(From the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — April 15, 1992
The Allegan United Way has decided to end its affiliation with the national organization because of continued negative publicity about spending priorities, according to Executive Director Jeff McElwee.
The Leighton Township Board has adopted a new mineral mining ordinance, prompted by the rapid expansion of the Bill Smith Sand & Gravel operation.
With tongue planted firmly in cheek, Dorr Township Clerk Dick Dutkiewicz wrote a letter to the editor congratulating the City of Wayland’s voters for electing two Polish citizens, Paul Kaczanowski and John Bilski, to the City Council earlier in the month.
From the Soapbox: ”Much like the fantasy (cartoon) world of Saturday morning, there are plenty of villains polluting our planet with various toxins and waste. Unfortunately, unlike the cartoons, we have been deprived of superheroes who can magically clean and repair our environment with a wave of the hand.”
Reconstruction of the U.S.-131 expressway from one mile north of Martin to Bradley has been delayed until late July or August, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.
A group of parents appeared at a Wayland Board of Education meeting to ask school officials to continue the gifted and talented program. Opponents insist it only serves a small number of students.
Doug Dunn, who operates Thomas Chevrolet in Wayland, has announced plans to reopen the former Hoeksema Ford dealership under the name of Wayland Ford. He also plans to change his dealership’s name to Wayland Chevrolet.
Sue Schloop, a fourth grade teacher at Dorr Elementary, has been selected as Wayland Schools’ Teacher of the year. Other finalists were Susan Boehm at Steeby, Cheri Ritz at Moline, Daryl Fleser at the high school, Judy Mutschler at Baker and Sharon Nelson at the junior high.
Frank Langley, former president of the Wayland Board of Education and former commander of the Wayland VFW post, died in Bradenton, Fla. He was 73.
The Wayland High School baseball team rode an impressive 25-for27 performance in base stealing while winning three of its first four games.
The Martin girls’ track team just missed winning the SAC Relays competition because of being disqualified in the 800-meter relay.
Hopkins was off to a fast start in softball with four straight wins, led by the pitching of Sarah Arnsman and the timely hitting of Tracey Ablett and Amy Lodenstein.
Jesse Beck’s pitching performances highlighted a strong 3-0 start for the Hopkins baseball team.
Tyrone Johnson suffered a hamstring pull for the Wayland boys’ track team and may be out for the season.
Chuck Regan, a 1959 graduate of Wayland High School and brother of fellow WHS grad Phil Regan, has opened the Dorr RV Brokerage business with hs wife Linda. He also was all-state in football, attended University of Wyoming on a scholarship and pitched in the minor leagues before injury halted his baseball career.
50 Years Ago — April 12, 1967
Irvin P. Helmey, in a front page editorial, wrote: “A blow against power politics was struck by the Michigan Supreme Court when it declared unconstitutional a law passed in 1966 by the Democratic-controlled State Legislature forcing county boards of supervisors to reapportion on the basis of population only. The law would have reduced the numbers on the Allegan County Board from 40 to a maximum of 21. William Mauchmar and Jack L. Gurney currently represent the city on the county board.
Gary Finkbeiner was named valedictorian of the Wayland High School Class of 1967 and Dennis DeHaan was salutatorian. Finkbeiner plans to attend Michigan State University and DeHaan University of Michigan.
Dr. Gerald VandeVoord took the gavel as new president of the Wayland Rotary Club, succeeding Dr. Kenneth DeWeerd.
Mr. and Mrs. Sjuk Oordsma have decided to sell their home in Wayland and return to their native country, the Netherlands. They had lived for 35 years in the United States.
Cadet Cpl. Kenneth Palmer of Wayland has been awarded the Freshman Chicago Tribune Silver Medal. A 1966 graduate of Wayland High School, he is in the ROTC program at Western Michigan University.
Recent Michigan State University graduate Richard Miller was hired by the Wayland Board of Education to teach seventh grade science for the remainder of the academic year, succeeding Mrs. Walter Steines.
A Youth Center has been opened at the former Kessler building on South Main Street.
Ellis Wykstra of Martin was elected president of the Allegan County Young Republicans organization.
Russell Tobolic, a graduate of Wayland High School, received the Silver Key Award for academic achievement at Tri-State College in Angola, Ind.
Reggie Hines placed eighth in a state girls’ physical education state-wide bowling competition by rolling a 166 game and Sue Worfel was ninth for a 437 series.
