25 Years Ago — Dec. 31, 1990
The Penasee Globe published one holiday edition to cover the two weeks in between Christmas and New Year’s. “Bygone Days” last week published contents from “We Live Here” last week, so there is no information from the week of Dec. 24 to Dec. 31, 1990.
The feature from Jan. 7, 1991, will resume next Wednesday.
50 Years Ago — Dec. 29, 1965
The comm
unity was abuzz about the upcoming Rose Bowl game, featuring Wayland High School graduate Don Japinga as co-captain of the undefeated and No. 1-ranked Michigan State football squad. Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey wrote a front page column about arriving in sunny Pasadena with friends and fellow Wayland supporters, including his wife, Helen Jane, the Dick Wilsons, the Jerome LaValleys, Robert Andringa, Susie Arndt, the Barney Nicolais, Mrs. Ford Brower, and Don’s mother, Mrs. Louis Japinga, principal of Baker Elementary School. Gordon Fish, another WHS grad, was in Pasadena to perform with the MSU marching band at halftime.
Wayland residents sent a huge paper with 350 signatures of well-wishes and the Rotary and Lions clubs sent gifts to Japinga in Pasadena. Helmey also wrote a story about the Christmas Eve party for the Spartans that included guest speakers MSU President John Hannah, Athletic Director Biggie Munn and Head Coach Duffy Daugherty.
More than $30,000 in Christmas bonuses were paid out to qualifying employees at Kessler’s Undies and Woolies at the firm’s annual holiday party.
Ted Bumiller was scheduled to be on hand Jan. 6 to narrate his travel film on Italy for the second installment of the Wayland Rotary Club’s travelogue series.
Harry Shade and Leon Lodenstein both were injured in a traffic accident on Elm Street in Wayland, caused by icy road conditions. Lodenstein, driver of the vehicle, was home on leave from the military.
Though the vote by residents on a home rule city charter was not to be held until Jan. 17, a headline reported “Mayor Phillip Reno” was one of the panelists scheduled to appear on a WZZM-TV program on local government. Reno’s title actually was village president.
The Wayland boys’ varsity basketball team lost a high-scoring Expressway Conference contest 92-75 to Kenowa Hills. Gordon Hudson scored 19 points and hauled down 14 rebounds. Rick Baughman had 16 points and 15 rebound and Terry Parks and Walter Messer both scored 10 points.
Beginning Jan. 3, all prices in five local barbershops were to be the same, $1.75 for a haircut and $2 for a flat top. The barbershops were Booker’s, Scheib’s, Brinkert’s and Gene’s in Wayland and Roxbury’s in Hopkins.
The Hopkins FFA has purchased two Holstein calves for demonstrations on proper feeding. The animals were bought from Edward “Speed” Wykoski.
The Leighton Farm Bureau, with 18 members gathering at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Carey, had a spirited discussion about a proposition to erect a sign saying, “Welcome to Allegan County. Do Drive Carefully… Don’t Die Here.”
75 Years Ago — Jan. 3, 1941
The holiday season is now over with and a thing of the past. Caroll Crocker and Glenn Clark took down the strings of holiday lights that so greatly brightened up our business section over the holiday season, so now we can look forward to the January thaw, the cold wave of February, the March winds and postcards from those fortunate ones who will spend the cold months in Florida.
Herbert Hoover, announcing himself as definitely and forever out of politics, took the speaker’s stand again to appeal for a general U.S. sentiment in favor of making plans to feed Europe’s hungry— without letting any of the food get into German stomachs.
Extra! Extra! Santa Claus steals show at Christmas party — we don’t know whether it was the Conga or the “shag,” but the jig beat anything we ever saw before. His antics pleased the children no end — even to that suspicious “bulge,” All this took place at the merriest of Christmas parties, sponsored by the teaching Sisters for the children attending religious instruction classes of S.S. Cyril and Methodius parish.
Mrs. Daisy Frank is having a telephone installed in her farm home.
Melvin Edwards had the misfortune to break his arm last Saturday while cranking the car.
Control of gully erosion by using a ditch to divert excess storm water away from the head of a gully has been used by fruit growers in some sections of the state for a number of years even before the Soil Conservation Service began erosion control demonstrations in the state.
The squirrels in Carondelet Park in St. Louis are getting tough. Caretaker James Williams, wanting to sit down, tried to chase one off a bench. It attacked him, biting his neck. Ray Shelton, 12, saw a luscious, ripe mulberry on a low limb. He tried to beat a squirrel to it and got bitten. Charlotte Hanzcewski said she was attacked for no reason at all. She was walking along, minding her own business, when a squirrel dashed out from behind a lamp post and grabbed her leg.
100 years Ago — Dec. 31, 1915
Wayland State Bank was initiating its Christmas Club, explaining that customers could deposit five cents the first week, 10 cents the next and 15 cents the third week, increasing the amount by five cents each week. By the end of 50 weeks, the customer would have $63.75.
In a front page column, “Useful Information in and about Wayland, “ it was reported that “Wayland has a population of about 1,000 and has a reputation of being a ‘boom town’ in this section of the state. During the past year, a large number of fine residences has been erected to care for newcomers who have decided to capitalize on the advantages of this hustling village.”
Mrs. Wallace Weaver died at her home east of Dorr after suffering a brief attack of appendicitis. The funeral was held at her family home.
Most of the local news items, as expected, were about families gathering to dine, exchange presents and celebrate Christmas.
S.D. Johnson is here packing his household goods and preparing for his family’s move to Newaygo. The remaining family members, meanwhile, are visiting in Indiana.
Henry W. Lantz of Lakeview has bough the elevator and other buildings belonging to L.F. Wallbrecht on West Superior to convert them into warehouses for the produce industry.
Effie E. Smith, 54, died at her home. She had been married to John Gillett in 1895 and they had a daughter, Juanitta.
Deputy Sheriff D.A. Stockdale transported a drunken hobo to Allegan and he was “set up” for a 30-day stint in the county jail by Justice George T. Hines.
Postmaster J.C. Yeakey told the Globe the local post office handled the greatest amount of mail ever during the recent holiday season.
Mrs. Oscar Beyer and son, Clifford, were in town to see F. Perkins, who has been making steel braces for Clifford, who “is unfortunate to be bow-legged.”
The Helvetia Milk Condensing Co., the forerunner of Pet Milk, has had a new well installed at a depth of about 400 feet within the village.
PHOTOS: Don Japinga (14), sometimes called “Mighty Mite” because he stood at only 5-8, is dwarfed here by teammate Bubba Smith (95).
Don Japinga