| About Pearl Playford
Pearl Esther Playford, (daughter of Bert and Nettie Playford), was born August 1, 1879, in Branch County, Michigan near Quincy, and passed away September 21, 1968 at the age of 89.
Her father died when she was two and when her mother married Ira Leonard in November of 1888 they relocated to Watervliet, Michigan. Pearl lived almost her entire life in the same house on Paw Paw Avenue.
Pearl's first job was as a "cutter girl" in the Watervliet paper mill, which was short lived. She was then employed for a period of 25 years by the late Secretary of State, Leon D. Case in the office of The Watervliet Record, where she ran the linotype, wrote news stories and advertisements, resigning from there in September, 1939. She was later employed as a linotype operator in the office of the Hartford Day Spring. Pearl also did reporting for the Benton Harbor News-Palladium, The Kalamazoo Gazette, and the South Bend Tribune, where she wrote news for fifteen years.
Her last work in a newspaper office was with the Coloma Courier in 1955, but she continued in newspaper work in her home as a reporter for various daily papers, and also worked on the staff of The Watervliet Record where she wrote her columns on "Reminiscing" and the "Old Time News."
Pearl was an ardent worker for the temperance cause, she was also interested in civic affairs and was active in religious circles as long as her health permitted.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Watervliet for over fifty years; was a member of the official board for a number of years, as well as church and church school treasurer. She was a charter member of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service, in which she held the office of Promotion Secretary and status of Women Secretary. She was a member of the Esther Circle, of the First Methodist Church Sunday School, the American Bible Society and of the Watervliet Forty Year Club, holding the office of corresponding secretary for 10 years.
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