John Schwartz Media, LLC

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1958 Sturgis Shriners International paradeYears ago, someone kindly donated a huge collection of slides featuring photos...
06/04/2026

1958 Sturgis Shriners International parade

Years ago, someone kindly donated a huge collection of slides featuring photos from around this area. Adam Randall Wagner, an architect in Kalamazoo who loved photography, created these slides. They’re now preserved at the Colon Community Historical Society and offer a fantastic glimpse into our area during the 1950s and 1960s.

These slides were from a slot labeled “Shriners Sturgis” and were taken back in 1958. We get to see the Shriners strolling through town. Take a good look at the background to spot the old water tower and the businesses from the 50s.

The Wagner Collection is housed by the Colon Community Historical Society and digitized by John Schwartz Media, LLC

Good Ol’ Days - Riverside VansRiverside has been a Colon business since March of 1985. It is owned and operated by Ann G...
06/02/2026

Good Ol’ Days - Riverside Vans

Riverside has been a Colon business since March of 1985. It is owned and operated by Ann Gilchrist and Harold Hemel. The business customizes vans and trucks for businesses like Gordon Foods and Coca Cola. Featured on this page is Harold’s 1954 Chevrolet three windowed pickup truck. The 1954 featured a pleasing one piece windshield, all new grille and parking lights and a new steering wheel and instrument panel design. The trucks lasted so long that few remain in mint condition.

For the last seven years, John Schwartz Media, LLC has been a valued partner with the Colon Community Historical Society helping to put together a fundraising calendar for the museum. Every month features restored historic photographs by John Schwartz Media, LLC, along with fascinating history research and writing from the Colon Community Historical Society members. This page is from the 2027 Good Ol’ Days Calendar.

05/30/2026

1969 Three Rivers High School vs Vicksburg Community Schools 9/19/69.

TR 6 - VICKSBURG 26

This reel is called “Three Rivers vs Vicksburg” and was taken on September 19, 1969. It looks like it’s from the graduating class of 1970.

According to the Three Rivers High School 1970 yearbook, the varsity team would have been: Vince Oye, Gary Hocker, Wayne Smith, Ron Benthin, Barry Reber, Rocky Evans, Larry Bomba (capt.), Mike Heivilin, Don Yokom, Dave Black, Ernest Joseph, Jim McGee, Mike Wayne, Greg Taylor, Charles Jones, Kurt McClain, Dennis Speece, Bob Caniff, Cary Kistner, Harry Raifsnider, Don Brunner, Bob Cutler (mgr.), Rick Johnson, Kim Losik, Bob Draime, Gary McClain, Mark Hubbard, Micky Barton, Larry Wells, Scott Crose, Chuck Straka, George Tulla, John Carpenter, and Tom Traverse. The team was led by Coach Borgert and Coach Burnett.

The Three Rivers Football reels are housed by the St. Joseph County Historical Society of Michigan and were digitized by John Schwartz Media, LLC

Good Ol’ Days - GAR MonumentThe Grand Army of the Republic was founded on April 6, 1866 in Decatur, Illinois. It began a...
05/28/2026

Good Ol’ Days - GAR Monument

The Grand Army of the Republic was founded on April 6, 1866 in Decatur, Illinois. It began as a social group for Civil War Veterans to get together for fellowship. The Reconstruction era of politics turned the GAR into a political organization too. They created May 30 as Memorial Day, a day when Americans would pay tribute to those lost in the war, missing in action and deceased Veterans. They also pushed for voting rights for African-American  Veterans and Federal Pensions for Veterans.

Colon created the Henry Mathews Liddle GAR Post 131 on April 16, 1883 with 18 charter members. Liddle was the first Colon boy to die in the Civil War. The Colon Post organized all Memorial Day Observances, helped local Veterans apply for pensions and helped raise the funds to purchase and place a Civil War Monument in Lakeside Cemetery. The monument was dedicated on May 30, 1887. The GAR Post in Colon declined in numbers after the turn of the century as most who served had passed away. The last mention of them we can find in the Colon Express was the Memorial Day Remembrance of 1906.

For the last seven years, John Schwartz Media, LLC has been a valued partner with the Colon Community Historical Society helping to put together a fundraising calendar for the museum. Every month features restored historic photographs by John Schwartz Media, LLC, along with fascinating history research and writing from the Colon Community Historical Society members. This page is from the 2023 Good Ol’ Days Calendar. This month was sponsored by Dick & Dianne Denney.

Good Ol’ Days - Russell Warren Welty/ American Legion PostOn December 18th of 1918, Russell Warrren Welty died of pneumo...
05/26/2026

Good Ol’ Days - Russell Warren Welty/ American Legion Post

On December 18th of 1918, Russell Warrren Welty died of pneumonia in France while serving in WWI. He was the only Colon boy to lose his life in the war. Colon veterans decided to form the Russell W. Welty American Legion Post and in October 1919 their charter was granted creating Post 167. There were over fifteen original members on the charter. Owen Ambs was the first Commander, Clifford Frohriep the first Adjutant, Treasurer was Leon Willard, Chaplain was John Moore and Historian was W.E. Doran. The Women’s Auxiliary held their first meeting in 1921. The 167 Legion Post organized Memorial Day Programs each May and in March of 1923 they purchased and placed a bronze memorial tablet on the library lawn as a memorial to Russell W. Welty. The tablet was later moved to Lakeside Cemetery near the Civil War Monument. In May of 1930, the Russell W. Welty American Legion Post ended their charter. The current Snyder, Lewis, Welty American Legion Post 454 was formed in 1946.

