Early businessmen influential in forming the City of Coloma also played a critical role in the history of the City of Watervliet.

In the early 1830's, three businessmen from St. Joseph discovered the potential of the Paw Paw River in Watervliet Township. Partners Griffith, Hoyt, and Hatch purchased property along the river just south of Shingle Diggings, with plans to build a sawmill. The town called Griffith was platted, and plans progressed nicely until the men realized that property rights on the other side of the river were needed to construct the mill. Mr. Hoyt had made an enemy of the property owner, a Mr. Sumner whom he had sued in an attempt to collect on a bill owed to his mercantile in St. Joseph. Mr. Sumner, learning of the plans to build a town and lumber mill, bought the property that the partners needed and gained his revenge. The town of Griffith and the lumber mill never became a reality.

Mr. Sumner's success at thwarting the plans of Griffth, Hoyt, and Hatch made him hunger for a sawmill of his own. In 1833 Sumner, along with his new partner, Mr. Wheeler, moved east along the Paw Paw River and built a sawmill where the paper mill in Watervliet now stands. Upon completion of the Sumner-Wheeler Mill, two brothers were hired to run it and moved into the area. These two men, who lived in a shanty built of slabs, were the first settlers in the village that would someday become the City of Watervliet.

Watervliet is a small, rural, friendly town with a good public works system, its own police force, and a joint fire department. Watervliet City is a close community that means that it provides a good way of life for families. The downtown area has few empty buildings and has a concentration of antique stores that attracts tourists. Watervliet City is only one mile from Paw Paw Lake, a major tourist attraction.

In the next two decades, the community would like to:

A. Upgrade the deteriorated housing units.

B. Convert the rental housing units into owner property.

C. Finish the new road, which runs parallel to Main Street.

D. Purchase the train depot from CSX and make it an Amtrak passenger stop.

E. Complete the Canoe Waterway project.

F. Attract more industrial entrepreneurs to stimulate its economic development.

G. Attract more retailers within the city limits.

The City of Watervliet, in cooperation with Watervliet Township, the City of Coloma, and Coloma Township, has formed a Strategic Planning Task Force, which submitted a Strategic Plan in January 1991. The proposed strategies are as follows:

A. Develop a Master Land Use Plan as a cooperative venture among the four communities of Coloma City, Coloma Township, Watervliet City, and Watervliet Charter Township.

B. Support, market and promote retention of existing industrial and commercial sites.

C. Market and promote the development of potential commercial and industrial sites.

D. Maintain and expand the agricultural industry and related operations.

E. Utilize waste gas generated at Orchard Hill landfill site (as of late 1992 this gas is used for agricultural purposes in a local greenhouse).

F. Develop signage on major and minor arteries including Interstate routes 196 and 94, State route 63 (33), Red Arrow Highway, and MI-140 to promote commerce, tourism, and industry in the Coloma-Watervliet area.

G. Plan for future expansion of water and sewer services to serve the needs of existing and future residential, commercial, and industrial development.

H. Pursue improvement plans to upgrade transportation systems included but not limited to roads determined to be vital to the success of tourism related, commercial and industrial establishments in the area.

I. Expand industrial capacity energy utilities to potential industrial and commercial sites.

J. Promote and expand both rail freight and rail passenger services to enhance both local industry and tourism.

K. Provide a greater variety of retail shopping opportunities.

L. Expand the hospital services in Watervliet to further meet the needs of Coloma residents in an economically viable manner.

M. Establish a linear parkway along the Paw Paw River from Watervliet to Coloma.

N. Promote and enhance recreational opportunities of Paw Paw Lake and area waters; explore public/private use issue on Paw Paw Lake using watershed management guidelines.

O. Establish community goals to prevent or alleviate environmental hazards or nuisances, especially those that relate to surface and groundwater quality, wetlands, air quality, noise levels, and solid waste management.

P. Attract and obtain a new motel or hotel in the Coloma-Watervliet area to enhance tourism and to possibly serve as a meeting facility. Encourage Bed & Breakfast operations in the Coloma-Watervliet area.

Watervliet City Hall

58 West Pleasant Street

P.O. Box 86

Watervliet, MI 49098

Phone: (269) 463-6769

Fax: (269) 463-7708

Website: www.watervliet.org

Second Tuesday of Each Month Start: 7:00 p.m.