The Unique History Of A "City of Islands" Coloma, Michigan

Coloma is a relatively new municipality in the history of Berrien County, Michigan. Until 1917, the land that is now Coloma was the eastern half of Watervliet Township. At the October 1917 session, A. W. Baker, supervisor, proposed that Watervliet be divided, providing the citizens on the eastern side access to a government that could better serve their needs.

Prior to the formation of Coloma, the area was best known for its plentiful supply of timber. Prosperous sawmills encouraged the formation of the early village of Shingle Diggings, which was followed by the start of the cities of Coloma and Watervliet.

As the twentieth century approached, the tourism trade in Coloma exploded. "No longer was the cash crop logs or apples, but rather vacationers." Tens of thousands of tourists came to Berrien County every summer on steamers, such as those from the Graham & Morton Ship company, that could accommodate up to 2,000 people. By 1927, a businessman by the name of George E. Klotter had amassed over 700 acres along the southwest end of Paw Paw Lake. His goal was to develop his dream of a "City of Islands," which would take five years and over $150,000 to complete. It was the largest development undertaking in Michigan to that time and was so huge that trade journals kept the nation up to date on its progress. Klotter's dream was never realized due to a combination of engineering problems, Mother Nature and the 1929 stock market crash. Instead of completing Wil-O-Paw Islands, Klotter built and ran the bar/restaurant, Wil-O-Paw, until its sale in 1947.

Several pavilions were established on the shores of Paw Paw Lake during the Big Band Era of the 1930's and 40's, bringing such entertainers as Perry Como and Doris Day to the Paw Paw Lakes area. The Crystal Palace was a landmark that is still remembered today by those who danced within its walls. Its destruction by fire in 1965 brought an end to resort pavilions era.

The Great Depression and World War II both took a toll on Coloma's tourism trade. Land and buildings were often forfeited to the government due to delinquent taxes. Later, gas rationing deterred vacationers, and building materials became so scarce that new development came to a halt. Though the boom in tourism slowed dramatically, today Coloma continues to serve many vacationers each season.