winter 2012 newsletter - north berrien historical society

7/30/2019 Winter 2012 Newsletter - North Berrien Historical Society

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This snow storm probably stands out more in

my mind than any that I have seen since. I was tenyears old, growing up in Coloma. My mother anddad drove to Ann Arbor with my sister, to get hermedical treatment at the U of M Hospital. I stayedwith the Potts family, who were our friends. We hada small snow storm on Monday, February 3, when mydad got back to pick me up. We got stuck and I hadto walk home, pack lunch and walk to school.

The following weekend the snow was comingso hard that you could not see anything. That Sun-day, February 9, my dad got a phone call that mymother and sister were at the Watervliet Station.

They somehow had got on the last train that evening.My dad left me home alone and went to get them. Hetold me to keep the fire going in the living room stoveif he did not get back. I sat looking out the window,feeling very lonely.

The Blizzard of February 1936By Fred Munchow

NORTH BERRIEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

Vol. IV, No. 4 Hagar Bainbridge Coloma Watervliet Winter 2012

300 Coloma Ave./ P.O. Box 207, Coloma, Michigan 49038 www.NorthBerrienHistory.org

From the Coloma Courier, February 1936: West Street and sidewalks around Colomas

school building were completely blocked withdrifts of snow several feet deep.

Despite efforts to plow, Paw Paw Street wascovered with 8 to 14 inches of hard-packed snow,and up to 18 inches on the sidewalks.

The old fashioned bob sleigh was brought in touse this week, several of them being seen on thestreets for the first time in years.

When I saw the big head lights on the 1927

Dodge plowing through the drifts, I was sure happy.Dad did not make it in the driveway, but left the carin the road. The train that my mother and sister wereon was the last train to run until Monday night.

The snow had blocked the tracks below ourhouse. It was in drifts, I guess between 12 to 15 feetdeep. When they came to open the tracks, I watchedas the engine had sort of a snow blower on the frontand they would ram the blower into the drift and thesnow would fly. They would back up and do thisagain and again.

We were out of school Monday and Tuesday,

which was unheard of back then. I had never beforehad a snow day. The trains did not run for two daysand people didnt shovel out for more than a week.

The 3rd annual

Coastline Childrens Film Festivalis coming to the Loma Theatre this February!

Great Films - All Ages Welcome - Details on Page 6

This photograph shows a snowy Watervliet in April 1926.Collection of NBHS 9998.13.06.


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North Berrien Historical SocietyBoard of Directors

Scott Young PresidentBennet Leedy 1st Vice PresidentKandyce Hays 2nd Vice PresidentCindy Young SecretaryShirley Boone TreasurerRay Mays Assistant TreasurerMarc Hettig DirectorKarin Miller DirectorPauline Morris DirectorSherry Polashak DirectorTom Scheid DirectorSally Williams Director

Staff

Tracy Gierada Director / CuratorVacant Director of ProgramsRyan Nykamp Office Manager

300 Coloma Ave. Phone: (269) 468-3330

P.O. Box 207 Fax: (269) 468-4083

Coloma, MI 49038

www.NorthBerrienHistory.org

[email protected]

The mission of the North Berrien HistoricalSociety is to preserve and distribute informationregarding the history of North Berrien County.

We wish to promote, encourage learning,and disseminate knowledge of the areas

cultural and architectural legacy.

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From the Directors DeskBy Tracy Gierada

I was honored to be named Executive Directorin September 2012. My predecessor Alex Gates isdoing well in his new adventures in Paris; if youwould like his contact information Im happy to share

it. As the museums first Director, Alex laid a solidfoundation of professional management and startedgreat traditions of community outreach. I am eager tocontinue that success and Im very enthusiastic for thefuture of the North Berrien Historical Society.

If you havent met me yet, I hope we will getto speak soon. Call me at the museum or stop in! Ithas been my pleasure to work here since January 2009as the Director of Education. We are in the process ofhiring a Director of Programs who will take over myprior duties. The change in job title reflects the impor-tance of volunteer coordination and special events, as

well as education. We have had many applicants and Ihope our new employee will begin by early 2013.The museum has been busy this fall. Read

more on Page 5 about the phenomenal attendance atthe Annual Meeting and other recent happenings. Ourmain gallery is looking different with the removal ofthe old bomb shelter display Scott Young led ateam of volunteers in moving it out. I hope youll readmore in this newsletter about the fascinating artifactdonations that have come in recently, as well as thetemporary exhibit and wonderful programs we haveplanned for the winter months.

