(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Aug. 28, 2000
Chad Griffin wrote a letter to the editor suggesting there ought to be a law insisting motorists pull over for funeral processions out of respect.
Rebekah Schafer penned a letter expressing support for Pine Street Elementary’s change of hours, despite many other letters suggesting the contrary.
The Martin Village Council passed legislation lowering water tax bills by half for snowbirds.
The Hilliards General Store, more than 100 years old, changed hands in ownership from Fred and Connie Holbrook to Jan and Jim Graczyk.
Owners of seven West Michigan Big Boy Restaurants have indicated they are interested in starting up a Big Boy in Wayland off West Superior Street near the U.S.-131 expressway.
Jane Essenwein has resigned as executive director of the Allegan County United Way.
Martin Public Schools officials are considering options for a second bond request after voters turned it down in June.
Officials from the Michigan Department of Transportation have announced they may be interested in establishing a rest stop just south of the Wayland exit on the U.S.-131 expressway.
David Desjardin, former DNR officer in Yankee Springs, and Mike Pine of Allegan have just returned from a two-week stint fighting fires out West in Idaho.
Martin Township Sexton Susan Coburn left her letter of resignation taped to the township hall door.
The Wayland Township Planning Commission rejected a proposal for rezoning for a heavy industrial business because of a lack of infrastructure to support it.
Ron Skelton and 11 lads from Boy Scout Troop 97 spent a good chunk of their summer vacation in Alaska. The Globe published a photo of Kyle Schuitema fishing for salmon in the Newhalen River.
The Wayland High School boys’ cross-country team finished second in the Allegan County meet and Hopkins was fifth.
The Wayland girls’ tennis team opened its season with two tournament titles, hosted by Allegan and Wayland. Coach is Cheri Ritz.
The Globe published two photos and a feature story about the Camp Manitou-Lin horse riding program.
Gale Roberts, a lifelong dairy farmer and 1937 Hopkins High School graduate, died at his home at age 80.
50 Years Ago — Aug. 26, 1975
Wayland Union Schools opened for the academic year without teachers and the school board agreeing on a new employment agreement. The same held true for bus drivers.
Barbara Lynn Robbins has been has been hired as assistant director for the Wayland Community Education/Recreation program. She has a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree in educational leadership with an emphasis in community education from Western Michigan University. She will set up and coordinate adult education and enrichment programs in Hopkins and Martin.
Cindy Nicolai was winner of the Miss Martin pageant, replacing Susan Jankowsky, who relinquished her crown in order to get married.
Thunderstorms visited the Wayland area and wreaked havoc with power outages, but damage was minimal.
Pamela Eylander wrote a letter asking why the school board did not offer a contract to veteran business teacher Julia Smith, saying she still has a lot to offer young people in the community.
Champions in the Wayland Globe tennis tournament were Paul and Boyd Heckert, Judy VandeBunte and Sharon Nelson, Cary Hall and Mike Getty.
Veteran Wildcat football coach Gerald Omness in an interview insisted his team, with 14 returning lettermen, is a possible contender for the O-K Blue Conference championship.
Hopkins Village reported in a legal notice that it planned to spend its federal revenue sharing check on a utility storage garage. Martin Village declared intentions to spend its $5,020 check on streets.
Rowan & Martin of television’s “Laugh-In” comedy program and Sonny James and His Southern Gentlemen will be featured entertainment in this year’s Allegan County Fair.
Lifelong Hopkins resident and farmer Oliver Knobloch died Friday afternoon at Pipp Hospital in Plainwell. He was 66.
KC and the Sunshine Band took over at No. 1 asmong the nation’s tunes with “Get Down Tonight.”
75 Years Ago — Sept. 1, 1950
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote in his weekly column, “Everyone was surprised at the very large crowd that attended opening night of then annual Cowbell Carnival this weekend at the village park. Ideal weather brought out hundred of visitors…”
Mrs. Marie Raleigh, 45, died at her home in Wayland of a disease from which she suffered for four years. She had come from Cutlerville 12 years ago. A member of the Order of Eastern Star, she was the wife of Merle Raleigh.
Otis Vreeland, 71, died in Mackinaw City while en route from Grand Marais to his home at Green Lake.
Mrs. Cora Forbes, who suffered a broken leg just below the hip July 3, died at her farm home in Wayland.
Mr. and Mrs. O.R. Sousley have taken over as new managers of Wayland Furniture Store from Roger Holleman, who had managed the store since December 1947.
Rural fire protection is growing steadily in Allegan County. A four-way cooperative agreement has been forged for Allegan, Watson, Trowbridge and Valley townships.
Ruth Smith, acting director of the health department, has reported that six of the eight tuberculosis cases in Allegan County involved men over the age of 54.
The Walker Pickle Co. has announced that pickle prices have increased this year because of poor growing conditions.
Wayland Auto Parts has been designated as local distributors of Phillips Petroleum products. Three A Oil Co. of Hopkins are wholesale distributors.
The Congregational church will reopen Sunday, Sept. 3, after being closed three weeks for building repairs.
Roger Wilcox, formerly of Hopkins, has taken a job as professor of written and spoken English at Michigan State University. He has served as president of the Michigan Speech Association.
Warren Johnson, 79, formerly of Dorr, died in a Kalamazoo hospital after being struck by an automobile.
The St. Stanislaus annual chicken dinner will take place Sunday, Sept. 3, in the Parish Hall.
Wayland Theatre is planning free movies for all school children at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, including one film and cartoons.
Mrs. C.L. Churchill assisted last week at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon with the polio ward. The malady appears to be in the epidemic stages nearby.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Onslow Stevens and Karin Booth in “State Penitentiary.”
- David Bruce and Kristine Miller in “Young Daniel Boone.”
- Randolph Scott, Ruth Roman and Zachary Scott in “Colt .45.”
- Burt Lancaster and Virginia Mayo in “The Flame and the Arrow.”
100 Years Ago — Aug. 28, 1925
A loudspeaker and amplifier has been installed at the Barry County Fair in Hastings on Tuesday next week.
Wayland Schools will open for the 1925-26 academic year on Aug. 31.
The annual Farmers Picnic will be an all-day affair at Streeter’s Resort, Gun Lake, Aug. 29.
Rosella Merritt, born in Allegan County in 1857, died Aug. 21. She came to Wayland in 1873 immediately after her marriage to William A. Button.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: “Tom Mix in Zane Grey’s “Riders of the Purple Sage.” Reginald Denny in “The Reckless Age.”
Chicken thieves visited Glenn Jackson’s and Clayton Jackson’s chicken coops in Leighton Township and were at Carl Retdke’s farm twice last week, but were driven away by the homeowner and his dog.
The Wayland Village Band helped furnish the music for the Allegan County Fair Thursday.
Mrs. and Mrs. Loyengood have left for an automobile trip to the Upper Peninsula and will visit relatives in Newberry.
Village Water Commissioner Charles Nelson has announced many users of water locally have not paid their July water bills. If they are turned off, their bill will be $1 each in order to turn it back on.
Dr. Culver and wife stopped in at the Battle Creek sanitarium, and called on patient Florence Slater. Dr. Culver is still watching over Mrs. Slater since she spent 11 weeks with a serious disease. She is now improving slowly at home.
Jay L. Robinson, local agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad depot, has reported he received a 100 percent grade in an inspection, as did Roy Hines at Moline for the third time.
The proposed route of a new road in Leighton Township will eliminate the double corner and will go straight ahead and meet M13 just north of Moline with an easy curve.
“Two or three days work with a team and a mowing machine would work wonders in the improvement of village streets and might relieve some of the hay fever suffering.
