25 Years Ago — July 1, 1991
Dorr, Hopkins, 
Caledonia, Gun Lake and Charlton Park all were planning Fourth of July celebrations, including parades, fireworks, and a political address by State Sen. Dick Posthumus in Caledonia. In Dorr Township, Fire Chief Bill Fifelski brought back the restored “Number One” fire truck, the first-ever pumper in Dorr, to lead the parade. Number One was sold by Dorr to Beaver Island in 1976.
Investigation continues for the unusual case of 10 missing gravestones at St. Mary’s Visitation cemetery in North Dorr.
The Ann Arbor Film Festiva’ls last stop on tour will be the Fontana Society Museum in Shelbyville. Featured will be two dozen independent art films of between three and 24 minutes in length.
Linda Hutchings wrote a feature story about the 12 years of continuing success of the Fontana Society and its co-founders Neill Sanders and Ann Meade.
Paul Jackson penned a feature story about the unusual art works by James “Jungle” Powell, whose progressive art elicits love and hate.
Pat Staley wrote a feature story about Scobey’s Produce in Leighton Township, focusing on the family nature of the business. Bill Scobey said, “We can’t get workers to work in the field any more” so Scobey’s focuses on U-Pick or farmers markets.
Thirty-one students took part in the summer tennis program with teacher Andrea VandenBerg through the Wayland Community Education/Recreation program.
A catch-and-release fishing tournament is being held every Wednesday at Gun Lake under the coordination of Vern Finch at the Allegan County Park and Landman’s Marina.
50 Years Ago — June 29, 1966
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wenzel have purchased the Weaver Hardware Store in the 100 block of South Main Street from Dora and Harold Weaver.
Wayland High School graduate Ronald Peterson has earned his PhD in avian physiology at Michigan State University.
Marvin DeYoung has been named branch manager at the First National Bank and Trust in Martin, succeeding the late Clifton Wicks.
Six area K-8 rural schools, including Hooker, Sproat, Corning, Dorr, Moline and Jones will have a special election July 29 to decide whether they will permit annexation into the Wayland school district. The same issue failed earlier in the year at the ballot box.
Wayand, Dorr and Hopkins will celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with sirens, bells, queen contests, food and fireworks. Dorr already had selected its 1966 queen, Carol Ann Michaud, who took the crown succeeding Kathy Schumaker.
LeRoy Snook, 25, a 1958 graduate of Wayland High School, dies at Blodgett Hospital of injuries he suffered in a traffic accident.
Plans have been announced for the annual Wayland Globe tennis tournament, including categories in boys, girls and father-son.
Tommy Kirk and Deborah Walley were co-starring in “The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini” at the Wayland Theatre.
Levi Knobloch, 63, supervisor for Monterey Township for 14 years, died at the Allegan Health Center.
Roy Wilcox, who represented Valley and Hopkins townships on the Allegan County Board of Supervisors, died. He was 87.
The Beatles’ “Paperback Writer” repeated as the No. 1 in the land.
75 Years Ago — July 4, 1941
“The old (Wayland) school building is now just about a thing of the past. The wreckers have about completed their job of razing the old brick building…”
Guert V. Fales and Vincent Snell have filed petitions to run for seats on the Wayland Kellogg Board of Education. Sib Rumery is president and Harry Elenbaas secretary.
Capt. Downing and Trooper Hunt from the Rockford post of the Michigan State Police, visited the village to try to determine the best sites for a post in Wayland. Capt. Downing said he liked a site on the south side. The State Legislature already has set aside $55,000 for the project.
Wayland has a 3-0 record in the Allegan County Recreation League summer baseball season. Martin is 2-1, Allegan and Otsego both are 1-2 and Plainwell 0-3. “Last year’s Wayland team was one of eight best in the state and was awar5ded a trophy presented by former major leaguer Kiki Cuyler in Lansing.
Norris Schuh and sold his billiards and pool business to Kermit Krebbs. Schuh now will focus more on his tourist cabins he owns on South Main Street.
Ruth Kinney, Frederick Deardorff of Wayland and Dorothy Luigart of Shelbyville all have earned bachelor of science degrees at Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo. Miss Finney already has been offered a teaching job in Hart.
Movies this week at the Wayland Theatre: Ginger Rogers and Dennis Morgan in “Kitty Foyle,” Carole Lombard, Robert Montgomery and Gene Raymond in “Mrs. and Mrs. Smith,” Bob Crosby and Marie Wilson in “Rookies on Parade” and Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes in “Sheriff of Tombstone.”
100 Years Ago — June 30, 1916
F.C. Wing wrote a front-page letter to the editor clarifying his status in the community. He said rumors that he has sold his undertaker business are false, but he did acknowledge he submitted his resignation as pastor for the Christian Church. However, he noted about three-fourths of the congregation has asked him to reconsider and he is taking a couple of months to think it over.
Hazen Jones of Dorr and Owen King of Moline have enlisted in the 32nd Regiment of Grand Rapids and now making the trip to the Mexican border to try to help stop the raids by Pancho Villa.
Mina Pasma, Rosie Fifelski, John DeVries and Wallace Douma have passed their eighth grade examinations and received diplomas.
There was a dance Thursday evening in James Halloran’s new barn.
The annual picnic of the Helping Aid was held at Hooker’s Lansing, Green Lake, with splendid attendance.
Village President A.E. Weaver was spending some time in Grand Rapids receiving treatment for an eye condition.
“Chas. A. French has recently purchased the Martin, Hopkins and Dorr newspapers and hereafter will conduct the same.”
F.A. Burlington has moved his delicatessen from the Ward Building to the brick corner store. Ben Stockdale will move in a billiards business at the Ward Building in the meantime.
Harold Hazen of Hopkins fell from a milk wagon while making deliveries near the GR&I Depot. His horses became spooked and threw him under the cart. He is recovering after treatment from Dr. Hanlon.
George Crofoot, who farmed in this area for many years, died at 68. His surviving son Marcus still lives in Wayland.
Miss Mildred Andrews of Allegan is offering violin lessons every Monday at the home of Charles Yeakey.
Ed Babbitt of Moline died at EBA Hospital of stomach cancer.
