Art Show, Play Wrap Up Community Anniversary Celebrations
BY KAREN BERGER— MIRROR REPORTER
As a girl, Carrie Butler recalls her grandmother Ada Vesey telling stories about Dr. Clifford Pollock, Mabel Hovey and Helen Dunn.
On September 18, Carrie watched as her 9-year-old daughter Jenna joined several Springfield Middle School students in portraying Pollock, Hovey, Dunn and other area characters in the play A Look Back.
The play, an art contest and a proclamation honoring the late John Hartsock, who served as president of the Holland Springfield Spencer Historical Society, were presented during a celebration Sunday at Timberlake Community Church.
The activities capped off a year of events marking the township’s 175th anniversary and Holland’s 150th anniversary, explained township administrator Leslie Kohli, who along with her daughter Samantha descended from the Trumbull family.
Writer and director Elaine Welling Sneider consulted with Hartsock to find stories to weave into A Look Back, which takes place in 1925 in Hattie Vesey’s Holland store.
Into Vesey’s Store steps a young Margie Stair, who buys a bar of soap on credit after hearing her neighbor say that if she buries the soap it will turn to gold in 20 years.
Dr. Pollock bemoans the many injuries of the mischievous Max Albon. Helen Dunn speaks of how it’s harder to get news now that she’s no longer the phone operator. And those gathered in the store hear how Henry Nachtraub – Holland’s first fire chief – had the silver ashtrays stolen from his fancy Pierce-Arrow car while he was at church.
Jenna, who portrayed a soldier, Margie Stair and a railroad worker in the play, pointed out the drawing she did of Vesey’s Store. Her mom Carrie’s drawing won People’s Choice and Judges’ awards in the adult division for her rendering of Vesey’s Store.
Sixteen area artists interpreted historical photos – including the first fire station, church, historical figures and Holland High School – in pencil, pen and chalk.
“These are really good,” historical society member Gladys Caulkins said as she perused the tables of artwork with Jeanette Kaiser.
“I’m 85, so I remember almost everything that went on in Holland,” Kaiser said as she pointed to a drawing of Holland High School.
Zahra Amin won in the 13-19 age group and Drew Pienta won the 6-12 age group along with People’s Choice. Other artists included adults Teri Utz Bersee, Kathryn Witte, Mary Ann Wasserman and Jane Brenneman, and youth Kay Ellen Rieff, Calvin Berger, Reagan Shull, Lily Bonar, David Pienta, Jenna Butler and Charley Siwa.
The art will be on display during the District Showcase at Springfield High School in October, as well as during the holiday tree lighting in December.
Previous anniversary celebrations have included historical society presentations during the March business expo and a June band performance at Springfield High School, which featured “Centauri,” a musical composition created for the township.
Sunday’s performance would have thrilled Hartsock, said Karla Miller, the new historical society president.
Kohli presented a proclamation from the Springfield Township trustees honoring the late John Hartsock for his contributions during 30 years in the community – as a member of the planning commission, president of the Community Homecoming Corporation, a youth baseball coach, a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in the Vietnam and Korean wars, and as a member, then president, of the historical society.
“He gave his heart and soul and time to this community and will be greatly missed,” Kohli said.

26 Students Promoted By Springfield High School JROTC Program
The Springfield High School JROTC Cadre and the JROTC Boosters congratulated and promoted 26 students who graduated from Officers Candidate School and the Primary Leadership Course during the 24th annual Officers Candidate School commissioning ceremony on September 15.
Asha Ana Thomas, a 2007 graduate of Springfield High School and former SHS JROTC battalion commander, was the speaker.
Thomas, now a senior at the University of Cincinnati, set a high bar for leadership, character and academic accomplishment during her Springfield High School career.
She credits Springfield High School’s high academic standards and the JROTC program’s unwavering expectations for integrity and ethical behavior for much of her current success.
The program helped her build a solid foundation, she told the students.
New Blue Devil battalion commander Ted Zoodsma, his staff and the company commanders were recognized.
The event is a milestone in JROTC progression and also serves to give new freshmen a greater insight into JROTC and a goal for their own future.
The JROTC Boosters hosted a cookie and punch reception immediately after the ceremony.