(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr):
25 Years Ago — Nov. 27, 2000
It has been announced that there will be fewer camp site available for next summer at Gun Lake, so enthusiasts are encouraged to make reservations earlier than usual.
The Globe had a front page feature story and photo about James Jager, James and Dean Beers, Jamie Shoup, Carolyn Steffes, Candice Smith and Lisa Geers constructing “the world’s largest snow fort” in Dorr.
Mary Martin of Moline took issue in a letter with the notion that casinos contribute to crime problems. Paula Pasma wrote a letter apologizing to the Gun Lake Tribe for the behavior of Dorr citizens at a recent public meeting. Other letter writers again were split over prospects of a casino, some supporting for local jobs and growth, others opposing in defense of preserving small town atmosphere.
Edmund and Rita Huver penned a letter saying, “We welcome the revenue, jobs and overlapping police protection a casino would bring to our ever growing community.”
Hopkins, Wayland and Thornapple Kellogg are joining many other school districts in a lawsuit against the state in Durant III, funding for special education programs.
The Wayland City Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance to permit the new Shell station and Big Boy restaurant sign to be placed for easy spotting along the U.S.-131 expressway off West Superior Street.
Winter came a bit early for this area, as 18 to 24 inches of snow fell on roads and forests in Allegan and Barry counties.
West Michigan Gambling Opponents has formed a group to fight the Gun Lake Band of Potowatomis’ plans to bring a casino to northeastern Allegan County. Todd Boorsma of Dorr is heavily involved in the effort.
Martin Public Schools Librarian Lori Hudon has announced the reception of a $75,000 grant that will upgrade computer availability within the schools, ending Martin’s ignoble status of being the only school library without computers.
A movement is afoot to form a Kiwanis Club in Wayland, led by local businessman Mike Salisbury.
Bill Merchant is heading up a Michigan Bobcats AAU girls’ intramural and instructional basketball program.
Coach Mike Hudson and the Wayland High School basketball program are approaching the future with cautious optimism, coming off a 14-7 campaign from a year ago, the Wildcats’ best record since 1986. Kurt Rizley, Jamie Brown and Josh VanHouten are at the core of a promising group.
Jack Klunder is the top returnee for Mike Rynearson’s Hopkins squad, hoping to improve on last year’s 9-11 season record.
The Wayland girls’ basketball season ended at 17-6 with a 54-43 loss in the district finals to Lakewood Lake Odessa.
Sara Harthorn had a heartbreaking final shot at the buzzer fall off the rim and Martin lost 43-41 to Climax-Scotts in the district finals. Harthorn led the Clippers with 14 points.
James Cheyne of Dorr, who was a prison of war in the Vietnam, Conflict, died. He was 51.
50 Years Ago — Nov. 25, 1975
The Dorr branch of Wayland State Bank opened its doors at a new location on the corner of 18th Street and 142nd Avenue. Manager is Arthur W. Miller.
The new ambulance for Wayland’s newly established public service has arrived. The vehicle was made possible through a federal grant from the Office of Highway Safety Planning. George Hampel has signed an agreement and announced he and the Archer-Hampel Funeral Home are getting out of the ambulance business.
The Allegan County Intermediate School District will hire a career education vocational technical education specialist.
An attorney from Miller, Johnson, Snell and Cumminsky has told the Wayland Board of Education it acted within its rights when it voted to issue written reprimands to teachers who took part in a strike Sept. 25 to protest lack of progress in contract negotiations.
Letter writer Mrs. Edward Ferner penned the following, “I often wondered why the marriage licenses were absent from the paper and I see they are published again. We get quite a chuckle out of the difference in ages in couples.”
Nationally known gospel artist Rev. Dingman Telling was to be a guest presenter at the Berean Bible Church in Moline Dec. 8-14.
The Wayland Community Choir’s presentation of “The Messiah,” directed by Helen Gambee, will be carried by WKZO-radio Sunday afternoon, Dec. 7.
Seniors at Wayland High School are invited to compete in 22nd annual Betty Crocker Search for Leadership in Family Living. Scholarship cash awards range from $500 to $5,000.
Third- and fourth-graders at Hopkins Elementary and Sycamore School are getting square dance lessons in physical education classes taught by Ellen Penhorwood.
New York actresses Mary Krause and Susan Sneider will present a program on Shakespeare at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 3 at Wayland High School.
Wayland’s basketball coach John Vargo is welcoming veterans Jim Longstreet, Rod Mauchmar and Dennis Farmer back from a squad that went 6-12 the previous year.
The Wayland High School junior varsity girls’ basketball team finished second in the O-K Blue Conference to undefeated Hudsonville. The coach was Zack Moushegian.
Sports writer David T. Young boldly predicted a third consecutive A-O Conference basketball title for Hopkins.
Andrea Amborski and Dennis Atwood both claimed three first-place finishes in the first Wayland Schools’ intramural swim meet. Phil Burley, Andy Warner and Mary Ernst captured two event victories apiece.
Ron Schafer and Phil Arndt shared most valuable honors on the Hopkins football team, which just completed a 7-1-1 season and set a number of scoring and offensive school records.
