USA > Michigan > Oceana County > Olde tyme plat and history of Oceana County, Michigan > Part 8
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Early fund-raising projects provided clothing for 38 needy children in the Shelby area, funds for polio victims, and hospital remodeling. Many other community groups and individuals have also been aided by the Optimists either by fund-raising or man-hours. Over the years the club can boast of being one of the most active service clubs in the area.
In terms of man-power, it has been a story of riches to rags and back to riches for the Optimists during the years it has been organized. Of the original membership, nine still belong to the club. The Optimists are now realizing the "Fruits of Their Labor" as some of the boys they once sponsored in baseball, basketball and oratorical contests are now enrolled as active members and club officers.
The club is expanding the "Friend of The Boy" motto to "Friend of Youth" and community, until it has become one of the strongest service clubs in the West- Michigan area.
THE OPTIMIST CREED
Promise Yourself -
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to
every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
Optimist International
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BICENTENNIAL 1976 "ROTARY INTERNATIONAL IN OCEANA COUNTY"
ROT AHY
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ROTARY
The first Rotary club in the world was organized in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., on 23 February, 1905, by Paul P. Harris, a young lawyer, who gathered together in a spirit of friendship and understanding a group of men, each of whom was engaged in a different form of service to the public. That basis of membership -- one man from each business and profession in the community -- still exists in Rotary. At first, the members of the new club met in rotation at the various places of business of the members, and this suggested the name "Rotary".
Since 1905, the ideas of Paul Harris and his friends have become ideals which have been accepted by men of practically all nationalities, and of many political and religious beliefs. Today there are Rotary Clubs in Aden and Australia, in Ceylon and Chile, in the Fiji Islands and Finland, in Sweden and Switzerland -- in 134 countries and geographical regions. The universal acceptance of Rotary principles has been so great that there are now more than 12,900 Rotary clubs, which have a membership of some 620,000.
The general objectives of Rotary clubs in every country are the same -- the develop- ment of fellowship and understanding among the business and professional men in the community, the promotion of community -- betterment endeavors and of high standards in business and professional practices, and the advancement of international understanding, good will, and peace. Rotary clubs everywhere have one basic ideal -- the "Ideal of service," which is thoughtfulness of and helpfulness to others.
HART ROTARY CLUB
Organized-Chartered - Nov. 7, 1940
Members
Members
Original Charter Members
Present 1975-76
Original Charter Members
Present 1975-76
Frank Bagley
Ted Barecki
Roy Bearss
Robert Amstutz
Edson Billington
Hubert Bengston
Burton A. Cooper
Paul T. Anderson Edwin Bankert
George W. Burton
Dan Bernson
Victor E. Cooper
Fred M. Clark
Gerald Feasel
John M. Cramer
James Brown
Dalton Corliss
John Finucane
Oliver J. DeJonge
Robert Brown
Keith Dayharsh Charles H. Flint Newell Gale
Bill Fitz Dan Free Erwin Gale
C. Peter Franklin Clifford S. Harrison
Samuel Bucher
Lawrence Crisman Ernest A. Cummings Donald Fisk
Gayle L. Joslin
Lyle Gale
Oscar E. Hawley Willard G. Hawley Harold E. Hury
Robert L. O'Connor
Cliff H. Hall
William Hanna
Fred Haymaker
Bill Hegg
Viggo W. Jensen Elmer P. Johnson Edward L. LaFevre Paul Livingston August Marx Oscar M. Olson
Willis Hasty
Claude Stover
Ford Longendyke
Angus J. Rankin
Louis Lundberg
Chester A. Ray
Milton H. Mitchell
Harold K. Royal Ernest R. Steen
Ralph Moore
Lowell Rinker John Shrauger Tom Stevens
Abe Newmyer Chester A. Ray Jay H. Sikkenga Thomas TenBrink Clarence M. Thielman
Everett Underwood
Walter Urick
Dick Wells
Malcolm Wood, Sr.
