25 Years Ago — Dec. 5, 1990

The archives from the Then & Now Historical Library this week did not have a copy of the Penasee Globe for that week. Therefore, this edition will have to be skipped.

Hope springs eternal for resumption next week.

50 Years Ago — Dec. 1, 1965

Wayland’s new Christmas lights will be dedicated Friday evening, Dec. 3, in a special ceremony sponsored by the Village Council and the Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce. The festivities in front of the Village Hall were to include the Wayland High School band under the direction of Steve Working and remarks by Village President Phillip Reno.

Wayland Township Supervisor Clayton Jackson has announced the new tax forms for the Homestead Property Exemption are being mailed. The State Legislature this past year approved a new law that allows for senior citizens to pick up property tax cuts.

Russell Davis, 30, died at the Allegan Health Center after a lingering illness. Surviving were his wife, Lucy, and four children, Russell, Randy, Diane and Darlene.

Wayland Village President Phillip Reno has been appointed to Gov. George Romney’s Advisory Committee on Local Government.

A front page photo in the Globe showed local American Legion Commander Richard Boss pinning a metal flag on William Kessler Jr. to call attention to the organization’s “Operation Show Your Colors” campaign in support of U.S. policy in Vietnam.

A groundbreaking is being planned for the educational unit for the Wayland United Methodist Church, which will cost $63,000, according to project chairman Everett Mutschler.

Wayland Board of Education President Wallace Wakeman was pictured presenting an American flag to Wayland High School Student Council President Jim Kotrba. The flag, secured by Congressman Edward Hutchinson, was flown over the nation’s capital on Veterans Day earlier this year.

Sgt. Phillip VanderWeg, 31, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Grinage of Wayland, was killed in action in Vietnam. A career military man, he had joined the service immediately after high school and was serving as a parachute jumper.

The Wayland varsity basketball team lost its season opener 59-53 to visiting Otsego, coached by former WHS mentor Jack Warner. Senior center Gordon Hudson scored 22 points and Rick Baughman and Terry Bartell scored eight points apiece. Clif Sage, who would become Wildcat varsity basketball coach about 20 years later, scored 11 points in that game for Otsego.

Scott Hilbert, a 1965 graduate of Wayland High School, earned his football letter as a freshman at Ferris State College.

A special meeting Dec. 7 would include area schools that do not have high schools, such as Moline, Dorr, Jones, Sproat, Corning and Hooker. The State Legislature earlier in the year had passed a law insisting consolidating all rural schools without high schools with nearby institutions.

Ruby Smith, local author and historian was publishing her second book, according to the weekly “Observations Here and There” column by former Publisher Rollo Mosher.

“Billie,” starring Patty Duke, Jim Backus and Jane Greer, was showing at the Wayland Theatre.

The Byrds climbed into the top spot among the nation’s tunes with “Turn, Turn, Turn!”

75 Years Ago — Dec. 6,1940

For the first time in a number of years, since it was first installed, the fire alarm siren refuses to function. The snow and cold weather had something to do with it, but when the electricians investigated, there were several things at fault and the motor driven horn will have to be removed from its perch on the water tower for repairs. In the meantime, the old reli able fire bell will again come into use, that is, if we have a call for a fire. Let us hope not.

Down at Kearney, N. J., they launched two more destroyers for Uncle Sam’s Navy. The two new ones were called the Edison and the Ericsson, names that dovetailed nicely.Walt Disney’s “Fantasia” has made its bow at last, and also made history. It is “a series of eight musical compositions, interpreted by conductor Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra with comments by Deems Taylor. It is also the most beautiful presentation of color and sound that the screen has ever offered.

Events on the Albanian and nearby fronts gave military experts what they considered proof that the grand British plan of conducting the war from now on will be to knock out Italy first, then turn attention to Germany.

Hence Europe was treated to a war in reverse. Though England was continuing bombing raids against military objectives on German and occupied European bases, including Norway, chief attention was focused on Italy, both on the continent and in Africa.

The C.I.O. closed its convention by electing Philip Murray to John L. Lewis’ post. The C.I.O. then announced it would attempt to organize the Ford Motor plant, and in the same breath asked governmental investigation of any affiliations the company might have with Nazi interests.

100 Years Ago — Dec. 3, 1915

Mina Deuel read “World Wave on Suffrage” to members of the local women’s suffrage group. Guest speaker Lutie Stearns of Milwaukee also noted that 20 states now are regarded as “dry” in the continuing effort to outlaw alcohol use and sale.

Mrs. Felker, past president of the State Federation of Cuba’s Ladies Library Clubs, presented “The Great Drama, the Book of Job” to about 50 members and guests of the local LLC.

Mary Jane Clark, Wayland’s first teacher of instrumental and vocal music and the first president of the local Ladies Library Club, died at age 71 on Nov. 28. She came here after marrying Eli F. Clark in 1868, the year Wayland was incorporated as a village.

The Ladies’ Aid Society will have its annual Christmas Bazaar and oyster supper Dec. 9 in the basement of the Congregational Church.

William Culver died at his home a mile south of Bradley Sunday night after a brief illness.

Frank Dorman sang the praises of Dr. Slater after he eventually was cured of blood poisoning in his right arm. He was treated in Ann Arbor.

Howard White of Three Rivers is opening a bakery in the Stockdale Building in downtown Wayland.

Estella Ford, a highly regarded elocutionist, will speak Dec. 8 at the Congregational Church. One of her admirers is the postmaster at Bradley.

Walter B. Sherwood, a longtime employee of the Businessman’s Paper Press and justice of the peace, died at age 44.

Members of the Wayland Dancing Club put together a performance at a party at Yeakey’s Hall. A couple more similar parties are planned for Dec. 15 and New Year’s Eve.

Dr. E.H. Ryno spoke to members of the Wayland Grange on “What the Grange, State and Nation Do for the Farmer That Is Not Being Done Now?”