1949

With Harry S. Truman as President of the United States, the Sparta division of the Muskegon Piston Ring Company is looking to donate $25,000 to the Sparta Community Foundation for the purpose of building a community building.  Building Committee chairperson, C. Laurence Johnson is working with Glenn Bradford, Roger Williams, John Feichtenbiner, Paul McFall, and Wm. A. Rogers on obtaining proposals for the new building.  The Building Committing will have a lot to consider to add to the building including large dining room, stage, foyer, and kitchen.  Sparta Rotary Club will be spearheading the fundraising efforts with the cooperation from other local clubs. 

Plans are being discussed that include the building costing approximately $75,000.  However after research of other community buildings and years of discussions, the decision is found that a building that expensive will not be practical. 

1955

The committee continues to consult with various architects and contractors, and in 1955, submits a plan costing between $30,000 and $35,000.  The committee members include Guy Curtis, Mrs. Joe Brooks, Mrs. Walter Ebers, Floyd Buege, and Robert Lee.  Private funds will most likely be raised from local businesses such as Extensole and private contributors.  If funds can be raised, construction may begin as early as the fall of 1955 by Gust Construction. 

Question have come up for the community for the policy and regulation of using the community building.  What will be the rental fee? Is the primary question on everyone’s mind.  Nominal charges will be expected to cover the cost of heat, light, and other expenses.  The maintenance and upkeep will be provided by rentals and the community foundation funds. 

Building will most likely be used by community groups such as the Ladies Literacy Club, Garden Club, Rotary Club, Senior Neighbors, Senior Meals Programs, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, Girls Scouts, as well as benefit dances, receptions, and family reunions. 

Last weeks edition of the Sentinel Leader, the February 22, 1956 edition, mentioned the fund drive has gone “over the top”.  Work on the building is well along.  They are planning an open house on Tuesday, May 15^th and are expecting a crowd of over 300 community members.  Comments that people have made who have had a chance to see the building include, “The Terrazzo floor is beautiful and the room is attractively decorated.”  Finally, the new Civic Center is ready for use.

1965

The building is coming in handy for the kindergartners this year, according to the Sentinel leader edition printed on 10/13/1965.  Due to the overcrowding of kids at Central Elementary, Kindergarten classes will begin meeting at the Sparta Civic Center.

1984

An addition to the Sparta Civic Center on the West side of the building is proposed for the Sparta Cooperative Pre-School.  Financing for the addition may be donated by the Sparta American Post 107 in exchange for lifetime lease of meeting rooms on the north side.

2007

Plans are underway to utilize Community Block Grant Money to add new handicap accessible restroom facilities to the Sparta Civic Center.  Funding for the building is sought solely on donations, rentals, and grant money as the Sparta Community Foundation was no longer allowed to own property once it joined with the Grand Rapids Foundation. 

Today

The Sparta Civic Center runs with the dedication of volunteer board members including Gary Moody, Deb Simons, Terry Hartman, Jane Bosserd, Greta Heugel, Rachel Shangle, and George Brown.  With all the renovations over the past few years including the bathroom addition, renovated kitchen and new equipment, window replacement and facade improvements, the Sparta Civic Center is looking better than ever! 

Unfortunately Community Block Grant Money is no longer available to the Civic Center either.  Current and future construction and maintenance projects must all be funded by community donations and rental fees.  The Civic Center is striving to keep rentals at their low price to cover the cost of utilities and maintenance for the building -$125 for week days, and $400 for a weekend day.  Currently, however, this community Civic Center that was built by our community forefathers is in need of donations to stay open to the community groups that currently utilize the building such as the Sparta Little League, Faith’s Walk, Sparta Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, Sparta Town & Country Days, and Lions Club to name a few.  Donations this year would cover the maintenance and repair of the parking lot, heating repairs, and roof repairs.  If you are interested in sending in a donation to the non-profit organization, the Sparta Civic Center to keep our community building available to community groups, please send donations to the Sparta Civic Center PO Box 403 Sparta, MI 49345.  Thank you for keeping our community building alive! 

