Louis G. Yerrick and Grace L. Chamberlain established a business on the northeast corner of North Main and East Maple Street, the Hotel Yerick and Feed Barn.
(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — March 22, 1999
The boat launch at the Allegan County Gun Lake Park has been renovated.
Hopkins schools students are taking part in the retro dance marathon, with proceeds going toward the Cystic Fibrosis foundation.
Rick Mena of Martin captured his second straight Division 4 state championship, wrestling this time in the 130-pound division. Freshman Josh Hildebrand was second at 125, losing by just a point in the finals. Travis Brenner was third at 119. Wayland’s Jessy Simmons placed seventh at 135.
The Globe published a front page photo of visitors checking out the indoors of the new Hopkins High School building. Officials have indicated that the school will be ready in May for opening in the fall.
Eighteen firms were involved in the bidding to cut fire lanes in a three million tire pile in Watson Township.
Allegan County spelling bee champ Steven Meyerink of Martin bowed out of the regional competition at Creston High School in Grand Rapids.
Wayland city employees have moved into their new digs at City Hall and are just getting accustomed to their new work home.
Wayland Township Supervisor Jose Blanco was able to have his friend Goble Messer appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals, but his request to be paid the same salary as the clerk and treasurer was denied.
Ernie Gonzales, former assistant manager at Harding’s in Wayland, was arraigned in Allegan County District Court on a charge of embezzlement.
Wayland High School students Miranda Buist and Brian Young both placed seventh in their divisions at the Business Professionals of America contest in Detroit.
Dorr Township has been given two years to develop plans for a park on 700 acres of land donated by the late John Bysterveld off 14th Street,
Wayland’s annual balloon rally at Springfest has been discontinued by the Wayland Chamber of Commerce because of a lack of volunteers.
Martin Schools Supt. Tom Cutler received a good report card from the Board of Education in his first-year evaluation.
Wayland City officials have begun a search for a new treasurer in the wake of the resignation of Karen Doyle, who is taking the same position soon for Plainfield Township north of Grand Rapids.
Wayland High School diver Ashley Freeman was named an academic all-American swimmer, the first to earn such accolades in school history.
The Hopkins High School volleyball team lost to Buchanan in the Class C regionals.
The Martin High School band, directed by Fred Bogdan, earned a first division rating at the Michigan High School Band and Orchestra Association district competition at Grandville.
James Koster, a charter member of the Wayland Calvary Church, died in Venice, Fla. He was 69.
Haroldene Bruinsma has purchased the Reno Insurance Agency from Mary Reno and Mike Salisbury has been named manager.
50 Years Ago — March 19, 1974
Chet Brevitz, proprietor of the Ben Franklin Store in downtown Wayland, has been named to an open City Council seat vacated by Robert Swartout, who resigned to run for mayor, challenging Marshall Towne.
Allegan County Commissioner Dennis Nickels told the Wayland Chamber of Commerce the welcome news that 135th Avenue will be resurfaced west into Hopkins Township and into Hilliards.
Wayland High School graduate Cindy Weber, now a student at Western Michigan University, is touring with the Varsity Vagabonds on their 30-day tour of Caribbean USO military installations.
Congressman Gary Brown of Schoolcraft will be speaker at the Allegan County Republican Lincoln Day dinner March at the Casco United Methodist Church.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has approved a recreation grant request from the Village of Martin for a recreation center on school property covering two and a half acres.
The Allegan County Taxpayers Association filed a petition to restrain the Board of Commissioners from holding informal secret meetings about constructing an $830,000 county building at Dumont Lake.
Former city official Russ Rugaber wrote a letter to the editor expressing dismay that having the city assessor appointed rather than elected would make him or her twice removed from the people who pay the position’s salary. Ernie Martin is stepping down as assessor for health reasons after many years of service.
The Wayland United Methodist Women will continue its “Great Religions of the World” series with an examination of Islam.
The topic for discussion at the next Wayland Home Extension Club will be “What’s Behind the Ads?”
