Sparta Businesses are Lookin' Good

Sparta Businesses are Lookin’ Good
Notice the amazing changes in Sparta commercial buildings lately? Some of the major changes are due in part to the Village of Sparta Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Property Enhancement Grant program for exterior enhancements to commercial buildings within the DDA District. The program has generated over $250,000 of investment from business owners into the exterior of their buildings over the past two years. The investment from property owners in their buildings is important for the vitality of Sparta business and the enhancements are having a major effect on the image of Sparta.

Round Again, the downtown business at 213 E. Division, has become a historical focal point for downtown Sparta after the completion of the DDA grant program in 2007. By taking the architectural history into account, the property owners, Howard and Joan Lettinga, decided to restore the exterior to its original size as built in 1907. By removing a 1940’s addition, the Lettinga’s found the original building sign in the façade of the building as the doorway header reading “N.A. Shaw Palace Livery 1907”. As a building that has served many different businesses over the years, including a Drayage Business (the hauling of a load by a low built cart by horses), a Livery Barn, Fields Transfer Line, a farm implement business, a John Deere equipment repair operation, a beauty shop, real estate office, accounting business, and photo shop, the building was finally purchased in 1984 as a consignment/ resale business by the Lettinga’s. As 2007 marked the hundredth year for the historic building in downtown Sparta, the Lettinga’s celebrated by restoring the building to its historic exterior and continuing the legacy of the historical building in downtown Sparta.

Another example of the DDA grant program is the major exterior improvements on the building at 530 S. State Street that currently houses Spectrum Health, Mel Trotter, LA Insurance, and the Secretary of State. Through the DDA Grant Program, the 530 S. State Street building underwent major façade improvements that included adding new façade materials, raised the height of the front façade to hide equipment, and correlated the businesses on the property. The improvements are remarkable and the project has made major improvements to the South State Street corridor.

Maxine’s Family Restaurant, at 370 N. State Street, is another example of success for the DDA Grant Program. Through major façade improvements, parking lot enhancements, streetscape improvements, and landscaping work, the business has made a major impact on the North State Street corridor and improve the exterior of the visual appeal of the restaurant. Maxine’s Family Restaurant has changed their image and look through the DDA Grant Program. The before and after photos show the extreme results of the project undertaken in 2008.

Interested in the 2009 DDA Property Enhancement Grant program? Businesses must meet grant guidelines and meet with the Property Enhancement Grant committee before applications are accepted. Grant guidelines are online under Assisting Businesses at www.spartami.org.

Milestones on Mainstreet: December 2008

The Big Shakeout of ‘79

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 lollypops 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 specially 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.

Milestones on Mainstreet: November 2008

Sparta Booming in 1876
Today, Sparta is a booming town which boasts a hotel in downtown Sparta, a large, two story building situated on the corner of Mill and Division Street. The town is growing due to the railroad bringing in businessmen and travelers to and through the area. The depot is located near to the large elevator owned and run by Mr. E. Bradford where grain is stored in large quantities. Plans are in sight for some folks to build another Railroad Depot with the future Toledo, Saginaw, & Muskegon rail line that will be installed in about 10 years. It will be difficult, say many folks, to have the T.S. & M. rail line actually reach Toledo or Saginaw as many small railroad companies are starting up but not many seem to be surviving.

A Future School
The property that will eventually have the Myers School Museum building was recently sold three years ago for $50 by Hiram & Barbra Myers to build a school. It will eventually serve Algoma and Sparta area as a one room schoolhouse. The schoolhouse will have students K -8 for many long years ahead. Perhaps eventually, the school location will become a museum for students to see what it was like to be a student in the Sparta area in 1876 in the future.

Businesses in Town
Throughout town there are many established businesses, including a few doctors offices including Dr. Emmons, Dr. Hinman, and Dr. Babcock, and a saloon, Ostrom and Sons meat market, Olmstead & Sons saw and grist mill, a “fair” country store, Betterley cigar and tobacco store, and many more businesses throughout downtown. A new type of soda pop called “Root Beer” came out this year, and many kids and adults alike have taken a liking to the new type of Soda pop.

Baseball here?
Baseball's National League was founded. According to the newspapers, before the organization of the National League, amateur games were riddled with illegal practices such as bribery and betting. The creation of professional teams, subject to one set of enforceable rules, resulted from the foundation of the League. Some day we may have a professional baseball team in Michigan, but that probably won’t occur until after the turn of the century.

A Passing Trend
Instead of neighbors walking to meet at a coffee shop or at church, the new invent of a contraption called a telephone, by a Mr. Alexander Graham Bell, has been patented this year. Some of the locals are worried that if folks are able to talk to each other by a wire in real time, they will not need to leave their house again! We will see how quickly this passing Trend moves on or if people in Sparta will have the contraption hooked up to their homes.

The Country
Much as changed in these United States since the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War has ended. Over the past 10 years, Nevada, and Nebraska have joined these United States and there is even rumor that Colorado will join these United States yet this year. Though it will take a while for a copy of the book to reach the hands of many here in Sparta, Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” has been published and sold by subscription. Most likely, the book will become a best seller.

Milestones on Main Street is produces specially 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 887-0013.

Believe...

Believe…
The holidays are about more than simply getting presents or about Santa Claus. It’s about spending time with friends and families, sharing in the spirit of giving, and the sense of compassion that is evident in many people in our community. Here in Sparta alone, we have many different ways to donate toys to families less fortunate and numerous ways to help with food donations to those in need. The traditional values found in our community that are so important during the holidays and year round gives us the reason to continue to believe in the goodness in people and the importance of the giving of yourself. Especially during the holidays, lately it seems, people can get caught up in the commercialism that the holidays have become- dashing to the mall to wait half the night to get the latest and greatest electronic toy is quite the norm. During the hustle and bustle period this year, it’s nice to know we live in a community that still believes in the values connected to the holiday. When we hear the word “believe”, we know it means more than in “Santa Claus”, but to believe in hope, compassion, in the spirit of giving and the goodness of people.
The Holiday Season in downtown Sparta is special, too. Homes are decorated with holiday lights and family’s together to meet Santa at the Santa House or take a stroll through candy cane lane, there truly is nothing like this time of year. While downtown, take a moment to see if any of our local businesses would save you the hassle of the traffic and crowds elsewhere. You may just find a perfect gift for a loved one from restaurant gift certificates, antique collector’s items, customized framing, men’s work ware and tools, auto accessories, and holiday collectibles.
This season, we have many activities for you and your family to enjoy. Visit Santa as he arrives with Mrs. Claus on the Santa Express train or bring your furry friend to pet night with Santa. Looking for a fun evening with Santa and his elves? Bring your little ones to the Santa Party where we will be making crafts, decorating cookies and taking photos with Santa! And if you and your family would like a real holiday treat, take a free trolley ride through Harper Drive on Christmas Eve. All of the events that are scheduled throughout the month are brought to you because of the generous local businesses that support the community events. These events continue a tradition of the holiday spirit in the Village of Sparta. Please remember to thank the businesses that bring you events throughout the year. Please visit the website for more information or contact us at (616) 887-2454.

Long Time Resident & Business Man

Albert George (A.G.) Meyer, 91, a well known and respected businessman in Sparta for over 40 years passed away from an extended illness on November 11, 2008 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Tim Sartore in Gainesville, GA surrounded by loving family members. A.G. was born January 19, 1918 in Ensley Center, MI to Albert G. and Janie Meyer. He graduated from Cedar Springs High School in 1937 where he had been President of the Senior Class and a member of the championship basketball team. A.G. married the former Viola Christine Feldt of Greenville on July 17, 1941 prior to reporting for active duty in the U.S. Army. He served overseas in and around Italy during WW II. He returned to Sparta after receiving an honorable discharge in 1945 where he later began a business partnership called Carlson & Meyer with the late Harry Carlson. They became a Firestone Tire distributor and then opened a Marathon Service Station. Later A.G. and Harry became jobbers for Marathon. In 1948 A.G. began a 40-year service of snow plowing for the local churches, the village parking lots, and most of the village businesses and factories. During his lifetime A.G. was very active in the Sparta community serving as a member of the American Legion Post 107 for more than sixty years; a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars until that chapter disbanded; and an active member of both the Sparta Lions Club and the local Chamber of Commerce. In 1971 A.G. was elected to the Sparta Village Council, and in 1980 he was invited to serve as a member of the board of directors of the Independent Bank. For over fifty years A.G. marched in the Sparta Memorial Day Parade and placed flags at the gravesites of fallen veterans until his health finally prevented that activity a few years ago. Over the years A.G. has been honored with the following awards: Lion of the Year in 1959; Honorary Rotarian of the Year in 1979; Grand Marshall - Sparta Town & Country Days in 2005. A.G. loved the community of Sparta and gave back to the community over the years through generous donations of real estate, time, and money. Antics and happy times shared with his friends and his coffee shop group created many happy memories for him during his lifetime that he loved to relate to others. And he and his wife, Viola, had over 50 years of friendship and wonderful times with members of their potluck group friends. A.G. also attended the Sparta United Methodist Church during their lifetime in Sparta. A.G. leaves behind his loving wife of 67 years, Viola, and three children who adored him, William C. Meyer and his wife, Cheryl, of Sparta, Linda K. (Meyer) Sartore and her husband, Tim, of Gainesville, GA, and Richard A. Meyer of Gainesville, GA.; five grandchildren, Shawn and Kristina (Meyer) Morton of Sparta, Josh and Elizabeth (Meyer) Boroff of Belding, Brad DiFiore of Atlanta, GA, Todd and Heather DiFiore of Roswell, GA, and Angela DiFiore of Oakwood, GA; six great-grandchildren, Amber and Alexandria Morton, Dominic and Dylan Boroff, A.G. DiFiore and Zachery DiFiore; brother-in-law, Bernard Cooper of Greenville, MI; numerous nieces and nephews; close friends from his coffee shop group, potluck group, and dear friends, Fern and Roger Alberts and Bill VanLyon, and special adopted daughter from Sweden, Jannika Roeck Hansen. A.G. was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Janie Meyer; his three brothers, Cecil, Dana, and Loan Meyer, and his three sisters, Crystal Stark, Lucille Day, and Lillian Ellerick; mother and father-in-law, Nora and Oluf Feldt; and sister-in-law, Arlene Cooper. Visitation for this kind and gentle husband, father, grandfather, and friend will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. on Friday, November 14 at Hessel-Cheslek Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be conducted at 11 a.m. at the Sparta United Methodist Church. Military Honors at Graveside with The Kent County Veterans Honor Guard will be held at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers family requests that donations be made in his honor to the Sparta Library or the Sparta Historical Society. Hessel-Cheslek Funeral Home, Sparta

