Back in the Day: A look at Fennville area history – Student wins pie-baking contest (1949); Pullman raises $70 for polio fund (1974); Senior housing proposed (1994)

From the pages of The Fennville Herald:

129 Years Ago
Saturday, Feb. 9, 1895

Missing

100 Years Ago
Friday, Feb. 8, 1924

School Notes

— The freshman Latin class have learned to count to twenty in Latin. They have been studying the dress of the Romans and plan to make some Roman clothes and dress up some members of the class.

75 Years Ago
Thursday, Feb. 10, 1949

County Cherry Pie Contest Won by Miss Joan Johnson

Miss Joan Johnson of Fennville won first place in the third annual Allegan County Pie Baking Contest held February 3 at the Allegan High School. Second place honors were taken by Florence Nussdorfer of Wayland, and Josephine Ingallinera of Fennville was third.

Miss Johnson, daughter of James Johnson, Route 1, Fennville, and a senior in the Fennville school, will represent the county in the state contest which will be held in Grand Rapids Friday, Feb. 11. …

50 Years Ago
Thursday, Feb. 14, 1974

An ad from The Fennville Herald.

Conservation District Offers Trees, Shrubs

The Alle-Van Soil & Water Conservation District is again making available a packet of trees and shrubs suitable for wildlife habitat improvement, windbreaks and beautification. …

The packets and individual species in quantities of 50 or more may be ordered from the Alle-Van Soil & Water Conservation District office, 212 E. Main St., Fennville, MI 49408. …

Pullman News

— Over $70.00 was taken in at the breakfast held Wednesday morning for the Polio Fund. If anyone would like to make a donation in Lee Township, Mrs. Melvin Riston is chairman for this area.

30 Years Ago
Thursday, Feb. 10, 1994

Housing complex for seniors to be discussed by city Feb. 21

A presentation for a proposed senior housing unit by Housing Opportunities Made Equitable is likely to be scheduled for the next City of Fennville commission meeting on Feb. 21. …

The 10-unit complex is proposed for the south side of West Fennville Street between South and 58^th streets. …

In other business, the commission continued the discussion of hiring their own part-time police protection. According to Mayor Pro-tem Tony Morgan, the city could save money by hiring part-time workers, while full-time service was currently a break-even proposition. …

The new fire engine arrived on Feb. 5. …

Concerns still exist over the new heating system at city hall. …

The new system was just recently installed, but according to city employees, they are still experiencing the big chill.

Jim Hayden is a Fennville resident and former editor of The Fennville Herald newspaper.

Follow Jim Hayden on Instagram leftyhayden66 or TikTok @leftyhayden.

Information from The Fennville Herald thanks to the Fennville District Library, 400 W. Main St.

January in Fennville was warm and snowy

Highest high: 41 degrees on Jan. 28
Lowest low: Minus 2.8 degrees on Jan. 15
Days with rain: 14
Day with most rain: Jan. 23 with 0.76 inches
Days with snow: 15
Day with most snow: Jan. 20 with 12 inches

Looking toward shore from the pier at South Haven on Jan. 1. Note the lack of snow.

The New Year in Fennville started off warmer than average with more rain and snow than normal.

The average high for January was 32.2 degrees with an average low of 23.7 degrees, according to readings at the Michigan State University Trevor Nichols Research Complex, about 2 miles west of the city. The average temperature was 27.95 degrees.

The temperature and precipitation readings for Jan. 12 were missing from the compiled data at the collection site.

The long-term average temperature in January is 26 degrees with the average high of 33 degrees and average low of 19 degrees.

Fennville’s weather trends match other West Michigan cities, according to the National Weather Service office in Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids was 2.3 degrees warmer than average. Muskegon was 4.1 degrees warmer, and Kalamazoo was 3.2 degrees warmer than normal.

Rain and snow

Fennville recorded 3.42 inches of rain, 0.95 inch above the long-term average of 2.47 inches. Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Kalamazoo were also above the long-term average, according to the weather service.

