The newsletter of the North Berrien Historical Society is published quarterly in Coloma, MI.
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By Pauline Wendzel The museum will soon open a new exhibit of local lumbering and agriculture arti- facts. As southern Michigan was transformed from forest to farmland in the mid-19th cen- tury, floods of German immi- grants were at the forefront. In Berrien County, many German settlers concentrated in Bain- bridge Township and left be- hind a heritage still seen today. Harvest of the forest started just as Michigan became a state. Lumber companies such as Smith & Merrick owned much of the land and when the useful timber was gone, they sold it. They put advertisements in Ger- man newspapers claiming won- derful farmland. Many people in Germany at that time had a strong wish to escape enlistment in the army and enjoy a more democratic way of life. Cheap land in Michigan sounded like too good an opportunity to pass up, so in 1840 eight men from Zuesch, Germany left their home to make a new life. After sailing to New York they made their way to Cincinnati, Ohio. There they acquired ox teams to make the long journey to Watervliet, surviving on bread and sour milk. Finally, after many months of traveling Christian Heffner, Peter Schmitberger, Jacob Kniebes and son Peter, Jacob Christian, Daniel Krieger, Michael and Peter Umphrey arrived at their new property in northern Bainbridge Township. They could now see the land they had blindly pur- chased at $1.50 an acre. (That is the equivalent of $40 today, NORTH BERRIEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Vol. VI, No. 1 Hagar · Bainbridge · Coloma · Watervliet Spring 2014 300 Coloma Ave./ P.O. Box 207, Coloma, Michigan 49038 www.NorthBerrienHistory.org German Farmers in Bainbridge Left: J. David Friday had the first frame house in the area built in 1855, facing what is now Friday Road. It is depicted in this painting by Ethel Kelly as it looked around 1880. Notice the path leading from the road directly to the home’s all-important well. According to the family, David chose this location because the large oak trees were evidence that the land was fertile. The Fridays, below, came here in 1846 with the second wave of Germans. They traveled with Nikolous and Katrina (Friday) Kibler on the Erie Canal to Detroit then by stagecoach to Bainbridge. David was a wagon maker by trade and, in between plowing his fields, he built the first wagon in the community which was well- borrowed by the neighbors. NBHS 9998.22.35-37 Catherine Kibler Friday (1812-1897) Continued on page 4 Tues, April 15, 7pm Panel Discussion: German POWs on Local Farms Johan David Friday (1814-1885)
Transcript
By Pauline Wendzel
The museum will soon open a new exhibit of local lumbering and agriculture arti-facts. As southern Michigan was transformed from forest to farmland in the mid-19th cen-tury, floods of German immi-grants were at the forefront. In Berrien County, many German settlers concentrated in Bain-bridge Township and left be-hind a heritage still seen today.
Harvest of the forest started just as Michigan became a state. Lumber companies such as Smith & Merrick owned much of the land and when the useful timber was gone, they sold it. They put advertisements in Ger-man newspapers claiming won-derful farmland. Many people in Germany at that time had a strong wish to escape enlistment in the army and enjoy a more democratic way of life. Cheap land in Michigan sounded like too good an opportunity to pass up, so in 1840 eight men from Zuesch, Germany left their home to make a new life. After sailing to New York they made their way to Cincinnati, Ohio. There they acquired ox teams to make the long journey to Watervliet, surviving on bread and sour milk. Finally, after many months of traveling Christian Heffner, Peter Schmitberger, Jacob Kniebes and son Peter, Jacob Christian, Daniel Krieger, Michael and Peter Umphrey arrived at their new property in northern Bainbridge Township. They could now see the land they had blindly pur-chased at $1.50 an acre. (That is the equivalent of $40 today,
Left: J. David Friday had the first frame house in the area built in 1855, facing what is
now Friday Road. It is depicted in this painting by
Ethel Kelly as it looked around 1880. Notice the path leading from the road directly
to the home’s all-important well. According to the family,
David chose this location because the large oak trees were evidence that the land
was fertile. The Fridays, below, came here in 1846 with the second wave of
Germans. They traveled with Nikolous and Katrina (Friday)
Kibler on the Erie Canal to Detroit then by stagecoach to
Bainbridge. David was a wagon maker by trade and, in between plowing his fields,
he built the first wagon in the community which was well-borrowed by the neighbors.
