(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr:
25 Years Ago — April 16, 2001
Deborah and Craig VanWyck showed off daffodils on the Bradley property they bought that used to be a stagecoach stop in bygone days. A photo of Deb VanWyck and the flowers graced the front page of the Globe.
Mike Williams of Wayland penned a letter to the editor critical of what he called the Globe’s lack of election coverage for City Council.
Eileen Komdeur wrote a letter suggesting the casino planned by the Band of Potawatomis be established at Gun Lake.
Steve LaRoche suggested in a letter that Dorr seriously consider bringing a skate park to the community.
Salary increases have been approved for Allegan County judges. Circuit court judges will get $134,366 and district judges $139,919.
A 12-year-old Pine Street Elementary student was apprehended for breaking into the building on Sycamore Street. Meanwhile, local police are seeking help in identifying the thief or thieves who took $15,000 worth of tools from Railside Auto.
Kalvin Bonnie and Daniel Schanz are asking the Hopkins Township Board for permission to rezone agricultural property of 128 acres between 134th and 129th Avenues to industrial. The long-range plan is to create sewer and water utilities.
The Wayland Middle School production of “Bowin’ for Bigfoot” will include community members Mayor David Miller, Assistant Fire Chief Joe Miller and Elementary Principal Rita Marsh.
The Globe published part two of a series on local agriculture, how farmers are dealing with so many regulations by government agencies.
Dr. Lynn Harvey of Michigan State University will speak to representatives of Yankee Springs, Thornapple and Irving townships about shared fire services.
Jonathan Ahearn of Leighton Township wrote a letter urging area residents to reject prospects for a casino, maintaining that gambling will wreak havoc on the morals and well being of this area.
Norm Shippy of Dorr penned a letter insisting that those who want to gamble have plenty of casinos in this area they can visit.
A Family Dollar store has opened its doors on West Superior Street, the latest of the many stores in the nation-wide chain.
Leo Anderson and Vivian Brinkert were honored by the Hopkins Township Board for their combined 49 years of service on the Board of Review.
The Wayland boys’ track team showed strength and potential in the opening meet of the season, particularly in the throws with Tom Ainsworth and Jason Montes.
Zack Wierenga and Nolan Rowe combined on a three-hitter in Wayland’s 1-0 baseball victory over Allegan.
Coach Cheri Ritz is trying to find another hurler to go along with senior ace Amber Willison. Jayvee grad Michelle Olmstead is a prime candidate because of two perfect games she threw a year ago.
Former Wayland Board of Education Treasurer and -lifelong farmer Elton Calkins died at age 96.
50 Years Ago — April 13, 1976
The Hopkins Board of Education is grappling with ways to save money during the current drop in state aid revenue, including eliminating Sandhill School, field trips and spectator bus trips.
A large group of female students from St. Stanislaus School has completed an ambitious project of sewing a Bicentennial quilt.
The recent fire at the Allegan County Garage in Wayland has been determined to be “of human origin” by Police Chief Harold Ernst and a state fire marshal detective.
Former Wayland Mayor Phillip Reno has been re-elected president of the Pipp Community Hospital Board, Plainwell.
State Rep. Dennis Cawthorne will be guest speaker for the annual Allegan County Lincoln Day Dinner April 30 in Allegan.
Don Shields, 22, of Wayland was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident on Dahlia Street. Ambulance Service Manager Bill Baweja said Shields has not since regained consciousness .
A letter writer who posted as simply “one who was there” delivered a lot of praise for organizers and workers at the recent United Methodist Church Style Show.
Mrs. Jack “Chris” Bellisle, formerly of Wayland, has been appointed coordinator of decorative services of the Home Decorators at Newark, New Jersey.
The Wayland High School Alumni Dinner will be held at the new high school cafeteria at 7 p.m. June 5. Classes especially honored will be from 1926, 1956 and 1976.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Hopkins is sponsoring a Good Friday concert featuring the Michigan Lutheran Seminary Choir at 8 p.m. Friday, April 16.
Jim Longstreet and Doug Beek combined on a four-hitter as Wayland defeated Allegan 6-1. The Wildcats also beat Plainwell that week.
