(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — June 7, 1999
The Globe published a front page photo of City Clerk Cheri Lutz and City Manager Barb VanDuren planting waxed begonias on Main Street downtown.
The Hopkins, Martin and Wayland Classes of 1999 underwent graduation exercises in the last week. A total of 197 seniors graduated at Wayland, 51 at Martin, 91 at Hopkins and 18 in adult education.
The Dorr Township Board is giving charitable organizations some time to come up with a plan for solicitating donations at the four corners downtown.
Newcomer Kristi Burgess is challenging incumbents Ken Olney and Robert Wiersma for the two open seats on the Wayland Board of Education. Matthew DeGlopper is doing the same in Hopkins vs. incumbents Boyd Navis and Gary Hoffmaster.
Editor Nila Aamoth in her Soapbox suggested to members of the Class of 1999, “Happiness is not a destination, but a method of traveling through life.”
East Martin Christian graduated its first three seniors, Missy Alkema, Jennie Hall and Dustin Niebor.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s tests of Gun Lake Area Sewer Authority’s treatment plan and found no evidence of toxicity.
Area track athletes tuned up for the state meet by taking part in the annual John Bos meet in Grand Rapids.
The Wayland softball team, led by second sacker Jessie Merchant and pitchers Kara Potter and Amber Willison, completed a 35-1 regular season with a doubleheader sweep of Otsego.
Luke Fischer and Sarah Baker were named top senior athletes at WHS for 1999. Jim Hudson won the Japinga Award and Nicole Merchant the Multer Award.
The Globe published a feature story about the family of Lynn Francis, who recently was diagnosed with leukemia. Her husband, Mick, is an assistant football coach and head softball coach. His team had just won its pre-district contest and is 18-3.
Mrs. Elizabeth Snyder, longtime owner and operator of the Wayland Go-Kart Track north of town, died at age 79.
Robert Kuhtic, who played football for both Wayland and Thornapple Kellogg high schools, died at his home in Yankee Springs. He was 43.
50 Years Ago — June 4, 1974
David VanEerden, former basketball and track coach, has been named director of community education, a new position in the Wayland school district.
The Hopkins High School Class of 1974 graduated 105 students at commencement.
The annual Miss Hopkins contest will be among the attractions at the Fourth of July celebration.
Mrs. Steve Stearns was elected president of the Hopkins Band Parents organization.
Wayne VanDam and the Red Machine now is playing at Plainwell Bowling Lanes Saturdays and Sundays.
The Hopkins United Methodist and Community Reformed churches are co-sponsoring the showing of “The Haunted Churchbell” film to kick off vacation Bible school.
The Wayland Girl Scout Troop #359, led by Mrs. Willard Benedict, won second prize in the “Help Young America” contest.
The Wayland High School Class of 1954 will have its 20-year reunion at the Farm House Restaurant in downtown Wayland.
The Wayland Community Band will begin rehearsals June 17 for this summer’s concert in the park.
The weekly recipe featured on the Globe’s “Society” page was provided by 1972 Miss Wayland Mary Kaczanowski.
The Golden Agers Club will meet June 6 at the VFW Hall. Members are asked to being a dish to pass and their own table service.
Candidates in the Hopkins Board of Education election are Leonard Beltman, Mimi Moulenbelt, Ray Sebright and Burrell Stein. William Snook, Ernst Summerville, Trena Meeter, Ted Nicolai and Thomas Shook are Martin candidates.
Gerald Omness has resigned as junior varsity baseball coach and Pat Rowley resigned as girls’ varsity basketball coach.
Wayland’s baseball team dropped a 9-0 decision to Lowell in the district finals of the Class B tournament. Martin was eliminated in the district semifinals, 15-2, by Gobles.
Wayland had to settle for third place in the final standings of the O-K Blue Conference in tennis, behind Caledonia and Middleville Thornapple Kellogg.
Mrs. Gay Hayes, who lived at the Spring Brook Ranch, Dorr, and raised four children, including the Rev. David Hayes, died May 29. She was 59.
Members of the Hopkins FFA barbecued 68 halves in the 17th annual chicken dinner.
Because of the approaching bicentennial for America, members of the Wayland Grange promise each program for the next two years will feature something historical.
Mrs. Arthur Gerlach was elected president of the School Service League.
