Gov. John S. Barry Historical Society members met for their July meeting at the Constantine Township Library, as 80 feet of a newly poured cement sidewalk at the museum prohibited parking. Guest David Kiefer of Constantine was welcomed.

Mrs. Joan Vercler, wife of the late Dr. Marvin Vercler, a noted historian and past president of the Barry Society for many years, is making a gift of the Vercler collection of rare and historic slides of Constantine in its earlier years. The collection consists of a slide show and DVD which was shown at the local schools and library by Dr. Vercler. Included are rare scenes of the earlier bridges that stood before the current one stands downtown.

A piano was donated by Mrs. Vercler to the St. Joseph County Historical Society (SJCHS) in Centreville, in addition to numerous books.

Photographer George Murphy was thanked for setting up a slide show for the Barry Society, which was presented at the SJCHS Covered Bridge Days. In addition, Murphy took 150 additional pictures of the Barry home for a slide show presented by President Bob Ray to members at the July meeting.

Woodworker Don Kufeldt fashioned a new set of cellar doors and railing of poplar, which needs to be installed by members at the Barry home when the weather is cooler.

Norma Ray was thanked for providing planters and doing extensive gardening at the museum. Members take turns watering. The Rays donated two wrought iron chairs for the side porch. President Ray commented he had received numerous compliments on the efforts of all members on the museum’s exterior.

It was noted Village employees put a small cement slab down adjacent to the Village offices, anticipating moving a stone & historical plaque commemorating Village hero Maj. Gen. H.H. Bandholtz there at a later date. The stone currently is at located at a former Bandholtz home. The residence was damaged by fire last year. Village Manager Mark Honeysett has gained permission from the state historical society to move the stone, but awaits the written consent.

Due to the dry weather showing depressions easier in the ground, outlines behind the Barry home seem to indicate there were buildings standing there earlier. Also there is an indication of the spot where a former outhouse stood. The areas may be excavated at a later date.

A donation was given by Ruby Presley of Colon. Presley went on a Sunday tour of the Barry home, and expressed an interest in donating an old map to the courthouse in Centreville. Anyone interested in making a donation contact Martha Starmann, president of the SJCHS, in downtown Centreville.

Aaron Cullifer donated copies of a Constantine newspaper, The Advertiser Record, dating from the 1950’s, which was published by Joe Cox.

Subscriptions cost $2 a year. Single copies were 10 cents. One issue printed around Christmas time introduced the “big new ‘53 Ford . . . the new standard of the American Road!” at Carlson Motor Sales, Inc. The P.L. Vail Department store advertised a sale on many items for Christmas, including ‘ladies print house dresses’ size 12 to 52 at $3.98. The Sun Theatre in White Pigeon admission was 18 cents and 50 cents. The feature film was “Island of Desire” with Linda Darnell and Tab Hunter.

Cullifer also donated copies of The St. Joseph County Observer, dating from the early 1960’s. The Observer was published by Al Grossman in Centreville and a year’s subscription was $3. The page one story was “450 Farmers See Equipment Demonstration.” Special interest was shown in a Flail Mower, “a new piece of farm machinery that will shred corn or mow a golf green with equal ease.” An ad for the Riviera Theater in Three Rivers advertised “Summer Magic” with Hayley Mills and “Donovan’s Reef” with John Wayne and Lee Marvin.

Source:  Story contributed by Angie Birdsall