Snowfall was almost 2 feet above the 25-inch average. Fennville had 47.75 inches of snow, according to local records. That’s 46 inches, or 3.8 feet, more snow than December’s 1.75 inches and 21.75 inches more than last January.

Here are January snow totals:

2023: 26 inches
2022: 53.75 inches
2021: 12 inches
2020: 11.25 inches
2019: 32.25 inches
2018: 26.50 inches
2017: 19 inches
2016: 29.35 inches

Grand Rapids was 8.7 inches above normal for snow. Muskegon 2.9 inches below normal, the weather service reported.

Lake Michigan

Water levels in Lake Michigan-Huron dropped 0.72 inch in January compared to December, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the group that oversees Great Lakes water levels. Lakes Michigan and Huron are considered one because they are linked by the Straits of Mackinac.

January’s level was 578.81 feet. December was 578.87 feet.

The January level was 3.96 inches above the long-term average of 578.48 feet, 33 inches below the maximum of 581.56 feet set in 2020 and 33.48 inches above the minimum of 576.02 feet set in 2013.

Ice coverage on Lake Michigan remains well below average.

Back in the Day: A look at Fennville area history – Ice harvest underway (1924); 3-year-old saved from sludge pit (1949); Repairs approved for washed-out Lake Shore Drive (1974)

From the pages of The Fennville Herald:

129 Years Ago
Saturday, Feb. 2, 1895

Missing

100 Years Ago
Friday, Feb. 1, 1924

Local Happenings

— The ice harvest commenced this week with about 8 inches of ice. The quality is good but for so much zero weather and even lower the ice is not thick, a fact probably due to the heavy blanket of snow.

School Notes

— Those pupils in the fourth and fifth grades who received large gold stars for brushing their teeth every school day during January were: Helen Bale, Edward Hutchinson, Kathleen Quist, Kent Haney, Allen Barron, Edith Wells, Max Teed, Berneice Van Blois, Lois van Hartesveldt and Gladys Morey.

Report of Peach Belt School

— The school received a large picture of Louis Pasteur for the sale of Tuberculosis Stamps.

— We wish to thank the mothers for helping us with our chicken dinner and also Mrs. Benson for her hot lunch, as we are sure enjoying them this year.

75 Years Ago
Thursday, Feb. 3, 1949

Johnny Watts Saved from Sludge Pit

Johnny, the three-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Watts, while playing with other children last Thursday afternoon, fell into the sludge pit in the back of Michigan Fruit Canners.

Irving Shumaker, who was working on the platform outside the building, heard the children repeatedly cry, “Johnny, we can’t see you,” so went to investigate. He then waded into the sludge and rescued the child.

Mrs. Watts, Johnny’s mother, who had been looking for him, arrived on the scene as he was brought to safety. …

50 Years Ago
Thursday, Feb. 7, 1974

“It’s eerie, you can look down through the hole in the road and see the waves eating away at the beach.” A Lake Shore Drive resident was talking about a four-by-six foot hole in the asphalt road.

Lake Michigan Gnaws at the Shoreline

Like Lorelei, the siren of folklore fame who sat on the rocks and lured boatmen to destruction, Lake Michigan is now hurting the very people who are closest to her.

“It’s eerie,” said one resident, “you can look down through the hole in the road and see the waves eating away at the beach.” She was referring to a section of Lake Shore Drive in Allegan County. This is an eight-mile scenic route between Glenn and Douglas which is liberally dotted with $100,000 homes.

One mile south of Douglas, in an area which is in reality rural Fennville, the road extends to the edge of a high bluff. Here is Lake Michigan at her best and also her most destructive. …

On March 17 of last year and especially severe storm took its toll. High waves washed out support for the banks and bits of tarmac began to crack and break. …

Last week, Congressman Guy VanderJagt reported repairs to the 1,300-foot section of road will be made. …

The project, which is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $260,000, will begin in the summer.

