Paw Paw River Journal
Learning Life’s Lessons
The Chief Accountant and I stood on a wind-swept hill in the little cemetery at Cambra, Pennsylvania. We had come to say goodbye to an old friend, George Sowder. There was his head stone with the dates. He was 85 years old. The fresh mound of his grave, quietness of the surrounding hills, and our thoughts were long and sad. We first met George when our Aunt Hope Merrill had to go into assisted living. She wanted to be in her favorite mountains, and Bonham’s Nursing Home was just the place. Quiet countryside and at night deer came into the yard to browse. We found the place when she had a severe stroke in Florida and had her flown up in an ambulance plane to the nearest airport, Avoca, at Wilkes-Barre. Bonham’s is church-affiliated and always has a few ward-of-the-state residents, for which they receive state aid, I’m sure. The ones we knew were gentle souls, and one of them was George. Another one was a mentally-challenged man named Tommy. He was into role-playing, and sometimes dressed in a black suit and carried around under his arm some bound Readers’ Digests, which were his “Bible.” At other times he was a cowboy with Stetson hat and two cap gun six shooters. The day we had Aunt Hope flown up from Florida, we asked friends of ours, Donnie and Delilah to meet the plane with their North Mountain ambulance and take her to the nursing home. Donnie told us about it later. He said they picked up Aunt Hope at Avoca Airport all right and drove over the mountains to Bonhams’. When they pulled into the parking lot there was Tommy. Resplendent in cowboy suit with six-shooters, he stood there on the blacktop, waving them in and saying, “Just pull in right over here!” Donnie turned to Delilah and said, “If that’s Mr. Bonham, we’re not going to leave Mrs. Merrill here!” But it turned out all right and Aunt Hope settled in. The care was good, and we visited her every chance we got. The nurses were exceptional; and one, Ruth Whitenight, became a good friend. We still correspond with her. And then we met George Sowder. We visited there several times a year, checking on Aunt Hope’s house, taking her out to visit friends, and I had power of attorney for her business affairs. Whenever we came to Bonham’s George was there to greet us. He also became part of our family. George was thought to have been born on New Year’s Day at the turn of the century (1900). Perhaps someone picked that day because no one knew for sure. As a small boy, he was found wandering on the streets of Philadelphia. A kindly priest took him in and gave him a home. Tests soon showed that George was retarded, but not severely. He could tell them little of his own history. He became a ward of the state and was placed in different homes. Now he was an old man….part of the flotsam and jetsam of life, washed up on the quiet shores of Bonham’s. He soon became a favorite of everyone’s, helping the owner round up patients who were wandering away and guiding them on sight-seeing bus trips. He shared in our visits, and many times we gave him quarters for the soft drink machine. On holidays he helped Aunt Hope unwrap her presents. One turned out to be a brassiere that the girls had gotten for her. When George saw what it was, he hurriedly handed it to Aunt Hope saying, “Here, I think you’d better open this one!” At first one of the nurses said to him, “George, don’t follow those people around. They came to see Hope Merrill!” George bristled with indignation and said, “They’re my friends too!” And we agreed, so after that he anxiously awaited our visits to the home. Then he would fill us in on all the news. He was much in evidence at holidays and when parties were coming up. He always helped to decorate and get ready. And he would have his little transistor radio going…..he was an ardent Phillies fan! Then early summer of 1985 we received a note from the Social Director at Bonham’s…….George had died of pneumonia. The previous winter he had the flu and never fully recovered from it. She wanted to tell us, because she knew we were his friends; he even had pictures of us on the bulletin board in his room, which they found when they were packing up his things. Not long after, we were out to visit Aunt Hope again. No George at the door to greet us. The nurse on duty said, “We were going to give back to you the pictures you had taken with George. When we started to take them off the bulletin board and pack them up, his roommate kicked up a fuss, saying, “You can’t take George’s pictures away. He was my friend too!” Well, that was OK with us. The day we found his grave in the little wind-swept cemetery at Cambra, we stood there for a few moments. At first I felt how futile his life had been. Then I reconsidered. He was a friend to everyone. He helped to care for other patients. He was unfailingly good-natured; and by his insisting on becoming a part of our family, he taught us compassion….and a little humility too. George’s life was not wasted. He was our friend and teacher. He was a lifelong lesson in how to be happy with what we have. He is still part of us. And now his story is woven with golden threads into the tapestry of our lives in these story book towns along the Paw Paw River!