Paul Heckert was named to the first unit of the O-K Blue Conference all-star basketball team and Alan Lettinga and Randy Mauchmar were honorable mention selections.
Wayland wrestling coach Rick Tokarchick named six underclassmen he believes will help the Wildcats a lot in future seasons, including Jim Krick, John Kaur, Vic Lohroff, Daren Irwin, Bruce Brinks and Andy Warner.
Al McCaffery of Martin was named to the second unit on the all-SAC basketball team.
Kelly McEwen and Rick Smith of Hopkins were named to the A-O Conference all-star basketball team.
Joy Multer is the top scorer for the Wayland High School volleyball team, which is tied for second place in the O-K Blue Conference. Mrs. Pat Rowley is the coach.
Wayland Junior High Principal Bob Marutz has been named to the Michigan Junior High-Middle School Task Force.
Wayland is one of 15 area high schools taking part in the Aquinas College regional art competition.
A space heater backed up inside a home on South Main Street and caused a minor fire that was handled quickly by the Wayland Fire Department.
Cher took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Dark Lady.”
75 Years Ago — March 25, 1949
Thomas Fred Brooks, 57, died without warning at the home of brother-in-law Frank Dorman during a family gathering. He had been a partner in the Wayland Oil Co., ran a meat and grocery business for 15 years and Brooks Hardware for almost five years.
The baby daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Vanderhof died at birth March 21 at Crispe Hospital in Plainwell.
Mary L. Moeller, a native of Sweden and a resident of Wayland for the past 40 years, died at the home of her sister.
A Town and Country shop, featuring ready-to-wear clothing for women, will open for business in downtown Wayland by Mrs. Louise DeLater.
The Wayland Chamber of Commerce will have another of its “famous turkey suppers” at the Legion Hall.
The Wayland High School music department will present its annual spring concert, which will feature Evelyn Moore narrating Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” which includes two orchestra groups.
The Wayland chapter of the Future Homemakers of America elected Phyllis Pepper and Marie Douglas as delegates to the FHA convention at Michigan State College.
Home Service Director Dorothy Bremer put on a very successful Ironrite home service demonstration at Van’s Gas & Electric Co.
An item in the Bull Board column: “I don’t suppose America would be America without that great institution, ‘The Party Line’.”
About 40 guests attended a meeting of the Green Lake Embroidery Club.
The Dorr Mothers Club entertained teachers and education representatives in the area and decided to promote a medical clinic for immunizations of children at Dorr school.
The South Wayland Extension Club held a “hard times” party and box social at Bradley Hall and enjoyed Laurel and Hardy movies.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre downtown:
• James Lyon and Lois Collier in “Out of the Storm.”
• Charles Russell and Virginia Christine in “Night Wind.”
• Dana Andrews, Lilli Palmer and Louis Jourdan in “No Minor Vices.”
• Burl Ives, Bobby Driscoll and Beulah Bondi in “So Dear to My Heart.”
100 Years Ago — March 21, 1924
Mrs. Amanda Sias died at the home of her daughter, whom she was visiting for several months, after suffering a hip injury in a fall. She was 86.
A traveling salesman wrote a letter to the editor praising the city for having a quality hotel.
Mary Ann Bordman, who was born in Yankee Springs Township in 1841, died at her home at Green Lake. She was 82.
Carrie Bahs Van Lew, a charter member of the Church of Corinth, died died at her home March 9. She was only 48, but was a longtime sufferer of heart ailments.
Frederick Hupp, 75, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Anna Calkins. “He was a kind and loving husband and father.”
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Wallace Reid, Walter Heirs and Lila Lee in “The Ghost Breaker.” A Mack Sennett comedy, “Cupid’s Day Off.” The high school will present a play Thursday and Friday at the Regent.
With but three exceptions, the entire personnel of the local Boy Scouts attended the Troop Committee supper at the American Legion Hall. Presenting badges were Scoutmaster L.B. Mason and J.L. Robinson.
Services were held at the home on North Main Street for August Gustafson, who died while spending the winter at South Carolina. He had hoped to improve his heart health down South.
