Bev's Blog

We are now heading into the last month of the year and what a year it’s been! I know there isn’t a day that passes us by that we don’t thank God for Ken’s improved health. I hope if you’ve encountered setbacks from medical issues, financial or family members going through major problems, how the power of prayers of hundreds helped us to get through when the going was rough. All of YOU played such an important part in that total picture; it really helped us through some very dark days. We send our sincere thanks.

The N/W corner of Ferry/Robbins road is now being readied for construction on the new Walgreen’s. It’s hard to believe we will have two within a couple miles of each other. Especially because Wal-Mart, Meijer and D & W are within walking distance! The county parking lot was also being prepared for its own drainage system, quite a maze of pipes and lines ‘under’ the parking lot, which isn’t viewable once the black top is placed on the lot. We hear pro’s and con’s on the location, many say it’s TOO close to the sidewalk, some say it should have been placed in the center of the lot and not to the back, regardless of who is right or wrong, it’s a busy place now that the doors are open.

We also noted a for sale sign on the property behind Applebees, indicating that the Comfort Inn that was going to build, is now probably not going to happen.

Aren’t these little elementary girls cute? Can you name the two on the left from Ferry School……..

I touched a little bit in the November newsletter about the enormous undertaking in regards to the Christmas light show which will now be at his own home on Heather St. in SL. The street is a cull de sac and difficult to follow the leader. His enthusiasm rubbed off on 9 neighbors who have allowed him to install lights on their homes. He has gone before the board getting permission, spoken to the police departments because this undertaking will amount to volunteers to direct traffic. His idea is an excellent one, however living on that street makes getting into view it a slow process. A few neighbors from nearby streets aren’t happy and it will remain to be seen if there will be a repeat performance next year. He has worked SO hard on creating it, we wish him well. Last year vandalism and high winds at Harbor Island soured him. You’ll want to see it when it opens tomorrow night, Thanksgiving Eve.

The son of the founder of Amway recently had a brilliant idea on an ArtPrize contest in Grand Rapids, inviting all those talented people from all over the world to display their art works. There were over 1,262 entries to be judged in this first of a kind international contest. On one of the bridges in GR a large table & 2 chairs sits overhead on the structure, an awesome sight. At the children’s museum colored tiles created on the fascia, depict a beautiful scene. Total prize money was over $450 thousand, with the Grand prize being $250,000.00 - won by an artist from NY who created a 19 ft. canvas painting of a lake with waves rolling w/whitecaps. It was beautiful. How lucky for a local GH man who won $7,000 placing in the final 10. Quite an achievement! It brought thousands of people to see the displays all over the city. This was bigger than expected and area businesses had NO idea the onslaught of visitors who came to view the art creations, restaurants running out of food, businesses closed because they were not prepared. Great for the GR economy and they’re already working on 2010!

Trivia: Corner of 7th/Washington was a large car dealership. Can you name it?

Mrs VanBeukerings 5th grade at Central School. Do you recognize any familiar faces? I know that curly haired fellow on the top right. Do you?

Oops. An article in the paper stated that International Aid had not closed. They have ceased certain operations but are still continuing two programs on a limited basis. Ten full time employees are still employed as negotiations are continuing to try and find a group to take it over.

Our little quaint town received a taste of Hollywood when the movie crew for “What’s wrong with Virginia.’ filmed a few shots here. They filmed footage at GH City Hall, Central Park, Floto’s, VBK funeral home. Having a major motion picture filmed here reflects the high quality of the community. It took 5 weeks to film in 30 plus locations in Western Michigan. SO, when the film is released in 2010, it will be your chance to see your local town in a film. It stars Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan and Emma Roberts. Connelly plays a single mother, having a long-term affair with the local sheriff played by Harris. That alone has the ring of a small town steamy gossip item. The film crew paid the city $1.00 for allowing the filming and then donated $500.00 to the boardwalk fund,

Trivia: In the first block of Washington, North side was a car garage/gas station and car dealership. Can you name it?

Isn’t this a unique building? It’s Fortino’s today, but back in the 1800’s it was the smallest of five major hotels in GH. Louis Fortino purchased it in the 1900s and as we all know, it’s a thriving downtown store today. I’m amazed we had SO many hotels but it must have warranted it with the busy riverfront as well as tourists and fur traders.