30 Years Ago
Thursday, Feb. 3, 1994

Commissioner fills unexpired term

Thomas Pantelleria was recently appointed to the Fennville City Commission to fill the unexpired term of Clifford Pitts who moved out of the city.

Pantelleria has lived in Fennville for 11 years. …

Pantelleria likes the small-town flavor and feels it is “important to retain the small-town atmosphere.” As to the appointment, Pantelleria said, “I’m happy about it, and I’ll do the best I can. It’s time to give something back,” he added.

Jim Hayden is a Fennville resident and former editor of The Fennville Herald newspaper.

Follow Jim Hayden on Instagram leftyhayden66 or TikTok @leftyhayden.

Information from The Fennville Herald thanks to the Fennville District Library, 400 W. Main St.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Back in the Day: A look at Fennville area history – Group spends night along river after canoe accident

From the pages of The Fennville Herald:

50 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 31, 1974

Allegan County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Warren Englesma (far right) listens to the story … five persons who spent Saturday night lost in the marshes of the Kalamazoo River. L to R Vicky Marlink, her husband Davis, Jim Lohr (seated on table) and Mike Northuis. Three-year-old Paul Marlinkis wrapped in a blanket.

Winter Canoe Trip on Kalamazoo River Ends in Near Disaster

Four adults in their early twenties and a three-year-old child undoubtedly owe their lives to the unseasonably warm weather in the area Saturday night.

It was approximately four o’clock Saturday afternoon when Mr. and Mrs. David Marlink and their son Paul of rural Fennville set out on the Kalamazoo River in a canoe. With them, in a second boat, were Jim Lohr, 23, of New Richmond, and Mike Northuis, 23, of Holland. They planned to paddle downstream to New Richmond, a trip of approximately four hours.

Sunday morning, Doug Browe of New Richmond told Allegan County Sheriff’s deputies that his friends failed to arrive as planned. … County and Fennville police officers combed surrounding roads and a deputy in a small plane searched the swollen river.

About this time the subjects of the search were trodding the last tired mile toward the first sound of civilization they had heard in 19 hours … gun shots.

When officers arrived at the Fennville Rod and Gun Club lodge they found Paul turning a toasty pink in a warm blanket and everyone fortified with coffee, pop and hot dogs.

Seemingly none the worse for their adventure, they had this story to relate:

Shortly before dark the canoeists found and eight foot by eight foot raft buoyed by four 55 gallon drums. After the father and son boarded the raft, the action moved swiftly. Northuis lost an oar then the canoe when it hit a log. Marlink and his son got wet when the raft capsized in the strong current. They were all stranded in water up to their knees when the beached the second canoe. They were also lost.

At the height of the storm, which hit that part of Allegan County about one o’clock, the temperature was 40 degrees.

“It felt a lot colder than that because of the wind and heavy rain,” said Marlink. “We could hear trees falling around us in the woods. We decided to bundle together and sleep.” …

At dawn when the temperatures dipped to 30 degrees, they were still wet, cold and lost.

Close to noon, the Sunday trap shooting competitions opened at the local gun club and the weary party followed the sound several miles to safety.

Jim Hayden is a Fennville resident and former editor of The Fennville Herald newspaper.

Follow Jim Hayden on Instagram leftyhayden66 or TikTok @leftyhayden.

Information from The Fennville Herald thanks to the Fennville District Library, 400 W. Main St.

Back in the Day: A look at Fennville area history – Heavy snow strands motorists (1924); Astrologer swindled of $8,000 (1949); Fruit Canners sold (1974)

From the pages of The Fennville Herald:

129 Years Ago
Saturday, Jan. 26, 1895

Missing

100 Years Ago
Friday, Jan. 25, 1924

Local Happenings

— The wrecking cars have been busied this week relieving those caught in snow drifts. Also they have been in requisition as taxis when regular cars couldn’t plow through.

