The small city of Coloma, Michigan is in lower central Coloma Township, in upper Berrien County, in the southwestern Lower Peninsula. The city is southwest of Paw Paw Lake and Little Paw Paw Lake, and its northern boundary is formed by the Paw Paw River.
I-94 passes by just south of the city limits, almost touching the city in the southeast. Passing through the city center is Coloma Road, which becomes Center Street within the city, and connects with Red Arrow Highway as it leaves the city in the east. Red Arrow Highway enters the city in the southwest, running diagonally in a northeastern direction to Red Arrow Highway, then turns east to connect Coloma with Watervliet. Friday Road enters the city in the south, then becomes Church Street, which leads north to Center Street, then continues north as Paw Paw Street. Paw Paw Street veers northeast and exits the city as Paw Paw Lake Road. Other routes include Delfield Road, Ryno Road, and Wilson Road.
Watervliet is 2.4 miles east of Coloma, Hartford is 9.6 miles east-northeast, Benton Harbor is 10.1 miles southwest, and St. Joseph is 11.7 miles to the southwest.
Before the city became Coloma, the community was known as Shingle Diggins and Dickerville.
The first European-American settlers to come to the area were the Job Davis family, who came from Cass Cass County in 1832, buying a hundred and fifty acres intending to produce shingles, floating them to market in St. Joseph via the Paw Paw River. However, his wife died the first year, and Davis sold out to Griffith, Hoyt, and Hatch, a St. Joseph company.
Davis had dug a mill put and cut timber for the mill frame, so the new owners needed to construct a canal connecting the Paw Paw River and Paw Paw Lake, west of where the Paw Paw Lake Golf Course now is. They had the land surveyed and laid out a town near the mill, which they intended to name Griffith. They then advertised for a shingle maker.
Stephen R. Gilson, a shingle maker from New York, answered the ad in late 1833, and spent the rest of his life at it. The community that grew up around the shingle operations became known as Shingle Diggings. By 1837, when Michigan became a state, Shingle Diggings included several families and a log schoolhouse that doubled as a church. The supply of suitable timber for shingles was soon depleted, and the operation closed in 1838.
In 1836, Moses Osgood had come from New York, buying land west of the current site of Coloma, where he planted a fruit orchard. His brother, Gilson Osgood, came to the area in 1841, operating a tannery on a stream that became known as Tannery Creek, and opened a store on what is now South Paw Paw Street, near St. Joseph Street.
By the 1840s, some of those who had settled Shingle Diggings had moved west, across the river., near the Osgoods. Because they had very little money, they would dicker for what they needed at the store. There was so much of that going on that the settlement became known as Dickerville, which became a stagecoach stop along the route from Detroit to St. Joseph.
In 1850, Stephen R. Gilson and his son, Warren, along with some others, headed out from Dickerville to make their fortunes in the California Gold Rush. While on his quest for gold, Gilson stayed in Coloma, California. In 1855, Gilson returned to Dickerville. When a post office was established on August 23, 1856, there was some concern that Dickerville wasn't a good name for a town that was going to have a post office. Gilson suggested changing the name to Coloma, and that was accepted. Dr. Henry M. Marvin was named the first postmaster of Coloma.
The Chicago and West Michigan Railroad extended its tracks to Coloma in 1871, which prompted many of Coloma's businesses to move to be nearer the railroad tracks. By the 1880s, the current downtown district was established along Paw Paw Street. The railroad also brought new businesses, including a basket and ladder factory, a pickle plant, and a canning company. The railroad also brought people from Chicago who summered along Paw Paw Lake.
Coloma was incorporated as a village in 1893, and Coloma had become so popular as a summer resort area by 1895 that hotels and pavilions were built all along the lake, and steamboats circled the lake on a regular schedule. A steamboat captain built a railroad from Coloma to his boat dock on the lake, and an Electric Interurban Train was built to bring passengers to Coloma. Coloma was incorporated as a city in 1941.
Except for a slight decline in the 1920 census, Coloma's population grew until 1990, but has been declining slightly each decade since.
The focal point of this guide is on the City of Coloma, Michigan. Topics relating to the city or any individuals, businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, or events within the city.
