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Van Buren's Spirit Undaunted By Perplexities Of 1933
OPTIMISM IN AIR AS 1934
Old Year Brought Changes And News Events Of Interest
By DUANE DeLOACH PAW PAW, Jan. I-A note of optimism the waning months 1933 reflects the success of Van Buren's business leaders against the depressive influences in the state at large. State and feder al moratoriums, which from March to July gripped many smaller banks, released all but three by fall. The Olney bank in Hartford and the John W. Free State bank in Paw Paw both closed their doors, but there talk of reorganization and there is hope that at least one. not both, of these institutions will again reopen. Towns Showing Spirit Not only getting clean bill of health for its banks, Van Buren as whole is pulling itself up by its boot-straps in re-employment and building for the future. South Haven will complete its modern sanitation system early this year, and Paw Paw started to build its sewage disposal plant in November, 1933. The War department has an expenditure of $67,500 for improving the port at South Haven, and the city plans PWA projects in the near future. Hartford added new machinery during the year in its electric light plant. Both Lawton and Paw Paw have wineries in operation since August, anticipating repeal on December 5. The Purita.. winery at Paw Paw was the first to be licensed in the state. Aid Schools, Highways With the advent of the CWA plan by the federal government two short months ago, both Van Buren's schools and highways have been benefited. One the projects on which able-bodied men were taken from relief rolls and put to work is expected make the Wolfe lake hatchery the largest in the United States.
In Political Limelight The political spot played on Van Buren during the year, for two reasons. The first was that Van Buren's of November, 1932, became the Fourth district's real congressman on March 4, when he succeeded Congressman John Ketcham. Naturally, congressional interest in this part of the state focused on Foulkes and his doings. Secondly, Van Buren remained in the Republican column in the spring election, successfully resisting the Democratic landslide of last April just as it resisted the Democratic engulfment of the Republicans the November referendum of 1933. The Democrats tried hard to swing Berrien into their column in April but it didn't work. Van Buren rolled up and elected Republican board supervisors, with just one exception, but piled up heavy majorithe Republican state ticket, headed by Van Buren's native son, State Highway Commissioner Grover C. Dillman. Dillman went down to defeat, as is now history, but he had the satisfaction that home folks stood by him. Plums To Democrats As was to be expected the political plums, such as they were, went to the Democrats of the county when Congressman Foulkes or the Comstock administration at Lansing had anything to do with such appointments. There was shakeup of city, town and village postmasters, Congressman Foulkes during the year putting in Democrats where vacancies OCcurred, terms expired or the situation demanded change. Postoffice Appointments Appointments made upon recommendation of Congressman George Foulkes included Fred Balow, South Haven: Urel Brody, Lawton; Elmer Smith, Paw Paw; Miss Bernice Knapp, Hartford; and Mrs. Hazel Cady, Decatur. Numerous other ap pointees to state and federal jobs were also named. Ralph Stein was replaced as highway maintenance at Paw Paw by Conway Neville of Lawrence. Both political parties held county conventions in February at Hartford. Attorney Lynn Lewis of South Haven being named county Repubchairman, while John C. Stafford of Lawrence now heads the Democratic county organization. 34's Political Picture As the old year faded and the new one turned the corner the political situation in Van Buren was invested with further political interest by the mid December formal anof Earl H. Burhans. Van Buren's member of the lower house of the legislature, that he is an candidate for congress. And so, looking ahead to 1934's political doings, have the promise Congressman Foulkes, Democrat, running for re-election with Rep. Burhans contending for the Republican nomination. Should the political fates decree, 1934 may Van before last year having the congress manship in this that important and valuable political plum. Wets Again Capture County The prohibition campaign of 1933 -which brought beer in May to Van Buren and hard liquors as the old year was fading-was not without special interest locally, for Van Buren in the repeal proposal of last April again went wet for the second time in some 45 years. In the November election of 1932 Van Buren went wet and this was surprise, because Van Buren was one of Michigan's counties to adopt county local option. In April Van Buren did the same thing, and that was that. Organization of Van Buren Edu. cation association Itself felt during the year 1933 by presenting petitions with virtual roll-call of county citizenry to the governor demanding state relief for schools. The legislature subsequently gave them consideration. Supervisors Practice Economy The board of supervisors proved its mettle by meeting period of nancial stringency with corrective measures. Setting an example for neighboring counties, it impounded state funds in the county treasury, pending satisfactory settlement of its claims against the state; it extended the time for payment of 1932 taxes without penalties; it stopped payment of mothers' pensions; it removed assessments for Covert roads and township drains; slashed county expenditures to minimum; and placed the problem of operating the county without cash squarely up to the delinquent payers. Few Disasters In County Only two disasters of consequence visited the county during 1933. fierce ice-storm in March crippled telephone and electric power service. Many lines were down and roads were rendered impassable. A hail-storm which swept in a twomile swath across Van Buren in June laid waste hundreds of acres in vineyards and orchards, besides causing $10,000 worth of property damage. Fires caused damage in the ty estimated in excess of $200,000 Notable among these were the blaze which swept Grand Junction in March, arson plot in the theatre fire at Bangor, and Decatur blazes in the Conley block and from an explosion in celery storage warehouse. One barn of record was struck by lightning. Two Plane Crashes Two airplane crashes were recorded in Van Buren for 1933. At three were seriously injured. At Sister Lakes, stunt pllot made faulty landing and suffered broken bones. Of interest was the NRA campaign, in which Decatur was first to be enrolled 100 percent, with Gobles running close second. Grape growers attempted to boost prices by pledging not to sell at less than $40 ton. Wineries at Paw Paw and Lawton paid farmers between $20 and $40 for grapes during the season.