Milestones on Mainstreet: October 2008

Sleepy Hollow
During the days of the horse drawn carriage, Sparta was booming and Mr. McGowan had elevated dreams when he began building his hotel. The farming community was considered the next best thing to the big city of Grand Rapids; therefore his capital venture seemed a
sure bet. Up until the advent of the auto, Sparta was a good stopover; whether by rail or trail, salesmen traveling their territories could always use a room. However, as life sped up remotely, it faded locally and there was no longer a reason to stop and stay in a sleepy, little bygone town. Or so it may appear. Beyond Division Street, could there actually be a division between the here and the hereafter?
Creative Divide
Currently the home of Print Metro and Creative One Gallery, the original exterior of the McGowan building remains undisturbed, but the same cannot be said for the interior. Looking through the elegant spindles and up the graceful banister highlighting the lost lobby, it’s easy to imagine the mortals who have crossed over those portals above; but what about the immortals that cross our paths in Sparta’s present Downtown Historic District?
It is said that ghosts return to places where their earthly counterparts enjoyed life and perhaps our local unexplainables need none other but to remain in that happy place. How else to explain a non-operating vacuum cleaner discovered running all night long while not even warm to the touch the next morning? Who would’ve turned it on after hours, was it purely an inquisitive interest in a contemporary contraption?
Then there are the giant, double doors that take a genuine shove to open; to the amazement of two witnesses, why would they suddenly swing wide? Nothing malevolent, but the apparent locking and unlocking, opening and closing of doors seem to be the work of an imperceptible prankster. While seeing may be believable, believing may also be in feeling a presence within. What does a surprised spectator say to a curious specter; fully dressed as a butcher, complete with long, white apron, rolled up sleeves and rumpled pant legs above untied boots?
Whodunit
Today’s Around the Corner Antiques displays its movie theater history in its vaulted ceiling where the projection room was once housed. If the upper floor is uninhabited, what explanation is there or the noises and constant commotion therein? Brimming with age old objects, why would they be continually misplaced? Are long-ago owners still attached to cherished possessions and unwilling to bury the past? Or is there an unseen projectionist at work?
Happily Ever After
Nelson Shaw appropriately named his spacious livery the Palace. Going ‘Round Again as a consignment department store, Moonlight Madness may not be so farfetched. Invisible footsteps have been heard so often from below that it’s become commonplace and hardly worth the effort of calling up, let alone walking up, to the second floor to check if anyone’s there. Broad expanse as it may be, double checking is always unrewarding. Upon hearing inexplicable squeaking hangers or possibly a moving rack, one still can’t help but wonder if Mrs. Shaw is looking for something special to wear. Who knows what she would be partial to these days?
Night at the Opera
Even into her nineties, plenty of stage presence kept Myrtie Brown in style long after her husband had passed. From the theater at the top of the Opera House to the Knights of Pythias and dance studio at the bottom, her theatrical residence overflowed with garments. While spending the night in Myrtie’s upstairs bedroom a young guest was astonished to be awakened from a deep sleep. Standing in the doorway before her was a man in full regalia, complete with plumed hat! With buried head in pillow, she trembled in fear and prayed herself back to sleep. The next day she cautiously wandered the halls and discovered Myrtie’s magnificent millinery, but it was what
was hanging behind the showcase that sent shivers down her spine. Amidst the costumes on display were the very clothes that her theatrical apparition had been wearing! Was her dramatic visitor Orly Brown, wondering who was sleeping in his bed or merely a dressed-to-impress vaudevillian?
History’s Mysteries
Full of history as well as mystery, present-day Sparta is haunted with many memories. Whether it’s a past remembrance of Arzie Pinckney’s from the Sparta Sentinel Leader or a more recent happening, local haunts have always been an interest to young and old alike.
Be it a favorite place of visiting or a place of supernatural visitation, both old and new accounts of our hometown hangouts are only meant as considerations as well as entertainment. As we face our future by reviving our past, we are simply making the village of Sparta what a neighborhood should be.
Do you have news to share of an ethereal event? Contributions are welcome, please contact toni@tonipayne.com or call (616) 887-0911.

