August 1953
- charliebunton
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
The air hung thick and heavy this August, the kind of heat that wrapped around you like a damp blanket the moment you stepped outside. Storm clouds gathered on most afternoons, releasing warm rain that drummed against awnings and sent up the earthly smell of wet pavement mixing with the sweet scent of Lake Hurons waters. It was the sort of humid summer that made your shirt cling to your back and your hair curl at the temples, but nobody seemed to mind -- not with the excitement of the Kelly Miller Circus coming to town.
Days before the big top went up on the grounds of the Presque Isle County Airport, advertising cars rolled through the streets, and suddenly the whole world burst with color. Bright posters splashed across storefront windows and telephone poles -- bright colors shouting promises of acrobats and elephants, clowns and high-wire daredevils. Children pressed their noses against shop windows, tracing the images with sticky fingers, counting down the hours until both the afternoon and evening performances. It has been five long years since a circus has come through, and the anticipation was almost unbearable. You could hear it in the voices of kids planning which performance to beg their parents to attend, taste it in the cotton candy dreams that kept them awake at night.
Meanwhile, another kind of magic was humming through the airwaves. Harvey Klann, General Manager of Radio Station WHAK, announced the station's leap from 1000 to 5000 watts -- transforming their modest signal into the strongest standard broadcasting station north of Grand Rapids. The new power would reach 215,000 potential listeners. He envisioned the station as a beacon, inviting vacationers northward with tales of cool lake breezes and endless summer adventures. And should disaster strike -- a fierce storm or emergency -- the newly installed power generating system would keep WHAK's voice steady and strong, a lifeline for the community.
As twilight softened the August heat on Wednesday evenings, the sound of laughter and music drifted across Lakeside Park. At the newly erected tennis court, teenagers gathered for dances that had become the highlight of many young people's week. Joseph Hassett spun donated records -- the latest hits crackling from speakers while couples swayed and spun. The concrete still held the day's warmth beneath their saddle shoes and loafers as they twisted to the rhythm of summer. Dick Abraham and Janet Dueltgen, directors of the summer recreation program, watched with satisfaction as the summer they'd carefully orchestrated unfolded in motion and music.
Over at Parsons Studio, fresh possibilities were developing. Roger Parsons has returned home following his graduation from the Winona School of Photography in Indiana, bringing with him techniques so new they smelled of darkroom chemicals and possibility. Joining his brother Ferris, Roger arrives armed with cutting-edge processing methods and lighting techniques taught by special instructors from the Eastman Kodak Company. The studio promises to capture Rogers City's special moments with unprecedented clarity and artistry.
Amid all the excitement, an important reminder is making its way through neighborhoods: Calcite officials are urging parents to be cautious after several children were caught playing on plant property. With only a few precious weeks of summer left, no one wants to see anyone get hurt. The community has worked hard to create safe, fun spots for kids to enjoy, so they can make the most of the season.
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