Looking Back – January 2019

snow beginning to melt

Closing out 2018 the microfilm reader at Stockbridge’s Library  is in for repair so no film copies of old papers are available to view. As a result this months column covers more recent history.  Our library has been saving print versions for about thirty years and they are the source for this column.

Twenty years ago in 1999 the year began with an extended school holiday break as over two feet of snow covered the area between Friday January 1 and Monday January 4., The New Years’ Weekend. That snow hampered fire fighters in Henrietta Township adding terrible road conditions and equipment malfunction.  Fire Fighters worked four hours during the storm to limit a fire to one building only.

The coldest temperature recorded on January 4 was at 2:27 a.m.  Although the temperature was 16 the added wind made it feel like 31 below. Also in the first week of the New Year 18 year old Kevin Kadletz died when a second driver swerved into his vehicle.

Later that month Gov. John Engler declared January “School Board Recognition Month” with the theme Building Better Futures for Children and Communities.  Medical facilities were advising people to remember their flu shots.

Stockbridge Area Artists issued a call to artists in the area to participate in the Ron Fillmore Memorial Art Show sponsored by Stockbridge Arts Council and Stockbridge Area Artists.. In the same week Bob’s Ford-Mercury became Victory Ford-Mercury and Stockbridge Community Education offered a schedule of winter classes.

In 1989 the village was working on a zoning proposal and later in the month announced a purchase agreement for an industrial park site.   The middle school had pipes leaking damaging floors as well as roof leaking problems, and asbestos was discovered in the basement resulting in a costly removal.

Waterloo Needlework elected a new slate of officers with Genelda Parker as president.  Craig Goodlock received a scholarship award from Robert M Perry School of Banking.  Norman and Wilma Kaiser celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Mackinder Glenn American Legion Hall.

Also in January 1989 David Sheltholm was appointed Ingham County Road Commissioner and Pauline Nottingham was tapped to replace him as White Oak Township treasurer. Coles Elevator in Gregory was converted to a multi-use building including an ice cream parlor and a flower/gift shop.

In 2009 fire fights once again were thwarted in their efforts by cold and wind this time in Unadilla. Early in the month Unadilla township debated knocking down a dilapidated building on Main Street and Stockbridge Shell Gas Station expanded to include grocery items.

Diane Rockall continues to serve as a board member.

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