Some Outstanding News Figures much in the public eye included George Foulkes, who stirred up hornet's nest by threat to have the State Police post at Paw Paw removed. An investigation by the State Department Public of charges against Trooper Floyd Peters proved them groundless. Ex-sheriff Lacey Bale continued to place in the news when his jaw was broken under mysterious circumstances. "Bill" Barnard appeared frequently rally meetings of the Farmers Union throughout the county during its period of organization last spring; was "too radical for the radicals" Lansing when he proposed that the Progressive party of Michigan sponsor the of Governor Comstock; and before his death, began battle in Van Buren circuit court asking the removal of the custodian of the John W. Free state bank in Paw Paw. Some Notables Died Illustrious names in Van Buren history are represented in the deaths of prominent persons 1933. George Monroe, 61, president of the First State bank of South Haven was the first of these to die. He failed rally from serious operation in March. Franklin Overton, 63, was former mayor of Bangor and had active fruit interests. Decatur lost three persons of prominence from its community. Albert Isham, 60, and Lewis Hamilton, 77, were both merchants for many years, and Dr. James E. Maxwell, who died in Van Buren auto crash, was pioneer physician. The passing Attorney William Barnard, robbed the county of brilliant legal light, champion the people, and an outspoken public speaker whose hand was frequently be seen the county's politics. The death Henry Pearce, 77. South Haven, took former chairman the board of supervisors who had long served his constituency in that body.
13 Highway Deaths Deaths on the highway were fewer for Van Buren than in any surrounding county, and less by far than in 1932. total of 13 auto deaths in the county were recorded in 1933 up to Deçember Three occurred during the year, one of 6-year-old girl in the Black river at South Haven last March, and in June of two Negroes whose fishing boat tipped over Fish lake northeast of Paw Paw. Two deaths were caused by fire. A infant perished cottage Keeler, set by neighbor boy, and Hartford man died of burns when coal stove exploded One Hartford woman died after cake birthday party in her Law rence youth was fatally injured fall from derrick dock worker South Haven was killed when an unloading threw him to concrete and ert boy died as result of an accidental Coroners were called in more than dozen Poison was used five instances; shot gun was the other favorite method of sudden death. The hemp necktie in 1933 was not in More aged persons, and pioneers Van Buren passed away natural causes in 1933 than two years The oldest these was Mrs. Elizabeth Hulburt, who was born in 1834 and lived at Gliddenburg for more than 60 years
Few Major Crimes Rigid enforcement law under the new and efficient administration of Sheriff Warren Dodge stamped out incipient crime waves in Van Buren during 1933 No bank robberies murders were during the year. One confessed murderer was sentenced in January, but the patricide for which the Decatur youth, Dexter Huff, now imprisoned Jackson for life was committed in December Hunt Hartford Fugitive Sheriff's to search for Joseph Kizinski, whose attempted murder of his wife in Hartford failed Two cases of criminal assault were seen. David Coleman, Lawton, for attacking pretty school teacher, and Jackson McGee,
South. Haven Negro, confessed attacker of two young white girls, were both sent to prison. The probate court dealt with Robert Schaffer, 14, Keeler, who confessed setting fire to home in which child burned to death. During the year also, A. Bates, who escaped the county jail at Paw Paw on Christmas night, 1932, was nabbed by federal authorities in Colorado for a kidnaping charge. Three youthful "gangs" were broken up by Sheriff Dodge and his vigilant deputies. Robberies in Lawton brought prison terms to six; in South Haven, eight boys were and three imprisoned; in Decatur, 17 store robberies since 1930 were traced to three men who are now serving long sentences. The most exciting criminal news of the year was the bandit chase through swamps northeast of Lawrence, which deputy and bank bandit suspect were shot, and wounded ex-convict eluded posse and was not apprehended. Many Golden Weddings Against this dark background of criminal activity, the celebration of golden wedding anniversaries by pioneer residents of the county marked the even tenor of events that endure, and carry on. Clubs stronger in Van Buren during 1933, many of them also observing 50th year of service. Co-operative organizations reported turning point in business affairs had been reached. Inter community activities expanded in 1933. Farm shows, agricultural contests, scholastic competition, and entertainment through school tie-ups showed the principal gain. The Hartford fair was omitted but the Paw Paw grape festival and Bangor apple show amply covered the breach attracting visitors to Van Buren county.
No Hartford Fair One of the big losses of the year was the cancellation of the Hartford fair. The directors of that big and notable show felt that the times did not justify the re-staging of this exposition and so for the first time in the long and proud history of this show the fair grounds were "dark" last September fair next year, however, is planned. Bangor, however, put on its big apple show, now widely known and praised; South Haven got new federal postoffice: Van Buren supported the Blossom Week celebration of the twin cities and South Haven, Bangor, Hartford and Paw Paw entered queens; and Paw Paw staged another fine Grape Harvest and fall Mardi Gras. If it was not great year, this perplexing 1933, in Van Buren, it certainly wasn't an uneventful 12 months.
Chronology Of Year A chronology the leading Van Buren news events of interest in 1933 included the following:
