Bygone Days: A brief look at Wayland area’s past, Part 179

25 Years Ago — Aug. 15, 1990

EDITOR’S NOTE: Unfortunately, there are no old copies of Globe newspapers for the week of Aug. 15 and 22 at the Then & Now historical library in downtown Dorr.
If anyone has an Aug. 22, 1990. issue, I’d like to borrow it.
Otherwise, the 25 years ago segment will resume Wednesday, Aug. 26.

50 Years Ago — Aug. 11, 1965

Two of the eight candidates who showed up at the Wayland High School gym to take an agility test in order to become Michigan State troopers had local ties. One was James Lynett, who had been WHS varsity basketball coach the previous year and the other was WHS grad Bill Doublestein, an ex-Marine.

Msgr. Albert Radowski of the St. Therese Parish in Wayland and two nuns, Sisters Jolanta and Narcissa, were injuted in a traffic crash on U.S.-131 near the 54th Street exit when another vehicle struck them from behind. None of their injuries were regarded as serious.

“Silver Florin,” one of three Lipizzaner horses owned by Mrs. Gay Hayes of Dorr, carried the grand marshal of the Ionia Free Fair parade. The marshal was former Michigan Gov. Fred Green.

J.M. Bodine of Hopkins, a milk truck driver, died of the injuries he suffered in a traffic crash 10 days before on I-94 near Battle Creek. He was 57.
Peter Cipponeri, 65, of Grand Rapids, was killed in a traffic crash on old U.S.-131 about a mile south of Wayland. Authorities said he collapsed at the wheel of his car and collided with an oncoming car near the Ed Wobma farm property.

Chester Grandy provided the Globe with a brief history of the old Sproat School, also known at one time as Dorr. No. 4. The school was built in 1854 on a quarter of an acre purchased from Robert Sproat at rock bottom price. Charles D. Wood was reported to be the first teacher.

Harold Brower won the bidding war for the milk contract with Wayland Union schools, with a price of .049, outbidding Harold Hinckle and Lockshore Farms. Yankee Springs Hardware submitted the low and winning bid for furnishing supplies for the shop.

The Wayland summer recreation program concluded with the watermelon bust at Green Lake. There were 150 participants and the instructors were Donal TeRoller, Mary Nyuli and Barbara Warner.

Marshall Thompson was starring in “Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion” at the Wayland Theatre.

The Chicago musical combo “The Chancellors” were performing for dancing at the Mid-Villa the weekend of Aug. 13, 14 and 15. The group included a guitar, electric organ and drums.

Fay C. Wing, former local pastor, was to be guest speaker Saturday night at a special service at the Wayland Church of Christ.

Miss Mary Jane Morrell and Mrs. Donald Durfee were co-chairing the Wayland Garden Club’s flower show at the Wayland Community fair this year.

The Rolling Stones kept rolling along with their fourth straight week atop the nation’s music charts with “Satisfaction.”

75 years Ago — Aug. 9, 1940

The starlings are beginning to con­gregate in large flocks, which means that the days are getting shorter. The Village Park is a favorite gathering spot for them, and the village dads have been talking about using dynamite on them to help get rid of the pests.

Mr. O.D. Weller, who shoots spot news for Fox-Movietone News, has been in the village this week shooting scenes of the community and its folks to be run at the Wayland Theatre Friday and Satur­day nights.

Mr. Weller has shot several hundred feet of film this week and carries his own processing equipment to the extent of $10,000 worth to produce the positive film ready for the projection machine.

Some of the shots include the plant and all of the employees of the Pet Milk Co., and night shots of the Wednesday evening program with its huge crowd and plenty of surprise shots of local people taken with a telephoto lens at a distance of 500 feet, which will bring them close up, unaware that they were taken by Cameraman Weller.

Leonard Kotrba, ace pitcher for the Gun Lake baseball club, is the pride and joy of Gun Lake fans these days, for he has been selected to try out with the Brooklyn Dodgers farm club of the Michigan State League, the Grand Rapids Colts.

100 years Ago — Aug. 13, 1915

Mr. and Mrs. John Hendrixsma Sr. experienced a horse carriage accident Sunday afternoon when part of the harness broke and the horse ran the buggy into a ditch. The couple was thrown from the buggy, but suffered only bumps and bruises.

One of the horses of the huge team owned by George Murphy died Monday morning.

Mr. Taylor, highway commissioner, is having a new cement bridge built a half mile south of Dorr.

The fall festival and homecoming this year is being planned for Oct. 7, 8 and 9 and committees are being appointed.

The 22^nd annual Finkbeiner reunion was held at the Leighton Township home of Barney Guenter.

The editor and publisher opined, “Judging by the great number of automobiles on the road Sunday it would seem every owner of a car must thoroughly enjoy the day. It certainly is a cheap way of having an outing and the best part of it is that the whole family can go at the same expense.”

The Silver Family Band is expected to perform in concert at a tent show in Wayland Aug. 16.

Hoyt Grey Whitney passed away at his home and his funeral will be conducted from the same place.

Wayne McClintock and Milton Weaver continued this year’s string of reports of terrific fishing at Gun Lake. They caught 136 bluegills in just two and a half hours.

Dedication exercises were held for the MP Church, West Gun Lake. Attendees heard addresses by Rev. Stephenson and Mrs. W.W. Gray. The church now is debt free.