— The wrecking cars were busy early this week. Garage M-89 sent a car to Douglas Monday and spent three hours on the trip. The Bales wrecker made a 25-mile trip for a car near South Haven. Part of the distance had to be covered with a team and sleighs.

Ganges

— There were no services at the M.E. Church Sunday morning because of the severe storm.

75 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 27, 1949

An ad in The Fennville Herald.

Josephine Ingallinera Winner of C of C Pie Baking Contest

The Fennville Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner held Monday evening, January 24^th, in the Odd Fellows Hall, brought out a total of 100 local residents. …

Winners of the Cherry Pie Baking Contest sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce in co-operation with Fennville High School were announced as follows:

First prize $5.00 to Miss Josephine Ingallinera, 2^nd prize $3.50 to Miss Joan Johnson, 3^rd prize $1.50 to Miss Clara Kluck.

Miss Ingallinera was presented with a suitably decorated metal crown cut from a large tin can as a memento of the occasion. … Miss Marie Stanger , Home Economics instructor at the high school, is to be congratulated on her conduct of a well-handled contest and in enthusiasm and general high quality of pies developed by her students. …

Local Man Swindled of $8,000 by Gypsies

January 28^th has been set as the date for having the case against Thomas Stanley, a self-styled king of the Gypsies from Detroit, who is being held at the Allegan County Jail for swindling John Borush, 59, of Fennville, out of $8,000.

Borush, an amateur astrologer, admitted paying $8,000 to have evil spirits banished from his two-year-old daughter. …

When they demanded another $4,000 which they said was for … permanent protection from the “evil spirits,” he again visited his sister for the loan and she, becoming suspicious, contacted authorities who began investigation. …

Attends Inauguration

Harold E. Scott of R2 Fennville attended the inauguration ceremonies of President Truman at Washington, D.C., Thursday. …

50 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 24, 1974

Fruit Canners Sold to New York Food Firm

Consolidated Foods Corporation has announced an agreement to sell all of the assets of its Michigan Fruit Canners, Inc., subsidiary to Curtice-Burns Inc., a food processor and canner of Rochester, New York. …

Michigan Fruit Canners, headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan, was acquired by Consolidated Foods in 1962. It processes and cans a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and specialties. …

Robert L. Hutchinson will continue as president and chief executive officer of Michigan Fruit Canners. …

30 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 27, 1994

P.T.A. to sponsor Valentine Carnival

The Fennville P.T.A. is sponsoring a Valentine Carnival on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 2-4 p.m. in the middle school gym. Cost is 75 cents to get in and tickets can be purchased for games at 25 cents each. …

On Feb. 10 a meeting concerning Stranger Awareness will be held. Two Allegan County sheriff’s deputies will be here to talk to parents and children about safety concerning what to do and not do with strangers. …

Jim Hayden is a Fennville resident and former editor of The Fennville Herald newspaper.

Follow Jim Hayden on Instagram leftyhayden66 or TikTok @leftyhayden.

Information from The Fennville Herald thanks to the Fennville District Library, 400 W. Main St.

Back in the Day: A look at Fennville area history – Cross burned in town (1924); Overflow crowd at opening of Dickinson-Endsley building (1949); Snowmobile races (1974)

From the pages of The Fennville Herald:

129 Years Ago
Saturday, Jan. 19, 1895

Missing.

100 Years Ago
Friday, Jan. 18, 1924

Local Happenings

— In order that the school year may close a little earlier so that the contractors may get the new addition ready for the opening of school next September, class work will continue six days every alternate week. This plan went into operation last week.

— We notice that the women of the Ku Klux Klan held their first meeting at Lansing recently. We are informed that the auxiliary orders are quite numerous and that in the United States there are about seven million men belonging to the order. A cross was recently burned at the bank corner here which probably means the Klan is well started.