Kenneth Kessler John Kirk John K. Lulich
Howard C. McDonald
Stan Riley
Ivan Tillotson
Lyle Tompkins
Wayne R. Fleming James E. Fox Nick J. Fox Harrison Gale
Daniel Hasty
George W. Powers Earl C. Pugsley Stewart Roche Bert Stevens Henry Stevens Wellington Stevens
Charles Hegg Ralph Johanson
Jack Kraklin
James Summers Bernard VanderWall Harry Zimmerman
Paul B. Thompson Gerald E. Thorne Cornie VanDeHoef Henry Veld William Yeager
Sponsored by Oceana County Rotary
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SHELBY ROTARY CLUB
Organized-Chartered - Aug. 17, 1938
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA ON YOUR 200TH BIRTHDAY!
The Hart Business & Professional Women's Club was organized on December 7, 1931, with the following members serving as the first officers: President, Verneda Stout; Vice-president, Pearl Shepardson; Secretary, Hazel Hart, and Treasurer, Nina Hale. The club had 35 charter members and one honorary member, Mrs. Edith Munger.
This year (1976) the Hart B P & W Club will celebrate its 45th birthday. During those years it has done numerous things for the community including raising money for the library, giving the Eva Osborn Scholarship to the outstanding commercial student at Hart High School. For a number of years the club co-sponsored sending a girl to Girl's State with the Hart Legion Auxiliary. For several years the club awarded a "Woman of the Year" award in the Hart area.
At present the Hart Business & Professional Club has 20 members and one charter member, Mrs. Myrtie Spitler. At present our officers are: President, Joyce Levy; Vice-president, Ethel Lorenz; Secretary, Stella Tate, and Treasurer, Gladys Brillhart.
Sponsored by Hart Business & Professional Women's Club
DID YOU KNOW ...
Oceana County produces more Douglas fir Christmas trees than any other county in the United States. Many Texas homes display an Oceana County fir tree during the holidays.
* Thomas Read was the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (1921-24) . Mr. Read was from Shelby.
* On September 12, 1963, a Mastodon head was found, in Section 12, Grant Township, on the Adrian Huls farm. They were digging a pond when the Mastodon was found. Mastodon grazed in Michigan during the end of the Ice Age.
* There was once a furniture factory in Pentwater.
* There were 27 Post Offices in Oceana County at one time. The first Post Office in the County was at Whiskey Creek.
Pentwater Shelby
Hart
Mears
Grand View Allen Creek
Benona
Holstein
Bird
Houseman
Claybanks
Rothbury
Cranston
Stetson
Crystal Valley
Smith's Corners
Elbridge
Woodburn
Ferry
Hesperia
East Golden Flower Creek
Marshville
Grand Valley
Cobmoosa Allice
Peach Ridge
* There were five newspapers in the county in 1890. The Shelby Herald, Oceana Tribune, Pentwater News, Hart Journal and The Argus.
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Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 3167 - Oceana County HART, MICHIGAN 49420
OCEANA AERIE #3167, F.O.E.
F.O.E. BOWLING CLUB OF HART
The Oceana Eagles were instituted on Saturday, April 8, 1961, at what was then known as the American Legion Club, of Hart. Sixty-four members were on the Charter of the organization. From that beginning, the Oceana Eagles have progressed to a membership of over nine-hundred at the present time.
In the early years, not having a meeting place of their own, the Eagles held their aerie meetings and social events at various locations throughout the county such as; members homes, cottages, Walker's Tavern, Shelby Pavilion and Stony Lake Tavern.
During this time civic, humanitarian and fund raising projects were instituted and put into operation. Over the past fifteen years some twenty thousand dollars have been raised for Eagle and civic projects. The pet Eagle project has been and will continue to be the Oceana Association for Handicapped Children. Last year a thousand dollar grant was obtained for the Senior Citizens Center in Hart. At the present time efforts are being made to obtain grants for the children's ward at the Shelby Hospital and equipment for the new wing of the Oceana County Hospital.
In March, of 1965, the American Legion Club was purchased by the Eagles for their aerie home and clubrooms. Since that time the Auxiliary was organized in May of 1965, they and the Eagles have united to help various organizations, such as; the blood mobile, scouting, senior citizens, Hart and Weare Fire Departments, Hart Hospital Auxiliary and recreation programs, by both the use of rent free Eagle prop- erty or by financial aid.
