(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now historical library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Nov. 25, 1996
Fourth-graders from Sycamore Elementary in the Hopkins School District were pictured invading the Allegan County Museum to re-create old-time courtroom proceedings, with Selina Alejos acting as judge.
The Hopkins football team captured the regional championship in the post-season football playoffs to hike its record to 11-0 with a come-from-behind 20-19 thriller over Constantine.
Local veterans are insisting they’ll never forget the Korean War, which often is referred to just that.
Lisa Lee Erickson of Alpena, Class of 1979, wrote a letter expressing support for three WHS students who are trying to save the old granite sign in front of the high school.
Larry Scheidel of Wayland Township wrote a letter expressing appreciation to a state police trooper who fixed his granddaughter’s tire after she told him she had no money. He noted recent complaints by others that officers have been guilty of using excessive force.
Wayland Board of Education Trustee Roxie Muczynski wrote a letter intended to clear up some public misconceptions about the bus drivers’ privatization issue. Editor Nila Aamoth wrote in her “Soapbox” that there are too many “perceived facts” passing as “facts” in the controversy.
Architect Tom Mathison told the Hopkins Board of Education that building design plans for a new high school are proceeding on schedule, with plans for completion in late summer 1999.
Gloria VanGoor and Marcia VanderWoude have retired from driving school buses for 22 years, saying they enjoyed the work because of the kids.
The Dorr Pathways for Our Children sidewalk building project along 18th Street has won a safety leadership award from Allstate Insurance.
Wayland was getting ready to face Middleville Thornapple Kellogg in the girls’ basketball district finals.
The Hopkins girls’ basketball team finished with a 17-4 record overall after a loss to Parchment in the district finals. Martin girls lost to Lawrence to finish with an 18-3 mark.
Russell Middleton of Hopkins, a veteran with the Royal Canadian Engineers and employee with Coopertive Extension from Michigan State University, died at age 76.
50 Years Ago — Nov. 24, 1971
Vicky Barahona, a foreign exchange student from Costa Rica who visited Wayland for six months to see her uncle and cousin, was getting ready to go back to her native country. Bernadette Nicolai wrote a feature story and took her picture.
A group of Leighton Township residents, led by Mrs. Kenneth Bird, has asked the State Boundary Commission to be annexed into the City of Wayland because of septic tank problems and need for santitary sewer services.
The resignations of County Clerk Esther Warner Hettinger and Deputy Clerk Frances Paradine have been announced. Mrs. Hettinger began working in the clerk’s office in 1933 with her father, Clerk Carl Warner. He successor will be determined in the 1972 general election.
Members of the Wayland High School choir sang with 10 other ensembles at Zeeland High School in a special concert with the Grand Rapids Junior College choir. Members expressed appreciation for getting the opportunity to sing with males.
Letter writer Will Johnston maintained that the work on installing sewers could have negative impact on the local environment and landscape.
Featured in the weekly “In the Service” column were Greg Dandrow, Dennis McBride, Charles Lapp of Hopkins, and John Bilski.
The Dorr Christian Reformed Church is having a hymn sing at 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28. Mrs. Roy Weesies will accompany on the organ and Annette Jansen on piano.
Mrs. Elden Milheim and Mrs. Howard Lee were co-hostesses for the December meeting of the State Police Wives social group.
Jim Hendrixson, Joe Permoda and A.J. Predum were named to the O-K Blue Conference all-star football team.
Eddie Rewa of Dorr, 14, landed an eight-point, 170-pound buck on just the second day of deer hunting season.
Members of the Leighton Farm Bureau were told that about two-thirds of all citizens sometime during their lifetimes will be involved in a traffic accident.
75 Years Ago — Nov. 29, 1946
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his weekly “Observations” column penned the opinion, “Our pet peeve this week is against those misguided folks who bring unwanted cats and dogs to town and dump them on the streets to starve or shift for themselves… There should be a special providence for that kind of folks, and we hope it does not turn out to a pleasant one.”
Wayland High School teacher and coach Walter Gillett was special guest speaker at this month’s meeting of the local Boy Scout troop.
Mosher sarcastically gave thanks to John L. Lewis and striking mine workers for putting the kibosh on Wayland’s Christmas lighting program.
Eight Allegan County 4-Hers were getting ready to go to Chicago for the International Livestock Show Nov. 30-Dec. 9. Two of them were Bill Reurink of Leighton and Delores Parker of Monterey.
The School of Instruction for the Wayland chapter of the Order of Eastern Star will be Dec. 5, and ladies from the Dorr chapter will join them. Grand Martha Gertrude Wilson of Bellevue will be the conductress.
The Hopkins Ladies’ Recreation Club will have a meeting to decide whether or not to organize for a third year at the high school at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6.
Rembert Wall and His Green Valley Boys are providing the music every Friday evening at the Dixie Pavilion for “Old Time Dancing.”
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Adele Mara, Warren Douglas and William Frawley in “The Inner Circle.”
• “Wild Bill” Elliott, Robert Blake, Alice Fleming in “California Gold Rush.”
• Peggy Ann Garner, Randolph Scott and Lynn Bari in “Home Sweet Homicide.”
• June Haver, Vivian Blaine and George Montgomery in “Three Little Girls in Blue.”
100 Years Ago — Nov. 25, 1921
Freshman Genevieve Baker presented a history of the Pilgrim Fathers and the hardships they faced in the first Thanksgiving. Also at the weekly chapel program, Supt. Fred Boughner read a Thanksgiving proclamation from the governor.
Allegan County Farm Bureau Agent Alfred Benthal said 935 people have attended 80 meetings in West Michigan on the dairy and alfalfa campaign.
Miss Green of Kalamazoo has been visiting local parents in the interests of children’s visual education.
The historical series “Winners of the West” will be shown at the Regent Theatre downtown. Featured will be the perilous journeys of John C. Fremont over the Rocky Mountains and rodeo champion Art Acord. Also showing at the Regent: Eileen Percy in “The Blushing Bride” and Douglas McLean and Doris May in “Mary Ankle.”
The ladies of the Bradley Congregational Church Ladies Aid Society will have a bazaar and chicken pie supper at the church.
An Allegan store was defrauded of an undisclosed amount of money with counterfeit half dollar coins being passed.
Mrs. Dell Huttleston is at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids after a serious operation. She is under the care of her daughter, Avis, a nurse.
“Sometimes we think women are of no account, but we are sure Mr. Lodenstine will have a good word for the ladies. He got stuck in the mud last week when along came some ladies and offered to help and leave to them if they didn’t succeed.”
The Village Council has leased a Grand Rapids firm the right to erect an advertising sign at the corner Pine and Main streets and another at Maple and Main.
The Barry County Board of Supervisors have approved the building of a dam at the head of the Gun River, high enough to maintain the level of the lake.
Photo of Wayland Feed and Coal brought memories and epiphany. I recall “helping” but really just playing with Larry Andringa putting bags on the shaft to be filled with grain. I loved to watch the truck dump a winter’s supply of coal down the shute into our basement. I had forgotten that the truck came from just across Superior Street to our house.