The building is currently managed and cleaned by volunteers in the community, Terry & Diane Hartman.  If you are interested in renting the building please contact Terry or Diane Hartman at (616) 887-1224.  Support our community building by hosting a meeting, reunion, or shower at the hall!

The introduction of the new line of gasoline engines has Sparta residents excited, especially the farmers.  The Holm Machine Manufacturing Company, located in Sparta, Michigan, is manufacturing the first Sears Economy Engines.  Production began last year in 1909. Local farmers are being charged $100 to $150 dollars for a 2-horse power engine that the Sparta Company will sell for $42.95.  A gallon of gas this year costs between 15 and 18 cents today, but the locally manufactured engine will give local farmers the power to do more work in less time.  There is talk that the Hercules Company may purchase the Sparta based company and move the facilities to Evansville, Indiana, probably in 1913 or so.

Fruit in Grand Rapids

Even with unemployment fluctuating from 2.7 % in 1907 to 8 % in 1908, Sparta farmers are still waking up at two or three o’clock in the morning to begin their eighteen mile journey by horse and wagon to the Grand Rapids Market with their fruit.  One farmer, Henry Kraft and his son George, built an apple storage of tile which is 36’ x 30’ holding 9,000 bushels of apples to keep his apples the freshest. 

Making “Change” in 1909

Many of the farmers will probably be making change on the trip and will receive the first Lincoln Head Penny that has just been issued for the first time in 1909.  To date, the other 1 cent coins have been minted as the Flying Eagle (1856–1858) and the Indian Head (1859–1909).  The 1909 Lincoln Wheat Penny will replace the Indian Head Penny.  What is special about this minted coin is it will be the first coin to bear a portrait other than the mythical Liberty, which appears on most pre-1909 regular coins.  This is also the first time the motto “In God We Trust” appears on a coin of this denomination. 

Ford is Here

Changes are happening in Sparta.  The paper states the first Model T automobile was developed last year in 1908 by Henry Ford.  It was sold for $850.  It might be a while before an automobile is driven by people in Sparta.  A relative of someone in town sent over a photograph of the car through the mail.  The postage for the first class stamp was 2 cents. 

Creamery in Sparta

New businesses are opening up in Sparta.  With the number of cattle increasing in Sparta and surrounding towns, small creameries are popping up.  Justin Spangenberg, who has moved here from Warren, Ohio, just opened one on North Union Street last week.  Town folk are excited to spend hot summer days eating ice cold treats in front of the store. He plans on selling numerous favors of ice cream and different types of shakes.

It is the year of our Lord, 1981, and Peace Lutheran Church is preparing to add a sanctuary to the existing building.  The members of the congregation believe it is their duty to help with the financial situation to lessen the burden than by simply increasing the weekly offering. 

There is rumor of two board members on the Christian Fellowship board, Mary Preston Barends and Ethelyn Anderson, who are talking about planning something “big” to help decrease the mortgage for the much desired addition.   

The Plan Comes Together

The idea is moving forward throughout the congregation and to family and friends to invite the community to participate in a new Fall Festival.  Owners of Bradford Insurance Agency, Don and Duane Bradford, are throwing around the idea of an Elderberry Jubilee.  There is little debate after Don and Duane bring in one of Mrs. Bradford’s elderberry pies and they inform everyone how the elderberry bushes grow along the side of the road and along fence rows in farmer’s fields.  The elderberry bush is never cultivated, sprayed or trimmed, but is a natural forming crop.  The group begins to roll out plans for an Elderberry Jubilee over Elderberry Pie.

The First Event in 1981

The first Elderberry Jubilee, scheduled for September 12, 1981, is rumored to have a lot of activities at the 12 Mile Road church.  Children’s activities, baton twirling, Terry Tice, Puppet Shows, Maycroft Sq Tappers, a Bazaar and bake sale, produce stand, fishing booth, cake walks, t-shirt sales and corn roast are among some of the activities that the group is planning.  A pig roast will be held in the afternoon with a live auction that will include a Hot Air Balloon Ride, Marco Island Vacation, Quilts and more. 

