Leona & C.W. Heitsch

It is so cold this morning it reminds me of my Michigan roots, a kid on the farm. Mom would get up and the first thing I’d hear would be her shaking the grate on the furnace, which was in the basement under my bedroom, getting the ashes down to where she could remove them and then throw more coal on the faltering fire, then up to get breakfast for Dad and me (he out in the barn early, with Curly the cow and the heifer and letting the horses out to drink at the big tank in the barnyard, etc. and to fill mangers with hay and grain. all with snow surrounding, often more falling. After Dad drove me to school, mom would put on her denim jacket, made by the prisoners at Jackson Prison, go out to the apple shed, and the day would begin…she’d have left enough logs in the black range in the kitchen to go until noon. There were tall kerosene heaters which did about nothing, to put by the people who sorted the apples…Mr. Harger, who was also Pine Lake School Super, Mom and Dad. There were sometimes l7,000 bushels of apples in the apple storage, stacked way above Dad’s head and propped to keep from falling with 2×4 s in several places. A track ran down the middle of the storage,it stood about 2 1/2 feet above the floor, and crates were put on the track to push them out to the sorting shed, which used to be a pig pen before we got there. Mr. Harger poured bushels into the “maw” and the apples were carried on a belt with holes to capture and hold big apples and let the little ones drop into a crate by the side, the big apples went into a polisher, rotating brushes which directed apples forward with flopping rags above to polish them, they spilled out into the sorting area, long round wooden rods wrapped with rope to keep the apples advancing while mom picked off the bad apples to put in a crate beside her, they then spilled into three bins, sorted again by belts with holes, and Dad crated the apples in paper lined crates (we did a hundred of these each time he was to drive a load to the Union Produce Terminal in Detroit) and stacked them for loading on the the 39 Dodge for a trip to Detroit. (These trips were early in the AM, so he could be back to Walnut Glen Fruit Farms to work up more apples). It was cold on mother’s toes, I am sure, standing there all day, even with a kerosene heater not too far away. With temperatures that cold, apples could not be forever left in the sorting room, or on the truck, they would freeze. Yet in all those years of sorting, 1939 through years in the 50s, nothing ever froze. Mom would go in to fix lunch, Mr. Harger would come in and eat his packed lunch in the kitchen, and they’d go back, time out for Dad to come and get me from Pine Lake School. I’d help some until time for Mr. Harger to go home and for us to do the chores in the barn, and have supper. Sometimes it was up to me to put some more wood in the kitchen range and move the huge aluminum teakettles over from the side of the range, so they would be boiling when Mom came in. (No piped hot water, the big kettles were our supply for dishwashing). The reason I started this was to explain my mother. Dad and I decided, one Christmas, that she should have something warmer than the Jackson Prison denim. We got, from an Army surplus store, a coat that would serve to keep a trooper warm no matter what. So proud we were. Mother opened the package at Christmas, told us that her denim coat was good enough and she wanted to take our purchase back and go to Sears in Pontiac and buy curtains for the dining room, which served as living room too, as the living room was closed off for the winter, to keep the house warmer. She did it, and bought a curtain stretcher a thing which had small thin nails all along it, and could be set up to fit whatever size curtain you had, you could put on several curtains. So the morning sun came up through fresh new curtains, I kind of wish I had kept a swatch of one of them, just to show the pattern mother chose. It is cold enough today in Missouri to think of this, but no Michigan like crunch of snow, just bare ground and hungry birds flocking to feeders.

Civic Center – Initial Grading

Object ID: 2002-001-244

Collection: West Bloomfield
Subjects: Haskins, photographic, print

Civic Center, Looking Due North on Entrance Road Site, Initial Grading (July 21, 1976)

Civic Center

Object ID: 2002-001-243

Collection: West Bloomfield
Subjects: Haskins, photographic, print

Civic Center, Bike Trail Site at East Knoll, Looking East (July 21, 1976)

Civic Center

Object ID: 2002-001-242

Collection: West Bloomfield
Subjects: Haskins, photographic, print

Civic Center, looking northeast from entrance, concrete debris on road location (July 21, 1976).

Walnut Lake Honor Roll

Object ID: 2002-001-241

Collection: Walnut Lake
Subjects: postcard

West Bloomfield – Walnut Lake Honor Roll

WB Town Hall – Excavation

Object ID: 2002-001-240

Collection: West Bloomfield
Subjects: Haskins, photographic, print

Excavation of the modular town hall building in West Bloomfield (Sept. 1980)

WB Town Hall – Excavation

Object ID: 2002-001-239

Collection: West Bloomfield
Subjects: Haskins, photographic, print

Excavation of the modular town hall building in West Bloomfield (Sept. 1980)

WB Town Hall – Excavation

Object ID: 2002-001-238

Collection: West Bloomfield
Subjects: Harvey, photographic, print

Excavation of the modular town hall building in West Bloomfield (Sept. 1980)

WB- Town Hall Excavation

Object ID: 2002-001-237

Collection: West Bloomfield
Subjects: Harvey, photographic, print

Excavation of the Town Hall modular building in West Bloomfield (Sept 1980)

West Bloomfield Library

Object ID: 2002-001-236

Collection: Libraries, West Bloomfield
Subjects: Harger, photographic, print

West Bloomfield – Library on Orchard Lake Rd

Knightsbridge Condominiums

Object ID: 2002-001-235

Collection: Businesses
Subjects: Harger, photographic, print

Knightsbridge Condominiums – Luxury Apartments. Located on the east side of Orchard Lake Road at Lone Pine (1975).