NBHS 9998.22.35-37
Catherine Kibler Friday (1812-1897)
Continued on page 4
Tues, April 15, 7pm Panel Discussion: German POWs on Local Farms
Johan David Friday (1814-1885)
North Berrien Historical Society Board of Directors
Scott Young President Bennet Leedy 1st Vice President Kandyce Hays 2nd Vice President Cindy Young Secretary Shirley Boone Treasurer Ray Mays Assistant Treasurer Marc Hettig Director Karin Miller Director Pauline Morris Director Sherry Polashak Director Tom Scheid Director Sally Williams Director
Staff Tracy Gierada Director / Curator Pauline Wendzel Director of Programs Derek Nightingale Office Manager
The mission of the North Berrien Historical Society is to preserve and distribute information regarding the history of North Berrien County.
We wish to promote, encourage learning, and disseminate knowledge of the area’s
cultural and architectural legacy.
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From the Director’s Desk By Tracy Gierada
Soon a new attraction is opening at the North Berrien Historical Museum! Moving from Forest to Fruit Belt is the title of our new permanent exhibit under development in the Nichols Barn. A team of NBHS staff and volunteers are working on new interpretive text and images as well as contextual scenery to grip the imagination of visitors, especially young students. We are planning an interactive experience of the tools, machinery, vehicles, images, advertising, and community culture of the Fruit Belt. Many local people have been extremely generous in sharing their artifacts, knowledge, and skills. I look forward to a fantastic Opening Reception on May 20 and I hope you’ll plan to attend! We have other wonderful programs coming up soon; please help us spread the word. Families will love our crafts and activities during the local Spring Break with “A Day on the Old Farm”. The panel planned for April 15 about German POWs will also be a popular and interesting program. NBHS could not exist without the dedicated Board, members, and donors who support our work. Thank you again to the recent contributors listed on several pages of this newsletter!
North Berrien History Blog: NorthBerrienHistory.Blogspot.com
Twitter: Twitter.com/NBerrienHistory
Connect with NBHS Online!
Facebook: Facebook.com/NorthBerrienHistory
Did you Know? Two new signs are now in place in Watervliet’s Veterans Park to represent the Paw Paw River Dams Removal Project and the Story of the Wa-tervliet Paper Mill. NBHS provided historic images and text for the signs, which were produced by the South-west Michigan Planning Commission. The park is not accessible until the snow melts, but be sure to stop for a look at the signs when the drive is clear again.
Tuesday, March 18, 7pm
Fifty Years of Sarett. Chuck Nelson, Director of Sarett Nature Center for 43 years, will present an overview of Sarett’s achievements in providing environmental education to the community. Learn how the center grew from its founding in the 1960s to serving tens of thousands each year. In 2013 Nelson became Sarett’s Director Emeritus; come and congratulate him on a phenomenal career. Free.
A Day on the Old Farm: Spring Break Activity Day. During the school break, all ages (especially ages 6-12) will enjoy hands-on crafts and demos related to farming. Participants will receive a bandana, make their own scarecrow, meet real farm animals, see bee keeping and square dance demos, and taste traditional farm fresh foods, among other fun activities. Free.
Tuesday, April 15, 7pm
German POWs on Local Farms. A group of local panelists will share their memories of encountering German war prisoners, and will share some unique artifacts, following a brief overview about POW camps in the area presented by Dr. Howard Poole. After the presentations, the floor will be open to the audience to tell stories or ask questions. Free.
Wednesday May 14,
5:30-7pm
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. All NBHS volunteers are invited for a meal in honor of their important contributions to the North Berrien Historical Museum. Brief remarks will be presented at 6pm, reviewing the many examples of service by our volunteers in the past year. To attend, please RSVP to the museum at 468-3330 or [email protected].