Growing Each Year

The success of the first year Jubilee has the group brain storming for the upcoming years.  In future years, the group is considering including a float during the next Town & Country Day parade, and including an Elderberry Jubilee Queen and her court.  The group is also discussing putting together a set of by-laws, duties of the chairman and committees they will need to make the next event a success. 

Jubilee in 1982

The 2^nd year of the event will include an Elderberry Ball at the Bee Hive in Sparta.  The Harvest Home Band has agreed to play the event with round and square dancing.  The cost will be $15 a couple and the crowning of the 1982 Elderberry Queen will take place.  Andy Rent from radio station WCUZ will host a remote broadcast on location.  The days events will include a men’s slow pitch softball tournament, and the new Elderberry Road Run will start at 9 am. 

Changing Gears in 1991

The success of the past 10 years of Elderberry Jubilee has helped pay off a large part of the mortgage of the addition made 10 years ago, as was the goal of the event.  Each year the Jubilee has turned into an enormous undertaking.  Rather than stop the event altogether, the congregation will probably vote to have a smaller festival in the fall that would include the pig roast dinner and auction. 

Jubilee in 2009

Peace Lutheran is working hard once again to bring the family friendly festivities to Sparta with Children’s Games, arts & Craft booths, Elderberry wine, jams, and pie for auction.  The pig roast is scheduled for 2 – 4 pm with the donations helping fund its community pantry.  On October 10, be sure to enjoy the food and auction at 3 pm at Peace Lutheran Church located at 1225 12 Mile Road in Sparta.  Call (616) 887-9417 for more information.

Its just turning 1884, and four families, George W. Reed, Gilbert Bettes, along with their wives from Lisbon & Daniel and Israel Smith and their wives, from Sparta, decide to start a church in Sparta.  The families know this was not to be taken lightly, as there were already many churches in the Lisbon area, which was growing and thriving, but there is not Free Methodist Church in that area yet.  Following up on this, the families take a leap of faith and hold the first service of the newly formed Free Methodist Church at the home of Israel Smith on August 15, 1884.

Growing the Members

Its been rumored that Reverend C.S. Gitchell will preside and give the first sermon.  The hope is by the new churches following that by November of 1884 the group will have Officers, Sunday School Teachers, and Song Leaders, along with Pastor M. Dafoe.  The growing group of church members of the newly formed church begin looking for land on which to build a building.

Building a Church

It’s late 1885 and a parcel of land was just purchased on Grove Street in Sparta for the building of the new church.  The group of members of the church continues to grow and construction is planned to begin in 1886.  the construction shouldn’t take more than a year, and the group is looking forward to completing the construction by the end of 1886. 

The first service in the building will be held on March 20, 1886 with a new pastor that’s come to town, Rev. E. W. Chapman presiding. Its thought that new property should be bought on the north east corner of Grove and Union from Israel Smith.  Eventually the old property would be purchased by the Sparta School System.

Much to the members delight, a 625 lb. bell will be purchased and placed in the belfry.

Worship is held regularly in the new building, but the building will not be dedicated until all debts and furnishings for the church are paid off.  It is a long wait for some, but the members of the church are steadfast and continue to raise funds for their beloved church.

Finally, on June 8, 1890 during the ministry of Rev. E. Snyder, a special dedication services is held.

Sharing a Pastor

Eventually, Rev. Caywood is appointed Pastor of Sparta-Tyrone circuit followed in 1891 by Rev. Hudnutt.  He is then followed by Rev. J.E. Sanders.  Even from the start of the Sparta Free Methodist Church, it continues to be engaged in the planting of other churches, such as the church in Kent City and in Ravenna planned to open in 1885 and even one in Grand Rapids set to begin in 1886.  The pastor lives in Sparta and travels by horse and buggy to our neighboring communities to these newly formed churches.

On January 19 1943, a fire brakes out and the roof of the Sparta Free Methodist Church is nearly destroyed.  There is going to be extensive damage to other parts of the church also.  This does not hold back the members of the church, though.  Repairs will be made by the members and the church will move forward. 

In 1966, the church becomes weakened by a split in the congregation.  Eventually, hurt feeling and old wounds will heal and the church is moving forward, stronger than ever. 

