St. Joseph County Historical Society of Michigan

06/20/2026

06/18/2026

Mike Heivilin has an unusal hobby. It not only takes a lot of patience and research, it takes up a lot of room. It may never end!
In Mike’s own words, “I originally started this project to add everal buildings to an O-gauge train board. What started as a short hobby has turned into an obsession.”
His display took up a long series of counters at the St. Joseph County Historical Society. Mike went on to say, “I am dedicating this showing to my older brother, Al Heivilin, who passed away May 31st from cancer. He graduated from Three Rivers High School with the class of 1967.”
Mike paused a bit, as though remembering, “He was a great brother, husband, dad, grandfather, uncle, athelete, friend and Marine.”
“Friday and Saturday nights were a social event for us downtown. After school during the week, we flocked to Dietz’s for a cherry coke.”
“Miller’s for ice cream and triangles at Daugherty’s bakery. We listened to the latest 45’s at Hilmert’s and gazed at all the albums.”
Mike went on to explain that some interiors are incomplete but I plan to finish them as work continues.
“There are 31 buildings, and I have 9 to go to just finish the west side,” Mike said. He is looking at then going to the east side of the street.
Mike Heivilin’s display of his model of the Cityscape of downtown Three Rivers in 1967 is on display at the home of The St. Jospeh County Historical Society, 34 North Main Street in Three Rivers. They are open on Fridays, 10 – 4.
When asked how long the display would remain for public viewing, Mike was rather noncommittal; he simply said, “I don’t know, yet.”
No, the display is not at the museum now.

06/18/2026

06/18/2026

GRACE MAE MONFORT

Grace Monfort was born in Nottawa Township in 1877.
Grace taught at the local school 1899-1901. Other positions unknown.
She married Wakefield King in 1905, and they farmed in Leonidas. Grace died in 1954.

06/18/2026

Five Generations on Klinger’s Shore
By Robert Hair, 2001

The last original-settler family to be represented among today’s property owners is that of Amos M. Barnes, who arrived from New York state in 1837, the year that Michigan became a state. His fifth-generation descendants now live on the lake.
On April 8 of 1837, Barnes bought 140 acres fronting on the western shore of the lake just south of today’s Edgewater Beach. Barnes was the second owner of the property, although the first to settle on it. He bought the parcel from Joseph Richardson, also of New York state, who had purchased it from the federal government on March 19, 1836.
On January 22, 1846 Barnes received a patent from the federal government when he purchased 80 acres of U. S. land adjoining the original purchase on the north. Still later, he purchased 33 acres adjoining his original purchase on the south.
Following the death in 1880 of Amos M. Barne’s widow, Amy W. Barnes, the three parcels passed to their sons David W. Barnes (1883-1920) and Calvin C. Barnes (1835-18??).
David Barnes was married to Sarah Jane Isbell of White Pigeon, a sister of Mrs. Eliza Weatherwax. In about 1880, members of the Barnes family began operating a small resort on their portion of the lakefront property that they called Barnes Landing. After the excursion steamer “Minnie Tucker” was removed from service, it was beached at Barnes Landing.
The David Barnes holdings then passed to Amos David Barnes (1864-1925), a grandson of the original settler. He and his wife Welthie Barnes, had three children, who divided the property following their parents’ deaths. The farm portion passed to the daughter Mrs. Bernice Crampton, and the lakeshore lots went to daughter Mrs. Alta Dickinson and son Elton Barnes.
After the deaths of Mrs. Crampton and her husband, Carl, the farm was divided between son Lee and daughter Mrs. Charlene Finch, who then lived in the Barnes family home on Crooked Creek Road. Across Crooked Creek Road at the point where Dickinson Road comes in from the west once stood the one-room Barnes country school, which later was moved west on Dickinson Road.
The lake lots received by Mrs. Dickinson and Elton Barnes had been leased and developed for the er****on of summer cottages around 1910 by Constantine residents who called the development Sunny-Side Park. However, it became better known as Breezy Beach. The leases expired and the lots are now owned by the grandchildren of Mrs. Dickinson.
The accompanying photos show Barnes Landing in about 1910.

