Oral History Resource Collection

About the Video

View this video of clips from oral history interviews to get a sampling of the variety of people and their perspectives that have been obtained as part of the White Lake Environmental History Project.

Click the link to view the video. The full videos of each interview are cataloged below.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

Chuck Svensson and Eleanor Carlson Recount Tannery Pollution Days
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Deb Hays. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

Listen to this fascinating interview of Charles “Chuck” Svensson and his sister, Eleanor Carlson, whose family owned the White Lake Villa which was next door to the former Whitehall Leather Tannery. The two speak about the smell from the tannery and how it affected their family’s business and how as children, they avoided swimming in the lake when it was red from tannery dyes. They also speak about a lawsuit they filed to stop pollution from the tannery and their experience of being in the minority in the community with their efforts to stop pollution of White Lake.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

Whitehall Resident and Former Whitehall City Council Member Rand Barfoot on Living in the “Tannery” Neighborhood and Fighting for Cleanup of Polluted Sediments
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

Whitehall resident and former city councilman, Rand Barfoot, reminisces about his many years living in the neighborhood close to the Whitehall Leather Company (the tannery), his tenure on the Whitehall City Council and its proactive role in pushing for cleanup of polluted lake bottom sediments associated with the tannery’s disposal practices. Rand also provides his opinions on what is still needed to ensure White Lake’s health—more “green” projects, a focus on the entire White River watershed, and more young people becoming involved in environmental protection.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

The Positive Side of Whitehall Leather Company
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Terrie Hampel. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

Listen to Dexter King, a longtime White Lake area resident and former manager of the Whitehall Leather Company, talk about the company’s positive impact on the community and how, for a time, it was one of the area’s most important employers. Dexter provides his viewpoint of the historical pollution issues in White Lake, tells about some of the products the company made, notes the different tanning processes the company used – hemlock bark and chromium, and more.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

Former Montague High School Teacher Chuck Vanderlaan on Working with Wint Dahlstrom and Bob Wesley to Investigate White Lake’s Pollution
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

Former Montague High School Teacher Charles "Chuck" Vanderlaan recalls working with local activists Wint Dahlstrom and Bob Wesley to address pollution of White Lake from the tannery. He talks about how initial concerns were focused on the tannery, but then turned to the Hooker Chemical Company and DuPont plants. Chuck also notes that the chemical companies brought new people to the area and help to fuel expansion of the community’s schools.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

Brothers-in-law Dexter King and Rex Funnell Reminisce About Their Childhood in the 1920s, Working at the Tannery and Other Companies, and Playing for the Black Eagles Basketball Team
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

Dexter King, former manager of the tannery and his brother-in-law Rex Funnell, get together for an afternoon to reminisce about growing up in the White Lake area in the 1920s, working at various jobs, including the tannery, and playing basketball on the tannery’s team, the Black Eagles. (The tannery was originally called the Eagle Tanning Works.) Dexter, who is 99 years old, also talks about his rise in the tannery, beginning with an entry level position, and then ending up in charge of the plant near the end of his 43-year tenure. Rex, 96 years old, describes his many jobs and shares memories of working as the town barber.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

Former Whitehall Mayor Norm Ullman Gives His Perspective on the Pollution and Restoration of White Lake
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

Lifelong resident and former Whitehall Mayor Norm Ullman provides his broad ranging viewpoints on the change in community attitudes regarding pollution and the local economy. He also offers his opinions on the positive and negative impacts of the chemical manufacturing era and thoughts on the people and organizations that helped to motivate cleanup of contaminated sites and pollution in and around White Lake.

Former Resident Marion Gunderson Talks About Raising Concerns About Air Pollution and Gaining the Attention of State Officials
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

Even though Marion (Dawson) Gunderson now lives in North Carolina, she has vivid memories of the White Lake area where she lived in the 1970s and 1980s. She recalls being a young mother and becoming concerned about the effects of local air pollution discharges on the health of her family and the community. She tells how her science teacher background helped her to understand and research the issue, identify the pollution source, and bring it to the attention of state environmental officials. Marion also speaks about what she learned from the experience and the lesson she believes we all need to heed—how prevention of pollution is a much better option than after the fact cleanup.