 Current Day

In 1996, Pastor Jennings Johnson was sent to close the church.  The congregation rallied and Pastor Johnson remained with the church until his retirement in 2008.

In 2007, the church was renamed New Life Free Methodist and in July of 2008, Pastor Richard Ferris was sent to continue working in the church.

 Today, many outreach ministries have been started and are growing stronger.  These include: food & clothing panty, outreach to overseas service men and women, outreach to senior assisted living centers, Children’s church ministry, youth group, kids club, Christmas family outreach, ministry program at Muskegon Rescue Mission, Monthly “Little Taste of Heaven” concerts and potluck, Women’s brunch and tea parties, and many more.  Sunday schools begins at 9:30 am on Sunday mornings and Sunday worship services are at 10:45 am and 6:00 pm.  On Wednesday evenings, a prayer meeting and Kids Club begin at 7:00 pm.

On September 12, 2009 the New Life Free Methodist will be celebrating the 125^th anniversary with events in Rogers Park, inviting everyone in the community to participate. 

If you have questions regarding New Life Free Methodist Church, please contact Pastor Rick at raferris2@verizon.net or call the church at (616) 887-7441.

For more information about the Sparta Township Historic Commission, please contact them at (616) 887-8863 or by calling Chairperson Martin ‘Bud’ Pulsifer at (616) 887-1566.

 It’s a warm Saturday morning on main street, and Sharkey Badgerow has just been murdered… again. He jolts and spins and clutches his chest, blood oozing from his wounds. He finally drops to the pavement and gives one last kick.

Several gang members throw him on the flatbed. The driver lashes the mules and the wagon speeds away. Murder in downtown Sparta is common occurrence since the Dirty Dingus Gang arrived. And the crowds love it.

 The Quasquicentennial

In 1971 Sparta celebrates its 125^th anniversary. It’s a big happening with many activities. Some of the village men grow beards as the event approaches. Then one day, they put together a real gang to promote the festivities.

 The Dirty Dingus Gang

The Dirty Dingus Gang is born, with 12 original members. Gary Delang, Dale May, Jerry Teasdale, Dick Greeno, Art Frisk, Dick McKinney, Sharkey Badgerow, Stub Vandenhout, Don Reed, Dale Rosel, Ted Anderson and Al Keck.

 The gang arm themselves with muzzle loaders, shotguns and rifles from the local VFW. Their team of mules gallops through town during various events and the gang shoot it up with blank ammo. It’s a crowd pleaser.   

 The Badgerows  

One of the stars is Sharkey Badgerow. His grandfather, Charles, is of French descent and grows up in the Upper Peninsula. Charles and two brothers serve in the Civil War. The brother’s die in Libby prison in Confederate Virginia.

 Later, Charles arrives in Sparta and opens a billiard hall on main street. Not an establishment of the highest repute, according to Sharkey. Charles later opens a grocery store on the corner of Gardner and State.

 Sharkey

Two generations later, Sharkey is one of five grandsons born in the family house on the corner of Centennial and Union. In 1942 he is drafted into the U.S. Army where he participates in the liberation of North Africa. In 1945, he meets his wife, Lunita from Mississippi.

 Business, horology and gemology

Sharkey majors in business administration and horology, the science and repair of time keeping instruments, at Ferris. He also gets a degree in gemology. Back in Sparta, he and an uncle open a jewelry store on Gardner street.

 Later the business moves to main street, where it is still located. No merchant has been active on main street longer than Sharkey. For 60 years he as been a real milestone known for his pleasant disposition and comic antics.

 Summer of ‘71

Summer of 1971. “Knock Three Times” by Dawn is the top hit. “All in the Family” is the most popular TV show. Intel introduces the microprocessor, an invention that revolutionizes our lives. George Harrison organizes Concert for Bangladesh.

 In Sparta many activities are organized for the centennial, including a theatrical production on the high school football field involving hundreds of residents. A special memorial magazine features opening words by President Nixon.