Glenn and Belknap

— The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Hamlin are ill with scarlet fever.

Pearle

— The mint growers held a meeting at the town hall Tues. evening and organized the Clyde Mint Growers Association.

75 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 20, 1949

Students from Netherlands Enter Fennville School

An unusual event occurred in the Fennville Public School Monday when two new students enrolled who have recently arrived in the United States.

Mr. and Mrs. Willian Van Callsem and his three children arrived in New York the day before Christmas. … From New York the family went to Chicago. … Mr. Van Callsem began looking for a job and answered an ad in a Chicago paper placed there by Mr. Litler of the local cookie factory, in want of a baker.

Mr. Van Callsem is a fancy baker and cook by trade, therefore answering the ad, was sent to Fennville where he and his family looked for rooms and are now living with Mrs. Sarah Root, except for the oldest child, a daughter, Agatha, age 17, who is employed as a nursemaid in Chicago.

Billy Van Callsem is in the 10^th grade and brother Robert entered kindergarten. …

Dr. C.J. Van Tamelen Opens Optometry Office in Fennville

Dr. C.J. an Tamelen of Holland has recently opened a branch office for the practice of optometry on the second floor of the Old State Bank Building in Fennville where he will be able to render complete optical service. …

700 Attend Opening of Implement Bldg.

Over 700 were in attendance  at the Dickinson-Endsley opening day of their new implement sales and service building.

Due to the large crowd which more than jammed the new building, the local movie house was rented to take care of the showing of the movies and the John Deere equipment movies. …

50 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 17, 1974

School Board Seeks Change in Elementary School Hours

The Fennville Board of Education proposed Monday to move elementary school hours ahead one hour in an attempt to ensure the safety of hundreds of small children waiting for their school bus in total darkness.

Presently school begins at 8:30 and ends at 3:15. Under the board’s new proposal, Elementary School will start at 9:30 and end at 4:15. …

Snowmobile Races to be Held Here

The snowmobilers of the Fennville area are holding their first race of the year on Sunday, January 20. The location will be at 63^rd St. and 126^th Ave. …

Snowmobilers as well as the public are welcome to participate in the day’s event.

30 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 20, 1994

Fennville considers having own police

After discovering that the rate for part-time police protection through Allegan Conty has increased by $6 an hour from last year, the City of Fennville is investigating the possibility of reinstating its own chief of police. Options were discussed at the Jan. 17 meeting of the commission. …

Jim Hayden is a Fennville resident and former editor of The Fennville Herald newspaper.

Follow Jim Hayden on Instagram leftyhayden66 or TikTok @leftyhayden.

Information from The Fennville Herald thanks to the Fennville District Library, 400 W. Main St.

Back in the Day: A look at Fennville area history – Masonic Lodge thriving, marks 30 years (1924); Morning train service cut (1949)

From the pages of The Fennville Herald:

129 Years Ago
Saturday, Jan. 12, 1895

Missing

100 Years Ago
Friday, Jan. 11, 1924

Local Happenings

— Burton Harrington who suffered a stroke to his left side about a month ago is now able to be out again. The greatest lingering trouble is with his left arm. He is practically unable to use it but is able to walk the leg that was affected.

— One lady in Fennville has had a birthday with week and out of curiosity has kept track of the number of pies she has made during this last year of her life. The number was about fifteen hundred. Almost all of these she or her husband have cut and served.

— If a poor beginning insures a good ending, Fennville ought to have a cold storage plant assured. The second attempt to hold a meeting resulted in failure when the severe storm of last Saturday prevented anyone from getting out. We understand there are no plans now for another meeting.

— Frank Beagle slipped on the ice last Friday morning and has been confined to the house since. He gets around on a crutch.

— Eight below zero Sunday morning followed by a January thaw keeps up Michigan’s reputation for a variety of winter weather.

— Mrs. John Flanders slipped on the ice New Year’s morning and broke both bones in her arm above the wrist. She is getting along as well as she can be expected but will be confined to the house for a considerable time.