Edie Bogart Talks about Community Attitudes in the 1950s, the Entry of Chemical Manufacturing, and Local Activism
Clink the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo

About the Video

Edie Bogart of Montague describes her view of the White Lake area community in the 1950s and how local residents did not expect that the new chemical manufacturing era could harm the environment or White Lake. She talks about her late husband, Brad, and his activism, how attitudes about environmental protection have changed, and offers her thoughts on the future of White Lake. (Edie is the sister of Frank Lehman who was also interviewed for this project.)

A Businessman’s Perspective: How Local Dentist Paul Voss Came to Learn About White Lake’s Pollution Problems
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

Paul Voss tells about how he initially appreciated the economic boost from chemical companies locating in the White Lake area, but after becoming friends with local attorney and activist Wint Dahlstrom, he began to realize that the companies were having a detrimental effect on White Lake.

Charles “Chick” Caluwaert Talks about His Childhood Visits to the White Lake Area and How Summer Residents Viewed White Lake’s Pollution
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

Former Chicago resident Chick Caluwaert, who is now a permanent Montague resident, speaks about visiting the White Lake area as a child and teenager, and returning as an adult to purchase and run the historic Ravenswood Resort. He recalls his childhood memories of playing in and around White Lake and noticing how the lake changed and became weedier, as well as how he felt about the emerging pollution concerns. Chick also shared his views about how the summer people’s feelings about White Lake were sometimes different than those of many local residents, many of whom worked for the chemical companies and depended on them for jobs.

John Hartig, formerly of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the International Joint Commission, on White Lake Pollution Issues and Early Cleanup
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo

About the Video

John Hartig (This interview was conducted by phone.)

John Hartig, now manager of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, worked for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources when the Hooker Chemical Company pollution issues were raised and then for the International Joint Commission, in a role designed to provide assistance to communities working to clean up 43 Great Lakes Areas of Concern, such as White Lake, determined to have serious pollution problems and in need of a special cleanup effort. In this telephone interview, John recalls his memories of the White Lake area, the state’s effort to address Hooker Chemical Company’s pollution issues, and his involvement with members of the public who were working to clean up pollution and restore the lake to a healthy status. John also talks about the lessons learned by communities such as the White Lake area, and what is needed to maintain environmental progress. John is the author of several books about Great Lakes and is the co-author of “Under RAPs: Toward Grassroots Ecological Democracy in the Great Lakes Basin,” about restoring Great Lakes Areas of Concern.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

Montague Resident and Former Teacher Bob Miller on the Positives and Negatives of the Area’s Chemical Companies
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Bruce Froelich. Videographer Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

In this audio interview, Montague resident and former teacher Bob Miller recalls the community controversy over pollution of White Lake, the sharp divide in public opinion, and how the companies benefitted the area by providing jobs and helping the community develop and grow. Bob also speaks about the negative contribution of the companies and how local citizens pushed the state and federal environmental agencies to get White Lake cleaned up.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

Montague Resident Frank Lehman Recalls Working at the Tannery, DuPont, and the Hooker Chemical Company
Click to link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

Lifelong Montague resident Frank Lehman recalls his experience working at the tannery, DuPont, and Hooker Chemical Company. He talks about how he appreciated the work and provides his viewpoints on the companies and the products they made. (Frank is the brother of Edie Bogart who was also interviewed for this project.)

See Also Photo and Subject entries.