The first block of Washington St. is still torn up installing the heated sidewalks, plus putting new water/sewer lines. The stores are open and ready for Christmas shoppers, but Some business owners have complained that it’s affected their business, that people start down the street, they see the fences and think that nothing is open. The Chamber encourages Tri-City residents to shop locally.

Bill and Joyce MacKay wrote that they also have a Camfield Toaster, although it isn’t for sale. When residing in Tennessee they also had a Camfield electric frying pan, which they used all the time, but when they sold their residence they forgot to take the pan. They’ve always been sad about that. Ken went on e-bay and located one in mint condition also, they wanted 42.00…..but what would I do with it if acquired? I’ll leave it for someone who might enjoy it.

I’m amazed about my question per the racetrack. It’s developed so far into learning about 3 different places. One person thought he saw on an old plat map from the late 1800’s, Mercury Park was a horse track! We’re still searching that out. Then Bob Swier added interesting tidbits when he lived on Mercury Drive/160th. A stock car race track was to the side of his home. Jim Schippers called to say that he thought a track was closer to Comstock/Mercury and that George Schippers owned it. He remembered going with his dad a few times. Well, wanting to get the truth of what was there, I called Geo. Schippers Jr. and he updated me. His father owned the one by 160th in 1946, 47 and 48. It was N. of Mercury and N of Apple which of course wasn’t a street back then. The race track went North towards the river and of course there were no houses back then, just vacant land. He named some of the drivers that drove there, which was very interesting. He brought me a dozen photo’s, which I’ve included

There was another stock car racetrack at Comstock and Mercury, owned by Mr. Rezny which was on the N. side, next to Deremo’s Dairy! (I will look into this dairy down the line!)

Bob remembered the Rezny farm, which Mr. Rezny had tamed monkeys that rode on the back of the cows! This farm ran almost from Comstock down towards 160th, bordering Mercury Drive. It was a known fact that sometimes he’d take those monkeys to town. I can’t believe within a few blocks of each other, there were TWO race tracks and maybe One Horse track!! (I’m working on locating more information per the horse track.) And today, there isn’t a sign that anything was there. In speaking with Emil VanCura he knew a lot about it because his father, who owned the Henry J dealership on Beechtree, helped build those stock cars. His wife whose maiden name was Tragna, dad was one of the early drivers. Lots of familiar names drove at both tracks. Such interesting stories about our area years ago. If you could see the photos, you’d note all the spectators/cars lined up along 160t h!! It certainly drew numerous spectators.

Ed Deremo, who is married to classmate Charlyn DeYoung, was interested because his Great Grandfather, John Quincy Deremo owned 80 acres along the Grand River. If you can visualize in your mind, those 80 acres included: South to the entrance of Pottawattomie Bayou, East to the Grand River, West to 152nd and North to Robbins Road! It was purchased for ONE HUNDRED dollars in 1893 by his wife, Isabel Hale. The land was used for farming and for boarding loggers coming down the river. Her family lived in SL and her dad, Andrew Hale built the float bridge across Deremo Bayou so he could have a short cut to visit her. Ed’s grandfather Orren Deremo, lived on 20 acres where the airport is now. He also owned 100 acres on Deremo Island (named after him) and his sisters husband, Fred Kieft, owned the remaining 101 acres. Thus, most of that land that belonged to the Deremo’s, became Dermshire Forest and developed into what it is today I'm guessing. (The name Deremo Dairy was on this property and I want to examine that further later.) I thank Ed for sharing this interesting history.

Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?

Trivia Answers: 4 Funeral homes: Barbier, Kinkema, VBK and Kammeraad,
Dog N Suds–Beacon/Robbins, Hatton Hospital, Dornbos Fisheries on Monroe St. Gone are those days of getting those fresh fish right off the tugs! Supper usually every couple weeks was my dad finding a tug boat with some fish that he could buy, clean and we enjoyed it for supper. Hmmm. Sounds good!

The Buccaneer football team played to a great season this year, losing just one game against Rockford. With their record they advanced to the district and received home field advantage playing Grand Ledge. That game was a pushover in a miserable wet evening. They then re-played Rockford Nov. 6th. The game was a nail-biter but the Buc’s lost, 14-7. It’s been since 1971 since they had a winning team and the entire Buccaneer Team received Congratulations for a great season. The SL Lakers also had a great season and won numerous games, played into the district but lost in the first round.