In the early fall of 1973 eight Eagle members; Bob Lorenz, Mike Cousineau, Stewart Hardy, Guy Hasty, Jim Ames, Gerald Graham, Webster Kellogg and Joe Cook, took upon themselves the project of promoting a new bowling establishment in the community. A non-profit corporation was formed, to be known as the F.O. E. Bowling Club, of Hart. Bonds were issued. With the help and cooperation of the members of Oceana County the bowling lanes became a reality. In the spring of 1974 contracts were awarded to the Hart Farm Bureau and the Brunswick Corporation for the construction of a building and installation of bowling equipment. On September 1, 1974, the F.O.E. Bowling Club, of Hart, was opened to the public. Twelve lanes with automatic pinsetters and scorers are now in use. Presently over two hundred teams, both men and women, are now bowl- ing weekly, plus senior citizens, junior leagues and various schools throughout the county.
The Oceana Eagles and the F.O.E. Bowling Club, of Hart, are proud to be a part of Oceana County and its history. We have invested not only our efforts, but also some five-hundred-thousand dollars to help make our county a better place to live.
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The Oceana County 4-H - Youth Council is proud to have sponsored this Olde Tyme Plat and History Book for you. This was their special Bicentennial project for the community during 1976.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Mrs. Walter Kroll, President
Mr. Robert Blackmer, Jr.
Mr. Richard Baxter, Vice-president Mrs. Raymond Brufladt
Mrs. David Kemper, Secretary
Mrs. Vincent Kacynski
Mrs. Ronnie DeBrot, Treasurer
Mr. Robert Fletcher
Mrs. Otto Ernst
Pam Holub
Mr. Joseph Oomen
Judy Studer
JoAnne Frantz
Mr. Henry Prillwitz
Manuel Avila
We extend our appreciation to the following people who gave many hours of extra work in making this book become a reality:
THE OLDE TYME PLAT AND HISTORY BOOK COMMITTEE
Henry Prillwitz, Chairman
Judy Ernst
David Gamble
Lowell Rinker
Maureen Wiegand
Robert Fletcher
Loyal Churchill
Margaret Knapp
Judie Burmeister
Margaret Lukonic
James Young
Marilynn Littiebrant
Lee Evans
Andrea Ay
Mary Lou Cullen
Rex Royal
And to the following supervisors for their contribution in helping to make this book a success:
SUPERVISORS
Milton Olson - Benona
Richard Balenci - Claybanks
Dwight Essenberg - Colfax
Gerald Greiner - Crystal
Byron May - Elbridge
Forrest Herin - Ferry
George Lindgren - Golden
John Haga - Grant
LeRoy D. Peterson - Hart
Peter Osterman - Greenwood
Lawrence Herin - Newfield
Peter Herremans - Leavitt
Robert Glover - Shelby
Wallace Flynn - Pentwater
Albert Van Bergen - Weare
And last but not least:
Our Publisher - Sir Speedy Instant Printing
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INDEX (Including names of all contributors)
Benona Township. .24, 25
Birdland Hardware & Variety. . 42
Bob's Gun Shop .42
Brown's Thrift-T .61
Burcon Home Furnishings.
Cover
Business and Professional Women's Club .82
Chase Farm .52
Cheever's. .60
Cherry Hill Super Market .60
Christmann Insurance Agency.
.48
City of Hart
Claybanks Township
10,
11
Colfax Township.
.34, 35
Cooper-Harris Funeral Home .63
Crystal Township 36, 37
Did You Know .49, 71, 76, 82
Double J Ranch
Elbridge Township. .30, 31
Farm Bureau Services, Inc. Cover
Ferry Township .20, 21
Forestry Associates, Incorporated. .49
Fowler's Mobil Service .59
Fox, N. J. & Sons, Inc .. .59
Fraternal Order of Eagles. .83
Gales Agency, Inc. .50
Gale's I. G.A ..
.64
Gamble Store
.49
Golden Community ,54
Golden Township Business & Merchants:
Bill's Dune Rides, Inc.