The Wayland Board of Education agreed to arrange the hire of a full-time social worker.
Karen Wila, 12, of Dorr, was drowned in a private pond after slipping and falling into a deep part of the lake.
Paul McCartney & Wings took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Band on the Run.”
75 Years Ago — June 10, 1949
Wayland suffered through an unusual white frost Tuesday, June 7.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher praised the Barry County Road Commission for laying the foundation for a “really fine road” east of Robbins Corners, leading to the Yankee Springs Recreation Area.
Members of the Wayland Masons group were hosts to Masons from Noblesville, Ind.
The special “Grass Day” program is set for June 17 just northeast of Wayland, featuring a number of balers, harvesters, hay crushers and other harvesting equipment.
Mrs. Bertha Brophy of Martin, formerly of Wayland, died June 7 in Bradley at age 62. She leaves a son serving in the U.S. Army.
Mrs. Matilda Harding, Martin’s oldest resident, celebrated her 93rd birthday with five generations in her family. She was born in 1856. Mrs. Olive Ingles of Leighton Township celebrated her 91st at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Oliver Francisco.
The Millwood Merchants defeated the Gun Lake baseball team 2-0, but Gun Lake bounced back to beat Lynch Printing Co. 5-2.
A 16-year-old girl from Cheshire Township has filed a lawsuit seeking $5,000 in damages plus $195 in medical costs against Ford Henry of Wayland in connection with a truck accident in December 1948 in which she lost four front teeth.
Robert Runnels, district manager for Blue Cross, will be guest speaker at the next meeting of the Leighton Grange.
Mrs. Ray Trautman fell from a ladder at her home while washing walls and suffered a broken arm.
H.L.R. Chapman, botanist in charge of Beal Botanic Gardens, Michigan State College, will speak to members of the Wayland and Middleville Garden Clubs.
Roller skating was available Monday through Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. and Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Roller Rink on South Main.
Fred Langley was re-elected to another term as commander of the local American Legion.
New Wayland Airport Manager Byron Cole is getting the port in good shape for another year. About 10 planes are set to fly next weekend to Clare.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake in “Blondies’ Secret.”
• Allan “Rocky” Lane and Eddy Walker in “Renegades of Sonora.”
• John Wayne, Gig Young and Gail Russell in “Wake of the Red Witch.”
• Randolph Scott, Jane Wyatt and J. Carroll Naish in “Canadian Pacific.”
100 Years Ago — June 6, 1924
Orin McBride, a Shelbyville farmer working for his cousin, Harley McBride, suffered injuries after being kicked in the jaw by a horse and was knocked unconscious. He was taken to Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids.
The Memorial Day activities at Elmwood Cemetery were extensive this year, including children’s recitations, a flag drill by 16 girls, marching by servicemen, music by the Wayland band and an address by the Rev. Fay C. Wing.
The Village Council decided to levy one-quarter mill each for parks and water, one-half mill for library and band, three mills for streets, and five and one-half for contingency. It was the same millage as the previous year.
The Northeast Hopkins Community Club was entertained by a dialogue presented by Pearl and Paul Brocker and three recitations.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Wallace Reid and Lila Lee in “The Dictator.” Rudolph Valentino in “Blood and Sand.” Admission is 10 cents for children and 25 cents for adults.
Message from J.A. Tarnutzer: “$25 reward for arrest and conviction of the guilty party in Wayland who is killing dogs by feeding them ground glass.”
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher asserted in an editorial that Wayland needs more paved roads. He opined that when gravel was new it was too soft for a good road “and even in the horse and buggy days, they did not last too long… “Let’s build roads and build them permanent.”
Mosher also opined: “Many men in office are much more concerned about how their vote will affect their chances for renomination than about the ultimate effect the legislation they are passing upon people as a whole.”
There were numerous reports of former Wayland area residents returning to town to visit over Decoration Day and attend services.
The Good Cheer Sunday School class of the Congregational Church, Moline, will have a weenie roast at Gun Lake next Sunday.
Violet Reno, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William C. Reno, fell off the porch at her home and broke her collar bone.
Several motorists were arrested last weekend for violating the local ordinance against backing and turning around at the four corners downtown. Most were assessed a fine of $1.
Mosher announced that he will attend the Republican convention in Cleveland, Ohio, next week as a delegate from the Fourth Congressional District.