(From the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Aug. 11, 1993
Martin Township voters in a referendum approved, 231 to 200, a gravel pit proposed by Ray Brenner. “I’ve always said you should have some say in what you do with your land,” Brenner said, “as long as you abide by the rules the township requires. It’s the American way.” The referendum was forced by an opposition movement led by Terry Sturgis and Ferris Moored.
William Weick, owner of the Weick’s Foodtown grocery, has been appointed to a seat on the board of directors for Hastings City Bank.
Troopers at the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police are asking for information about a complaint of a theft of two calves, one of which was found dead of a broken neck at the Auction House just north of town.
Yankee Springs Township Supervisor George London is recovering from quintuple bypass heart surgery.
Hopkins Township Supervisor Kevin Cronin told his colleagues the township’s costs for the inter-local fire department will increase from 42 to 64 percent as a result of Monterey Township pulling out.
Pat Staley wrote a feature story about the retirement of John Noordyke as superintendent of the City of Wayland Department of Public Works. Noordyke, who intends to stay in the community, said he was interviewed for the job in 1978 by City Manager Carl Fockler and City Clerk Helen Alflen. Also in that edition was a feature about Noordyk’s successor, Dave Long.
Federal Aviation Authority official Chris Lawrence told Gun Lake residents there isn’t anything they can do about crop dusting planes that may get too close to home while doing their jobs.
The Dorr Township Board is grappling with the issue of what to do with the aging Moline Public Library building, raze it or renovate it.
Christine Leep has passed along her Miss Martin crown to first runner-up Anne Martin after winning the title of Miss Wayland Dahlia Festival.
Kurt Weldon, a 1982 graduate of Wayland High School, was one of the winners of a contest to have his poetry, “Engine No. 9” included in the National Library of Poetry anthology, “Wind in the Night Sky.”
Casey Peereboom and Tom Miller have combined efforts to open Peereboom’s Greenhouse across from the airport north of Wayland.
Longtime elementary teacher Joan Kent has opened The Last Resort gift shop at Gun Lake on Chief Noonday Road.
Drs. Donald Joffrion and Timothy Karmons have taken over Chris Ruthruff’s chiropractic pactice at the Professional Building in Wayland.
50 Years Ago — Aug. 7, 1968
The Citizens for (George C.) Wallace group reported attracting 50 people to its first meeting at the American Legion Hall in Wayland. Larry DeVries of Dorr is vice president.
John Gurney defeated Earl Lanning in the first-ever election for the City of Wayland’s representative on the new Allegan County Board of Commissioners. Leighton Township dairy farmer Ralph Sytsma also was elected.
The Kessler’s Undies and Woolies manufacturing firm, Wayland’s largest employer, has been sold by William Kessler Jr. to Chick Master of Cleveland.
The annual Wayland Community Fair will be held at the Pearl Street gym Aug. 23 and 24.
Richard Bos Jr. flew to Oklahoma City to join comrades for the 25th reunion of a World War II bombing unit. Bos had served as a tech sergeant.
The Wayland City Council is seriously considering putting the question of implementing a sanitary sewer system on the ballot in the November general election. The proposal has failed earlier this year.
Area children are being helped immensely this summer by the Title I, Migrant and Head Start programs offered through the local schools.
Roslaie Crofoot is leading the pack in the voting for the Centennial Miss Wayland. Other contestants are Joan Miklusicak, Anna Niemchick, Jan Hooker and Lorna Douglas.
Longtime Dorr Elementary school teacher Mrs. Nellie Wycoff died at age 90.
Despite two meetings under the watchful eyes of a mediator, the Wayland Board of Education and Wayoand Education Association representatives have been unable to report progress on talks for a new employment contract.
Now showing at the U.S.-131 Drive-In Theatre near Plainwell, a spaghetti western doubleheader, “A Fistful of Dollars and “For a Few Dollars More.”
The Hopkins Township dump will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays only until further notice.
Doug McClure and Nancy Kwan were starring in “Nobody’s Perfect” at the Wayland Theatre.
The Dorr Farmers Club will have its 51st reunion Aug. 13. Oscar Douglas is the only living charter member of the group, which first meet on Sept. 11, 1917.
Lois Halle Vasconez of Quito, Equador, will present music and slides this Sunday morning at the Wayland Calvary Church service.
