Station: Coloma, MI

Coloma was settled in 1834 with shingle manufacturing and first called Dickerville. It was platted in 1855 and renamed. In 1893 it was incorporated as a village and then as a city in 1941. [MPN] Coloma is in the northeast section of Berrien County on the Chicago & West Michigan line between Grand Rapids and Benton Harbor (later Pere Marquette, C&O and CSX). The town is about 6 miles northeast of Benton Harbor by rail.

Photo info: Top, a Pere Marquette train stopped downtown about 1910. [North Berrien Historical Society]. 2nd photo, an early C&WM/PM depot at Coloma. 3rd photo, another early view of the depot and downtown area. 4th photo, a newer C&O depot at the same location. [All, Alan Loftis Collection], Bottom, a crossing guard tower now on display at Coloma which was moved from its original location in Benton Harbor. [J. R. Valderas]

Notes

Time Line

1942. July. William O'Brien Sr., veteran Pere Marquette railroad station agent and telegrapher here, sat down at his table Tuesday to take the first message of the day.

The telegraph rattled the fist words of a staccato message. When the message was finished O'Brien sat very still for moment. the he delivered the message in person. It was to Mrs. O'Brien. It said that their son, Private William H. O'Brien Jr. a parachute trooper, had between killed in action in North Africa.

"Mrs. Leta O'Brien," the message said, "the secretary of war desires that I tender his deepest sympathy to you  in the loss of your son, Pvt. William H. O'Brien Jr., the report states he was killed in action on the 12th day of July in the North African area. Ulio, the adjutant general."