John Doherty and others

Object ID: 2002-001-234

Collection: Biography, Officials
Subjects: Harger, photographic, print

John Doherty (and others) on site at the construction of the West Bloomfield sewer and water facility in 1974.

WB – Sewer and Water Facility

Object ID: 2002-001-233

Collection: Officials
Subjects: Harger, photographic, print

Construction of the West Bloomfield sewer and water facility (1974).

WB – Sewer and Water Facility

Object ID: 2002-001-232

Collection: Officials
Subjects: photographic, print

Construction of the West Bloomfield sewer and water facility (March 25, 1974).

WB – Sewer and Water Facility

Object ID: 2002-001-231

Collection: Officials
Subjects: photographic, print

Construction of the West Bloomfield sewer and water facility (February 20, 1974).

WB – Sewer and Water Facility

Object ID: 2002-001-230

Collection: Officials
Subjects: photographic, print

Construction of the West Bloomfield sewer and water facility (February 20th, 1974)

WB – Sewer and Water Facility

Object ID: 2002-001-229

Collection: Officials
Subjects: photographic, print

Construction of the West Bloomfield sewer and water facility (February 20, 1974)

WB – Sewer and Water facility

Object ID: 2002-001-228

Collection: Officials
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Construction of the West Bloomfield sewer and water facility (February 20, 1974)

WB – Town Hall Under Construct

Object ID: 2002-001-227

Collection: Officials
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

West Bloomfield Town Hall under construction.

Gordon Nosakowski

Object ID: 2002-001-226

Collection: Biography
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

West Bloomfield custodian, Gordon Nosakowski, standing in front of the Town Hall (1983)

WB – Town Hall

Object ID: 2002-001-225

Collection: Officials
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

West Bloomfield Town Hall – police Station (1983)

WB – Town Hall

Object ID: 2002-001-224

Collection: Officials
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

West Bloomfield Town Hall (1983)

WB – Town Hall

Object ID: 2002-001-223

Collection: Officials
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

West Bloomfield Town Hall in 1983.

WB – Man working on flowers

Object ID: 2002-001-222

Collection: West Bloomfield
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Picture of Man working on flowers.

WB – Sewer and Water Facility

Object ID: 2002-001-221

Collection: Officials
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

West Bloomfield sewer and water facility (March 25, 1974).

WB – Sewer and Water Facility

Object ID: 2002-001-220

Collection: Officials
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Northeast view of the West Bloomfield sewer and water facility (March 25th, 1974)

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-219

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993.

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-218

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-217

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-216

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnnel

Object ID: 2002-001-215

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-214

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-213

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction on June 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-212

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-211

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-210

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-209

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-208

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel Constructi

Object ID: 2002-001-207

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-206

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-205

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction in June of 1993

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-204

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard Lake Tunnel Construction (June 1993)

Orchard tunnel job

Object ID: 2002-001-203

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: Green, photographic, print

Orchard tunnel job (June 1993)

Orchard Lake Tunnel

Object ID: 2002-001-202

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: German, photographic, print

Orchard Lake tunnel (June 23, 1993)

Orchard Lk Pavillion Renovatio

Object ID: 2002-001-201

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: German, photographic, print

Renovation to woods behind the Orchard Lake Sanctuary Pavillion (1993)

Orchard Lake City Hall

Object ID: 2002-001-200

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: German, photographic, print

Orchard Lake City Hall (October 18, 1961)

GWBHS Museum

Object ID: 2002-001-199

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: German, photographic, print

Newly Acquired Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society Musuem.

Orchard Lake City Hall Dedicat

Object ID: 2002-001-198

Date: 1987

People: Carlin, John

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: German, photographic, print

Orchard Lake City Hall Dedication in Spring of 1987. Pictured is John Carlin, mayor.

Orchard Lake City Hall Moving

Object ID: 2002-001-196

Date: 4/18/1987

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: postcard

Orchard Lake City Hall – April 18, 1987 Moving Day to new city hall building.