Alice Kidney Perez sent the Globe a letter from Brazil, where she has been serving in the Peace Corps.
Linda Feldwisch sent the Globe a letter from Germany, where she has been involved with the foreign exchange student program over the summer.
The Doors took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Hello, I Love You.”
75 Years Ago — Aug. 13, 1943
The Wayland Rotary Club members and Rotary Anns will try out the village’s new grills at the city park for a picnic meeting Aug. 26.
The drought and the war has resulted in the unpleasant side effects of a shortage of ice cream, soft drinks and even the beer wagon.
Naman Frank has announced the little store office next to the theatre will be removed soon, but the house will remain. Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher said he remembered having his first tooth extraction there when Dr. Andrews used cocaine on his fingers to deal with the pain of the procedure.
The little store also was home to a restaurant, millinery, liquor store and real estate office, but most famously as headquarters for the Wayland Cadets.
The Wayland Board of Education has decided to buy nine plots of land directly to the west of the high school to provide more room and to provide playgrounds and athletic facilities.
Judge George Malcomb, former Supreme Court justice in the Philippines and attorney general for Puerto Rico was to be guest apeaker at the next meeting of the Wayland Rotary.
The Allegan County Selective Service Board says it will begin to call up some young men classified as 4-F for limited duty in the military.
Pfc. Edward Clack of Wayland is training to a bugler for the Navy while stationed in Australia.
C.E. Hansen, rural engineer with Consumers Power, will talk about proper handling of electrical equipment at the next meeting of the Leighton Grange.
The Henika Public Library has reported it has received a state grant of $43.13 for purchase of books.
Pfc. John Wisniewski sent his mother a poem, “From a Son Overseas,” which the Globe published.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Lois Andrews in “Dixie Dugan.”
- George Sanders, Anna Sten, Poldy Dur in “They Came to Blow up America.”
- Alice Faye, John Payne, Lynn Bari and Jackie Oakie in the musical comedy “Hello FRISCO, Hello!”
- Sir Cedrick Hardwicke, Harry Travers and Lee J. Cobb in John Steinbeck’s “The Moon Is Down.”
100 Years Ago — Aug. 9, 1918
Civil War veteran John H, Peck, who moved to Wayland 40 years ago, died at the age of 90. He was well known in the area for the meticulous care he took of his war garden, even working in it as late as May. He also was a longtime member of the Grand Army of Republic (GAR) and was in charge of flag placements on Decoration Day. He was reported to have engaged in important battles as a member of a regiment from New York.
Member of the Liberty Chorus ensemble were to sing downtown Saturday night. Selections include “There’s Music in the Air,” “America,” “We’re Tenting Tonight,” “Battle Cry of Freedom,” “Swanee River,” “Keep the Home Fires Burning” and “The Star Spangled Banner.”
“The sweltering heat for the week is said to continue the balance of the week.”
The third annual Hover and Beckel Schools combination reunion will be held Aug. 14 at Lewis orchard.
E.W. Fox has built a monster rowboat propelled by a double expansion engine for use on Gun Lake.
Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Sider received a letter from son Ernest reporting that he has arrived safely overseas to do battle in France.
Mr. and Mrs. Fay C. Wing received a letter from son Paul who is stationed in France as a ward master at a base hospital.
The Michigan Jersey Cattle Club will have its summer meeting this year south of Middleville at the Shaw and Johnston farm.
Howard Jerome, son of Mrs. Fred Newton, has been hospitalized in France for being gassed.
James Tanner fell from the roof of his home onto the front porch and is laid up with leg fractures.
Starting Aug. 1, the Globe and all other Allegan County publications will increase subscription costs from $1 to $1.50 per year because of the war effort and because of the need to conserve on paper and ink.
G.V. Fales will be in Allegan Thursday through Saturday attend meetings of the Allegan County Board of School Examiners.
COVER PHOTO: This picture appeared on a postcard sent to Ada Towne. Charles Towne is third from the right.
Amazing the increase in the cost of print materials. $43.13 in grant money to purchase books for the Henika Library, though it doesn’t indicate how many. I’m not old enough to know what books cost in those days. In 1985 that would have covered the cost of four hardcover novels. Today it would buy one and a half of the same. Barely.