The Michigan Humanities Council just sent

word that we have been selected to host the nationaltraveling exhibitJourney Stories from the SmithsonianInstitution. The exhibit is about modes of transporta-tion and how travel has shaped ideas of freedom inAmerican history. The schedule is not yet set, but wewill be one of six host sites in our state. I look for-ward to planning special programs and communitycollaborations to surround this exciting exhibition.

Curators Blog:NorthBerrienHistory.blogspot.com

Twitter: Twitter.com/NBerrienHistory

Connect with NBHS Online!

Become a fan on Facebook

Continued on Page 7


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Mark your Calendars!

Tuesday,November 20,

7:00pm

North Berrien Notables, presentation by Tracy Gierada,Executive Director/ Curator. This narrated slide program willcover interesting local connections to famous people and eventsin history, such as visits from Louis Armstrong. Discover the

range of surprising and noteworthy stories about athletes,politicians, musicians, writers, and other remarkable figures inthe history of North Berrien County. Free.

Thursday,November 29,

5:30pm

Holiday Lights & Delights Fundraiser. Treat someone and support the museum at thisdelightful evening event! Enjoy seasonal drinks, appetizers, and desserts, and live music byLes & Becky Burford on guitar, ukulele, and mountain dulcimer. Our 20+ Christmas treeswill shine brilliantly in the dark and outdoor luminaries will grace our grounds. Generouslysponsored by Bob's Barn Bakery & Farm Market, D.W. Hammond Chocolates & Fudge,Vineyards Gourmet Chocolates, and Harding's Friendly Market. $5 Admission.

Nov. 29through Dec. 2

Holiday Open House. Live Music, Gingerbread Housedecorating, Santas Workshop crafts, and more than 20 specialChristmas trees! Please see flyer insert for full details.

Tuesday,December 11,

2:00pm

Holiday Keepsakes Show & Tell. Bring in a favorite photo,decoration, or other keepsake from holidays past and share itsstory with the group. First, Janet Sullivan will lift our spiritswith a ukulele performance. Free.

Tuesday,January 15,

7pm

Black Ash Basketry: A Story of Cultural Resilience (Documentary

Film, 58 min.) This film will take you on an incredible emotionaljourney across culture and through time following an age old tradition,now threatened with disappearing forever. Through the voices ofNative elders and basket makers in West Michigan, discover a story offamily, the value of traditions, hope for the future and a spirit ofresilience in the face of change. Free.

Feb. 1 throughFeb. 10

3rd

Annual Coastline Childrens Film Festival. Please see Page 6 for full details.

Saturday,

February 9,1-3pm

Victorian ValentinesParty. Bring your family to the museumfor festive crafts, games, and refreshments. View our collectionof historic valentines and find inspiration to create your ownvalentines to take home. Suggested Donation $3/person.

Tuesday,February 19,

7pm

First by Car and First by Air: All from Southwest Michigan,presentation by Dr. Stuart Boekeloo, Local Historian. This program will discuss the historic

transportation milestones reached in nearby communities. In the 1890s, Americasfirst gas-powered automobile prototype came out of the Baushke Carriage Works inBenton Harbor, while on Silver Beach in St. Joseph, Augustus Herring was one of thefirst to fly a motorized aircraft. Years later the Whirlpool Corporation developedproducts for supporting human space travel. Free.

All events are at the North Berrien HistoricalMuseum unless otherwise noted.


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Due to the popular topic of our an-nual meeting program on October 16,German POWs during WWII, the mu-seum has gained new artifacts and re-sources that document this topic. Withthis enthusiastic response from the com-munity, in the future we will plan an ex-hibit that will offer visitors a look at thelocal stories and artifacts that haveemerged. Thank you to all who havecontributed their written memories, pic-tures and artifacts: Jean Stainbrook,Alma Arent, Dolores Totzke, CharlesKrammin, Kay Erickson, AltonWendzel, Santo & Debbie Costanza-Kolberg, George Glade, Fred & EdithMunchow, and Ace Covey.

Others have also brought themuseum interesting artifacts in recentmonths. These donations have all addednew and valuable pieces to our collec-tion. I extend our thanks to:

Emma Morlock- Borroughs Adding Machine, standMarsha Cole - baton, Gladiolus Festival parade photo

Fran Wooley - Burpee seed sack, Army song bookAmy Hiler- 1915 quilt, 1880-1950s quiltRick Rasmussen - Paw Paw Lake photosDon Hafer- Whirlpool product literature

Wilson Frazier- Thomas Frazier WWI footlocker,uniform, personal effects and correspondence

Sally Blunier- 1873 Boyer Family Bible and StandMaryfrances Styers - glasses

Bennet Leedy - Allene Stark autograph bookKarl Bayer- Tri-City Record imagesCity of Coloma - tree cross-section

During the Holiday Open House, we will pre-miere a new temporary exhibit: The Hazens Christ-mas Lights. For more than 40 years starting in 1952,Richard and Irene Hazen set up elaborate Christmas

light displays at their home on Coloma North Road.They did it in hopes of making people happy atChristmas. Over 1,000 visitors came to view theirdecorations annually, signing guest books located in afruit stand at the front of theiryard. The Hazens daughterTerri donated a collection ofphotographs, a video, newspa-per articles, and the guestbooks. These items will beexhibited this winter from No-vember 29 through January 4.

