May 1953
- charliebunton
- Nov 25
- 4 min read
The warm May evening buzzed with excitement as young couples arrived at the Senior Prom at Rogers City High School. The girls' pastel dresses fluttered like spring petals, and the boys' polished shoes clicked on the pavement. Inside the gym, transformed into a magical "Garden Promenade," blue and silver streamers hung like moonlit waterfalls, and the scent of fresh corsages mingled with perfume and aftershave. The Dolly Gray Orchestra from Alpena filled the space with the rich sounds of big band melodies—trumpets soaring, saxophones crooning, and drums keeping perfect time—as couples danced across the polished floor, their laughter rising above the music. Holding hands tightly, cheeks flushed from dancing, the seniors cherished each song as if it could freeze time, knowing this enchanting night of twinkling decorations, familiar faces, and the warmth of friendship would become a treasured memory. As the final notes faded and the gym returned to its ordinary state, many couples extended the night with a stop at the beloved Cozy Corner, where the sizzle of burgers, the sweet chill of ice cream sodas, and the lively chatter provided a perfect end to an unforgettable evening.
Downtown Rogers City was alive with excitement as the Kiwanis Club hosted a broom sale during the annual Clean-Up, Paint-Up, Fix-Up Campaign. Gerald Harris had the thrill of a lifetime when he won a brand-new 1953 Ford pickup truck. He’d entered a March contest sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, submitting several responses to the question, “Why I like the 1953 Ford Truck.” Harris proudly received his prize and congratulations from Jerry Lynch, manager of the Northern Auto Company.
Quarry View, a popular tourist destination, welcomed the public over Memorial Day weekend, giving visitors an up-close look at the limestone quarrying operations in Calcite. Judging by last year, thousands of people from around the globe are expected to stop by this summer.
The Rogers City Indians kicked off their Top-O-Michigan baseball league season with a game against Onaway. The league features six area teams—Alpena, Atlanta, Onaway, Rogers City, Gaylord, and Cheboygan—and runs on a two-halves format, ending with a playoff to crown the champion.
James Selke, 11, from Rogers City Elementary School, was one of 25,000 Safety Patrol members traveling to Washington D.C. for the AAA Safety Patrol Assembly and Parade. On his special trip, he visited the Capitol Building, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the Washington Monument, and joined a five-mile parade along Constitution Avenue, marching behind a banner that read, “Safety is a Big Thing in Michigan.”
As the Korean War wound down, American troops focused on holding their positions, conducting limited offensives, and providing naval and air support along the stable front line, while final armistice talks took place. Doug Richards volunteered for service, knowing the draft was inevitable. Before heading to basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he kissed his parents' goodbye, promising to see them soon. Deep down, he wasn’t sure if he would ever return, but he accepted that risk when he enlisted. Richards later remembered the boots issued in Korea, saying, “Those Mickey Mouse boots barely kept us warm. You had to keep moving or risk your feet freezing.” Men like Richards gave everything for the sake of freedom, and he was among the proud veterans who marched each Memorial Day down Main Street in downtown Rogers City.
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