— This year is the thirtieth anniversary of the Masonic Lodge in this place. It was organized under a special dispensation from the Grand Lodge in 1894 but its lodge rooms were not dedicated until 1895.

There were 15 charter members. …

Of these fifteen members only four are living. Wm. Bale, J.E. Hutchinson, Geo, Leland and C.G. Abbott. All of the deceased ones with two exceptions died here. … The lodge is in a very flourishing condition and has a membership of over one hundred and fifty.

75 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 13, 1949

Chamber of Commerce to Sponsor Pie Baking Contest

The Fennville Chamber of Commerce in co-operation with the National Red Cherry Week program and with the Fennville High School Home Economics department is sponsoring a Cherry Pie Baking Contest with suitable prizes and the opportunity for the winner to continue on to the county contest in Allegan and possibly the state contest at Grand Rapids and the national contest in Chicago.

All girls between the ages of 15 and 20 inclusive are eligible to compete. …

Eliminate Sat.-Sun. Morning Trains

Notice has been received at the local post office that beginning Saturday, Jan. 15, Grand Rapids and Chicago trains No. 8 and No. 2, the “midnight” and early morning trains, will be discontinued on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

This will eliminate the receipt of mail on Sunday morning and beginning Sunday morning, Jan. 16, the post office lobby will not be open except by chance. …

Rubinstein Club Cancels Civic Concert Series

The lack of sufficient local support this year forced the Rubinstein Club of Fennville to cancel their Civic Concert series which they have sponsored for two consecutive years.

The concert series has brought to Fennville talent that possibly would not have been reached in any other way. …

The concerts brought people from the outlying towns to Fennville and were highly praised for the ideas and talent selected. Any profits from the series were sent to a hospital fund in Battle Creek to help bring music to the disabled veterans, which they welcomed enthusiastically. …

50 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 10, 1974

Fennville City Commission Names Robert McCracken as Mayor

The Fennville City Commission Monday night named Commissioner Robert McCracken as Mayor of Fennville and named Commissioner James Clarey Mayor Pro-tem. Mayor McCracken has served on the city commission since his appointment in September 1969. …

30 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 13, 1994

Up and Over

Fennville’s Frank Alfieri goes up and over the Bangor defense in Fennville’s 74-72 loss on Tuesday, Jan. 4. …

Underground tanks removed at school, others upgraded

Two underground tanks have been removed at the school, and two others have been upgraded to meet with current DNR standards. The tanks removed were gasoline storage tanks, while two diesel tanks were fitted with leak detection sensors. …

Jim Hayden is a Fennville resident and former editor of The Fennville Herald newspaper.

Follow Jim Hayden on Instagram leftyhayden66 or TikTok @leftyhayden.

Information from The Fennville Herald thanks to the Fennville District Library, 400 W. Main St.

Study of former Fennville dump finds contaminants, but offers hope for cleanup

The entrance to the former Fennville City Dump on 54th Street earlier this month.

An investigation at the former Fennville City Dump found arsenic, lead and mercury in the soil and PFAS in the groundwater. The city is now looking to the Environmental Protection Agency for the next step toward remediation of the site.

“We have a clear picture of what’s wrong. It’s not a nightmare scenario,” said City Administrator Kathryn Beemer on Monday, Jan. 8. “It’s nothing that’s not fixable.”

The report, dated Dec. 20, 2023, comes after decades of silence about the 21.87-acre city-owned site along 54^th Street a half mile north of M-89 in Manlius Township.

“It’s always better to know. It’s always better to have the knowledge,” Beemer said.

Findings

The 95-page Phase II Environmental Site Assessment summary was submitted by Tetra Tech Inc. of Chicago for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The testing of soil found levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, zinc, mercury and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) above background levels and/or residential direct contact criteria.

Other metals including barium, copper, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) were detected but below state cleanup or other criteria.

No PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were detected.

Testing of the groundwater found levels of lead, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) that exceeded state drinking water criteria or EPA screening levels. The report noted that dissolved concentration of lead did not exceed state criteria.

All detected VOCs (volatile organic compounds) were present but below EPA screening levels.

PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were not detected above laboratory reporting limits.

PFOA and PFOS are man-made chemicals in commercial use since the 1940s used as repellents of fire, water, oil and stains that can have negative health effects on people and the environment, according to multiple websites.

PFOA and PFOs are both PFAS.

The EPA’s website describes them as long-lasting chemicals that break down slowly over time, are found in the blood of people and animals and in a water, air, fish and soil.

“Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals,” the EPA site said.

Beemer said the report shows there is a lot to do at the former dump but also shows the site can be remediated.

Jessica Trainer, environmental scientist with MannikSmith Group of Okemos, catalogs items found on Monday, June 19, 2023, at the site of the former Fennville dump on 54th Street north of M-89.

Background & Timeline

Fennville purchased the property for the dump for $440 in 1938 and it was expanded about 30 years later. It’s not yet clear when it started operating as a landfill.

State records show multiple violations throughout the 1960s and 1970s that included exposed trash, burning cardboard, and insect and rodent infestation. In Fennville meeting minutes, it’s clear city commissioners were frustrated at policing the site and the rising operational costs.

The dump was closed Sept. 3, 1979, and mostly forgotten over the decades.

In 2020, then-Commissioner Jim Hayden began independently researching the dump through local newspaper articles, city minutes and state records obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests.

In 2022, city commissioners unanimously approved working with the Allegan County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority for an EPA program called Targeted Brownfield Assessments to study possibly contaminated land.

On June 19, 2023, city officials joined environmental scientists on a walk through the property for a Phase I inspection. In the more than 2-hour walk, the group found clusters of rusted metal objects, bed springs, bottles, broken glass, partially buried tubs or casings.

In July, the city received a 294-page Phase I report the recommended further study to determine whether contamination is present in soil and groundwater and to evaluate the extent of landfilling activities.

In October, the Phase II investigation occurred at the site, resulting in the report released in December.

The city will now reach out to EPA officials to determine the next steps on how to get funding for cleanup, according to Beemer.

The city has no formal plans for the site which has an open grassy area and is otherwise heavily wooded with swampy areas. Commissioners have discussed making it a park with walking trails.

The closing of the Fennville City Dump was front page news in The Fennville Herald in 1979.

Fennville’s December was warm with little snow

Highest high: 57.4 degrees on Dec. 9
Lowest low: 25.5 degrees on Dec. 20
Days with rain: 18
Day with most rain: 0.43 inches on Dec. 1
Days with snow: 3

Wau-Ke-Na William Erby Smith Preserve on Dec. 30, 2023. No snow and no ice!

December in Fennville was warmer and wetter than average with less snow than October.

The average high for the month was 43.7 degrees with an average low of 34.4 degrees, according to readings at the Michigan State University Trevor Nichols Research Complex, about 2 miles west of the city. The average temperature was 39.1 degrees.

The temperature and precipitation readings for Dec. 21 were missing from the compiled data at the collection site.

The long-term average temperature is 30 degrees with the average high of 37 degrees and average low of 23 degrees. Fennville didn’t even hit that average low for December. The lowest low temperature recorded was 25.5 degrees.

Fennville followed the West Michigan temperature trend, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids. The month is the second warmest in more than 125 years, according to the weather service.

Grand Rapids was 7.9 degrees warmer than normal. Muskegon was 9.1 degrees above average and Kalamazoo was 9.2 degrees warmer than normal.

Rain and snow

Fennville received 2.29 inches of rain in December, more than the long-term average 2.13 inches.

Grand Rapids and Muskegon were below average in rain, though Kalamazoo was above, according to the weather service.