Collections NewsBy Tracy Gierada

Below: Alma Arent shared with us this image of some of theGerman POWs who worked at the canning factory in Coloma in1944. In her photo album, Alma recorded the name of each of theten POWs in this photograph. The guard sits holding a firearm,

next to a prisoner holding a cat.

Below Left: Both sides of a 1925 German coin thatwas found by metal detectors on the property wherethe Coloma POW camp was located. Searches in2010-12 unearthed dozens of objects which were re-cently donated to the museum by Ace Covey.

Below Right: Thomas Frazier with his 3-week olddaughter Evelyn in 1918. After returning from WorldWar One, Frazier had nine more children while livingin Watervliet, including son Wilson Frazier.

WANTEDwooden shingles

Agriculture images and documentsWatervliet Paper Company objects

Hagar Township resort/ tourist items


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Page 5

Fall was packed with programs for schools and the public

By Tracy GieradaWe are working with one fewer staff person

than normal in recent months, so it has been a busyseason at the museum. I am happy to report that wehosted a variety of very successful programs andmaintained our commitment to serve local schoolgroups despite being a bit short-handed.

Our monthly third-Tuesday evening programon September 18 featured an informative and enter-taining talk by Chuck Nelson from Sarett NatureCenter. His presentation After the Ice explained thedevelopment of southwest Michigans geography overthe last ten thousand years. Drawings assisted us invisually understanding how the sand dunes and riversystems we know today were formed over time.

The North Berrien Historical Societys An-

nual Dinner and Meeting were held on October 16.In our basement, a full house of 75 guests enjoyed adelicious meal catered by The Friendly Tavern. Wethen moved out to the Nichols Agricultural Building,where a grand total of 155 people were present for ourAnnual Meeting. Officers Scott Young and ShirleyBoone were elected to begin new terms on our Boardof Directors. The huge crowd was drawn in by ourfeatured speaker Dr. Howard Poole, who presented afascinating discussion ofGerman POWs on South-west Michigan Farms during World War Two. Theprogram provided a look at the experience of the

POWs from the time they entered military servicethrough the wars end. Many attendees took time towrite down their personal memories of the prisonerson clip boards, which the museum will preserve.

We were lucky to have a sunny and mild fallday for our free Halloween Cemetery Tours on Sat-urday, October 27. The Watervliet Cemetery Tourhad 42 people in attendance, while 48 people took thetour at Coloma Cemetery. It is clear that local resi-dents truly enjoy the chance to learn about some ofthe lives that are memorialized in these beautiful andhistoric city cemeteries.

Great weather also accompanied the ColomaCemetery tours that I led in late October for all the4th grade classes at Coloma Elementary School. Thisis the second year for those tours and it appears this isanother program that is a very valuable experience forthe students. I expect that we will continue to provideit annually for many years to come.

In other education news, our Traveling Trunkprograms have seen much use recently. For the firsttime this fall, we loaned three different trunks to the

Lakeshore Lifelong Learners, a collaborative ofhome school families in Berrien County. I visited theWatervliet North Elementary School 3rd gradeclasses with our Potawatomi Past & Present travelingtrunk. Many thanks to Joyce Kolenko and Gwen Els-

ner, who spent hours of volunteer time preparing abirch bark canoe craft for the third graders to com-plete. Upon the request ofColoma Middle Schools5th grade teachers, I brought in our Fur, Forest, andFrontier Days trunk and led hands-on, activity-basedlessons for their classes in early November.

The museum has also continued to be a greatresource for local youth groups. Special museumtours were held for Coloma Cub Scouts on October29 and for Coloma Tiger Cub Scouts on November5. We have supported both Coloma and Watervliet

High Schools by purchasing a Yearbook Ad, as we doevery year. Last year we started the tradition of pre-senting a historical slide show for the contestants inthe Miss Coloma Pageant, and I look forward to pre-senting for this years participants on December 8.Also in December, we will host museum visits fromeight elementary classes from Coloma and Watervliet.They will enjoy decorating gingerbread houses andtouring our display of community trees.

Above: Chuck Nelson speaks at the museum inSeptember. Below: Dr. Howard Poole presents for

the crowd at our October 16 Annual Meeting.