Jean Scarbrough Miller On Coming to the White Lake Area, Becoming Aware of Pollution Issues, and Her Thoughts on the “Loss of Innocence” of the White Lake Community
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Margot Haynes. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

In this audio interview, Montague resident Jean Scarbrough Miller recalls moving to the White Lake area from the Upper Peninsula and how she was not even familiar with the term “pollution” until local concerns emerged. She speaks about living on White Lake and her views on the “rude awakening” of the community when pollution issues came to light. She muses about becoming cynical, feeling more skeptical of chemical companies in general, and her frustration at what she believes is a push to roll back environmental regulations. Jean also expresses her lingering concerns about the health and safety of White Lake.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

Local Historian Roger Scharmer Provides His Broad-Ranging Perspective of the White Lake Community’s Attitudes on Pollution and the Need for Citizens to Speak Up
Click on the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewers: Margot Haynes and Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

Montague resident, city planner, and local historian Roger Scharmer provides a “big picture” perspective on White Lake’s pollution, the community’s attitudes, what he sees for the future, and what he thinks is essential for protection of White Lake and the environment—citizens who have the courage and ability to raise questions and speak up.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

Lakeside Inn’s Patti Groessl on the Economic Benefits of the Chemical Industry and the Impact of White Lake Pollution on Resort Tourism
Click on the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

Patti Groessl, former owner of the historic Lakeside Inn, the last resort left on White Lake, provides a succinct history of the Inn and recalls the economic benefits of the chemical industry locating in the area, her growing awareness of White Lake’s pollution problems in the 1970s, and how pollution was one factor in an overall decline in the resort business in the 1980s. Patti also expresses her appreciation for those in the community that spoke out and alerted citizens to the pollution issues and concludes that one lesson is to be more skeptical of industry or businesses coming to the area.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

Long-time Business Owners Don and Becky Nordlund On the Challenges of the Economy vs. the Environment in a Small Community
Click the link to watch the video of this intervideew. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo

About the Video

Long-time owners of the Pitkin Drug and Gift Shoppe in Whitehall, Don and Becky speak about the challenges of interacting with friends and customers who were in management at Hooker Chemical Company and DuPont, as pollution concerns in the area surfaced. The couple privately supported the efforts of local citizen activists, but felt that as a small business in a small community, it was not possible to speak out publicly. They also spoke about learning of accidents at the Hooker Chemical Company plant and the worries of friends who worked there. The couple believe that the lake is healthier and hope that they can trust government to provide the proper oversight.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

Blueberry Ridge Subdivision Neighbors Tell How They Fought to Get Safe Drinking Water
Click the link to watch the video of this interview. Interviewer: Tanya Cabala. Videographer: Oscar Osbo.

About the Video

Bev Hunt, Jane Hanna, and Jim Cousino, all neighbors in the Blueberry Ridge subdivision in Montague, tell how they found out their drinking water was contaminated by the operations of the nearby Hooker Chemical Company in the 1970s and what they did – writing letters to state representatives, Michigan’s governor, and even the President of the United States – to push their case and get safe drinking water. The close knit neighbors talk about how few in the community believed them at first and how the growing controversy eventually attracted coverage on nationwide TV by news correspondent Brit Hume.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

About the Video

Listen to Betty Nafe tell about growing up in the Montague area during the Depression era and getting a job working as a lab technician for Hooker Chemical Company. Betty talks about her job and the company, and explains her views on the pollution it caused.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

About the Video

Dan Parker, son of a longtime Hooker Chemical Company employee, tells about the benefits of growing up as part of a group of “Hooker Kids” as he called them—those who had a parent working for Hooker Chemical Company. He reminisces about how his father valued the job, discusses various chemical leak accidents, and talks about how he worked at the plant during summers, which helped to fund his college education. Dan also tells how his views about pollution changed, he says, due to his college science classes, and how he thinks community attitudes have also changed to reflect a strong environmental protection ethic.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

About the Video

Longtime Montague residents Ken and Mary Mahoney talk about living by the former Hooker Chemical Company facility and their concerns about chemical discharges to the air, its potential effect on their young children, what they did to get their concerns addressed, and how local citizens (including Mary) were involved in monitoring cleanup of pollution at the site.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

About the Video

Montague resident John Luttrull reminisces about how his grandparents came to the White Lake area and purchased the lakeshore property that he now lives on. He recalls a chemical leak that killed many trees on the lakeshore, including quite a few on his family’s property. John also talks about the cleanup of the Hooker Chemical Company plant site, his feelings about how the pollution has affected the community, recovery of the lake, and his love for the area.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

