March 1959
- charliebunton
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Winter still lingered over Rogers City, its chill frosting windows in the early morning, but not enough to dull the cozy warmth blooming inside the town’s churches. Easter Sunday drew families from every corner of the community, filling pews until there was hardly room to stand. The air was filled with the gentle, sweet scent of fresh lilies, their white petals glowing against polished wood and the colorful light from stained glass, as Reverend Adalbert Narloch at St. Ignatius, Reverend Frederick Steen at Westminster Presbyterian, and Pastor Robert Weller at St. John’s Lutheran greeted congregations that seemed livelier and more hopeful than at any other time of year. Voices rose in hymns that had been sung for generations, the kind that settle into a person’s memory and stay there forever.
When the final amen drifted through each sanctuary, people stepped back into the crisp March air with hearts lighter than when they arrived. Families gathered around dining room tables set with ham, potatoes, rolls warm from the oven, and desserts that tasted like tradition itself. Children laughed, adults chatted, and the simple joy of being together made the day feel wrapped in warmth and lasting happiness.
While Easter brought its own kind of glow, another spark of excitement flickered far from home. Local photographer Ferris Parsons traveled to Saginaw for the annual Photographers Association of Michigan convention, where he was elected president—a proud moment not only for him but for the community that had long admired his craft. Joining him on the trip was 19‑year‑old Kathleen Buza of Posen, who had an unforgettable afternoon stepping onto the stage as a model for Master Photographer Ken Carson of Eastman‑Kodak. Before an audience of more than 600 professionals, Carson demonstrated the company’s newest technology, and Kathleen stood poised and confident, representing her hometown with grace.
Back in Rogers City, another celebration unfolded in the dining room of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Cubmaster Lester Raymond was honored with an official Scouter’s jacket, a gesture of appreciation for five years of dedicated service to Pack 190. The gathering also marked two milestones: the 30th birthday of the Cub Scout movement and the 49th birthday of Boy Scouting in America. A large blue‑and‑gold cake was served alongside refreshments, and the room buzzed with the kind of pride that comes from knowing a community’s children are guided by steady, caring hands.
And on Third Street, a familiar storefront was humming with its own excitement. The Dahlquist Store, known affectionately as “the dime store” or “the five and dime”, celebrated its grand re‑opening after expanding into the space once occupied by the A&P Supermarket. Since 1935, the two businesses had shared the building, their doors opening to generations of shoppers who knew exactly where to go for everyday necessities, small treasures, and the kind of friendly service that made errands feel like visits. With the expansion complete, the store promised a wider selection of merchandise at prices that kept families coming back week after week. The aisles felt brighter, the shelves fuller, and the store itself seemed to breathe with new life.
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