Patron Story: Library Resources Used for Research Project

By Steve Poll, Caledonia Twp. Branch Patron

It all began so simply.  I had known for years how my dad had played on Caledonia’s high school football team, how the team laid sod to complete a new lighted football field as part of practice in the fall of 1950, and how they went unscored upon and untied for fourteen straight games.  One cold winter evening several years ago, I was browsing the internet.  I came across the records listed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association for the longest unscored upon streaks and Caledonia was not listed.  I thought that was a bit odd and someone should see that their record was added.

Last fall, with the 75th anniversary of this team coming up this year, I contacted the school offering the use of some memorabilia for a possible anniversary celebration.  I interacted with Kelly Clark, community and public relations coordinator for Caledonia schools, and received a response that she would love to talk with me about this, but her schedule was filled for several weeks.  I thought I would use the time to dig up historical details to share with her.  I also thought I might find the information needed to have the football unscored upon streak recognized. 

After getting information from yearbooks, my next step was to visit the library to get online access to archived Grand Rapids Press articles and weekly score records.  I also learned that the Caledonia Historical Society, who’s archives are located in the Caledonia Twp. Branch, had articles from a local newspaper from that era in print form. Between the two papers I gathered evidence of all but the first game of the streak.  I learned the Clark Historical Library in Mount Pleasant holds the depository of many regional and local historical papers. They were able to find a record of the first win in a paper published in southern Michigan.  In the process I also found many articles describing how the community decided to build a field designed for football and track complete with lights for night play and how the community members volunteered their labor in constructing it.

I submitted the evidence of the unscored upon streak and it was accepted.  Later I met with Kelly and explained what I found.  She told me she knew nothing of the record or that it was the 75th anniversary for the field.  She then said, “Did you know that we are rebuilding everything at the field except the field itself and the scoreboards this year?  All new on the 75th anniversary!”

The school began making plans for a celebration and it was decided an ad would be placed in the local paper seeking memorabilia related to these events. People came forth with a scrapbook, team photograph, game programs and a rare jewel, a picture of the still primitive athletic field taken in 1954.

One of the articles I found in the Historical Society’s archives stated that Representative Ford was scheduled to speak at the field dedication.  Thinking his library may have a copy of a speech he would have delivered, I contacted them.  There was no speech on record, but they did have a scrapbook with a clipping from another local paper, which I had not been able to find, stating he had been detained in Washington and was not able to attend.  The article contained a congratulatory message he had sent to the community on their achievement.

These materials were used when the school honored these two anniversaries by preparing a printed souvenir program and a video which includes a senior from the 1950 team telling the story of how they laid the sod for the field.  Both of these items were used at the first home game this fall.

During the research process, Ron Pesch, historian for the MHSAA, gave me some tips on researching old high school press rankings.  He became interested in the team and stadium history.  He found additional historical information and wrote an article for the MHSAA website that tells the story of the team and the history of the field.

The information available at the Caledonia Twp. Branch provided the foundation and clues as to where to go next to uncover the full story and enabled Ron and Kelly to develop the 75th anniversary tributes which will preserve a piece of local heritage.  All of this resulting from a simple interest and making use of the resources at the local Kent District Library.