Island Icon: Midge Peltier The monthly column, Island Icons, of historical vignettes from the Coronado Historical Association features insights and personal memories of locals. An initiative of CHA and its community volunteers, it is the product of a special archival oral history project that records the local personal histories that may be lost in the near future. This month’s Island Icon’s is Midge Peltier. By Jan Cobert, Coronado Historical Association Volunteer & CHA Staff
Do you remember when Third and Fourth Streets were two-way streets? This month’s Island Icon, Margie (Midge) Robinson Peltier, recalls the days before the one-way streets were introduced. She has lived in Coronado for the past 56 years. Midge is a witty and charming
Midge’s high school graduation photo, 1944. Courtesy Midge Peltier.
96-year-old lady who was born in Grandview, Idaho, on March 3, 1925.
music. She grew up with music as part of
She spent her younger years in Idaho,
her early life and remembers her mother
eventually graduating from Twin Falls
taking her to music and dancing lessons.
High School in 1943 before moving to
She excelled at music lessons and later
California.
teaching music. She has owned four
While attending school at Mills
organs and plays not only the organ but
College in Oakland, California, Midge
the violin, ukulele, and piano. After playing
met her husband, Jim, on an arranged
15 years of classical music, she branched
blind date. After a whirlwind courtship of
out and loves playing popular music on the
five months, they married in 1946 and
organ.
returned to Michigan to be near family.
Midge and Jim moved to Coronado in
While in Michigan, Midge earned her
1955 when Jim was called back into Navy
undergraduate degree in Spanish and
active duty during the Korean War. He was
Music, and then went on to obtain a
a pilot attached to VU-7 and stationed at
Master’s in Spanish from Wayne State
Naval Air Station, North Island.
University in Detroit. Midge has always had a love for
Midge at the organ, 1965.
While Jim was busy with the Navy, Courtesy Midge Peltier.
P30 | Coronado Magazine
Midge obtained her teaching credential