Categories
Faith & Spirituality |
Recommended Resources
Located just off I-94, about halfway between Chicago and Detroit, Coloma is in northeastern Berrien County. The official municipal website features a profile of the city, including a directory of elected officials, city employees, and boards, with office hours and contact data. City council agendas and minutes are posted to the site, and applications for building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fence permits may be downloaded from the site.
https://cityofcoloma.org/
Coloma Community School District
The public school district covers a 45-square-mile area that includes the City of Coloma and portions of Bainbridge, Benton, Coloma, Hagar, and Watervliet townships in Berrien County, and a small part of Covert Township in Van Buren County, Michigan. It offers a PK-12th-grade curriculum through Little Learners Preschool, Coloma Elementary School, Coloma Intermediate School, Coloma Junior High School, and Coloma High School, each of which is featured here.
http://www.ccs.coloma.org/
In business for more than thirty years, the company provides the food industry with frozen fruits, vegetables, juices, and juice concentrates, including private label needs, and it also markets food products under its own label, Nature Blessed, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coloma Frozen Foods. Located in Coloma, Michigan, a list of stores in which its products can be found is featured, and products may also be purchased through its online store.
https://colomafrozen.com/
Originating with the Self Culture Club, the library began a cupboard in a private home in 1904, moving into the Zuver building the following year, then to the front room of the I.O.O.F. Hall in 1923, the newly built City Hall building in 1955, becoming a dual project of the city and township in 1963, moving to its own building on East Logan Street in 1964, and to its current location on West Center Street in 2003. Its hours of operation, services, and contacts are posted.
http://www.colomapubliclibrary.net/
The Coloma, Michigan Freemason lodge is on North Paw Paw Street. The site features an introduction to Freemasonry and includes a list of current officers, meeting schedules, a calendar of events, and a contact form. Other resources include a photo gallery, news about Freemasonry in general, the Coloma lodge, or information pertaining to local Masons. A brief history of the local lodge is posted, and a map shows the location of its facilities.
https://162-mi.ourlodgepage.com/
Established in 1938, the Rod and Gun Club acts to conserve natural resources and to provide educational programs on the safe and responsible use of firearms, as well as hunter safety, amateur sports, and other community programs. Board meeting schedules are posted, and a list of board members is displayed, along with membership information, a photo gallery, and an overview of what the club has to offer its members and the community, including a schedule of classes.
http://colomarodandgunclub.com/
Serving Berrien and Van Buren counties since 1950, the Coloma, Michigan company offers reverse osmosis, water softeners, bottled water deliveries, water testing services, filters, commercial equipment, and salt service for water softener equipment. Its products and services are featured here, along with a library of manuals for various water softeners and drinking water systems, past and present. The mailing address, phone, and fax numbers are provided.
http://www.culliganbarwater.com/
Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home
Located on Paw Paw Avenue in Coloma, Michigan, the independent family-owned business serves the Benton Harbor, Coloma, Hartford, St. Joseph, Stevensville, and Watervliet communities. Directions, hours of operation, telephone and fax numbers, and a contact form are featured, along with an overview of its services, options, and policies, as well as testimonials, a grief library, and bookstore, planning information, a list of local florists, and published obituaries.
https://www.duffieldpastrick.com/
Situated on Paw Paw Street in Coloma, Michigan, the movie theater plays first-run movies. Currently running films are highlighted, including ratings, runtime, stars, release dates, genre, a synopsis, and showtimes. Tickets may be purchased online or at the theater. Movies scheduled to be shown in the near future are featured, as well, and a map, directions, telephone number, and a contact form are posted, along with special offers and policy information.
http://lomatheatre.mooretheatres.com/
The bar and restaurant are located on North Paw Paw Street in Coloma, Michigan. Directions and a map showing its location are put forth, along with its beverage, appetizer, dinner, Mexican, and sandwich menus, daily and nightly specials, banquet and catering policies, and a gallery of photographs, mostly depicting its menu items. The business phone number, email address, and hours of operation are posted, and a contact form is also available.
https://friendlytavern.com/
