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One of the most unique events
ever to be held in the early days of White Cloud was the "Soldiers and
Sailors Reunion". This was an annual activity, once it got under way. It
actually started in the village of Newaygo in 1883, but quickly caught on and
other communities began participating in similar events each summer. The
festivities usually lasted a full week, ending on a Saturday night. The final
evening was a let down for everyone.
People came from far and wide. Whoever could possibly leave home, even for a
day or two, did. They came by horseback, wagon, and on foot. Many brought
entire families and any relatives that could be pried away from home. Many
came the day before the reunion opened in order to obtain a comfortable
campsite. Tents were pitched all over the city campground on Wilcox Avenue
across from the high school. Weather was of little concern. If rain came,
these people who were here for a good time knew they could bear with good
spirits anything from mother nature. They came, they stayed, and enjoyed
every minute of the week. Children and youth felt free to roam wherever they
wished. Men tried to out-tell one another of their great feats in the great
north woods, and women loved to sit around, visiting with friends and making
new ones. It was a great time for everyone.
There were baseball games, balloon ascensions, races of various kinds, rides,
horse shows, nightly dances, and eating. This was an event never to be
ignored, for the tables that dotted the park area were spread three times
daily in in a giant potluck. These women had cooked baked, and prepared for
days in preparation for this week, and now they could enjoy their labors and
watch everyone else do the same. They had everything from wild turkeys to
chocolate cake to eat plus drinks of all kinds. Clifford Branch told of how a
young man, grown up enough to date for the first time, could come to this
affair with one dollar, meet his girl friend who had brought a well filled
basket of food from her home, offer to buy ice cold pop or coffee for a
nickel to go with the meal, and manage to eat his fill, then have jingling
money left over! It wasn't all work and no play for these hardy pioneers.
Civil war veterans were there, in full dress uniform anxious to put on their
show for friends and neighbors. They would parade around the grounds to the
sound of marching music played by a band that was always an added attraction.
Every eye would be on these men, some very old at the time. Adults enjoyed
these parades, but it made them sad knowing that some of these men would not
be back next year. Youngsters admired their strength and agility.
Usually there would be a few opening remarks by the town dignitary, a reading
from the bible, then a prayer, followed by the main speaker who would choose
a patriotic theme for his address. After this formal beginning, the fun would
start. This was a simple yet great thing for the people. They were gathered
together for a sociable time after a long time of working together for the
common good of all. They liked being together, they accepted one another,
they helped one another in time of trouble, they had a common bond these
soldiers and sailors. Bonded by the rigors of war. Now, they were the lucky
few who came back to enjoy the company of each other and their families. They
would not let this time go to waste.
These veterans continued to meet, and after World War I, which came along
soon afterward, it was decided to create a veterans organization that would
organize to help other Veterans and their families. So began the Veterans of
Foreign Wars and the American Legion organizations.
These WW I veterans were the founders of the White Cloud VFW, organized under
the name of "Sergeant Bowman Post 2053" in March of 1931. The first
meeting place of the post was the Odd Fellows Hall. About 1938, the post
purchased the hall on the corner of Wilcox and Barton Street which had
formally had several previous owners, including a Blacksmith shop and a truck
assembly plant where the Hendrickson truck was designed and assembled. The
truck plant later moved to Chicago where the Hendrickson Truck Co. became a
serious contender in truck manufacturing.
The building was also the auditorium and stage where shows were put on by
traveling entertainers. Dances were held there to the tune of famous dance
bands of the 1920's and 30's. The famous WLS Barndance company from Chicago
entertained there too. The dance floor was also used for roller skating, and
rented out by the VFW for other community activities.
By the 1980's the building was approaching 100 years of age and was condemned
and burned by the fire department in 1990. Because of the deteriorating
condition of the hall, activities were discontinued at the hall and the VFW
membership began to fall to the point where many members transferred to the
Newaygo post that had a nice new hall. Soon there were no members showing up
for meetings. So, the District 12 leadership decided on drastic action. They
decided to start a new post in White Cloud. It would be called the White
Cloud Post # 10770. They would meet at the Fire Station and its first
Commander would be Leonard Brown, an ex-police officer. Other officers were
D. Lynnes, Sr. Vice Commander, P. Bird, Jr. Vice Commander, George Haines,
Quartermaster, Ray Larson, Adjutant, and Carl Hult, Chaplain.
The post started out with 25 new members. After meeting with the District 12
Officers, the old Sergeant Bowman Post 2053 decided to consolidate with the new
post. It was decided to use the new name White Cloud but use the numbers 2053
from the old post. So, the new "White Cloud Post 2053" was born.
All this happened in December of 1989. By the time 1990 rolled around
Commander Brown had to resign because of poor health, so Sr. Vice Commander
Donald Lynnes too over. Perry Bird moved up to Sr. Vice Commander. When
election of officers rolled around in April of 1990, George Haines was
elected and Sr. Vice Commander, Dale Ditlow was elected as Jr. Vice Commander.
Joseph Kukal was elected as the new Quartermaster. All other officers
remained the same.
Three Trustees were also elected, Virgil Houle, Robert Camburn, and Harry
Bills. This remained the lineup for 1991. In 1992 Haines dropped out as Sr.
Vice and Dale Ditlow moved up to that position. Larson appointed Robert Burke
as Assistant Adjutant. Thomas Phillips was elected as a new trustee. Various
committee chairmen were appointed each year by the commander to run the
various community projects such as a Poppy Chairman, the Raffle, the Arts
& Crafts, both of which were started by Larson for a post income, Drug
& Safety, Voice of Democracy, and Youth Essay in the school. On July 10,
1992 our trustee Thomas Phillips passed away. A sad day for the post.
In 1993 Larson decided to run against Lynnes for Commander, as he thought a
lot more could be done for the post, including selling some of our antique
machine guns and 1884 rifles. They had been in the basement of city hall for
years gathering dust, but were valuable. Larson won the 1993 election and
took over adjutant. A new member, Bill Archer joined the post. New committee
members were appointed. Also a Desert Storm Veteran, Dennis Clark joined the
post. Because of a heating problem at the fire station meetings were
transferred to the Lions Club. Larson removed the machine guns from city hall
and has stored them in another place. In spring of `94 Larson arranged for
the sale of two machine guns in the amount of $3500.00.
Larson was re-elected for commander in 1994-1995-1996. The White Cloud VFW
became involved in many more community projects. We now enter a float in the
Newaygo Logging Fest each year and we are running the VOD and Youth Essay
contests at the local school. Officers of the post attend all quarterly District
12 meetings, including state conventions and planning meetings. Post 2053
became very visible in local, district, and state VFW activities. Including
the National Home at Eaton Rapids.
In 1995 Bill Archer was appointed as Adjutant. Larson & Archer both
obtained life membership in our National Home. Archer became a great asset to
the post, attending all district meetings with the Commander. In March 1996
the post celebrated its 65th year. This year we moved our meetings to the
Newaygo County Senior Center in White Cloud. Most posts elect a new Commander
each year. After serving as Commander for four years, Larson thought it was
time for a change. After much arm twisting Larson finally convinced Archer to
run for Commander in 1997. He was elected, and Larson agreed to act as
Adjutant until we could find a qualified replacement. Archer has done a fine
job, and now in the spring of 1999, he was again elected for a third term. A
new member, Sean Torongeau, has come on board, and was appointed by the Commander
as Adjutant.
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