Coloma
100 YEARS AGO – 1916
Chest of Carpenter tools, all in first class condition, for sale. Mrs. Mamie Kremer. Henry Kibler, employee of Friday Bros., was working on a sewer when the sand caved in. He was badly bruised and carried home, having a physician called in. The first band of gypsies made their appearance in Coloma. They annoyed citizens by their begging and telling fortunes. A citizen was “touched” for $4.00, but the money was recovered. The Frank Born orchestra will perform at Woodward’s big pavilion grand opening.
60 YEARS AGO – 1956
Last rites were held for Henry A. Klitchman, 61, at the Davidson funeral home. Mr. Klitchman was born in Chauli, Latvia and came to the United States at age 17. Mrs. Jean Stainbrook was elected president of the Coloma American Legion Auxiliary. Help wanted – Chamber maid experience preferred. Apply: Colonial hotel HO 8-8783 Stay or go We will pay 2 ½% interest on Saving Certificate of Deposit. The State Bank of Coloma Marshall P. Badt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mendall Badt was elected to the Quandrant honorary society of the University of Michigan
30 YEARS AGO – 1986
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway has accepted Coloma city’s offer to buy a parcel along Washington Street. The purchase price is $10,000. Commissioners Edward Dill and Martin Quigley motioned to accept the proposal by the Cemetery Board to raise fees. A & A Macrame will be closed during June and July. Coloma School Board Assistant superintendent Ronald Clark conducted a hearing to propose a levy increase. The Board accepted a .7451 mill levy increase. Also, the house project on Red Arrow Hwy has been sold. The home was built throughout the school year by the building trades class. Another is expected to be built next school year.
Hartford
100 YEARS AGO – 1916
The past week has seen the height of the strawberry harvest, and the crop has proven a good one. The yield has been heavier than was at first predicted, and the quality of the berries has been excellent. Work has begun Monday on the opening of another new section at Maple Hill cemetery. New walks and drives will be built in that part of the cemetery known as Section 3, lying west of the receiving vault, and the burial lots will be laid out. With a decrease in the showers that have frequently driven the workmen from the streets, better progress has been made on the paving of Main Street this week. The brick are practically all laid between Maple and Center streets, and this morning the intersection of Main and Center Streets was closed and the work of preparing the foundation for the pavement begun.
75 YEARS AGO – 1941
Some individual contributions are being made but more are needed to complete the fund for completion of the new tennis court at the Hartford High School athletic field, say officers of the Mothers’ club, sponsors of the project with the co-operation of the Commercial-Farmer club. The lots recently purchased to enlarge the athletic field and provide a site for the court have been presented to the Hartford school district and accepted by the board of education. All young men in Van Buren County, citizens and aliens, must register under the draft next Tuesday at the county office in Paw Paw- if they have on July 1 reached the age of 21 years or for any reason failed to register last October.
50 YEARS AGO – 1966
Fire destroyed the Galati restaurant on Red Arrow highway two miles east of Hartford at about 3 a.m. Sunday, leaving only concrete block walls standing. Hartford firemen said that a passing motorist saw the blaze at about 3 a.m. and woke up a woman employed at the restaurant as a waitress, who went to the home of Sam Galati, owner of the restaurant, to notify him. Galati called the Fire department at about 3:15 a.m. Flames had broken through the roof of the building by the time the firemen arrived. The inside of the structure was a mass of fire and firemen could not enter the building. The Lawrence Fire department was called and brought three trucks to the scene, but the fire had such a head start that the building was beyond saving. Firemen said Galati told them he had closed the restaurant and left at about 2:30 a.m. He estimated the loss at $65,000 and said it was partially covered by insurance.
