(From the archives inside the Then & Now Historical Libary in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Dec. 4, 1991
Wayland Schools Superintendent Bob Brenner and his family are being honored as grand marshals for the annual Wayland Christmas parade. The family includes the superintendent, his wife Sandy and children Jon, Kathy and Andrea.
Allegan County Treasurer Fred Edgerton died at his home in Plainwell. He was 74.
Pat Staley wrote this week’s “Soapbox” editorial feature, railing against telemarketing phone calls. She penned, “There’s got to be a way to stop this before we’re all forced to get an unlisted number… maybe a loud horn sounded in their ears would do it.”
Kate Britton wrote a letter to the editor lamenting that no one flagged down by the family of Jesse Carver, who had suffered a heart attack while driving, knew how to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on him.
Henika Public Library Director Burrell Stein presented the Wayland Township Board with a request to increase its funding, which at $500 per year, was significantly below that of the City of Wayland’s $25,000 in 1990.
Leighton Township residents are seeking an injunction to halt construction of a gas station and mini-mart and six four-unit apartment buildings on Kalamazoo Avenue just south of the curve at Green Lake, insisting the Lake is too crowded for additions.
Gravel trucks continue to roll in Yankee Springs Township despite a citizens’ group’s contention that Thompson-McCully has exceeded its allotted time for mineral extraction.
Allegan County Road Commission Engineer-Manager Fred Neils is retiring and he will be succeeded by William Nelson.
New Martin head varsity basketball coach Dave Nightingale will make his debut after succeeding the retired Herb Johnson. Second-year coach Jim Orlowski is preparing Wayland for the new season and Wayland High School graduate Scott Hall is promising fans an up-tempo style, with sharpshooters Kelly Reynolds and Zack Wilson leading the way.
50 Years Ago — Nov. 30, 1966
Pfc. Gerald Baird, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Baird of Hopkins, has received an award for his “expert” status he achieved as a firing set operator in Germany.
The federal Head Start program is getting under way for the first time in Allegan County after final approval under the Community Action program and Office of Economic Opportunity.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Janose of Middleville have purchased the Leader Feed Mill from Lou Kloska, who is retiring because of ill health.
Many letters came into the Globe office from military service members who said they appreciate the Christmas gifts sent to them by the Wayland 4-H Clovers Club.
The Wayland Union School District officially has announced a student population of 1,906 for the 1966-67 academic year.
The Wayland Rotary Club is making preparations for its annual dinner honoring members’ “Rotary Anns” at Scottie’s Restaurant in Grand Rapids. Joe LaValley is in charge of making arrangements.
Workers have been identified for the the Henika Public Library Building Fund campaign, which has a goal of $16,000 in order to become eligible for a a federal grant.
Tackle Steve Bird was the only Wayland player to make the first unit of the all-Expressway League football team. Fellow lineman Cal Brower and running back Roger Merren were selected to the second team and lineman Mike DeWeerd and running back Jay Schaeffer were honorable mention.
The Wayland varsity basketball team lost its season opener, 72-52, to Otsego. Lee Pankratz led the Wildcats offensively with 12 points. Mel Spencer added eight, Cal Brower seven and Rick Blok six. Sophomore Jerry LaValley scored 27 points for the Wayland jayvees, but they lost 57-49.
Mr. and Mrs. Byron Blue were invited guests at special luncheon to honor the Purdue University football team that was headed for the Rose Bowl. Mrs. Blue’s cousin, David Craig, was the team’s trainer.
John Anderson of Martin, only a junior, was selected to the first unit of the Al-Van League all-star team as quarterback.
Paul Ford, Maureen O’Sullivan, Connie Stevens and Jim Hutton were starring in “Never Too Late” at the Wayland Theatre.
Don Hartman, who was described as “
associated with a TV station, was scheduled to show films at a meeting of the Wayland Calvary Church Boys’ Brigade.
The New Vaudeville Band took over the No. 1 slot from the Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” with their entry, “Winchester Cathedral.”
75 Years Ago — Dec. 5, 1941
Wayland’s new egg powder manufacturing plant has been shipping a lot of product to Great Britain. The plant now is running two work shifts and handling 1,600 cases of eggs each day.
“Charter Night” is approaching for the newly formed Wayland Rotary Club. Russell Rugaber is the group’s first president.
The travelogue “”Alaska: The Great Land” will be shown at the Wayland High School auditorium under the sponsorship of the Wayland Brotherhood.
Orin W. Kaye, state administrator of the National Youth Administration, will be guest speaker Dec. 11 on “Juvenile Activities and Education.” The presentation is being sponsored by the local PTA.
Wayland Township residents contributed $206.35 to the American Red Cross in this year’s campaign, an increase over the previous year.
The Women’s Society of Christian Service will have its annual potluck dinner Dec. 12 in Shelbyville at the United Methodist Church. The Kentucky Harmony Singers will entertain.
Frank Lewis, 76, a lifelong farmer in the Hilliards area, died at his home after a long period of ill health.
The Wayland boys’ varsity basketball team will open its season against Hopkins Dec. 5, with the reserves scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. and the varsity teams to follow at 8:30.
Miss Critomann’s class held a history competition that was broadcast over the public address system at Wayland School and fourth-grader Carolyn Wright served as announcer.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in “Great Guns.”
- Joan Davis and Jinx Falkenburg in “Two Latins from Manhattan.”
- Alice Faye, John Payne, Carmen Miranda and Cesar Romero in “Weekend in Havana.”
- Double Feature — George Montgomery in “Last of the Duanes” and “Three Gils About Town.”
100 Years Ago — Dec. 1, 1916
W. H. Schuh wrote a front page account of his 50 years in Wayland at eating 51 Thanksgiving dinners locally since Nov. 30, 1866, when he came into town behind a yoke of oxen. He noted people drank water from a community pump downtown. He noted two blacksmiths, William Stockdale and Hiram Stringham; Ed Fitch, the counter jumper at his father’s hardware store, the lone business still going from those days, Eli F. Clark. He particularly mentioned a youthful red-haired boy who was described as a little devil who grew up to be Editor and Publisher George Mosher.
The Helvetia Condensary has raised prices pair out to farmers for milk to $2.20 per hundred.
It was asked, “Do you know that about one half of the students who enter high school never finish their courses?”
Dr. Ira Slater has moved with his family to Grand Rapids to take on a practice at the Kent County farm hospital.
Joe Powloski of Dorr Township was fined $14.60 after a complaint was filed by William E. King, deputy sheriff of Moline that he ad violated the dog quarantine that doesn’t expire until mid-January.
Bert Walker of Shelbyville died of typhoid fever in Kalamazoo.
Irene Yeakey presented two piano solos, Lucy Brabson read a historical sketch of Shakespeare, Elizabeth Clark sang an English folk song, “Flow Gently, Sweet Afton,” and Lillian Buskirk reviewed Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” at a special session honoring the Bard by the Ladies Library Club, hosted by Librarian Fanny Hoyt.
Willard Andrews, 71, of Hopkins, died as the last family member of his generation. He has been a longtime member of the Masonic Lodge F & AM No. 296.
