Brief history of recent Almont homecomings

The 1975 Homecoming was delayed a year so it would coincide with the national bicentennial. The bicentennial celebration and its advertising and excitement resulted in there being an unusually large crowd for homecoming. The parade was larger than all the recent celebrations. The high school gymnasium was packed for the All-class reunion put on by the Literary Club. Hildamae Waltz Bowman’s book “Almont . . . the way it was”, which detailed the early history of Almont was a big success. It was an update and expansion of her 1970 book “The History of Almont – 1834-1970”. The school had added the “White House”–ten-room portable unit behind the building in 1973. New businesses structures were built north of the curve on Van Dyke. A gas station was now at the corner of Van Dyke and West St. Clair Streets.

The 1980 “Homecoming” was impacted by the economy–inflation and high interest rate–causing the crowds to be smaller. The attendees got to see the new Municipal Building, which housed both the Village and Township governments. The old Town Hall at Branch and West St. Clair Streets was closed. Almont Community Park had been completed and was now open and used for “Homecoming” activities.

With the rebound of the economy, the 1985 “Homecoming” had a larger attendance. Some of the activities planned for “Homecoming” were less aligned with the history of Almont but were more designed for general entertainment. Hildamae Waltz Bowman’s third book for “Homecoming”–”Almont – The Tale of Then and Now” was a great addition to the recorded history of Almont. A quilt show filled the sanctuary of the First Congregational Church.

Hildamae Waltz Bowman’s last book “The History of the First Congregational Church – 1838-1988” was first available at the 1990 “Homecoming”. Hildamae and her husband, Don, were parade Grand Marshalls. Attendees got to view the new High School on Howland Road and former graduates of Almont viewed the renovated building on Church Street. The class composite pictures were still on the walls in the main hall of the 1927 portion of the building. The Royal Rubes–a fixture in marching in the “Homecoming” parade since 1935 – rode in a truck for the parade. As usual, they rode through the parade route two or three times. The “Old Town Hall” was no longer a place people could see. It was torn down in 1987.

Almont graduate General Robert Morin Shoemaker–Michigan’s first Four-star General–was the 1995 Grand Marshall and rode through the parade on a horse borrowed from the Brooks family. The Royal Rubes made their last appearance in the “Homecoming” parade. Gertie Brooks, who wrote a weekly column for decades in first the Almont Times Herald and then the Tri-City Times, wrote the fifth “Homecoming” book, “The history of Almont’s Homecoming”. The southeast corner downtown was vacant. Three buildings built in the 1870s burned in 1992 and had to be torn down and no reconstruction had happened.

The 2000 “Homecoming” had 1936 classmates, Gertie Brooks and Margaret Farley as Grand Marshalls. It was weird to not have the Royal Rubes in the parade. The Class of 1970 again rode in the parade on a hay wagon before going to their class reunion. At “Homecoming”, class reunions often became more than a reunion for a single class, classes on either side of the graduation date would attend. Attendees got to go to the new school, “Orchard Primary”, which had recently opened.

The 2005 “Homecoming” included a car show at the school on Church Street and the quilt show was displayed in the store windows along Main Street. Dr. Robert Lane and Dr. Merle Bennett Haney were the Grand Marshalls and General Shoemaker was Honorary Grand Marshall. The First Congregational Church hosted the pancake breakfast. Music was provided by the beer tent on Saturday. There was a car show and an antique tractor show. On Sunday, the newly completed Fountain Park was dedicated. Later that day, a plaque noting the historical status of the Currier Octagon House on East St. Clair Street was dedicated and followed by an ice cream social.

Norm Hamilton–former chief of the fire department and Boy Scout Scoutmaster–was the Grand Marshall for the 2010 “Homecoming”. As usual, music was performed next to the beer tent. The antique tractors show was held. The Fire Department held a number of firefighter competitions at the firehouse on Branch Street. Even though the school on Church Street was pending closure, the All-class reunion was held in the school’s gymnasium. Attendees could take tours through the Middle School building which was recently opened. Betty Walton and her daughter, Cindie Walton-Wade wrote “Almont, The Story Continues” to add to the work done by Hildamae Bowman and Gertie Brooks. Some of the stories were new but many of them were the extension or update of the stories written by Hildamae and Gertie.

The 2015 “Homecoming” honored seven World War II veterans as the Grand Marshalls–Jack Shoemaker, Dr. Merle Bennett Haney, Howard Boomer, Morris “Buck” Bannister, James C. Wade, Robert Wendt, and Erma Bartels Baxter. The quilt show was again in the store windows. Music was provided at various times during the day and at the beer tent at night. The parade was slightly shorter than normal. There was no carnival for the children due to availability and cost. The fireworks show was amazing. Cindie and I wrote “Remembrances of Almont 2015”, which added some new stories about Almont’s early history but also updated some of the stories in earlier book.

In late 2019, the first meeting to begin the planning for the 2020 “Homecoming” was held. Unfortunately, there were less than ten people present. To organize an event as complicated as “Homecoming” requires at least three times as many people to accomplish the proper organization of the event. Subsequent meetings did not improve the community participation. However, we moved forward with a tentative schedule getting necessary arrangements started. However, in March of 2020, the government shut everything down because of COVID. The possibility of holding “Homecoming” in 2020 was considered to be zero, so the decision was made to postpone the celebration to 2021. In February 2021 we met again to discuss holding the celebration in August 2021. Unfortunately, locally and nationally, the conditions showed no indications that we could hold the “Homecoming” celebration. We briefing discussed postponing to 2022 but finally came to the conclusion that the best path forward was to cancel the 2020 “Homecoming” and look to renew the celebration in 2025.

Almont’s “Homecoming” celebration is a unique event. It is a community bringing its former residents back to see the community’s progress and to reunite with family and friends. I know of no other community in the country that has been doing this as long as Almont. It has held a special place in the hearts of Almont’s residents for over one hundred years.

In the late fall, a meeting will be called to begin the planning for 2025. To do this without overburdening a small group, the community needs to get involved. Representatives from the Village and Township governments need to be at this meeting. Representatives of the local service organizations, churches, businesses, and individual citizens need to attend and participate in the planning and execution. Notice of the meeting will be in the paper. Please consider helping. I have already begun writing “Remembrances of Almont 2025”. Anyone who wishes to write a story and get it included in this book, please contact me.

Copies of the Almont Historical Society’s various books can be purchased by contacting Jim Wade at 810-796-3355 or jrwade49@ gmail.com or stopping by the museum on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m.