Orchard Lake City Hall

Object ID: 2002-001-195

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: postcard

Orchard Lake City Hall

Object ID: 2002-001-194

Date: 10/18/1961

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: postcard

Orchard Lake City Hall (October 18, 1961)

Orchard Lake City Hall

Object ID: 2002-001-193

Date: 10/18/1961

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: postcard

Orchard Lake City Hall (October 18, 1961)

Orchard Lake City Hall

Object ID: 2002-001-192

Date: 10/18/1961

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: photographic, print

Orchard Lake City Hall (October 18, 1961).

Orchard Lake City Hall

Object ID: 2002-001-191

Date: 10/18/1961

Collection: Orchard Lake
Subjects: photographic, print

Orchard Lake City Hall (October 18, 1961)

Keego Harbor downtown – Orchard Lake and Cass Lake Rds

Object ID: 2002-001-190

Date: 1930-1940

Collection: Keego Harbor
Subjects: photographic, print

Orchard Lake and Cass Lake Road – Keego Harbor. Ann Crawford suggests: Picture from the mid 1930’s. Her brother-in-law John (Jack) Crawford ran the Sunoco gas station pictured on the left on the photo.

Assorted scenes from Keego Harbor

Object ID: 2002-001-189

Collection: Keego Harbor
Subjects: photographic, print

Assorted scenes from Keego Harbor

Aerial view of Keego Harbor

Object ID: 2002-001-188

Collection: Keego Harbor
Subjects: photographic, print

Aerial view of Keego Harbor

Aerial View of Keego Harbor

Object ID: 2002-001-187

Collection: Keego Harbor
Subjects: photographic, print

Aerial View of Keego Harbor

Object ID: 2002-001-186

Collection: Keego Harbor
Subjects: photographic, print

Aerial View of Keego Harbor

Keego Harbor downtown – 1920’s

Object ID: 2002-001-185

Date: 1920

Collection: Keego Harbor
Subjects: photographic, print

Keego Harbor downtown (1920’s) showing the Dutch Oven Inn and Keego Drugs

Driveway around Orchard Lk

Object ID: 2002-001-183

Collection: Orchard Lake, postcard
Subjects: Durfee, photographic, print

Driveway around Orchard Lake

MMA – Gatling Gun Detachment

Object ID: 2002-001-182

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: MMA, photographic, print

MMA – Gatling Gun Detachment

MMA – Camp Manchester

Object ID: 2002-001-181

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: MMA, photographic, print

MMA – Camp Manchester, Orchard Lake – Pelouze Corps Detroit Cadets 1874. Capt. Rogers inspiration for the future Michigan Military Academy.

MMA – cadet photograph Harris, Wilmer C. (1881-1963)(Top Right)

Object ID: 2002-001-180

People: Harris, Wilmer C.

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: MMA, photographic, print

MMA – cadet photograph Harris, Wilmer C. (1881-1963)(Top Right)

MMA – cadet photograph Harris, Wilmer C. (1881-1963)

Object ID: 2002-001-179

People: Harris, Wilmer C.

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: MMA, photographic, print

MMA – cadet photograph Harris, Wilmer C. (1881-1963)

Object ID: 2002-001-178

People: Harris, Wilmer C.

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: MMA, photographic, print

MMA – cadet photograph Harris, Wilmer C. (1881-1963)

MMA – Herd of Ayrshires

Object ID: 2002-001-177

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: MMA, photographic, print

MMA – The Academy Herd of Ayrshires, on the lake shore in front of the barracks.

MMA – Assorted Scenes

Object ID: 2002-001-176

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: MMA, photographic, print

MMA – Assorted Scenes

MMA – cadet photograph unknown

Object ID: 2002-001-175

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: MMA, photographic, print

MMA – cadet photograph unknown

MMA – Elevated view of the Michigan Military Academy Gymnasium/Auditorium Building

Object ID: 2002-001-174

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: MMA, photographic, print

MMA – Elevated view of the Michigan Military Academy Gymnasium/Auditorium Building

MMA – Advertisement

Object ID: 2002-001-173

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: Fezzey, MMA, photographic, print

MMA – Advertisement

MMA – Mess Hall

Object ID: 2002-001-172

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: Emmendorfer, MMA, photographic, print

MMA – The Mess Hall – this structure now serves as an art gallery on the campus of Orchard Lake schools.

MMA – View from Lake

Object ID: 2002-001-171

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: Emmendorfer, MMA, photographic, print

Micigan Military Academy

MMA – Full Dress Parade 1900

Object ID: 2002-001-170

Collection: Michigan Military Academy
Subjects: MMA, photographic, print

Full Dress Parade at the Michigan Military Academy in the Year, 1900. In his autobiography, Winford R. Hamlin remembers the MMA dress parades – Every Sunday in the summer they had a dress parade. They were all in their white uniforms. They had a large brass band and went through all their drills, including the horse cavalry. Then they had their gun salute. Then at the end of the day shot off one of the big cannons. People came from all over to see the dress parade. The D.U.R. street car company always ran special cars for that day. They had a circle track built at the parade grounds, so they could turn around there. They would wait there until the parade was over and take the people back home.