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The mission of the CoastlineChildrens Film Festival is to bringhigh quality films and animation forchildren and young adults to Berrien

County and to present them on thebig screen as shared theatricalexperiences for the whole family andcommunity. The 3rd annual event willbe held February 1-10, 2013 and for thefirst time is coming to Coloma! Thefilms are open to everyone at no chargewith a suggested donation of $1. Pleasespread the word and come with friendsand family to enjoy.

Saturday, February 2

1:00 to 2:40pmFilms - Loma TheatreA Trip to the Moon (1902) - 15 min.

Considered the first science fiction filmMan on a Mission (2010) - 82 min.

Documentary about Richard Garriottsefforts to fly in space like his father

3:00 to 4:30pmReception - North Berrien Historical MuseumRefreshments; Out of this World music bymembers ofColoma Marching Band (15 min.)

Wednesday, February 6

5:30 to 6:40pmFilm - Loma TheatreThe Adventures of Prince Achmed(1926) - 67 min.

Considered the first animated film. Withan exciting story, its silhouette style isintricate, colorful, and mesmerizing.German subtitles are spoken in English.

Sunday, February 10

1:00 to 2:15pmFilm - Loma TheatreSafety Last (1923) - 73 min.

Harold Lloyd, master of physicalcomedy, stars in this iconic silent film

3:00 to 4:30pm, Sound History Workshop -North Berrien Historical Museum. Hearhistoric sound-makers: instruments,phonograph, records, and 8-track. Make yourown candy i-Pod to keep! Ages 8-18; pre-registration is required.

Coastline Childrens Film Festival coming to the Loma TheatreAll ages are welcome for fantastic films and museum events this February


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Individual ($15)

I may like to

Volunteer

Additional tax-deductible contribution: $________

Name

Address

City, State, ZIP

Phone

New Member

Renewing Member

Total Amount Enclosed: $________

Send your completed form along with your check to:

North Berrien Historical SocietyP.O. Box 207, Coloma, MI 49038

Family Donor ($50)

Student ($8)

Senior ($10)

E-mail

North Berrien Historical SocietyMembership Form

Benefits include: Quarterly Newsletter, Advance inviteto special events, and Members-only opportunities

Please check desired annual membership level.

Jean DanielsLori CarlsonJoyce KolenkoJean ChristensenMarge DuVernayMargaret SchmiedingMilt StibalLinda Stibal

Memberships

Donations

Thank you for your support!

Milt & Linda StibalMargaret SchmiedingLorna Van Komen

Rhonya LeVequeGreg KrellCindy YoungScott YoungJohn NelsonBarbara NelsonWade Lynch

Roger & Barb Miller FamilyJack & Ginger Payovich Family

Lori CarlsonMarge DuVernay

to our generous sponsors of the

Museum Fundraiser

D.W. HAMMONDChocolates & Fudge

Chocolates

I hope you can join us on Thursday, Novem-ber 29 for Holiday Lights & Delights a fund-raiser for the museum. For just $5 per person wellhave delicious treats, live music, outdoor luminaries,and more. This is the only time you can view our

tree display in the dark, when the lights shine in theirfull brilliance, and its quite a beautiful sight.Our 2012 Holiday Open House is November

29 through December 2. Please see the flyer in thisNewsletter and let your friends and family know thatthis is a wonderful time to visit the museum. Pleasehelp us in thanking the local sponsors who gener-ously contribute by decorating trees and donatingproducts for our holiday festivities.

The local groups sponsoring trees for us thisyear include: Chemical Bank, Edgewater Bank,Honor Credit Union, Randys BP, Cottage of theFour Seasons, The Friendly Tavern, HandmadeTreasures, Rite Aid, Coloma Lioness Club, LakelandCommunity Hospital Auxiliary, Captain Kirks Co-loma Car Wash, Edward Jones - Denise Barowicz,Faith Lutheran Church, Beaches & Cream, MillCreek Charlies, Vincent J. Jewelers, North BerrienFood Pantry, and the North Berrien Artists Guild.

Finally, when you receive our letter in lateNovember I hope you will consider making a dona-tion to our Annual Fund Drive. This appeal is an-other important revenue source for supporting oureducational programs and local history preservationprojects throughout the year.

I hope to see you here at the museum soon.I send my best wishes to you and your family for avery joyful and peaceful holiday season!

Directors Desk, Continued from Page 2


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Hagar Bainbridge Coloma Watervliet www.NorthBerrienHistory.org

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Newsletter - Winter 2012

P.O. Box 207, Coloma, MI 49038

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winter 2012 newsletter - north berrien historical society

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