Tuesday, May 20,
5-7:30pm
Exhibit Opening Reception & Keynote: Moving from Forest to Fruit Belt. Funded in part by the Michigan Humanities Council and the Berrien Community Foundation, this permanent exhibit highlights authentic local artifacts from the lumbering and agricultural industries that transformed Southwest Michigan’s landscape. At 6:15pm, keynote remarks will be presented by Mrs. Lakeshore 2014 Stacey Davis, who represents our area as an advocate for small farm interests. Davis and her husband live on a 20 acre family farm near Coloma where they work with their eight children to raise their own meat and vegetables. Stacey cans as many as 800 quarts of fruits and vegetables each year, as well as butchering, processing, canning and freezing all the family's meat.
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Mark your Calendars! All events are at the North Berrien Historical
Museum unless otherwise noted.
My name is Derek Nightingale and I am the new Office & Facilities Manager at the museum. I was born and raised in South Haven and I studied history, anthropology and museum studies at Central Michigan University, where I graduated Cum Laude in December 2012. I interned at the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum in South Haven in the summer of 2011, and then was hired on after graduation as the Collections Man-ager. Once my contract was up, I looked
for new venues and found the North Berrien Historical Museum, and I’m very grateful to be here.
In my spare time, I love to read, play video and board games, be outside, and generally be a dork (ask
me anything Star Wars and I will proba-bly know it). I also have a strange fasci-nation with roller-coasters and thrill rides of any kind and am always ready for a trip to a theme park. I hope to meet you next time you’re at the museum if we haven’t met yet. I am always happy to meet new peo-ple and I’m excited to learn more about the North Berrien community.
NBHS Welcomes Derek Nightingale
Wednesday, April 2, 1-3pm
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whereas the actual cost for one acre of farmland in Bainbridge is now around $5,500!)
Not everyone was ex-cited about what they saw. Nicholas Kibler arrived in the second wave of Ger-mans six years later and is recorded by Mabel Stark as saying “Farm they call this? You mean wasteland, tangle of briar bushes, swamp, for-est! This isn’t my idea of a farm. It would take years and equipment I don’t have to clear it!” He then proceeded to sit down and cry as homesickness for his neat fields and crops left behind in Germany overcame him.
The close knit immigrant community was first known as “New Zuesch” and later the “German Set-tlement” was eager to clear the land and start farming. The first task to be done was to build a log house. Lumber was used from the land and was all cut by hand. The location of the home was usually decided by water. At the time, Bainbridge had many flowing springs and often houses were built by these, even if this meant they were far from the road.
All the men had dreams to become successful western farmers. To obtain this dream and survive the winter they had to start work immediately. Clearing land by moonlight was common. There were never enough hours in the day to do all that had to be done. When neighbors worked together, which was usually the case, four to five acres could be cleared in a day. The first year grain was planted between the stumps to provide some source of income. In the following
years as some stumps were cleared by horses, fruit trees were planted. The first crops were peaches and apples. It was soon obvious that these trees thrived in the area’s soil and weather. Peaches were the first fruit harvested commercially around 1843, and be-came a favorite crop of the early settlers. By 1901 eighty percent of all peaches grown in Berrien County came from Bainbridge. Many of these peaches where being shipped to Chicago. Other early crops grown by settlers were strawberries, black raspberries, grapes, pears, plums, tomatoes, and melon. As the early German settlers began to tame the land and produce crops they encouraged family and friends from the home country to join them in their new life. By the early 1900s, over half of Bainbridge’s popula-tion was of German descent. In a strange land with strange customs it is no wonder the Germans banded together. They helped each other in many ways from barn raisings to acquiring citizenship and other hard tasks. This helped to form a community of co-operation and pride which is still seen today. It is said of these early German families that they were a
thrifty, industrious, hardworking people who taught their children the same. Many of these early settlers’ family names are still in the area today, their decedents carrying on the way of life their ancestors paved before them. This is just one example of our country’s wonderful immigrant history, how very different cul-tures worked, thrived and inte-grated to proudly meld and be-come uniquely American.
Continued from Page 1
Alton Wendzel’s fruit fields on North Branch Road are pictured here in the 1960s— this farm is now home to the 5th generation of the same
German farming family. Courtesy of Alton & Millie Wendzel.
This farm was originally owned by John and Matilda Schwarz and has stayed in the same family for seven generations. The house was built around 1864 and faces the
corner of Hill Ave and M-140. Courtesy of Irma Krieger.