Watervliet
90 YEARS AGO – 1926
July 5, 1926, Uriah Wood, Watervliet’s oldest citizen, celebrated his 85th birthday at the old home on St. Joseph Street. His family and friends shared a big cake with 85 candles. Mr. Wood is one of Watervliet’s three surviving veterans of the Civil War. The herd of thirteen grade Guernsey’s owned by Chas. N. Stevens of Watervliet won first place in the North Berrien County Testing Association for the month of June with an average butterfat production of 49.7 pounds. Prof. Lowell Stewart, a former Watervliet graduate, is now in Minnesota with a party of students from Iowa State College at Ames. After graduating from the local high school, Prof. Stewart attended Michigan State College taking his degree in Civil Engineering after which he was employed by the National Geodetic Survey. He became a Prof. of Civil Engineering at Ames in 1925.
60 YEARS AGO – 1956
Otto J. Helweg, son of Mrs. And Mrs. O. J. Helweg, Watervliet, is engaged in a two-week indoctrination in amphibious warfare at the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA. Richard C. Hackett, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Hackett, Watervliet, will receive the Bachelor of Arts degree from Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI. He has majored in economics. Miss Judy Butzbach is one of 51 high school students enrolled in the Fifty Yearly Summer Camp which opens at Western Michigan College, Kalamazoo. Judy was awarded one of the two scholarships presented by the Band Boosters Club.
30 YEARS AGO – 1986
On Aug 21, 1986, Jennie Lightner Balfour, Watervliet, celebrated her 100th birthday. She has been a school teacher, a wife and a mothering aunt to her niece, Clara Lightner Rosenbaum. Two Watervliet residents, Kimberly Lottridge and Patricia Wurn, are among the 872 students included on the dean’s list for the winter semester of the 1985-86 academic years at Western Michigan University. Members, associated members and friends of the Watervliet Literary Guild celebrated the club’s 50th anniversary at a luncheon on June 21, 1986 at the Berrien Hills Country Club.
Coloma Library News
Summer Reading Club
“On Your Mark, Get Set…Read!”
Readers of all ages are welcome to sign up today for Coloma Public Library’s “On Your Mark, Get Set…READ!” Summer Reading program. The 2016 Summer Reading Program is open to young people, infant through young adult, with programs, prize drawings, story hours, a reading club, and more. Keep checking for dates for many fun and interesting programs. For more information, call the library at (269) 468-3431 or visit our website, www.colomapubliclibrary.net. All programs are free of charge.
Book Club
The Coloma Library Book Club is meeting for a book discussion on Thursday, July 7 @ 5:30 p.m. The title to read before the discussion is “The Little Paris Bookshop” by Nina George. Generally, depending on demand there are titles available for check-out at the front desk. The book club regularly meets every other Thursday and is always looking for new members. If you are interested in more information please stop in the library or call 468-3431.
Story Hour
Story Hour meets on Wednesdays, at 10:30 a.m. Join Ms. Amy for a craft, story and song time! Story Hour is for children ages 3 and up. It is asked that all children be accompanied and supervised by an adult. There is no sign-up or fee required.
Watervliet Library News
New Saturday Hours 9:00 – 3:00
We have a new website – check it out.
2016 Reading Challenge
12 reading challenges, one for each month throughout the year. If you finish you will be entered to win a prize. Slips will be due back on Dec 30, 2016. Come in for more info.
Looking ahead –
Yoga every Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m.
Summer Reading Program – On Your Mark, Get Set…Read! The reading portion of the program runs from June 20 – July 30. Don’t miss out on our free, fun, exciting and educational summer reading program events.
Jun 21 – 11:00 – Magic with Bob Wigent
Jun 28 – 10:30 – Face Painting w/Anna
Jul 5 – 11:00 – Wildlife Safari
Jul 12 – 10:30 – Steven’s Puppets
Jul 19 – 10:30 – Extreme Duct Tape
Jul 26 – 11:00 – Come to the Races
The Great Watervliet Duck Race – July 3, 2016 Sponsored by the Watervliet Business Association
You can buy tickets here at the Library. Tickets are $5.
Adult Coloring Night – every last Monday of the month. This month: Jun 27, 2016 from 6 to 8 pm.