 The President has more on his mind. Vietnam veteran John Kerry makes a plea in a Senate hearing to end the war. George Wallace, Governor of Alabama, rides a wave of anti-busing sentiment to become presidential candidate.

 The magnificent victim

In 1971 Sharkey is a founding member of the Dirty Dingus Gang. He has a special role: the victim. He appears out of the crowd wearing a big hat and long white coat. He shakes his fist and shouts at the gang. They respond with blazing guns. Sharkey dies magnificently in the street.  

 The gang are popular. They are invited to other towns for celebrations. Proceeds go to the Sparta Ambulance Fund. They also organize the first beer tent during Town and Country Days, a slightly rowdy tradition that continues in Sparta today.

Sharkey Badgerow lives with his wife Lunita in the family home on West Averill street. They have 4 children and 10 grand children. He still runs the family jewelry business at 169 East Division street.

 This Milestones on Main Street article was produced for Sparta Today. Input and contributions to this column are welcome. Please send your ideas to Dean Lettinga at hlet@hetnet.nl or contact Joan Lettinga at ‘Round Again in Sparta, 887-2414.

 It’s a hot July morning in Sparta, 1969.  Armstrong and Aldrin have just landed on the moon.  But for the moment Bob Schwab is more interested in a station wagon pulling away from his dump, leaving an old couch behind.

 To anybody else it looks like junk.  But to Bob it’s a treasure.  Bob rolls the couch over and slashes the bottom lining with his jackknife.  Bingo!

 Among the lint and food crumbs are pennies, nickels and more.  A five dollar bill.  And a gold watch.  The kind bankers wear.  All lost items.  Bob knows every old sofa is a treasure chest waiting to be opened.

 From Trash to treasure.

 In the ’60s and ’70s, Bob Schwab’s garbage truck is a daily sight on Sparta streets.  He has a contract to pick up the trash and a permit to operate a dump on his Alpine property. 

 Bob knows everybody in town and loves a short chat with anybody, for both pleasure and business.  He’s a wheeler-dealer.  One person pays Bob to pick up the trash, like pallets or barrels.  Another needs pallets or barrels, and pays Bob to drop them off. 

 Bob Schwoop, born on a boat.

Bob Schwab grows up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, as Frank J. Schwab, the youngest son in a large Catholic family of German immigrants.  Born in 1912, he inists his birth certificate reads, “Bob Schwoop, born on a boat”.  He loves a good story.

 He is a relative of Charles Schwab, the millionaire founder of U.S. Steel.  His family includes Austrian-Hungarians in New York, among them a circus act called The Tumbling Nemos.  As a child, Bob tap dances for coins n the New York Streets.

 From Allentown to Grand Rapids

Bob joins the Navy in the 1920’s.  he leaves Norfolk on the USS Arizona to parts of call in Guantanamo, Port-au-Prince, and the Panama Canal.  Later in Life Bob would bear a striking resemblance to another sailorman- to Popeye, in voice, attitude and phical appearance.

 When the Arizona clears San Francisco, Bob and a buddy miss ship, officially AWOL.  They ride trains back east, landing in the brig at Pensacola Naval Station.

 The depression hits.  Bob hears there’s work in Michigan.  In Grand Rapids he gets a job as bellhop at the Pantlind Hotel.  Eventually the Shepherd Family hires him on the family farm. 

 True Grit

Bob marries Mildred Helsel, the daughter of a farm laborer.  He hunts and fishes with the locals, sometimes legally.  There’s food on the table.  Their only child, Joan, is born in the snowy winter of ‘37.

 In the 40’s Bob and Mildred buy some land on Alpine Avenue, which is rich in gravel.  Bob is a pragmatic American.  If you have a big hole, fill it.  He turns the gravel pit into a dump.

 There’s gold in them thar hills!

 Life in Sparta is good.  The American Dream is in full swing.  Buy new and throw away the old.  Bob is there to take it.  His dump becomes a mountain of gold.

 Everyone knows “Schwabby” as Bob is known.  When you need something, go see Bob.  If he ahs it, he usually gives it away free, together with a smile and a bit of hometown philosophy at no extra charge.  Bob loves to make people happy.

