25 years Ago — Sept. 12, 1990
More than 225 of 
the 300 employees of Kessler’s Inc. have been notified they are being laid off in the wake of the company’s longtime economic challenges. Only 30 to 40 workers will remain in light production. Co-owners Tom and Donna White, according to Globe Editor Nila Aamoth, are sending the lost jobs to the Caribbean, where the infant sleepwear will be made much more cheaply.
Aamoth, in an editorial, said, “While there may have been no specific references to the equation of dollars-equals-employees, there can be no doubt that loans, grants and moral support have been lent to the company with the understanding its operations will improve the local economy.”
The Dorr Township Board will have one more vote on the proposed $25 annual surcharge for recycling. Clerk Dick Dutkiewicz and Supervisor Don Kaczanowski both support it, Joe Graczyk and Paul Burmania oppose and awaited is the tie-breaking vote by Trustee Norm Fifelski.
Apple Core Lounge co-owners Roger and Al Baker are appealing the Michigan Liquor Control Commission’s decision to suspend the Shelbyville-area bar and restaurant’s liquor license after eight charges from two incidents have been reviewed.
Work is now almost complete on resurfacing old U.S.-131 (10th Street) from Wayland to Bradley. Cost was more than $255,000 for the project.
The Dorr Township Board voted to deny a request for rezoning, from residential to commercial, a parcel near the corner of Litchfield Drive and 142nd Avenue.
Popular area pastor Rev. Stanley Craig has announced he is leaving Gun Lake Community Church to take a new assignment near Chicago.
Vonda Evers scored 16 points and Missy Kruzel 11 as Martin got past Hopkins in a local battle between two neighborhood girls’ basketball teams. Tanya Schwartz netted 12 points and Jennifer Hall 10 for the Vikings.
Wayland, missing Chris Gruver and Heather Staley because of injuries, fell short 50-37 to Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Laura Barghan scored 16 points and gathered eight rebounds.
Hopkins blew out Battle Creek St. Phillip 30-8 on the gridiron, as Lupe Martinez, rushed for 189 yards and Zack Wilson passed for 112.
Martin posted its second straight football shutout victory under coach Pete Zeinstra, 13-0 over Lawton.
Kevin Goodwin ran the best time ever for a Wildcat harrier (19:25) at Johnson Park as Wayland defeated Forest Hills Northern 28-29.
Miss Wayland Kelly Nieuwenhuis and Miss Dorr Heather Zuidersma were first and second runners-up, respectively in the 1990 Allegan County Harvest Queen pageant.
50 Years Ago — Sept. 8, 1965
Scott Hilbert, a 1965 graduate of Wayland High School, was named top rookie performer at the Ferris State College summer football camp.
Wayland schools are reporting the highest enrollment in the district’s history with a 6 percent increase over a year ago. Superintendent Carl Bergstrom and High School Principal James Thomas are welcoming the huge numbers for the 1965-66 academic year.
Ozzie Parks, a 1954 graduate of Wayland High School and son of Mr. and Mrs. Hosmer Parks of Wayland, has accepted the position of high school principal at Climax-Scotts. Parks has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Michigan University.
Because Dwight Cheever is the only candidate seeking the Allegan County Probate Judge’s post, there will be no primary in the special election to succeed the deceased Judge Harold Weston.
The Allegan County Fair is scheduled to get under way on Monday, Sept. 13. Featured will be Homer & Jethro, Hubert Castlers International Circus, the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show, a horseshoe pitching contest, an authentic Indian Village featuring Hopkins and Bradley tribal members, Farm-O-Rama, the “Magical Moments Revue” and the Black River Trout Fishing Stream experience.
“The Embertones” were guest performers for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at the Middle Villa Inn, featuring bowling, dancing and dining.
The Wayland Theatre was showing “Zebra in the Kitchen.”
Barney says: “Children start school these days with a big advantage. They already know two letters of the alphabet — TV.” Barney Nicolai owned and operated Nicolai Gulf at the corner of Maple and North Main streets, where the Hair Cut Hut now does business.
Among those competing for the Allegan County Harvest Queen title at the fair are Mss Wayland Vicki Chlebana, Miss Hopkins Marcia Olson, Miss Martin Melissa Jayne McBride and Miss Dorr Kathy Schumaker.