Spend in Sparta ... The Trend You Can't Afford to Ignore!

Are you easily lured by the flashy attractive ads of big chain stores? The “huge price drops” on inventory that usually require some fine print? As the age old adage goes, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

With the increase in gas prices today, driving from downtown Sparta to the Alpine shopping district, let alone to “The Mall”, may be more expensive than you imagined… big time. The distance from Downtown Sparta to Interstate 96 is 15 Miles (Thank you Mapquest). This means that after driving 15 miles to your destination and then 15 miles back to Sparta, you’ve just added 30 miles to your gauge. With a vehicle that gets 20 miles per gallon, that is 1.5 gallons of gasoline round trip, and it makes you feel the crunch at the pump. You can do the mental math on this one: although this month gas is down to 3.00 per gallon, a “quick” round trip jaunt to Alpine will cost you $4.50 in fuel expenses. Remember when gas was nearly $4.50 a gallon?

AAA Breaks it down
When you break it down even further, according to the 2007 AAA annual study “Your Driving Costs”, experts found that motorists pay an average of 62.1 cents per mile after taking into account gas, oil, maintenance and tires, as well as insurance, depreciation, financing charges, license, title and registration. (The make and model of the vehicle would have a direct impact on the cents paid per mile as well.)

Here are the estimated numbers for a 2003 vehicle:
62.1 cents per mile x 30 miles from Sparta to Alpine and back = 1,863 cents ($18.63)

$18.63! Nearly $20 for a round trip “just” down to Alpine and back.

Time is Money
And what about your time spent? For going 30 miles at an average of 55 mph you spend almost 33 minutes on the road. That is, if there isn’t construction, an accident, or rush hour delays, either.

Now let’s say a big box store on Alpine is having a sale. You see an ad for a great item that is on sale for $10.00 after a mail-in rebate. Maybe you could find it in Sparta for $20 regular price. After all is said and done, if you run down to Alpine to pick up your one item, you would have paid $28.63 because of travel expenses (not to mention postage for that rebate and your precious time you would have spent on the road, polluting the air)! You could have saved $8.63 by just shopping locally, purchasing the same item yet spending in Sparta.

Ask yourself if you are really saving enough to venture down to Alpine or Grand Rapids after a “deal” next time, if you could find the same items here in Sparta.

Thinking Local
Need an even bigger reward for shopping locally than merely saving money and lots of time? Simply put, that much MORE of the money you spend locally stays local. It is a great way to support the local businesses that sponsor community events, whose name you see on your kids’ Little League Team tee’s, and who buy the raffle tickets for your school fundraiser.

Here is a list of top reasons to “Spend in Sparta”:

*Significantly more money re-circulates
When you purchase at local businesses, more money is kept in the community because local businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers, and local growers.

*Non-profits organizations receive greater support from local businesses

*Environmental impact is reduced
Local businesses make more local purchases requiring less transportation and usually set up shop in town centers rather than on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

*Most new jobs are provided by local businesses.
Small local businesses are the largest employers nationally. The workplace, pay, and benefits tend to be better as the owners live in the same community as their employees.

*Local business owners invest in community.
Local businesses owned by people who live in this community are less likely to leave and are more invested in the community’s future.

*Competition and diversity leads to more consumer choices.
A marketplace of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. Research shows that entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.

While considering Holiday Shopping this season, give a second thought to our local businesses here in Sparta to see if there isn’t something you can find on everyone’s gift list that will support our community and our local businesses. And be sure to take another look in Downtown Sparta for your everyday needs-- this may be something you can’t afford to ignore! (Sources: www.localfirst.com, www.mapquest.com, and www.aaaexchange.com )

posted by Elizabeth Gorski, DDA Director and Gabi Amaya-Baron