Snowfall was well below the 22-inch long-term normal. Fennville received about 1.75 inches of snow, according to local records. Both Grand Rapids and Muskegon were below average as well. Numbers are not available for Kalamazoo.

December 2023 was not the least snowy in recent years. December 2018 saw 1.50 inches of snow. Snowfall that season was about normal at 69.25 inches.

Here’s the list of December accumulation in Fennville since 2015:

2022: 36.50 inches
2021: 7 inches
2020: 6.75 inches
2019: 6.25 inches
2018: 1.50 inches
2017: 53.50 inches
2016: 31.50 inches
2015: 4 inches

So far this season, Fennville has received 2 inches of snow in October and 4.25 inches in November for a total of 8 inches including December. On average, the area receives 24 inches over those three months.

Lake Michigan

Water levels in Lake Michigan-Huron dropped 2.76 inches in December compared to November, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the group that oversees Great Lakes water levels. Lakes Michigan and Huron are considered one because they are linked by the Straits of Mackinac.

December was 578.87 feet. November was 579.10 feet.

The December level was 3.12 inches above the long-term average of 578.61 feet, 32.28 inches below the maximum of 581.56 feet set in 1986 and 32.64 inches above the minimum of 576.15 feet set in 2012.

The levels are expected to continue their seasonal decline in January, according to the Corps.

Ice cover on the Great Lakes is virtually non-existent with the least amount of ice in 50 years.

The lack of ice, though, has happened before and the ice cover could quickly rebound.

Back in the Day: A look at Fennville area history – Plans set for new church on Main Street (1924); Curbside recycling debuts in city (1994)

From the pages of The Fennville Herald:

129 Years Ago
Saturday, Jan. 5, 1895

Missing

100 Years Ago
Friday, Jan. 4, 1924

New Christian Science Church

The Christian Science Society of Fennville have accepted plans submitted by the architect for their new church building. A suitable lot has been purchased on West Main Street and work will be started in the early spring. The building will be colonial in design, with portico and columns. Those who have seen the architect’s design of the building all speak of its beauty. A spacious auditorium is provided. …

Local Happenings

— Miss Grant had her tonsils removed during the vacation.

— Mrs. Ed Cates sent to the Herald office last Friday a pansy in full blossom picked from her outdoor flower bed. Michigan can surely not be beat this year for fine weather.

75 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 6, 1949

Cars Collide on M-89 at Hooter Road

Two cars, belonging to Lou Knickelbine of R2, Fennville, and Robert Woodall of Holland, were badly smashed in a collision Tuesday on West M-89 at the Hooter Road intersection about 5:30 p.m.

The Knickelbine car … was following a tanker truck traveling east on M-89 and made a left hand turn at the Hooter Road, driving into the direct path of the Woodall car which was traveling west on M-89.

Lou Knickelbine was taken by Chappell ambulance to Douglas hospital where he was treated for injured muscles and torn ligaments of the thigh then released to his home. His son Gus, also Robert Woodall, were suffering from bruises and shock. …

50 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 3, 1974

Year in Review

30 Years Ago
Thursday, Jan. 6, 1994

Where the deer play

The weather was cold and nasty on Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve) and several automobiles were spotted in ditches of US-31 and I-196. But Mother Nature couldn’t prevent a whitetail doe from playing in the snow. The deer was spotted at the I-196 on ramp of Exit 36 in Ganges Township.

Recycling to begin on a monthly basis

Curbside recycling will debut Feb. 8 in Fennville. The service will be provided by Lakeshore Disposal Inc. on a monthly basis within the city limits. …

This service is open only to city residents who have paid their recycling surcharge. …

Jim Hayden is a Fennville resident and former editor of The Fennville Herald newspaper.

Follow Jim Hayden on Instagram leftyhayden66 or TikTok @leftyhayden.

Information from The Fennville Herald thanks to the Fennville District Library, 400 W. Main St.