 Shooting for the Moon

In July 1969, standing in his dump, Bob can see the moon.  The Eagle has landed.  Thirty years later, America is more occupied with terrestrial challenges.  Like economic and environmental sustainability.  How to manage affluence and waste?

 Bob Schwab loved the simple things.  A good story, a friendly word, a smiling child.  He has his own ideas about wealth, about using and reusing material goods.  He was a garbage man.  A rich man.  A garbage man with a gold watch.

 In 1972, the Schwab Dump became part of the Kent County Landfill.  The county site later became a superfund.  Bob died in October 1990.  He is buried in Algoma Cemetery, far away from Allentown, Pennsylvania.  His wife, Mildred, lives in the family house on Alpine Avenue.  She is 93.

 Bob lives on as “Frankie” the emblem of ‘Round Again, Inc. in Sparta, a consignment/ resale shop founded by his daughter Joan in 1985 and still in business today.

 This Milestones on Main street article was produced specially for Sparta TODAY.  Input and contributions are welcome.  Please send your ideas to Dean Lettinga at hlet@hetnet.hl or contact Joan Lettinga at ‘Round Again in Sparta.  887-2414

The excitement of the future after High School is high for Robert Anderson & Donald Reed, two Sparta High School Students. As they have lived in Sparta most of their lives, and been friends for a long time, both boys reflect on their years in Sparta growing up as graduation nears.

Coach VanHuizen may be the shop teacher in school, but on the Football Field, VanHuizen coaches the Sparta Football team. Sparta has taken the Kenowa League championship for the last 11 years. VanHuizen may be a winning coach, but as Don and Robert are well aware, he can be strict with the team. They hear that Coach VanHuizen will be retiring soon from coaching football at SHS, and wonder how long it will be until the next Championship Victory for the future Football teams.

The High School Building

The Old Red Brick High School, as Robert and Donald refer to their school sits on the corner of Union and Alma. The building holds a lot of memories for them including the popular superintendent Balyeat and “Fred”, the teacher from Agriculture Class.

A big part of growing up in Sparta for these 1947 graduates was stopping by Jacksons Blacksmith Shop. Any kid who walked around with the metal horse shoe nail that had been pounded into a circle to wear as a ring had recently been to Jacksons Blacksmith Shop. Phoebe’s Candy Store also holds many memories for the graduating class as a popular place to hang out.

Sparta Hunting & Fishing Club reforms around 1948

As the North Kent Rod & Gun Club dissolved shortly after WWII, Don & Robert hear about the club restarting again in 1949. The club meets in the Police Station and will continue to do so until the new Bank Building is constructed. The club owns the property on W. Division (where current day Toro Distributors is located). The club is talking about selling this property and will begin looking for new property. It’s heard that Mrs. Bebe may be interested in selling her property in Sparta Township to the club. Current members of the club include upstanding citizens in the Sparta area such as Dave Johnson, the current Village President, Clare Finch, Chuck Saur, and Donald & Robert.

The Korean War in 1951

After returning from the war, Donald is planning to work for Spartan Extrusion Tool & Die. The pay is $1.05 per hour which will bring in an honest living even if it may be hard to feed a family each month. Robert is looking forward to moving to Grand Rapids after the war and working for the Kent County Treasurer.

As 1953 comes, the club of 19 people will be going to the bank to sign personal notes to purchase the property. Each one of the 19 members know the personal stake of purchasing the Hunting & Fishing Club property but believe that membership will grow and prosper throughout the years.

Building a Club House in 1954

This year, the club which consists of 20 members will be building a pole barn to store equipment and eventually a new club house. The club is starting with 1 trap field and continues to clear property for the club. Laurence Bodell is building a running deer target that runs back and forth through bicycles that are upside down and tied with ropes. When it’s finished, the target will look like the deer is galloping. People from miles around are coming to check out his deer target contraption.

The Future for the club

The club will eventually grow to the strong size of 329 members that will enjoy the 79.5 acre land. The club will look forward to BBQ chicken & Ribs dinners, picnics, and reunions on the property, as well as involving the Kent City and Sparta School kids in educational programs. The Club will become well known as a family club with extensive archery courses with 3-D targets, woods walk, clay tours and trap fields. The heart of a few men who took out personal bank notes to invest in a project they believed in has grown to benefit hundreds of nature loving residents throughout the area.