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NBHS continually adds to our collections of historic artifacts and archives with the help of gener-ous donors— some local and others from many states away. Thank you to the following people who re-cently contributed the following to the museum: Leonard Aviles: Coloma Fire Dep’t Docs Wade Lynch: Student-made tiles from old WMS/WHS Walter Lee Urch: Coloma map/ school bus forms, 1950s Nancy Miller: Leedy photos, Coloma archives, maps Anthony Piraino: Wisdom Oak Stove used in Hagar Barbara Abrams: Portrait of James Martin, c.1850s. Joyce Thomas: photos, school and WPC souvenirs Chip Shimer: WPC playing cards given to Earl Shimer Rick Rasmussen: Photos, 1995 Paw Paw Lake Study Don McAlhany: Bottles found diving in Paw Paw Lake Julia Stansfield Hogan: CHS sweater 1959 Carabeth Culby: Photos/ label from J.H. Culby & Son Home Canners & Fruit Growers, B.H. Sandra Troxel: Winkler Journal, 1926-30 Ewald Rodewald: MI License Plate R 95, 1939 Willis Bouma: Am. Legion 362 digital photos Mary Helen Niblett: WPC machinery instructions Jeffrey Boyersmith: POW Work Detail Reports John Bellinger: Lest We Forget publications Chriss Lyon: Photos, "Chicago Gang Wars" Book Myrth Kremers: Cassette of "Paw Paw Lake Waltz", pamphlets, books Antonina Mally: Reference Books Janet Tacy: Coloma Fruit Exchange Thermometer
Thomas Yore Jr.: Scales used in WPC pulp mill lab Judy Toth: 1924 Coloma School photo with ID chart Pauline Morris: Little Pills from Badt’s Rexall, Coloma Richard R. Peterson: Watervliet slides, 1950s Mini Photos of Ellinee, 1930s Ada Wetzel: Photos including Wetzel's Motel, Millburg School, Piersall family, Steamer Margaret, CHS‘37 Reunion Booklet 1984 Diane Guldner: Soda and Sundae milk glass from Scott's/ Badt's in Coloma Will Nichols: Many local farm images and records Hettig/ Freehling Family: Ford 9N Tractor purchased in Memory of Mary Alyce Hettig Watervliet Fruit Exchange: Blossom Queen labels, photos Karl Bayer: Photos, 1914 Watervliet Map Alton & Millie Wendzel: Digital copies of family video and photos
Curator’s Corner By Tracy Gierada
Above L-R: 1. Donor Ewald Rodewald originally obtained this 1939 license plate for his 1937 Ford. He drove to Roscom-mon County to get the plate, a very long trip for that time, especially to have the "R" appear in his plate number. 2. Watervliet Main Street in the 1950s, gift of the photographer Richard R. Peter-son. Notice the gas pumps right on the curb in front of Peirce’s Garage, which is today the G.W. Jones Ex-change Bank. 3. Miss Coloma Loretta Kniebes, 1930s. Gift of Joyce Thomas. 4. Portrait of James Martin of Breedsville, Van Buren Co. Martin died of gangrene as a soldier in the Civil War. Gift of Barbara Abrams.