For the last seven years, John Schwartz Media, LLC has been a valued partner with the Colon Community Historical Society helping to put together a fundraising calendar for the museum. Every month features restored historic photographs by John Schwartz Media, LLC, along with fascinating history research and writing from the Colon Community Historical Society members. This page is from the 2022 Good Ol’ Days Calendar. This month sponsored by Colon American Legion Post.

05/23/2026

Camp Wakeshma Reels

While I was digitizing photos and videos for Camp Wakeshma, Sally Snell McLeod reached out. The St. Joseph County Historical Society of Michigan connected her with me to help restore films her father made of Camp Wakeshma. These reels, filmed by Fred A. Snell in the sixties and seventies, capture the camp’s activities and its natural beauty.

Stepping onto Camp property in 2026 feels like being transported back in time. The grounds have remained largely unchanged over the decades, and while the buildings have been updated, they have preserved their originality. Nestled along the waters of Corey Lake in Three Rivers, MI, Camp Wakeshma welcomed campers for the first time in the summer of 1926. Since then, it's built a rich history of tradition, fun, and long-lasting friendships. To this day, Camp welcomes kids ages 8-15 to have a summer to remember! Visit our website for more registration info!

https://campwakeshma.com

The Camp Wakeshma Reels are housed by the St. Joseph County Historical Society of Michigan and were digitized by John Schwartz Media, LLC

Good Ol’ Days - Train Depot/Feed Store/Community Park This site along Sturgeon Lake was the location of the first train ...
05/21/2026

Good Ol’ Days - Train Depot/Feed Store/Community Park

This site along Sturgeon Lake was the location of the first train depot in Colon. It opened in 1871 when the Michigan Central Railroad opened up Colon for trade, business and travel. It played a large role in the development of the Village. It eventually added a grain store until 1983 when the last train came through town.
In 1996 Carl & Florence Drumhiler bought the depot, moved it and restored it to its former glory. The depot site sat empty until a group of citizens decided it should become a Community Park. After much planning and fundraising, the park celebrated its Grand Opening in 2009. Today, this beautiful park, is used daily by the community to walk, play, celebrate and enjoy the beauty of our town.

For the last seven years, John Schwartz Media, LLC has been a valued partner with the Colon Community Historical Society helping to put together a fundraising calendar for the museum. Every month features restored historic photographs by John Schwartz Media, LLC, along with fascinating history research and writing from the Colon Community Historical Society members. This page is from the 2025 Good Ol’ Days Calendar. This month sponsored by Jan & Larry Decker.

Good Ol’ Days - The Place UptownThis building was built as a variety store at the five points in Leonidas by G.O. Damon ...
05/19/2026

Good Ol’ Days - The Place Uptown

This building was built as a variety store at the five points in Leonidas by G.O. Damon in 1906. It was purchased by Tom Crawford and was primarily a hardware store. On January 28, 1943 a Midway Transport truck was driving through town and in an attempt to avoid another vehicle, crashed up the steps of the building killing Glenn Olney who was crossing the street and tried to get out of the way. The building was repaired and later occupied by Sherman Greider as a furniture store.
The Bruce family ran a business there called the Tack Box. Leta Mears bought the building, planning to return it to a hardware but instead sold it to Ross, Alisha & Summer Truckey in 2023. They have made the old building into “The Place Uptown”, a community Center and Hall for the village. Weekly events are held including game night, market night, entertainment night and the hall is available for rentals. This lovely old building has new life as a wonderful place for the community to gather.

For the last seven years, John Schwartz Media, LLC has been a valued partner with the Colon Community Historical Society helping to put together a fundraising calendar for the museum. Every month features restored historic photographs by John Schwartz Media, LLC, along with fascinating history research and writing from the Colon Community Historical Society members. This page is from the 2025 Good Ol’ Days Calendar. Thank you to Larry and Cheryl Engle for sponsoring this page.

05/16/2026

Years ago, some reel to reel films were found at the Colon Community School District that turned out to be old football games. Even though the quality isn’t perfect, I’m going to do my best to digitize and share them with you.

This reel was dated 9/19/79 and titled Colon versus Centreville Public Schools. The reels are housed by Colon Community School District and professionally digitized by John Schwartz Media, LLC

Good Ol’ Days - Georgia Oldenberg & Larry DeckerIn 2023 the Community Historical Society honored two longtime members fo...
05/14/2026

Good Ol’ Days - Georgia Oldenberg & Larry Decker

In 2023 the Community Historical Society honored two longtime members for their service to the Society. Georgia Oldenberg and Larry Decker were honored at a fall potluck.
Georgia serves as our Secretary. She helps with fundraising, organizing materials, identifying photos, cleaning the museum and any other task that needs to be done. Thank You Georgia for all that you do for us!
We also honored longtime member Larry Decker. Larry serves as our treasurer. He keeps the bills paid and the books balanced. Larry also helps out as a handy man fixing and repairing things in the museum. He makes sure the water gets turned on and off, the furnace is checked and running, he helps build display materials and also helps with fundraising, organizing, identification and any task that needs to be done.
We are very lucky to have these two special people in our organization. Thank You so very much!

For the last seven years, John Schwartz Media, LLC has been a valued partner with the Colon Community Historical Society helping to put together a fundraising calendar for the museum. Every month features restored historic photographs by John Schwartz Media, LLC, along with fascinating history research and writing from the Colon Community Historical Society members. This page is from the 2024 Good Ol’ Days Calendar.

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60753 Bert Road
Colon, MI
49040

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