(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — June 21, 1999
Globe sports writer and photographer Scott Sullivan captured Wayland High School varsity softball pitcher Amber Willison throwing in the quarterfinal contest between the Wildcats and the state’s No. 1-ranked Wyoming Rogers. Wayland won the regional title by beating Portland and Fowlerville, but bowed 3-1 to the top-ranked Golden Hawks and finished its most successful season ever at 39-2.
The Allegan County Intermediate School District has scheduled a Sept.28 date for a special election. The vote will decide on a proposal for 1.8 mills, one for special education.
A group of chickens was able to escape harm in a fire at a barn in the Martin area.
Residents along 146th Avenue in Leighton Township are opposing a proposal for a planned unit development commercial drive, insisting the road is too crowded already.
A BMX track in Leighton Township is attracting plenty of attention, with an estimated 150 youngsters showing up on site.
Editor Nila Aamoth in her weekly Soapbox outlined the perils of dealing with credit card scam callers. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Incumbent candidates pretty much carried the day in the annual school elections in Martin, Hopkins and Wayland. In the Wayland school district, only 539 showed at the polls, out of almost 9,000 eligible voters. A renewal of a Headlee Amendment override was approved 291 to 223.
Dan Gratz, president of the Allegan chapter of the Jayvees, is spearheading an effort to create a new Jaycees group in Dorr Township.
The Open Door Reformed Church on 142nd Avenue celebrated a ground breaking for its Family Life Center.
The Wayland High School baseball team lost to East Grand Rapids in the Class B regional finals after getting past Fowlerville in the semifinal round. The Wildcats finished at 25-8 overall for the season.
Kenneth Birman of Dorr, who retired after 40 years working at Keeler Brass, died. He was 72.
Florence “Helena” Miller, of Watson Township, longtime secretary of the Martin Mixed Bowling League, died at the Allegan County Medical Care Facility. She was 86.
Robert Golm, a Hopkins native and Wayland City Council member, has purchased the former United Insurance office building at 117 S. Main St.
Jill Salisbury, wife of Reno Insurance Co. owner Mike Salisbury, has been named regional director of Stoney Point Communications.
Nan Olney and Lisa Wentzel have been awarded promotions at United Bank in Wayland.
50 Years Ago — June 18, 1974
Ground has been broken for the new site of the United Church of Wayland. The move occurred after the Congregational Church and Christian Disciples Church, both on West Superior, decided to merge. The new building is located at 411 E. Superior St., next to Steeby Elementary. Among those taking part in the ceremony were Harry Elenbaas, L.P. Reno, Harold Reinhart and Pastor Richard Koster.
Peter DeKraker has been elected president of the Moline Christian Board of Education.
Former Wayland resident M. Gerald Baker has been promoted to vice president at Starcraft Co. of Goshen, Ind., a manufacturer of fiberglass and aluminum pleasure boats.
Dr. John T. Dickinson, a 1961 graduate of Wayland High School and son of the late Dr. Clyde A. Dickinson, has accepted the post of staff member for the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation at the University of Iowa Medical School. He earned his medical degree at Wayne State University and a degree in zoology from Michigan State University.
Charo Rodriguez, a foreign exchange student at Hopkins for nine months from Peru, wrote a letter to the editor describing her experiences in the United States and thanked many for the privilege.
Plank Road Farm in Wayland Township celebrated a dedication of the old Super Silo on the site.
Mrs. James Taylor of Wayland used a five wood to cop a hole in one on the par 3 No. 7 hole at Briarwood Golf Course, Caledonia, only the third woman ever to score an ace on that course.
A pet show is planned by the local recreation department the City Park, with children ages 6 to 15 encouraged to join the fun.
Ken Stoken and Mark Foote were pictured after combining efforts on a no-hit shutout for Harding’s over the VFW in local Little League action.
Jim Longstreet pitched three innings and Dave Koperski unloaded a triple representing Wayland on the O-K Blue All-Stars outfit in the annual John Bos game. Rick Mauchmar had two hits, Jon Johnson had one and Randy Mauchmar drove in a run.
Clinton Van Duine was photographed with a nice catch of black bass he took from Green Lake one morning.
Six Moline families did old-style traveling by covered wagon trip from their homes to Fennville. The journey took them six days round trip.
James Hunsucker, son-in-law of Ron Standish of Wayland, has been named acting director of the Michigan Consumers Council, succeeding Lorraine Beebe.
Mike Chesebro and Mrs. Al DeHaan earned blue ribbons at the Grand Valley Iris Society’s annual show at Woodland Mall.
Tom Modreske was acting president and James Kaczanowski master of ceremonies for the Wayland High School Class of 1954 20-year reunion, with 104 in attendance.
Herman Houseman of Wayland has come up with yet another invention, this time “Doctor Sink,” designed to remove foreign particles inside drain pipes. He awaits a patent.
Wayland schools were scheduled to get $359,439 in state aid payments on June 1. Hopkins was to get $123,535 and Martin $116,250.
The Hopkins Village Council has gone on the record as supporting the protests by Mrs. William Sleeman, Mrs. Robert VandenToorn and Mimi Moulenbelt against Michigan telephone rates in Hopkins and surrounding communities.
Sgt. Donal Mellon will retire at the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police and he will be succeeded by Sgt. Douglas Kennedy. Former Wayland trooper Richard Dalton, now a detective lieutenant in the fire marshal’s division in Lansing, also is retiring.
