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Bygone Days: A look at the history of NE Allegan County

25 Years Ago — Nov. 18, 1992

Joe Miller is spearheading a campaign for the Wayland Fire Department to purchase a fire safety house for children to learn what being in a house on fire is really like.

The Allegan County Board of Commissioners has adopted a $14.9 million budget without dipping into the $1.3 million fund balance.

Wayland Chamber of Commerce members Burrell Stein and Dennis Reno are leading the charge in making plans for the city’s annual Christmas celebration, which will be kicked off on a Friday evening with the ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree at the mini-park downtown.

Karen Krulac penned a letter to the editor clarifying her comments about an evacuation plan for livestock at the Sunrise landfill site.

A site plan has been approved for David Lodenstein to being in a Little Cesar’s takeout pizza restaurant on West Superior Street next to the laundromat.

Members sworn in at the November meeting of the Martin Township Board were Trustees Jack Sipple and Jim Brenner, Supervisor Bert Schipper, Clerk Georgia Kraai and Treasurer Joyce McGuire.

Wide receiver Robert Moore, defensive en Adam Ohlendorf and defensive back Larry Sturdivant were name to the first unit of the O-K Gold all-conference football team. Defensive back Chip Nightengale was named all-SAC for Martin. In basketball, Michelle Mazei and Tracy Smith won the top honors in the SAC, as the Clippers captured their sixth league title in the seven years.

Don Hermenitt was credit with achieving his 200th career victory in coaching the Wayland junior varsity girls’ basketball team.

The second annual Dorr Christmas parade was scheduled to step off at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Dorr Township Park west of downtown on 142nd Avenue.

Ann Iciek pumped in 26 points, Shelly Korf added 10 and Anna Rybicki eight as the Wayland varsity girls opened district tournament play with a 68-43 victory over Byron Center.

The Hopkins girls’ basketball team ended its regular season with a 41-36 loss to Saugatuck despite 17 points from Karen Schwartz.

The Village of Martin repealed its ordinance that insisted on local residency for all police officers.

Roy Carmer opened “The Catch of the Day” restaurant n West Superior Street with partners Linda Sullivan and Joe Kareckas. It replaced The Deli, which had been operated by Ron and Sandy Kast.

50 Years Ago — Nov. 15, 1967

The Pilgrim Rest Church Choir was scheduled to visit the Berean Baptist Church in Moline to perform “Negro Spirituals” Sunday evening, Nov. 19.

Weldon Rumery of Wayland was named president and secretary of the Allegan County Fair Board, succeeding James Snow.

James Hazen was appointed acting postmaster at Hopkins, succeeding the retiring Edward H. Bilski.

Kathy Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Smith, was named the Wayland High School Daughter of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award.

Volunteers are sorely needs at Precious Acres, a project of the Allegan County Association of Retarded Children.

Two prominent local citizens, Wayland Board of Education President Frank Langley and Fire Chief Pat Brocker, have been hospitalized recently. Langley is suffering from a heart ailment and Brocker has been released from the hospital and is convalescing.

Wayland High School athletic director Robert Marutz and Leighton Township fruit grower Wayne Ritz suffered burns while they working at a fund-raising dinner at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Caledonia.

New troopers assigned to the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police R.J. Clasek and J.J. Roberts.

Mrs. Harold Weaver, Mrs. Floyd Modreske and Tom Jackson have been re-elected to the Wayland Community Fair Board.

Army Pvt. Clarence Coburn and his fiancé, Pamela Jean Smith were killed by a hit-and-run driver in Kalamazoo, where they were taking part in a bowling tournament. Coburn had attended Wayland High School.

The Wayland Board of Education was given a glowing report of the district’s first-ever parent-teacher conferences held in afternoon and evening sessions. Plans call for the process to continue.