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We ushered in the winter season with our Holiday Lights and Delights Fundraiser. The mu-seum was glowing with holiday spirit with 24 trees beautifully decorated by local business and groups (and a total of over 30 trees). Our 70 guests enjoyed seasonal drinks, appetizers, and desserts while listen-ing to live music by Les and Becky Burford. As they followed the luminaries around the museum grounds, they could try a chestnut freshly roasted over an open fire and enjoy the lights shining brightly in the dark. The fun continued with our Holiday Open House. The museum was bursting at the seams with more than 700 visitors over the three days of activi-ties. The festivities included gingerbread house mak-ing, live music, holiday card and ornament crafts, a cookie walk, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. This year a special addition was demonstrations by the Southwest Michigan Scroll Saw Club, whose beautifully unique tree took home the People’s Choice Award with the most visitor votes. We were happy to again partner with the Coastline Children’s Film Festival this year. At the
Loma Theater on Sunday, February 2 attendees viewed Steamboat Bill, Jr. a 1928 silent film starring Buster Keaton. Following the showing, the museum hosted a Sound History Workshop where children learned about historic sound makers and made their own candy iPod. We had our second screening at the Loma on Wednesday, February 5 where young film-makers from the area had their short films played on the big screen. To complement these films, viewers also enjoyed some entertaining Polish animated shorts made in the 1960s. Our final screening was of the comical silent film Grandma’s Boy staring Harold Lloyd (1922). The museum hosted a Pre-screening Reception, serving homemade ice cream and some notes to help kids enjoy the film. A great time was had by all at our annual Vic-torian Valentines Party on February 8. Children and adults enjoyed making valentines cards, inspired by our display of antique valentines, and also enjoyed festive games, crafts, refreshments, and music. On February 18th, the museum screened a PBS documentary film titled Tale of Two Cities (2003),
The Winter was cold but we stayed warm and busy here at the Museum
Above L-R: 1. Second Grade students enjoy decorating gingerbread houses at the museum before their Winter Break. 2. Students from Coloma Choirs perform a dance and vocal number for visitors at the Holiday Open House. 3. Programs Director Pauline Wendzel presents a talk on local history at the first 2014 Youth Intern meeting.
Below L-R: 1. Close-up of the Scroll Saw Ornaments. 2. Members of the Southwest Michigan Scroll Saw Club pose with their award-winning tree. 3. The team from Back on the Rack poses with their beautiful tree of handmade ornaments. 4. “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” tree by Chemical Bank was another popular and fantastic tree contributed this year.
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Individual ($15)
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Additional tax-deductible contribution: $________
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Total Amount Enclosed: $________ Send your completed form along with your check to:
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North Berrien Historical Society Membership Form
Benefits include: Quarterly Newsletter, Advance invite to special events, and Members-only opportunities
Joanne Strebeck Dale Kaucher Robert Gierada Linda Hasse Sandra Garland Charlene Andrews Janice Reid Judi White Cassie Golomb Anita Hirsch Alton Wendzel Elma Doty Lorna Van Komen Dave Kliss Joyce Kolenko Ron Taylor Joyce Van Hattum Ewald Rodewald Susie Furda Lydia Groth Jean Christensen Jean Fannin Dolores Bishop Sylvia Lieberg Joan Polaskey Mary Melvin Debbie Friday Alice Mow Frances Bishop Ron & Cyndy Winfield/ Eye of the Beholder Antiques Berrien County Genealogical Society Future Construction of Southwest Michigan Mary’s City of David James & Peggy Nichols Utterback Family
Donations
Emma Morlock Dolores Krenek Carole Sternaman Edward Helbling Jean Noack Sandi Sanders Tim Dent
Richard O’Leary Frances Wooley Debbie D. Weber Bob Spaulding Gwen Elsner Katherine Yonker Will Nichols
Kelly Noel Betsy Brower Marie Sineni Jacquelyn Hauch Carolyn Norton Thomas Phillipson Al Davino Jr.
George Graber Ronald Clark Billie Ryan Sally Williams Donald Wooley Fred Munchow
David DeFields Don Nigro Patricia Goodman Jim Schultz Ralph Stelter Fran Konya
Anita Hirsch Wade Lynch
Joseph Rodriguez Family Kathrin Wichner
Sally Dupuie Janet Blair Judi White
Alton & Millie Wendzel Greg Krell
Irma Krieger Dave Kliss
Jack Payovich Family
Donations - In Memory of Mary Alyce Hettig
produced by WKAR at Michigan State University. It starts by exploring the histories of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor and transitions to their transforma-tions in the last century, focusing on their relationship to one another. After the film, attendees discussed the history portrayed and compared it their own experi-ences of life in and near the Twin Cities. Sixteen Youth Interns have joined our volun-teer program this year. At our first meeting on Febru-ary 19 they learned a little about each other and a lot about local history. They are all eager to be a part of this unique program and look forward to volunteering with the museum this spring.
Another great slide recently donated by Richard R. Peterson, showing a parade in Watervliet in the 1950s. Look for our Summer Newsletter to come out around Memorial Day!
