News from the Coloma Courier
100 years ago – 1924
The Sunday school of the First Community Church will hold its annual picnic at Camp Warren. Games, stunts and a chicken dinner are being planned.
Coloma packing houses have contracted to sell black raspberries to the Fennville Canning Co. The fruit is received in fine condition, reports the Fennville manager.
Paul Hawes accepted a position at Scott’s Pharmacy. He comes direct from Ferris Institute at Big Rapids.
The Coloma Theatre - “The Darling of New York,” staring Baby Peggie.
60 years ago – 1964
The annual employee picnic for the Reinhardt IGA store was held at Bud Reinhardt’s home on Paw Paw Lake. Twenty-eight employees and families attended.
Chief of Police Chet Krutel tenders his resignation. His entire letter is published in the Coloma Courier.
The Coloma Cooperative Canning Company estimates 10,000,000 pounds of cherries will be processed. Manager Bert Cole says it’s the biggest crop ever.
Members of the volunteer fire department attended in a group at the funeral of Bill Martin. Martin was former chief of the department.
The Coloma Courier – Publisher Howard T. Kosbau. Editor, Gail B. Kosbau. Phone HO 8-5441
Accepting reservations for Canadian Hunting and Fishing Safaris - Phone Vern Enders 468-6639.
30 years ago – 1994
Paw Paw Street is closed at the railroad crossing as the downtown renovation work draws to an end. Thank you, Karl Bayer for the photo.
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn A. Randall will be honored for their 60th wedding anniversary. An Open House will be held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ.
Ladies apparel for all seasons – The new Piwacki by cj’s
A study on the Zebra Mussel in Paw Paw Lake is underway. Del Sipes of Paw Paw Lake-River Ventures Inc. assists.
The Coloma High School graduation Class of 1934 held its 60th reunion at Main Street Café.
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 - 1924
Leo Wise, 14 years old, who resides with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Wise, has both bones of his right leg fractured just below the knee when he fell from one of the truck trailers of the Keyes Stock Company at the show grounds on West Main Street. With some companions the boy was playing on the trailer when he fell, his foot catching and the weight of his body snapping the bones of his leg. He was taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Seeley where his injury was attended by Dr. J. D. Stewart.
Leach & Tennant, local Oldsmobile dealers, gave Hartford people an opportunity to see the famous Oldsmobile-six car which “Cannon-ball Baker” drove from New York to San Francisco with the low speed, second and reverse gears removed. The car has already traveled 20,000 miles and it is planned to drive it about the country.
80 years ago - 1944
Announcement is being made this week of the opening of the Green Lantern restaurant, which has been closed for several months. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Knapp have taken over management of the restaurant, completely redecorated the building and adding new equipment. Formal opening of the dining room will be Sunday, July 30, although patrons are being served this week. Redecoration of the restaurant has included new lighting arrangements, walls papered in light colors with a corresponding ceiling, and contrasted touches of bright colors throughout the room. With the removal of the counters, they have added to the seating capacity of the restaurant, which will serve complete dinners, lunches and short orders. There is also an ice cream bar.
60 years ago - 1964
Hartford firemen put out two fires over the weekend. The first was in an auto owned by Alfred Russell. It was in front of Garland’s fruit stand at the east edge of town and caused minor damage. The second damaged an engine of a car owned by Robert Strand. The fire occurred on Mary Street.
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 - 1934
Although it is an inland state, Michigan, with its islands in the Great Lakes, has more coastline than any other state in the Union, possessing over 3,000 miles of frontage on lakes Michigan, Superior, Huron, St. Clair, and Erie.
The third annual Flower Show, sponsored by the Watervliet Civic Garden Club, will be held at the high school auditorium on Aug. 10 and 17. Admission is free and anyone with flowers, plants, and novelties is invited to enter. Entries may be made up to noon on Thursday. The judging will take place in the afternoon.
How to measure a tree? Take a stick of definite length and measure the shadow of the tree. Find the length of the shadow of the stick by holding it at right angles to the ground. Multiply the length of the tree’s shadow by the length of the stick and divide by the length of the stick’s shadow.
60 years ago - 1964
Terrance R. Paulke is undergoing two weeks of active duty recruit training at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL. He is receiving training in naval history, military drill, seamanship, gunnery, ordnance, first aid, swimming, damage control and sentry duty.
Walter Aspengren celebrates his 80th birthday with family and friends. A very delightful event in the life of one of Watervliet’s senior citizens was a patio party given in his honor on July 26.
30 years ago - 1994
When the name Ken Smith is mentioned, invariably someone says, “You mean the drummer.” Yes, he has played for a lifetime. He drummed his way to the top of the Esquire Poll of Jazz Greats. He has played from little local bars to big jazz concerts in renowned halls. How did it begin? It began with a teacher.
In 1927, Mr. Boeseman started the Watervliet High School Band. Ken’s mind goes back to the man and that time. “He taught me the value of a musical note and a sense of rhythm.” In 1929, the WHS band won first place in Class C at the Michigan State Bandfest; however, they didn’t have the funds to go to the national contest in Des Moines, Iowa.
In 1931 Smith was one of 33 who graduated from WHS. In 1933 he joined the St. Joseph Band and played at the World’s Fair in Chicago. He has played for everyone from Duke Ellington to Fran Allison.
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
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