The full interview of Robert Anderson and Donald Reed will be available on DVD through the Sparta Township Historical Commission in Sparta Township Offices.

In January of ’79, Jose Cruz keeps things moving in the Sparta Foundry. Jose, known as Joe, works second shift. A straight eight from 3:00 to 11:00 at night. Life in the foundry is hard and dirty. But the money and benefits are good.

Twenty men work behind noisy presses to make the steel and dirt piston ring molds. It’s tedious, twisting work. Several men take aspirin for chronic back pain. Tethers keep their hands out of the presses. But a few are missing fingers.

A lineman for the foundry
Joe is a lineman. With an iron hook he pulls the heavy molds out onto the foundry floor. Joe puts his back into each move, like a football lineman. He works four lines, moving fast from line to line.

Joe prepares the molds for the molten iron. He puts heavy weights and pouring boxes on each. The iron pourer arrives, pushing a heavy ladle of molten iron down a ceiling rail.

Rivers of Hades
The iron pourers wear safety helmets with dark masks. The iron flows from the ladles in glowing orange streams. Steam rises and sparks fly when it hits the cool molds. Several pourers are busy. It looks like the Rivers of Hades.

The foundry is dark but Joe wears sun glasses to protect his eyes from the iron and sand. Joe is one of four linemen working the large floor. Everyone is in a hurry to make production. Fast and furious.

Within minutes the iron solidifies and turns gray. Its still 1200 degrees. Joe removes the running boxes. Hot sand burns his arms, but Joe is used to it. And the money is good.

Down to shakeout
Joe pulls the heavy molds down to the shakeout man. Shakeout is the dirtiest job in the place. Each mold is broke open by hand. Steam rises and scalding black dirt falls over the shakeout man’s boots through grates on the floor.

He pulls the rings from the mold with a noisy air-pressure lift. More hot black dirt shakes out. More steam. He lifts the molds on to the return line. Back breaking work. Joe pushes them back to the molder and the whole process starts again.

Set for life
Jose Cruz was born in Mercedes, Texas in 1947. The second of nine children. In 1965, with the rise of refrigerated rail cars, his father Santana Cruz lost his long-time job in a Texas ice factory. So the family came to Michigan where you could “rake money from the ground like leaves.”

Back in Texas, Joe earned a football scholarship from Corpus Christie University. But he joined the Marines, spent 22 months in Vietnam, fought at the Battle of Hui and earned a Purple Heart. After the war, he returned to Michigan.

At Bolthouse Farms in Grant he met Toni and got married. He attended Central Michigan on a Veteran’s Grant. But in 1977 he heard the Sparta Foundry was hiring. When you got a job at the Sparta Foundry, you were set for life.

The Oil Stopper Piston Ring Corporation
The Sparta Foundry began in 1921 as the Oil Stopper Piston Ring Corporation. It was soon acquired by the Muskegon Piston Ring Company. From the 1940’s through the 1970’s it became one of the largest piston ring factories in the world.

From lineman to mailman
By January 1979 the glory days of the Sparta Foundry were peaking. Global competition would rock the automotive industry. The great shakeout of the Michigan economy had begun. In 1984, Joe was laid off.

In December 1984 Joe joined the Post Office and became the familiar, friendly face on Sparta’s Village Route. Through snow and sleet and gloom of Sparta nights the post arrived, always with lollipops for the youngest residents along the way. In 2005, Joe retired with a bad knee. For more than 20 years, he was a real milestone on main street in Sparta. Just like the Sparta Foundry.

Today Jose Cruz lives with his wife Toni on Schultz Avenue in Sparta. He has five children and five grand children. The Sparta Foundry officially closed in 2004.

Milestones on Main Street is produces especially for Sparta Today. Input and contributions to this column are welcome. Please send your ideas to Dean Lettinga at hlet@hetnet.nl or contact Joan Lettinga at 887-2414.