(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr):
25 Years Ago — Sept. 4, 2000
The Globe published a feature story and pictures of Wayland Middle School Tom Baweja, who has earned his “Bug Boy” moniker by collecting a massive number of butterflies.
Wayland High School junior Dane Genther is serving as a page for the U.S. Congress in Washington D.C.
An environmental program of soil erosion prevention is under way in the Hunters Ridge mobile home park in Middleville.
Mick Veloso of Wayland sent a letter to the editor insisting those legislators who craft or support laws for gun control are violating their oath of office to uphold the U.S. Constitution.
Dorr Moose Club member Gary Fordham was pictured in a “grip and grin” photo handing a check from the club to Dorr Fire Chief Bill Fifelski to help buy children’s car seats.
Editor Nila Aamoth wrote about the burgeoning mini-storage unit business in the area, asking, “How do people accumulate so much stuff and why?”
Trisha Sevigny, 17, of Dorr was named Miss Allegan County at the pageant at Wayland High School auditorium.
The Family Dollar retail discount store is joining other businesses in the Chambers Corner Plaza off Reno Drive near the U.S.-131 expressway.
Wayland’s first-ever “Three-In-One” restaurant opened inside the Chambers Corners Plaza, featuring Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. Today, only the Taco Bell remains.
Middleville Thornapple Kellogg shut out the Wayland varsity football team, 14-0, in the two teams’ season debut. Wyoming Lee downed Martin 33-27. Hopkins lost 21-0 to Muskegon Catholic Central.
The Wayland girls’ tennis team captured their third tournament title in as many tries by checking in first at the South Haven Invitational. Singles champions included Mira Sivak, Nicole Neyenhuis, Emily Zerndt and Sarah Bohn.
Middleville Thornapple Kellogg girls, defending state champions, captured the Wayland Cross-Country Invitational.
50 Years Ago — Sept. 2, 1975
Martin has undergone some head coaching changes lately, with basketball coach John Zemlo succeeded by John Richard and football coach Dave Barrett replaced by jayvee coach Larry Johnson.
Wayland city government has added two committees, Compensation and Housing and Urban Development. Former Mayor Phil Reno chairs compensation and Thomas Shoup heads the latter.
Negotiation teams chairs Dorothy DeWeerd for the school board and Jon Jensen for the teachers have reported the two sides still have been unable to come up with a new employment contract as the school year begins.
Hopkins High School football coach Jim Newell wrote a letter to the editor, defending the establishment of post-season playoffs. He maintained that only eight teams will have extended seasons in the four divisions. “Let’s give the tournament a try and, and if it does not work out, it can always be re-evaluated.”
The Dorr Recreation Association announced that the local rocket football, boys’ baseball, girls’ softball, women’s softball and Pee Wee Leagues need support to continue and an important meeting has been scheduled for Sept. 10 at the Dorr Park Building.
Kim Wyatt of Wayland has been accepted to tour with the 1976 Blue Lake Fine Arts International Choir. The ensemble will perform in France, Germany and the Netherlands in the summer of 1976.
The TOPS, Legion Auxiliary, Order of Eastern Star, Dorcas Circle groups have announced the resumption of their meetings for the coming year next week.
Wayland native Jerry Campbell of Plainwell is entertaining Allegan County Fairgoers as a clown this fall.
The Hopkins varsity football team is favored to win its fourth straight A-O Conference championship.
Wayland Community Pool Director Sharon Nelson has announced the first season of swimming has been successful under swim instructor Vicki Schwartz.
Senior Kelvin Lapham leads an optimistic Wildcat cross-country team into the 1975 season. The supporting cast is led by Roger VanVolkinburg and Mike Krup.
Wayland High School senior Bill Monroe and classmate Andrea Smith will entertain the Grange by playing their trombone and piano, respectively.
Wayland High School graduate Mark Predum has taken on the character “Paul the Musical Clown,” visiting homes, church camps and parties.
Merle Peffley, a former local businessman operating a sweet shop and the Malmstone Store, and Wayland;’s first-ever Chamber of Commerce president, died at age 68 following heart surgery at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids.
A 50-horsepower steam engine tractor will be shown by Alflen Brothers Inc. at the Allegan County Fair.
William D. Peterson, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Smith of Wayland, has been named vice president for student life and director of student development at Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash.
Glen Campbell moved into the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Rhinestone Cowboy.”
75 Years Ago — Sept. 8, 1950
John Laube, 77, formerly of Dorr, died last week in Kalamazoo. Services were held at the Catholic church in North Dorr.
The Wayland schools opened with record attendance last week. The annual Cowbell Carnival also attracted large crowds.
Four Wayland men, Robert Perry, James McElwee, Henry Miller and Darwin Franklin, have enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves. Lt. Perry has been a an industrial arts teacher at Wayland High School.
Mrs. Ina Belle Merchant died at her Martin home after suffering a heart attack. She was 67.
Mrs. Alfred Snook will review the book ”The Pink House” by Nelia Gardner White for the Peg-Away Club of the Congregational Church at the high school library.
The first meeting this fall for the Wayland Schools PTA will be Sept. 14, featuring the introduction of new teachers.
The Allegan County Fair this year has been scheduled for Sept. 11 to 16. Featured will be the Joey Chitwood Thrill Show, Sam Howard’s Aqua Thrills, four days of harness racing, Children’s Day activities and a horse pulling contest.
The primary election is set for Tuesday, Sept. 13.
Sister Patience continues her duties as principal at St. Stanislaus Parish School and Sister Mary Therese is organist.
Helen Bowman, daughter of two Wayland residents, was featured in a story by the Grand Rapids Herald about the connection between the 4-H and FFA programs. She also is the grand daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Smith of Wayland.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- John Payne, Rhonda Fleming and Dennis O’Keefe in “The Eagle and the Hawk.”
- Paul Douglas, Jean Peters and Cesar Romero in “Love that Brute.”
- Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney and Gary Merrill in “Where the Sidewalk Ends.”
100 Years Ago — Sept. 4, 1925
“It was a cow that kicked over milk containers and started at the Martin area farm of Harold Montieth. He got into a scrap with his former wife, Miss Vieta Pierce, who later asked the judge for leniency on Harold, who was arrested changes of assault and battery.
Now showing the Regent Theatre downtown: William Desmond in “Sunset Trail.” Betty Blythe in “The Folly of Vanity.”
Frank Kitson, former Major League pitcher who lives on a Monterey Township farm, was pleased to receive old friend and Major League catcher Jim McGuire, who now owns a chicken farm near Duck Lake in Jackson County.
Henika Library Director Fanny Hoyt’s column included her quoting an article in the Ladies Home Journal, suggesting “Now the most serious scientific opposition to evolution has disappeared.”
Mrs. Hazel Bradock is Grammar Room teacher at Bradley and Mrs. Ruth Warner is is primary teacher. Instructors for rural schools are Mrs. Bertha Fox in Moline and Lyle Saget in Hopkins Junior High.
Homer Todd lost a good horse after it was turned out to pasture. The animal was found with a broken leg and had to be shot.
Mrs. Sarah Beckwith is attending the national Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) encampment in Grand Rapids this week.
Daisy Button was stricken with at attack of appendicitis and was taken to Battle Creek Sanitarium, where she is improving slowly.