06/18/2026

Resident not necessarily related to road’s namesake
Sturgis Journal Road Trip, March 2006
By Margie Metzger

One Kime family still residing on Kime Road in southern Fawn River Township may not be related to the Kimes after whom the road was named.
Mary and Willard Kime, who moved there in 1979 from north of Sturgis, said they are uncertain if they are distant relatives of one of the original Kimes who lived there.
But they have done some research and heard stories about the road’s history. It was recorded that in May of 1847, 80 acres of land was sold for $320 to William Velie from Lagrange, Indiana.
Velie then sold his land to George and Mary Kime of Elkhart, Indiana on February 27, 1866. George Kime received a land patent from the State of Michigan. later, he or his descendants bought the land across the road and more to the south. The last descendant to live on Kime Road was Clifford Kime, who died in the early 1980s.
One of the original Kime houses is still in existence, Mary said, although it has been remodeled with an addition. In the early 1940s the late James and Caroline Harvey owned the 80-acre former Kime farm and lived in that original Kime home.
When the Willard Kimes bought five acres of that farm, located across the Fawn River bridge and about ¾ miles south of Fawn River Road, the Harvey’s told them about the road’s history.
Another house on Kime property was once located at the corner of Stony and Kime Road. It was a two-story home, but the top half burned many years ago and it was then made into a one-story home.
Several years ago, that structure burned to the ground, too.
Among stories told about past history on the road is one about a Mr. Freeman who built a small flour mill and distillery on Fawn River in 1840 on section 16 (originally set aside for schools). Later, it was sold to Warren F. Lee and his brothers, William and Nathaniel.
A large business was transacted there with mercantile accommodations by a Mr. Lee and William Freeman, then afterwards by Clark and Peck. That mill subsequently burned to the ground. The site remained vacant for several years until 1868 when Wells & Grinnel bought the site and rebuilt the mill, fitting it up with the best and latest improved machinery. They sold it to B. F. Trimmer, and he sold it in 1874 to W. D. Johnston.
After Clifford Kime’s death, the land on the east side of the road, which is known as “Kimes Hill,” was sold to Joe and Tony Habas, and is currently owned by Joe and Jennifer Schwartz.
That hill was described in the book, “History of St. Joseph County, Michigan (1827-1877),” stating that one could see 20 miles from Kimes Hill, southwest of Fawn River to view the city of Sturgis and a wooded ridge dividing Fawn River and Burr Oak townships.
The gravel road between Kime and Carls Roads was formerly a lane used by the farmers. As it became used more frequently, it was known as Kime Road Drive. Several years ago, the county changed the name to Stony Road, Kime said.

06/18/2026

53 YEARS AS PUBLISHER

Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Ashley

Fifty-three years as editor of a newspaper started in 1890 as publisher of the Centreville Observer, is considered quite an achievement by L. D. Townsend, reporter for the Sturgis Journal. The anniversary was on October 11 and on that date the Journal published a story and picture of Editor W. I. Ashley and his wife (who until illness prevented was the star reporter for the paper.) A picture of the building was also included and by courtesy of the Journal we are able to reproduce them in the Observer.

06/18/2026

Mendon High School Alumni report, compiled by Floy Mumby, class of 1891 and Maryella Bowdish, class of 1936.
*-- Deceased

06/18/2026

This picture shows the White Pigeon Presbyterian Church today. The only major change in the structure has been the removal of the bell tower.

The Presbyterian Church of White Pigeon; PART THREE

A few years ago when the church steeple began to deteriorate, the bell was removed and placed on a concrete slab in front of the church. Over the years a few modifications have been made to the church, but basically the building has remained unchanged.
For many years, the residence at 213 South Kalamazoo Street served as the Presbyterian Church Manse.
The present manse, located on the southwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Church Street, was built in about 1958.

06/18/2026

Veterans of the 18th Michigan Infantry pose before the camera during their reunion at Burr Oak, Michigan on September 10,1909. This is a great old card and my first time seeing it. Could any of our members ancestors be in this photo/postcard?