Coleson's Ceramics
Corliss Grocery
Fenton Brothers Cider Mill
Lites Pharmacy . 42
Lombard Real Estate. Cover
Golden Inn
Golden School
Krazy Daisy
Mears Post Office
Mildred's Beauty Shop
Murray Fire Fighting Equipment
Oceana Rubbish Removal
Silver Lake Laundry
Silver Sands Resort
Wiegand Construction
Wilson Construction
Golden Township Families:
The Loren Beggs Family
The Ralph Beggs Family
The Don Brubaker Family
The Ken Dyksterhouse Family
The Norman Fenton Family
The Dan Highland Family
The Edwin Johnson Family
The Cliff Leland Family
Golden Township Families Continued: The George Lindgren Family The Bruce Scofield Family The Herb Scofield Family The Pete Wood Family
The Oscar Worth Family
The Tom Youngstrom Family
In Memory:
Elmer Krantz
The Wm. Meyer Family Lloyd Riggs Oscar Schogren
Golden Township. .26, 2
Grant Township
.12, 13
Greenwood Township
.16, 17
Gustafson's Gifts.
.42
Hall, H. C., Consulting Civil Engineer .64
.47
.50
Hart Baptist Church.
.70
Hart Journal . 72
Hart Lumber Company. .64
Hart Meat Company.
.47
Hart Petroleum Company .46
Hart Rotary. .81
Hart Township.
.28, 29
Jess & Son's Service .63
Lakeshore Community Hospital Auxiliary . .78
Lamen Asphalt and Hart Redi-Mix. Cover
Leavitt Township 32, 33
Lovely Little Village of Pentwater . 42
Lorenz Party Store .47
Manak's Egg Farm .64
Marvin's Pharmacy. .46
Mc's Meat Company. .64
McCarty, Ernest, Inc., Realtor . 49
McKee Central Agency Insurance .42
Meyers Chevrolet Sales .63
Morat's Bakery . .46
Mort's Sunoco Station. .42
Mull Hardware. .48
Muskegon Federal Savings and Loan. Cover
New Era Canning Company. .13
New Era Reformed Church. . 68
Newfield Township. 18, 19
Nickerson Inn. .42
Noecker Movers .50
Oceana Abstract and Title Company. 1
Oceana Canning Company .58
.50
Hart Auto Company.
Hart Automotive Supply
.61
Hanes Party Store. Hanmer Drugs
. 44
.13
Flora-dale Resort, Inc.
Oceana County Agricultural History. . . .65
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Beachum Benona Hills Farms
Mr. & Mrs. Martin Wm. Burmeister, Jr. Burmeister Orchards
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Fleming
Gerald and Tom Greiner
Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Greiner Robert J. Heer & Sons
Lankfer Farms
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Leutzinger Lewis Orchards
Paul Roossinck Vandy Orchards
Oceana County Bicentennial Logo 64
Oceana County Board of Commissioners. 4, 8, 9
Michael W. Malburg
6
Shelby Township.
Everett E. Herin
6
Shelby Women's Club.
Milton F. Fuller
6
Lyle McLouth .
6
Raymond F. Wybenga
6
Oceana County Chapter of Michigan Retired Public School Personnel. . 79
Oceana County Cooperative Extension Service.
.74
Oceana County Farm Bureau Cover
Oceana County 4-H - Youth Council
Oceana County 4-H - Youth Program
.75
Oceana County History
5,
6, 7
.4,
Oceana County Map
.
3
Tate-Weaver Funeral Home
Oceana County Melody Mates.
.76
Oceana County Officials
9
Gerald Graham.
7
Universal Electronics.
.59
William F. Hanna
7
George L. Lambrix.
7
James A. Stover.
7
Harold VanDomelen.
7
Village of Pentwater
. 42
Oceana County Pomona Grange .76
Oceana County Sheriff's Department. . 73 Oceana Herald . 72
Oceana Hospital Employees Auxiliary . 77 Olde Tyme Plat and History Book Committee .84 Otto Township . 14
Pentwater Township. 41 Pentwater Baptist Church. .69
Postema Brothers Hardware
.63
Powers Clothing
. 48
Rankin Pro Hardware . 61 Rek-N-Reef. . 42
Rinaldi's Dari-Creme.