John Mills and Michael Caine were starring in “The Wrong Box” at the Wayland Theatre.
The Hopkins Library moved into its new digs at the former Hopkins Lumber and Coal Building in the village. Rose Iciek was director and Mrs. Harvey Arndt was Library Board president.
Among the winners of the Southwest District 4-H Achievement Contest were Connie Bowman of the Martin Mixers and Terri Holcomb of the Shelbyville Shamrocks.
Frank and Nancy Sinatra, father and daughter who both recorded No. 1 songs in 1966, hit the top of the charts together with “Somethin’ Stupid.” It remained atop the charts for four consecutive weeks.
75 Years Ago — April 17, 1942
The Firemen’s Ball last Wednesday attracted a huge crowd of an estimated 450 dancers at the Dixie Pavilion south of town on 10th Street.
“Bicycle riders are coming to the front and with the rubber scarcity and ban on auto production, they would become far more plentiful,” opined Roll G. Mosher, editor and publisher. “It brings to mind the bicycle days of 30 and 40 years ago.” He mentioned Denny Chapple, Dick Andrus and Harry Pickett as being particularly skillful in bicycle racing and said a local group used to make bike trips every Sunday to Burton Heights.
“The Devil’s Transport,” a trumpet ensemble from WASH station, and Dorothy with the Magic Touch were scheduled to be featured as entertainment for the Sunday service at the Church of Christ.
The Wayland School Glee Club Festival was set for April 24 with about 150 girls slated to join in the singing under the tutelage of Trixie Moore of Holland. Expected to be guests were girls from Fennville, Martin, Plainwell and Saugatuck.
Anthony Kooiker, a senior music student at Northwestern University, was to present a piano recital at Wayland School as part of the schools’ spring concert May 1.
The final meeting of the Wayland Brotherhood, with 75 members, will feature a carry-in dinner April 20. The group sponsors the local Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sea Scouts and the annual father and son banquet.
Wayland High School’s baseball schedule has been announced, and opponents will include Hopkins, Martin, Caledonia, Middleville and Byron Center.
- D. Miles is proprietor of the new sports shop at 127 Locust St., featuring fishing and hunting supplies and equipment. He also offers gun cleaning and repairs.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Lloyd Nolan and Mary Beth Hughes in “Blue, White and Perfect.”
- Broderick Crawford, Andy Devine and Lon Chaney Jr. in “North to the Klondike.”
- Joan Blondell and John Wayne in “Lady for a Night.”
- Roddy McDowall in “On the Sunny Side.”
- Eddy Albert and Peggy Moran in “Treat ‘Em Rough.”
- Cesar Romero, Carol Landis and Milton Berle in “A Gentleman at Heart.”
100 Years Ago — April 13, 1917
Aystin P. Cooke, an Allegan area farmer, was killed after he lost control of machine and it crashed over a rural embankment. Residents nearby said they heard an auto horn blowing at intervals for about a half hour. But because “it is customary for joy riders to to disturb them (residents’) slumber in this manner occasionally none went to investigate.” Cooke was found the next morning and was believed to have died of exposure.
A front page notice in the Globe exhorted all local young men to come to the aid of their country, now engaged in a war overseas.
About 25 members of the Bradley Improvement League were guests of the Ladies Library Club. President Mae Brush welcomed the visitors and the Bradley women obliged their hosts with entertainment, as Evelyn Weaver sand two songs and Githa Hines played a piano selection.
Wayland played Martin at the latter’s athletic complex in tennis, basketball and baseball.
Sophomore Harold Chapple, widely respected as a young history buff, gave a presentation on comparisons between the French Revolution in 1789 and the recent Russian Revolution.
The Alpha Society met with Gertrude Andrus, . She and Mary Headley provided musical entertainment and the ladies enjoying sewing, socializing and a chicken dinner.
The roof of the Congregation caught fire from sparks from the chimney. The fire department extinguished it quickly and confined the damage to about $50.
Oliver Miller of Moline has taken over as local highway commissioner for Dorr Township. His daunting task is to do something about that awful road toward Grand Rapids.
The coming payday for the Helvetia will be $40,000 and the milk condensary is receiving about 65,000 pounds of the substance daily.
Henika Library now is equipped with a new “Hot Home Blast” heater manufactured in Holland.