(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Aug. 9, 1995
The silo in Bradley that once provided a birds’ eye view of Plank Road Farm was brought down to make room for huge new warehouse for Ampro Seeds, which will be built in the coming fall.
Editor Nila Aamoth, in her Soapbox, disagreed with Yankee Springs Township’s decision to crack down on fruit and vegetable stands without being taxed or regulated. She wrote, “Tax paying, hard-working businesses have a right to be upset with interlopers who want to reap the rewards without paying the price… but the township can’t put the squeeze on every Tom, Dick and Harry who has his hand out.”
The Wayland City Council will consider an ordinance to prohibit bicyclers, skateboarders and roller bladers from usimg the sidewalks in the downtown area.
Dorr Township Supervisor Don Kaczanowski has reported studies have shown increasing traffic at the four corners at 18th Street and 142nd Avenue.
Wendy Needham was the latest of letter writers to complain about the tasteless strip tease-style lip sync performance during the Summerfest talent show.
Notorious elderly local walker Jim Hedrick was photographed doing his customary thing regardless of the recent construction work on Main Street near downtown Wayland.
Lloyd Jackson has retired after serving for 15 years as Wayland Township Sexton.
The Watson Township may opt to continue contracting its recycling services with Browning Ferris Industries rather than join Allegan County’s surcharge program.
The City Council approved a site plan for the latest residential development, Wayland Meadows on Sib Rumery.
The Hopkins Township Planning Commission reversed its earlier decision against rezoning agricultural property to residential. Developer Klaus Knoll made the request.
Marcella Jager Buiter, 35, was killed in a traffic accident and leaves a young daughter as one of her survivors.
50 Years Ago — Aug. 5, 1970
Joe Iciek, director of the local summer education program for migrant children at Wayland schools, reported an average of between 58 and 204 students showed up saily for the sessions, which ran for seven weeks.
Sandy McKie, 16, was crowned Miss Martin at the annual pageant Saturday evening at the high school.
Hopkins Public Schools will begin the academic year on Aug. 31. One of the new teachers is 1966 Hopkins graduate Jim Newell.
James Roger Weber, 18, of Dorr, drowned Aug. 2 when he and a companion tried to swim across Gun Lake at Robbins Bay.
Voters in both Hopkins and Leighton townships approved road millage requests in the August primary, but Dorr Township voters went the other way.
Bev Johnson of Wayland was pictured as the drummer for the Salvation Army band “New Dawn,” a folk rock group.
Albert J. Decker has won an Army Commendation medal as a medical aidman in Vietnam.
“Vietnam Diary” columnist Barry Brower, a 1963 graduate of Wayland High School, was joined by 39 comrades in signing a letter opposing the two full page ads by Editor Irv Helmey and Wes Warren suggesting war protesters were tools of the communists. Brower maintained that dissent is an American value that is worth protecting.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Peter O’Toole and Petula Clark in “Goodbye Mr. Chips.”
Former Michigan Gov. G. Mennen Williams was special guest at the Dorr Democratic Party fund-raising picnic and chicken dinner that attracted about 500 people, according to correspondent Mrs. Max Belka.
Hopkins High School junior Bob Walker attended the Michigan Farm Bureau citizenship seminar at Central Michigan University.
Mark Klompstra, 12, scored his third killing of a rattlesnake in his young career in the driveway of his home on 5th Street, using a BB gun.
75 Years Ago — Aug. 10, 1945
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote a substantial “Observations” column about dropping the atomic bomb on Japan. He penned, “My first reaction was that here is the thing that will bring Japan to its knees. Then I got to wondering just what the final reaction will be toward the conduct of the U.S. Are we justified in using such a destructive instrument in warfare?”
Nellie Looyengoed, 89, a Wayland resident for 29 years, died at a hospital in Dowagiac. Born in the Netherlands in 1864, she was a member of the Wayland United Methodist Church.
Leighton School District No. 10, the Sauger School, will have a special election Aug. 15 on whether to agree to be annexed by the Wayland system.
Mr. and Mrs. John Radowski have sold the Hilliards Tavern to John Bala of Grand Rapids after 15 years. The name “Butt Right Inn’ will be retained.
Thomas Stora, 65, was killed in a farm accident in which apparently fell from a wagon while working at the Suchovsky farm. He was found unconscious on the side of the road by his son. It is not known was caused the fall.
Lewis Sager, who operated a boat livery on Payne Lake, died at Allegan General Hospital. He was 85.
Cpl. Carl Bruinsma was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in France.
The Hopkins Holiness Camp is scheduled for Aug. 16-26. Mrs. Grace Lawrence of Martin will handle the youth part of the camp.
Otto Wait was elected president of the Buskirk Reunion, which met for the 51st consecutive year.
A community party will be held Saturday nnight for Mr. and Mrs. McNulty, who are retiring from ownership of the General Store on 146th Avenue and Kalamazoo Avenue.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Chester Morris and Nancy Kelly in “Double Exposure.”
- Gladys George and Edward Everett Horton in “Steppin’ in Society.”
- William Bendix, Joan Blondell and Phil Silvers in “Don Juan Quiiligan.”
- Fred MacMurray and Joan Leslie in “Where Do We Go from Here?”
100 Years Ago — Aug. 6, 1920
Mrs. Fred Schwarts suffered burns to her arms and legs in a fire that started while she was cleaning her gas stove. She was able to put the fire out on her clothing by rolling in garden sand and her son provided a water hose to finish the job.
Allegan County schools this year are to receive $110,970 in aid. Wayland will get $6,190, Dorr $5,210, Hopkins $4,940, Leighton $3,630, and Martin $3,480. Estimates have the county-wide student population at 11,110.
There was a lot of written and photo material about the upcoming free Redpath Chautauqua. Featured will be Premier Singers, the Red Grenadiers Band and Male Chorus, orators Brooks Fletcher and Judge Manford Schoonover, and a Roseswift Aeroplane.
The 1920 census is showing a slight decrease in population in Allegan County, with 37,540, down about 5.7% from 1910. The census noted a trend of rural and farm populations moving to villages and cities.
Standard Oil has purchased Grand Rapids Oil, including two filling stations under local agent George Wheeler.
The Wayland Community Club, fresh from its sponsorship of the Chautauqua series, will have a community meeting Thursday evening, featuring an opera singer for entertainment.
The second annual Farmers Club meeting will be at Cooks Landing, Green Lake, with ballgames, food, races and an address by Congressional candidate John C. Ketcham of Hastings.
The Masonic Hall in Dorr was destroyed by fire of unknown origin.
Moline banker and postmaster Milo Gray was injured in a traffic crash when an oncoming car failed to dim its lights, causing Gray to lose control and his vehicle went into the ditch.
Frank Stearns escaped serious injuries when his team of horses hauling a water tank became spooked and ran away, causing the tank to be thrown into the side of the road.