EDITOR’S NOTE
: The customarily reliable archives at the Then and Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr did not have a copy of the Feb. 7, 1990, edition of the Penasee Globe. Therefore, sadly, the 25 years ago portion of this week’s installment of Bygone Days cannot be offered. Our humble apologies.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 3, 1965
A group of Wayland Village and Township citizens who petitioned the Allegan County Board of Supervisors to have an election to decide village border expansion and the question of incorporating a home-rule city now threaten legal action. The citizens said the board has been dragging its feet by tabling the question several times. They seek setting the date for a special election.
St. Therese Parish is welcoming Mother Jolanta and Sisters Mary and Stephanie, members of a new order, American Mother Provincial of the Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, from Chicago.
Committee assignments were announced for three local lawmakers, State Rep. James Farnsworth, State Senator Harold Volkema and Congressman Ed Hutchinson, all of whom began their terms last month.
Former Globe Publisher Rollo Mosher, in his weekly “Observations Here and There” column, maintained that Wayland should be the beneficiary of a lot of real estate and business activity soon because of the proximity of the U.S.-131 expressway connecting Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. He opined, “Wayland could stand more real estate promotion if it hopes to continue to grow. In order to do this, it needs cooperation from both city and township officials. I have heard this wasn’t to be had.”
The Globe’s “Turned Up Here and There” column featured predictions that appeared in the latest edition of “Changing Times.” Two of the forecasts were “Nearly 13,199,000 girls will outgrow the Beatles” and “About 11 million teen-agers will not drop out of high school and over 600,000 of them will go to college and stay there for four years.”
Mrs. James Grant of Wayland reported that the local Mothers’ March Against Polio collected $354.35 in inclement weather.
Gordon Hudson scored 15 points and Terry Parks added 12, but the Wayland High School varsity basketball team lost to Middleville Thornapple Kellogg and star Rob White. The Wildcats were drubbed 87-38 on the following night, a Saturday, by South Christian for their fifth consecutive defeat.
St. Margaret’s of Otsego dealt St. Therese its first loss of the season, 34-23, as Jerry LaValley tallied 11 points in a losing cause and Richard Tolan had eight.
Seven Hopkins High School students were announced earning perfect 4.0 grade point averages on the latest honor roll listings. They were Dick Church, Pauline Fifelski, Paul Kipfmiller, Harold Lenhart, Elizabeth Pueschel, Connie Foley and Carol Jager.
Walt Disney’s “Emil and the Detectives,” starring Walter Slezak, was showing at the Wayland Theatre.
Six families gathered for the January meeting of the Sauger Farm Group for a potluck and a lively discussion about taxation.
The Righteous Brothers, with a little bit of blue-eyed soul, took over the top spot in the nation for musical singles with “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin.”
75 Years Ago — Feb. 2, 1940
Alvin Otto, 35, died of injuries he received in an auto accident just south of Shelbyville on 10th Street. Otto, who was traveling south from Wayland, where he worked for Consumers Power, told the responding officer that his vehicle was run off the road by another car. There were no witnesses. He died shortly after the crash at William Crispe Hospital in Plainwell.
A new Gamble’s department store has been authorized for Wayland at 122 W. Superior St., with independent co-owners Ronald Nesen and Henry Below.
The monthly meeting of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union was held at the home of Mrs. Gustafson on North Main Street and the theme “Christian Citizenship.”
“Judge Hardy and Son,” the eighth in the popular Andy Hardy film series, was showing at the Wayland Theatre. Mickey Rooney had just been voted America’s most popular star of the silver screen after a four-year reign by Shirley Temple. Other films being shown that week included “Remember?” with Greer Garson and Robert Taylor and “Barricade,” with Alice Faye and Warner Baxter.
Contracts have been completed to drill another oil well south and east of Wayland village in a hole at the farm of John Miklusicak.
100 Years Ago — Feb. 5, 1915
The ice harvest is nearly completed.
Quite a number attended the dance at Bowens Mills Friday evening.
The Farmer’s Institute was held in Moline Wednesday, Feb. 3.
The Sutherland-Reed trio will give an entertainment in the Congregational Church Friday evening, Feb. 5.
Lewis Smith, Wilber Lewis and Morgan Jordan worked all day Tuesday to repair the damage done on the Farmer’s Telephone lines by the recent storm.
Mr. Tatro has his mill all set and is sawing logs.
Mr. Gerhard Oetman is having his tenant house painted, papered and otherwise repaired.