Arlin Patterson, Curt Sebright and Ray Spencer each scored one rushing touchdown and Jerry LaValley and Rick Middleton both caught a TD pass as Wayland ended its football season at 4-5 with a 32-0 victory over Hopkins. Rich Worfel scored four touchdowns and rushed for 241 yards in the junior varsity’s 27-0 win over the Vikings.

“Fantastic Voyage” was showing at the Wayland Theatre.

The Rev. Roy Faulstick and members of the Trinity Lutheran Church laid the cornerstone for the church in a special ceremony.

Lulu continued to top the music charts with the song from the movie “To Sir with Love.”

75 Years Ago — Nov. 20, 1942

Wayland High School graduate Joe Ambrose, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ambrose, was killed in action in New Guinea, where he was a machine gunner. Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher published Ambrose’s letter to the Globe, which he had written just one day before his death. Mosher wrote, “Knowing Joe as we did, we can bet the kid gave a good account of himself in his first skirmish with the Japs.”
The annual Thanksgiving service will be held at the Congregational Church with the Rev. Robert Geiger presenting the message.

Wayland High School grad Lt. William Stockdale was promoted to his rank at officers candidate school in Ft. Sill, Okla.

The Free Methodist, Nazarene and Union churches in Bradley will have a combined service Thanksgiving morning.

An old-time benefit dance for the Wayland, Dorr and Gun Lake Catholic churches is planned for Thanksgiving evening at Homrich Hall in Dorr.

A letter from Bud Malmstone was published in the Globe. He is serving in the Army Air Force transport program in the South Pacific.

The Hopkins High School basketball team has begun practice in anticipation of three upcoming games against Saugatuck, Wayland and Kelloggsville.

Residents of Wayland Township and the Wayland school district are reminded they entitled to free patronage at the Henika Public Library.

Adeline Kaminski, a student at Wayland schools, won $10 in the radio jingle contest and had the prize shipped to her brother, Corp. Ed Kaminski, serving overseas.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

  • Joan Bennett, Franchot Tone and Allyn Joslyn in “The Wife Takes a Flyer.”
  • Craig Stevens and Irene Manning in “Spy Ship.”
  • Edger Bergen, Charlie McCarthy, Fibber & Mollie in “Here We Go Again.”
  • Errol Flynn and Olivia deHavilland in “They Died with Their Boots On.”

100 Years Ago — Nov. 16, 1917

Camp Custer officers and soldiers in Battle Creek have received word they all will be able to have Christmas dinner at their homes before shipping out for duty.

About 30 businesses have pooled their resources to create the Citizens Light Company of Wayland. The board of directors includes Fay C. Wing, Dr. E.O. Hanlon, L.B. Mason, George E. Tubah, A.D. Hughes, Warren Rankin and A.E. Weaver. They report 30 people already have signed up for $100 subscriptions.

Wayland High School students raised $146.95 to contribute to the YMCA campaign for the Army. About 40 boys are participating in military drills at the school.

Wayland State Bank has installed an Automatic Receiving Teller at Wayland High School.

The Rev. J.C. Floyd, superintendent of the Grand Rapids district of Methodist Episcopal Church, will be guest speaker next Sunday night at the local ME church.

D.G. Clack of Dorr suffered leg, hip and perhaps internal injuries in a 25-foot fall while painting his silo.

Mrs. Florence Mills, a leader in the Social Settlement movement, was guest speaker for the Ladies Library Club. She has helped establish five public schools to be open one night per week on behalf of working people and the poor.

Retta Agan, 31, died at her home in Wayland. She had married Harry Milheim and left a son. She had been a member of the Aletha Group of the Christian Church.

Elizabeth Hungerford, 92, who came to Michigan from New York, died at her home in Corning.

A number of fine pieces of furniture are included in a Water Sale conducted by Fay Wing, whose business was victimized by a water leak.

Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bane were starring in “In the Diplomatic Service” at Frank’s Opera House Saturday and Sunday’s offering was “The Double Standard,” a dramatization of Brand Whitlock’s famous story.

 

 

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