The Hopkins girls’ basketball team scored a resounding 52-27 victory over Fennville in its first-ever post-season tournament contest. Kerry Kastner scored 16 points and Karen Caywood 14.
WHS graduate Jean Jackson is playing volleyball this fall for Ferris State College.
Martin welcomes returning veteran hoopster Robert VanDenBerg, who averaged 12.3 points per game a year ago.
The Dorr Bicentennial Committee has received a federal grant from the Michigan-American Revolution Bicentennial Commission in Lansing.
The Silver Connection too over the No. slot among the nation’s tunes with “Fly, Robin Fly.”
75 Years Ago — Dec. 1, 1950
Wayland farmer Glenn Fisher, 60, shot and killed himself at the home of his daughter in Dorr Township. It was said that he had been despondent over ill health of late.
Wayland Township Treasurer Simon Fox announced that local taxes are expected to rise by 45 percent. A hike in the Allegan County levy was identified as the culprit.
Wayland’s second annual Window Shopping Night was hailed as a success. Santa arrived in a sleigh drawn by a Jeep. A delegation of Middleville businesses selected winners of the residential decoration contests.
Mr. And Mrs. Harold Jensen are the new owners of the Wayland Furniture Store, having purchased the business from Mr. And Mrs. O.R. Sousley of Grandville. The business will be known as the Regent Furniture Co. Mr. Jensen is the son of former Rev. James Jensen and his wife is the daughter of Dr. Floyd Furber of Moline.
The funeral for Mrs. Lyle June Fleser, wife of Milton Fleser, will take place in Battle Creek. She suffered a heart attack at a Battle Creek hospital and she and her infant son died.
Descendants of Wayland Schools Supt. Rudolph and Mary Steeby gathered for a Thanksgiving family reunion at the Corning Grange Hall.
The funeral for Mrs. Emmaline McPherson was held at the Klinesteker Funeral Home Nov. 15. She had lived almost all of her long life in Hopkins.
There were many reports from rural correspondents outlining Thanksgiving activities for area families.
Frank Chachorski, the correspondent from Hilliards, said a freak Thanksgiving snowstorm dropped temperatures to 20 below zero.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Rory Calhoun and Jane Nigh in “County Fair.”
- Leo Gorcey and the Bowery Boys in “Triple Trouble.”
- Clark Gable, Barbara Stanwyk and Adolph Menjou in “To Please a Lady.”
- Mickey Rooney, Pat O’Brien and Beverly Tyler in “The Fireball.”
100 Years Ago —Nov. 27, 1925
Charlie D. Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Allen, was injured in an automobile accident Saturday afternoon four miles north of Rockford. His vehicle was crowded by another and he wound up in a ditch and his car overturned. The other motorist did not stop and authorities were unable to track him down. Allen suffered minor injuries and his vehicle was repaired.
Lloyd Brocker, Wayland High School football star, was struck while walking a mile and a half west of the village. The car that struck him was driven by George Hazen of Hopkins. Brocker suffered a back injury and cuts and bruises. R. Hazen brought him to Dr. Bryson’s office for treatment.
Four people were injured in an automobile just north of Wayland. One driver suffered a head injury and was taken to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. Two others in a different car were taken to Blodgett Hospital.
Wayland farmer Alexander Zabrocky, 36, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in southeast Wayland near Gun Lake. His wife and 17-year-old son had gone to Allegan and upon their return discovered the deceased on the porch. It was said he was despondent over domestic affairs.
Mack Short, public safety officer, gave a presentation on the code of the flag to Henika Library patrons.
Members of the Ladies Library Club, 80 strong, celebrated the annual New England supper at the Legion rooms. The meal was prepared by Mr. And Mrs. H.P. Hudson. Mrs. Fred Baker gave a review of “Hiawatha.”
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Harold Lloyd in “The Freshman.” A mystery thriller, “On the Stroke of Three.”
The Wayland High School debate team lost to Lowell. The next debate competition will be Dec. 11, but the location has yet to be determined.
The WHS football team ended its season with a 3-5 record after losing to Gibbons Hall.
“Effort will be made to have some boxing instruction in the school this winter, since no other form of physical activity will be possible.”
“It is quite evident that someone ran out of gas Friday night, as the gas pump at the Ross garage was broken open and gas pumped. The Fenner Brothers store in Martin also was robbed on the same night.
The Anti-Can’t Club will meet at Dec. 4 at the home of Mrs. William Mills and the group’s annual bazaar will be held Dec. 16, but the site has yet to be determined.
Miss Louvia Trautman, who’s been working in Grand Rapids, is home with blood poisoning in one of her hands.
About 125 people were part of the Thanksgiving dinner offered at the Corning Community Church. The event included the dinner, an address by Rev. Gordon of Moline and music furnished by the Veenstra Orchestra.
John Greece was hurt in an accident at the plaster mines, where a big stone rolled on him, resulting in amputation. His house in Dorr was destroyed by fire. He has a wife and five children.
Wayland was reported in 1900 to have a population of 619, a gain of 77 from 1890.
John Dado of Gun Lake suffered a painful injury by a fork tine that tore open his thumb and later resulted in it developing into blood poisoning. He later was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital.
