Davison Index

Out of the past


10 YEARS AGO

Jan. 5, 2012

Professional. Courteous. Dedicated. Civic-minded. These were the words friends and family used to describe former Davison Mayor Judson Davis, who died Dec. 31 at his home. He was 83.

He married Marjorie Fenton on June 27, 1953 and was a licensed professional engineer who had a 52- year career in the automotive industry, which ended with his retirement from Delphi in 2003. Davis served on the Davison City Council from 1961-1965 and 1967-1969 and was the mayor of Davison from 1969-1971. He further served the community as a Planning Commission member and as chairman of the Parks Committee.

Fresh off of a home overtime win over Flint Metro League rival Fenton on Dec. 21, the Davison varsity girls’ basketball team will take the court for the first time in over two weeks at Swartz Creek Friday in a nonconference matchup. From there, Davison will start its final season of Big Nine competition on Jan. 13 at Powers before hosting Clio on Jan. 17 and Flushing on Jan. 19.

25 YEARS AGO

Jan. 8, 1997

Misener’s Pharmacy, 1101 S. State Rd., in Davison Township, will be acquired by national chain Rite Aid Corporation, effective Sunday, Jan. 12. Sarah Datz, of Rite Aid’s corporate office in Camp Hill, Penn., said the company, which has two other locations in the Davison area, will buy the assets of the Misener’s business and will lease the building. Rite Aid still plans an 11,000-square-foot addition on the south end of the Davison Center, relocating one of their existing stores from its current location near the middle of the shopping center.

The Davison Cardinal volleyball team has been using tournaments, like the one Saturday, Jan. 4, at Portage Northern, to tune up for the new season. After losing the first four of their seven matches, coach Cheryl Histed said the spikers were having difficulty putting their opponents away. Meeting Battle Creek Central first, the Cards lost to “probably the best team we faced all day,” according to the coach.

50 YEARS AGO

Jan. 12, 1972

Suzanne Michelle Grenan was the winner of the Davison area 1972 First Baby Contest. She was born Jan. 1 at 10:40 a.m. in St. Joseph Hospital, weighing in at nine pounds, one ounce and she was 21 inches. She is also the first child of Mr. and Mrs. John Grenan. Suzanne’s mother is the former Kathy Powers of Davison. Her father is from Flint and is a pre-law student at Michigan State University.

The long-planned (five years) Davison-Richfield Fire Authority is at last a fact. The Davison City Council and Davison Township Board Monday night signed the agreement, with Richfield Township committed, but not as yet signed up. The fire authority plan was devised in light of the rapidly increasing population of the three units, presenting a growing need for more and better equipment and probably a second, even third fire station in the visible future. Also, it sought to provide better organization as well as proportionate sharing of costs for fire protection.

100 YEARS AGO

Jan. 6, 1922

The Board of Commerce banquet next Tuesday will be satisfying from both the viewpoint of entertainment and food. No smoking or gum chewing will be allowed. Gentlemen will please refrain from the use of the “weed” and ladies will leave their gum at home under the edge of the kitchen cabinet.

Under the direction of Howard Stambaugh, the low-lying property of Theodore Skellenger, south of the Black Creek, is being flooded to make a skating rink for the young folks of Davison. This is a very commendable idea and we hope the rink will be a good one. A later update – We are sorry to learn that efforts to make a new rink were unavailing as the ground was too porous, not being packed in advance and the water seeped off. – Compiled by Gary Gould from the archives of the Davison Index