in the fourth century.

A 25th Anniversary open house was held Dec. 15, 1963, for Mr. and Mrs. Horace Lloyd of Watervliet. They were honored at their home by their children. The celebration was held for friends and relatives. They have been residents of Watervliet for 11 years.

30 years ago - 1993

An estimated 214,000 white-tailed deer were harvested in Michigan by firearm hunters during the Nov. 15-30, 1993, season, ranking this year’s harvest as the seventh best in history and comparable to the 1986 firearm deer season. Department of Natural Resources officials also reported that the 1993 firearm deer season was the safest ever recorded.

The City of Watervliet will make a final offer to two property owners, in an attempt to settle a longstanding dispute over the right of way for the Church Street Reconstruction Project. The project, which consists of a new road running between Butternut Street and East Pleasant Street along the bluff line overlooking Mill Creek Park, has been stalled for nearly a year due to the inability to come to an agreement.

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