. 42
Rossiter, Murray, Insurance and
Real Estate. .47
Rothbury AMC Jeep. 63
Rothbury Department Store. . 64
Rothbury Hardware. .64 Safeway Lumber and Hardware. 17
Schaner, M. P. and Sons. .49
Schaner, Lester, Oil Company .50
Shaw Agency. .42
Shaw Real Estate
Shelby Congregational Church .68
Shelby Man Made Gems .64
Shelby Optimists .80
Shelby Petroleum .59
Shelby Pharmacy. .61
Shelby Rotary. .81
Shelby Saw Mill, Inc. .60
Shelby State Bank.
.57
.22, 23
.76
Silver Mill Frozen Foods, Inc. .45 Sir Speedy Instant Printing. 5
Snug Harbor Marine Center. .43
Soil and Water Conservation District Cover
St. Gregory's Church .66
St. Joseph's Church.
.67
St. Vincent's Church .67
Stanton, Sheriff Warren. .73
State Farm Insurance Company .46
State Savings Bank of Scottville .53
Suchy's Mobil Service.
.42
Cover
Taylor Bridge Store. .17
The Oceana Bank. Cover
VanderVen's Thriftway. .63
Village Green Market .42
Village of New Era . 62
Village of Shelby.
.56
Village of Walkerville .51
Walker's Bar and Colonial Dining .48
Weare Township
.38, 39
Yarn Tree. . 42
.42
Employee and customers in the Farm Bureau Services Display Room during the early 1940's when cream separators were in style. Styles may change but it is still our goal to provide quality supplies and services to enable farmers to have more profitable enterprises.
FARM BUREAU SERVICES INC. 3 E. MAIN HART BRANCH PHONE: 873-2158
DING
HOR
BUI
ONS
REVOLUTION
AMERICAN A
CEN
FARmo Bureau
1776-1970
ON
OUR
HERITAGE
200 years ago, farmers organized into bands of Minute- men to fight for their independence. In 1976, the chal- lenges have changed, but the need to organize has not. Through Farm Bureau, farm families can meet the chal- lenges on the farm and in the Legislature with aggressive programs built by and for farmers. Join today for
*OPPORTUNITIES
*BENEFITS
*SERVICES
OCEANA COUNTY FARM BUREAU
MUSKEGON FEDERAL SAVINGS
424 STATE STREET HART, MICHIGAN 49420 PHONE: 873-5697
HOURS: DRIVE-UP - 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
HOURS: DRIVE-UP - 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. LOBBY - 9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. FRIDAY - 9:00 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. CLOSED SATURDAYS
MEMBER - F.S.L.I.C.
R REALTOR
YOUR/ Insurance
Independent AGENT SERVES YOU FIRST
LOMBARD, INC. REAL ESTATE & INSURANCE
FULL LINE REAL ESTATE SERVICE FULL LINE INSURANCE SERVICE, INCLUDING LIFE INSURANCE.
OCEANA MULTI LIST SERVICE
IN HART CONTACT: Jim Lombard, Realtor Agent 208 Washington St. Phone: 873-3400
IN PENTWATER CONTACT: Bob Hebblewhite, Realtor Agent 328 South Hancock St. Phone: 869-5108
NTENNIAL
TOB
THE OCEANA County Savings
BANK
Serving Oceana County For Over Three Quarters Of A Century With Offices In:
Hart Ph. 873-2117
New Era Ph. 861-5190
Pentwater Ph. 869-8731
"You'll Like Our Interest In Your Account"
Member F.D.I.C.
BURCON HOME FURNISHINGS
U.S. 31
NEW ERA, MICH. CARPETING
PHONE 861-2222
FURNITURE
DRAPERIES
We've come a long way since our beginning in this small New Era store front pictured in the early 1900's.
11
SERVING WESTERN MICHIGAN FOR OVER ONE-FOURTH OF OUR NATIONS 1ST 200 YEARS
Visit
BURCON'S CARPET SHOWCASE Downtown Ludington
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