About the Video

Former Whitehall teacher Rosemary Davidson Vreeland recalls relocating from Niagara Falls, New York to the White Lake area in the mid1950s with her late husband, Jim, who transferred to the new Hooker Chemical Company facility in Montague to head up the new company’s laboratory. Rosemary speaks about her early memories of the community, how she dealt with the emerging pollution concerns associated with her husband’s place of employment, and her thoughts on community attitudes on pollution in the 1950s through 1970s and how the state of knowledge and viewpoints on pollution have changed drastically since then.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

About the Video

Montague residents G.W. Carroll and his son, Bruce, provide their viewpoints on living near Hooker Chemical Company, experiencing chemical leaks and air pollution, and having their drinking water contaminated by the company. The two talk about a visit to the area by national TV journalist Brit Hume as he researched for a national story on pollution issues, how Love Canal raised the area’s pollution issues to a higher level, and their family’s dealings with management at Hooker Chemical Company, especially G.W.’s wife, Vee.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

About the Video

Lee McFall of Sparta recalls his early childhood memories of White Lake and reminisces about his grandfather, T.E. McFall, who owned lakeshore property directly across the road from Hooker Chemical Company and helped to found the White Lake Improvement Association to oppose the construction of the new plant in the 1950s. Lee describes his grandfather as a “Renaissance Man”—a self-made and “savvy” businessman, master gardener, hunting and fishing enthusiast, musician, and environmentalist. Lee’s grandfather died when Lee was a young boy, but he has learned about his grandfather’s efforts by reading 1950s issues of the Montague Observer. The White Lake Improvement Association’s lawsuit against Hooker Chemical Company resulted in a compromise settlement in which the company agreed to locate off of White Lake’s shoreline. Lee’s grandfather’s property is now a subdivision with McFall Circle as its entrance road.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

Darwin Bennett, once owner and publisher of the White Laker Observer in the 1970s/1980s, talks about moving to the White Lake area in the early 1970s from southeast Michigan to raise his family and to find a small newspaper to run. He encounters more than he bargained for, as concerns about pollution associated with the Hooker Chemical plant in Montague begin to emerge. Darwin is urged to write about the problems by local activist and attorney A. Winton “Wint” Dahlstrom and he begins to write about the issues on a regular basis. As pressure mounts and a boycott of the paper’s advertisers is rumored, however, he publicly calls a halt to his coverage. Community members urge him to continue writing again, and he does, albeit much stronger in his convictions.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

About the Video

Jeff Auch, executive director of the Muskegon Conservation District and chairman of the White Lake Public Advisory Council and Greg Mund, formerly of the federal USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, talk about how the Muskegon Conservation District became involved in area water quality efforts, such as the cleanup of White Lake, the formation of the White Lake Public Advisory Council, a local group of citizens that advises local, state and federal environmental agencies on cleanup of the lake, and current efforts aimed at White Lake’s recovery.

See also Photo and Subject entries.

About the Video

This revealing interview with Tanya Cabala provides insight into her reputation as “one of West Michigan’s best known and most influential environmentalists.” Curious by nature, Tanya’s interest in things environmental began when she was a young mother of two. One day she looked outside at the garbage bags awaiting pickup and realized she was embarrassed not to know where they went. Thus began her beginning interest in environmental issues. Tanya’s environmental passion expanded when her job with the Lake Michigan Federation gave her insight into Muskegon Lake and White Lake being named Great Lakes Areas of Concern in the 1980s under an agreement between the U.S. and Canada focused on protecting the Great Lakes. She was extremely involved in helping to pave the way to the area’s ongoing revitalization programs for the lakes. Educating the public on the importance and impact of environmental issues has always been a priority for Tanya. She has reached countless citizens through her public speaking, many articles, her guided nature walks and her involvement with regional and statewide organizations. In this interview, Tanya leads the viewer through a sequence of efforts and events that is proving instrumental in turning the White Lake area from “A National Poster Child for Pollution” into “A National Poster Child for Environmental Recovery.” It is an important story for residents of today and well into the future.

See also Photo and Subject entries.