Kathy DeYoung has been named valedictorian and Linda VandenBosch salutatorian at Moline Christian, which graduated 22 eighth-graders earlier this month.
Jerry L. Brenner, 32, died of asphyxiation caused by gas inside a silo on his farm in Monterey Township.
75 Years Ago — June 24, 1949
There are reports of a visit by a bear at Gun Lake, which broke into the McKibben store and ate all of the bread on display inside.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher reported in his weekly column that the road leading into the Yankee Springs Recreation area is in the best condition he’s ever seen and he praised the latest application of calcium chloride on dusty gravel arteries.
The Bachelor’s Chef 4-H Club will meet at the home of Mrs. Milo Farnsworth June 24.
The local chapter of the Order of Eastern Star was treated to a couple of vocal solos by Brenda Dietiker and Florence Rugaber.
The American Legion’s fish supper will be held at the Lakeview Tavern, West Gun Lake, but a supply of fish for the dinner is still being sought.
H.L. Chapman, botanist at Michigan State College, East Lansing, was guest speaker at the combined meeting of the Wayland Garden Club and Middleville Floral Club.
A poem written by the late Fanny Hoyt was recited for members of the Ladies Library Club. Ms. Hoyt, who died earlier this year, was not only a member, but first director of the Henika Library.
Miss Anna Franklin, formerly of Hopkins, has arrived in England to attend the 50th annual International Conference of Nurses.
Helen Hudson has been hired to teacher fourth grade in the Wayland school system. She formerly taught at area rural schools, notably Sycamore Elementary.
Watson Sacred Heart Church gave Father Whelly of Nazareth Academy a sendoff party, as he is going to Ireland to attend the 50th wedding anniversary celebration of his parents.
Charles Junior Jones, known as “the singing hillbilly” music composer, has pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and, after awaiting sentencing for three months, has learned he has done his time.
The Gun Lake baseball team lost 7-2 to the Dairymaides and will play next Sunday on the home field against the 4 Aces.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• John Garfield, Thomas Gomez and Marie Windsor in “Force of Evil.”
• Roy Acuff and the Modernaires in “Home in San Antone.”
• Myrna Loy, Robert Mitchum and Peter Miles in “The Red Pony.”
• Glenn Ford, Nina Foch and Barry Kelley in “The Undercover Man.”
100 Years Ago — June 20, 1924
The Elias Tamburitza Serenaders from Yugoslavia will be highlighting this year’s Chautauqua later this year on the first night. Also featured will be the Stuart Barker Concert Artists, who will present many popular and semi-classical selections.
Hopkins Township farmer Ralph Button somehow has disappeared. He was last seen after breakfast Tuesday morning when he left the house to tie up a calf. Despite several clues, a search party led by Sheriff Leo Hare hasn’t turned up anything. Authorities are not sure if he was the victim of foul play.
The roll call portion of the next meeting of the Wayland Grange roll call will be the question of flowers, trees and plants mentioned in the Bible.
Library Director Fanny Hoyt has announced that a children’s corner will be made available in the Henika Library.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Shirley Mason in “Love Letters.” Alberta Vaughan, Gertrude Short and Kit Guard in “The Telephone Girl.” Mabel Normand in “Mickey.”
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher in an editorial, wrote while approving President Calvin Coolidge’s veto of the proposed budget, “The public appreciates very much reducing federal taxes about 25 percent in the interest of the people.”
Mosher also wrote a column about his impressions of the National Republican Convention in Cleveland, at which he was a delegate. He noted the streets were overrun by peddlers.
Bradley again has a barber shop. George McCreal has started one at the back of the old Allen store building.
The Alle-Bar Community Club had its annual picnic at Streeter’s Landing, Gun Lake. Featured was the Leighton and Barry County agent Mr. Bennett.
Earl Brooks and Bob Allen of Wayla nd caught a dandy string of fish and George Brooks said he’d eat all they catch raw.
Receiving diplomas at Robins School, Gun Lake, were Anna Dado, Miriam Ross, Ralph Latourette and Andrew Mlynarcheck.
“Margaret Dado and Miriam Ross went fishing at Gun Lake and caught a dandy mess of mosquitoes.”
The Ladies Aid Society of Moline Congregational Church held an apron sale “and everyone enjoyed a good time.”
A petition to build 80 rods of 20-foot pavement east of Main Street on Superior was presented to the village common council. Every property owner along the street signed it. Discussion of the issue revealed a favorable view, but the matter was tabled.
The Business Men’s Paper Press Co. has opened a lumber and coal yard in Shelbyville. Ezekiel Smith of Wayland is in charge of the project.
The Wayland school census for the past year showed 208 names of pupils between the ages of 5 and 20 years.
Theodore Wintz, 20, son of former Wayland residents Rev. and Mrs. R. L. Wintz, was drowned in an accident in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was just short of graduating from Coe College and going into the ministry.
Allegan County has between 40 and 50 crippled children. Five have been dismissed as unimproved. Seven more have been dismissed as improved or cured and 11 are still under treatment.
The Wayland Furniture Hospital, F.D. Rosbrook, proprietor, has moved to the Morford Building on West Superior.
Miss Mabel Lucille Franz, who graduated from Wayland High School at age 16 and was attending Western Normal College, died at age 18.