During the playoff’s, the Muskegon Heights Football team played two Saturday games at Rothi Field. Shared revenue is always a boost to GHHS. With all the rainfall that we’ve had, their playing field was a mud puddle and unusable.

Trivia: What fast food place in the Tri-Cities will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary? Prices rolled back…….small town family started it, easy name with four letters! Can you guess what place it might be?

Grand Haven recently dismissed one local police officer due to charges brought against him while on duty. The shame he brought to the department, which when sentenced offered apologies to the women involved, his family and his co-workers, brings a black eye to the department. Picking up Nov. 4th paper shows the headlines of another GH officer being charged with Domestic Violence. Has the stress of the job caused this to happen? Who knows … Sad for everyone concerned.

Lets go back in time - - pretend we’re sharing in cake , ice cream at a party. I hope you enjoy your Birthday!!

December Birthdays

During this Christmas season, would you remember these classmates with a card?
Caring Corner Concerns. Please remember with a card and prayers.

Julie Fischer 112 Williams St. Spring Lake, MI. 49456
Mary Vivian 506 Clinton St. Grand Haven, MI. 49417
Diane Gignac 15235 Millhouse Ct. Grand Haven, MI. 49417
Gord Knoll Seville 16331 Robbins Rd. Grand Haven, MI. 49417
Bev Crandle 3446 St. Paul Blvd. Rochester, NY. 14617
Barb Wolf 755 E.16th St. Waverly Meadows #218 Holland, MI.49423
Will Gutierrez 14973 160th GH, 49417

The leadership instinct you are born with is the backbone. You develop the funny bone and the wishbone that go with it.

Spring Lake village officials recently approved a resolution designating their downtown area as a Commercial Re-Development. It means that they can apply for the state economic tool that is available, giving property owners a 50 percent reduction in property tax over a 9 year period. This applies to those planning to open new businesses or to an existing owner who would like to expand. At present there are 16 storefronts that are vacant and 6 new development sites available. It’s a positive move and they say to survive, they have to be competitive. A new business has opened in the old Masonic Lodge called ‘Seven Steps Up,’ it’s an event and banquet service. The couple live upstairs and have put many improvements into their new business.

The Cutter Acacia that was on duty from ’79 to 90’ has now found a homeport in Manistee where she will be moored in Lake Manistee. After 62 years of active duty, it was decommissioned in 06. The plans is to have it open for tours and overnight lodging and then bring it to GH during the CG Festival. The Acacia will be parked next to the Carferry City of Milwaukee. In the early years here, the Milwaukee went in and out of this harbor. The carferry was part of the Grand Trunk line loading railcars from GH to Milwaukee. I'm pretty proud to say my grandpa was captain of the Milwaukee and later my uncle followed in his footsteps for many years.

I have recently received news about Barb Teasley Wolf. She is now a resident in a Nursing Home in Zeeland. Would you remember her with a card and let her know she's thought of. She recently had a stroke followed by a heart attack. She's suffered MS for many years so this is a real set back in her life.

I noticed this photo recently in the paper - - looks like this gray haired fellow was getting a work out for sure on this never ending seasonal job! Nice work Bob.

With this newsletter being sent prior to Christmas, I'll be updating you with a 'year end' before the Christmas season ends.

You have time now to get your shopping completed, then kick back in your chairs, relax and enjoy this last month of the year. I know many of you are enduring some serious medical conditions which I pray will get better with time. My thoughts and prayers are with each of you that I know about.

In closing this letter out, I hope you filled out the form that was e-mailed to you yesterday per my address book. IF you didn't fill it out and submit it, this will be the last newsletter you will receive from Class Central. I need your help because it's the only way that I can install every e-mail address. ( It might be a good escape route for those that don't want to receive it.) The link to the short form is: http://www.macagency.com/1957/outlook.php

One more tidbit for your information. I know it's a SHOCK for me to report this, but the LIONS won a football game this past Sunday, they beat CLEVELAND!!!!

Two Universities, The Michigan Wolverines had a poor football season and the Michigan State Spartans did much better than M, but both teams need a lot of work to compete!! There's always next year!

Here's Wishing all of you the very best Christmas Season ahead. Ken and I continue to be so blessed for his good health reports, it's the answer to prayers that has no words to describe our feelings.