Salem Township

by Dianna Berens Beaudoin, Jean Loedeman Lam, Susan Kipen Welton, Salem Historical Committee

Overview

Before white settlers came to the area that is now Salem Township, Potawatomi Indians hunted and fished in a forest filled with abundant wildlife. The settlers cleared the trees to work the land and built a lumber mill along Little Rabbit River. Salem was primarily a farming community carved out by hardworking pioneers. Four towns were established to serve this farming community: Diamond Springs to the south, New Salem to the north, and Burnips Corners and Salem Center (now known as Burnips) in the center. In 1855, Salem Township separated from Monterey Township; then, in the 1930s, the discovery of oil brought financial relief to Salem farm families who struggled to maintain their farms. A new wave of residents came to settle in the Salem area as men seeking work in the oil fields brought their families to the community.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738577272
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	01/11/2010
Series:	Images of America Series
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Dianna Berens Beaudoin grew up in Salem Township and currently lives in Burnips. Jean Loedeman Lam grew up in Salem Township and currently lives in Holland. Susan Kipen Welton grew up in Salem Township and currently lives in Kentwood. The three cochair the Salem Historical Committee. The community has opened its arms to this committee, sharing precious family photographs and memories to preserve them for future generations.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 6

Introduction 7

1 Faces of Yesterday 9

2 Living off the Land 29

3 Hearth of the Home 49

4 Church Bells Ringing 63

5 Going to Town 73

6 Chalkboard Memories 89

7 Fur, Feathers, and Fins 99

8 Fun with Family and Friends 105

9 Those Who Served the Country 117

10 Oil Days 123

Editorial Reviews

Title: New book celebrates Salem Township history
Author: Charlotte Weick
Pubslisher: Penasee Globe
Date: 1/4/10

Members of the Salem Township Historical Committee literally wrote the book on Salem Township. Published as part of Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America" series, "Salem Township" tells the story of the people and places in the early days of the Allegan County township. Arcadia Publishing is the United States' leading publisher of local and regional history. Established in 1993, the company has over 5,000 titles in print.

The authors are Dianna Berens Beaudoin, Jean Loedman Lam and Susan Kipan Welton. Beaudoin and Welton are co-founders of the historical committee and Lam serves as a volunteer and historical committee executive council member. The authors signed a contract with Arcadia in 2008 and submitted the book draft in August of 2009.

"All three of us worked very hard on this book," Beaudoin said.

Beaudoin, of Burnips, is a descendant of some of the area's first settlers. Welton grew up in Salem Township. She and her 10 siblings were the fourth generation to live in the home built by their great grandparents, who emigrated from Prussia in 1869. Lam, of Holland, grew up in Salem Township and provided historical research for the book.

"People love pictures," Beaudoin said.

The 128-page book features over 200 vintage photographs, collected by historical committee members. For the past several years, the historical committee has collected photographs and information from local families on the stories behind the pictures. Beaudoin scans the images and saves them in digital format and the original images are returned to the contributors. Because the historical committee has collected hundreds of images, it was difficult to select the pictures to be used for the book, Beaudoin said.

The images capture people from the past working, having fun, courting, spending time with family and friends, going to church and attending school. There is also a chapter on Salem Township veterans and a chapter about the "Oil Days" of the township, when oil was discovered in the area.

The authors wanted to make certain that the stories and photos of as many families as possible were included. They used several old plat maps which they highlighted as they wrote the book, to make certain that the book represented the entire township as best as possible. The book also credits the name of the person who provided each image.

Just because the historical committee has completed the book does not mean that they intend to rest on their laurels, for there is still more work to be done. Committee members are still encouraging locals to take another look in their photo albums and attics to uncover more treasures of Salem Township's past.

"Salem Township" is available for $21.99 from Arcadia Publishing at wwwarcadiapublishing.com, or by calling [phone]. Copies of the book can be pre-purchased online on Amazon and the historical committee will have copies for sale early in 2010. The book could also be available early in the year at various local businesses. For more information about the book, or the Salem Township Historical Committee, contact Beaudoin at [e-mail].

Title: "Images of America: Salem Township"
Author: Reader contributor
Publisher: Holland Sentinel
Date: 1/16/10

The authors of the latest offering in the "Images of America" series all grew up in Salem Township and they haven't strayed far from home. Dianna Berens Beaudoin resides in Burnips, Jean Loedeman Lam now lives in Holland, and Susan Kipen Welton resides in Kentwood.

The authors cochair the Salem Historical Committee and received information and photographs from the community to include in the book.

Filled with photographs depicting the area's past, the first several pages of the book explain the community's history from what was once hunting land for the Potawatomi Indians. It tells how the settlers cleared the trees and built a lumber mill along the Little Rabbit River, and how businesses came to the small settlement.

"Images of America: Salem Township" is published by Arcadia Publishing.

From the Publisher