Wayland Township has ordered a new fire truck to replace the old 1941 model. Cost will be absorbed by a three-quarter mill tax levy over three years.
75 Years Ago — Sept. 13, 1940
Road builders are stressing the importance of good highways as the country’s crying need as a preparedness measure. As I traverse the curves and steep hills between here and Grand Rapids and become enmeshed in a traffic snarl behind a big truck that is painfully and slowly creeping up the hill ahead of me, I wonder if one of the first steps shouldn’t be to widen the pavement on these curves even though the straightaways are left for some future date.
The “little world series” between the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees holds the attention of many local Tiger fans. When the Tigers took the first game 6 to 3, Thursday, many a local fan breathed a sigh of relief.
A spiritual revival bringing blessing and inspiration to all who attend is continuing at the Church of Christ in Wayland. The evangelist. Herbert J. Bass, a native of Australia, is a forceful gospel preacher.
Friday evening the sermon subject will be “Wickedness that Slays the Wicked in our Modern Day.”
A special sermon is announced for Sunday evening and a special invitation is extended to all young people to hear the message. It will be interesting, practical and helpful. The topic “The Devil We Meet in Wayland—and What’s His Business.”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt notified Congress that the United States had reached an agreement with Great Britain whereby this country would obtain leases on naval and air bases in British possessions in the hemisphere in exchange for the transfer of 50 over-age U.S. destroyers to England. Expected to arouse a storm of debate, the act requires no ratification by Congress, but was submitted to that body to advise the nation of the arrangements made.
Dictator Winston Churchill of England entered an underground air-raid shelter, puffing on one of his favorite cigars. The mayor said, sternly, “Put out that cigar, Mr. Churchill.” The dictator looked sheepish, and did so. Therein lies the essential difference between British and German dictators, in the year of grace,
Churchill himself is a trade-unionized brick-layer. When a New York taxi driver knocked him down a few years ago, he gave the penitent fellow a cigar. He also told him an off-color joke. In short, the dictatorial Mr. Churchill tends to be a pretty good guy.
100 Years Ago — Sept. 10, 1915
Nettie and Martha Chrisman, daughters of John and Becky Chrisman of Wayland, dropped in on W.W. Bisby of San Diego, Calif., and he sent a letter to the Globe to tell the story. He wrote about days gone by that included the swimming hole at the Rabbit River, spearing fish on Green Lake, and he reported that Becky’s father led the signing at the Congregational Church with a tuning fork.
George Highstone and Miss Ella Carver were the teachers at Moline and Leighton No. 10 schools, respectively, as they began their academic years this week.
James Halloran of Leighton has resigned as undersheriff and gone back to his farm.
Mr. and Mrs. George Myers have bought the farm of H.N. Hall and have moved into the house east of the village.
In a classified ad, Charles J. Laker warned, “The parties who took the Hopkins penhant from the auto at Wayland Saturday night are known and had better return it and save trouble.”
James R. Crofoot sold three lots and buildings to Fred Keefer of Jamestown.
The Bradley Yeomen will celebrate the fourth anniversary of the order at their hall Oct. 1.
John Miller’s farm north of Moline was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.
Total enrollment at Wayland schools is a record 238, with 98 at the high school, 40 in grammar school, 59 in the intermediate and 37 in primary.
F.J. LeClair of Grand Rapids, manager of the Cooperage Company, had a unique experience fishing at Gun Lake. He caught a nice bluegill and was reeling it in when it was swallowed up by a huge muskie. The tremendous struggle ensued, but the Globe reported, “Of course, the big fish got away, as they always do. But the bluegill was secured, battered and torn.”
The Christian Church Sunday School program is reporting attendance of nearly 100 over the summer.
The Allegan County Fair will get under way Sept. 28, 29 and 30. The slogan this year is, “Let’s have a good fair, even if we don’t make a cent.” The celebration was to include a “gaily decorated midway,” horse races, lukins, lions and acrobats.
PHOTO: This was the Ben Franklin Store, a nickel and dime business run by Chester Brevitz in the 1960s and 1970s. Today it is the site of the Wayland Discount Store, a similar institution. The photo is courtesy of Penny Hudson, a product of the era.