Andy Warner recorded his career best performance in the long jump with a leap of 19-4 and coach John Jensen’s Wayland track team won two of three dual meet encounters.
Senior right-hander Jerry Curry hurled a no-hitter in a 4-1 Martin victory over Lawrence. Catcher John Vendeville threw out three baserunners in another Martin victory.
In the Airport Lanes Family Twosome bowling tourney, winners were Paul Zylema and Mary Lou Rybiski and Zylema and Frank Rybiski.
Members of the Hopkins Community Action program met to discuss summer plans for the community.
Theodore Johnson, a 1950 graduate of Wayland High School, died of multiple sclerosis and heart failure at Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital.
Longtime member of Wayland Congregational church Mrs. Pearl Stockdale died at Kingma, Ariz. She was 83.
75 Years Ago — April 20, 1951
Trinity Lutheran Church was dedicated in a Sunday ceremony headed by the Rev. C. Trosien, church pastor.
The Rev. Dean of the United Methodist Church in Wayland reported that 45 new members had joined the church in the past year and total membership now is 230.
Army specialist Joseph Kaminski called his parents to let them know he has been assigned to Turkey.
Olive Brower was elected president of the Ladies Library Club for the coming year. Norma Hudson was chosen first vice president and Helen Pawloski second vice president.
Bill Herb will enroll in his final technical course soon at General Motors Institute.
The Wayland sophomore class and coach Claude Smith presented the one-act play “The Greener Grass” to the Ladies Library Club.
Eleven Wayland area farmers spent an entire day in Decatur, Ind., touring the Master Feed Mills.
Wayland Grange is planning a dance and potluck supper at 8:30 p.m. April 28 at the Grange Hall. Included will be a cakewalk and a door price.
The Salem Co-op offices were broken into for the third time in the past five years.
Lee Dale Arnsman, son of Mr. and Mrs, Leon Arnsman of Hopkins, has been taken to Allegan General Hospital suffering from pneumonia.
Frank Bos, a lifetime Martin area farmer, died at his home. He was 71.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Glenn Ford, Edmund O’Brien and Rhonda Fleming in “The Redhead and the Cowboy.”
- Gertrude Berg, Phillip Loeb and Eduard Frantz in “Molly,” from the radio program “The Goldbergs.”
- Alan Ladd, Mona Freeman and Robert Keith in “Branded.”
100 Years Ago — April 16, 1926
A free chest clinic will be conducted in Allegan all day April 20 at the courthouse. The testing will be conducted by specialists from the staff of the Michigan Tuberculosis Association.
John Ames, who left Wayland to take a new home in Mecca, Calif., sent a letter about his trip from Grand Rapids to California through Chicago. It was his first letter in the four years since leaving.
Village personnel were confirmed at the Village Council meeting, including Village Marshal George Waite, Fire Marshal J.F. Stockdale, Water Commissioner Douglas Nash and President Pro Tem A.J. Bowman.
State Highway Department officials have confirmed welcome news that M-13 will receive the application of 100-foot roadway.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Tom Mix in “the Lucky Horseshoe.” Richard Talmadge in “Jimmie’s Millions.” Albert Vaughn, Al Cooke and Kit Guard in “The Adventures of Mazie.”
The lot owned by J. McConnell had a fire after burning leaves somehow reached the barn.
Scores of visitors were reported to have come to town to view the display of bird houses at the Henika Public Library. Mrs. Munger of Hart, president of the Michigan Audubon Society, was a special guest.
Mrs. Elizabeth Clark gave a presentation on “Jesus’ Last Week on Earth” to members of the Ladies Library Club. Members also enjoyed a program on Panama.
Former Michigan Lt. Gov. Dickinson presented a program on temperance at Corning Church.’
Fire that started in a small building used as an oil house was extinguished at the home of Robert Smith. Leon Watkins discovered it early enough to prevent serious damage.
In spite of the bad roads and weather, many enjoyed the performance of the Wayland High School Band under the direction of John Bickert, and the Guert Fales Quartet.
The Wayland High School baseball team will take on Martin on its home field to start the season at 3 p.m. Friday.
The Wayland Gospel Mission is accepting garments for donations to the needy of this area.
“The appearance of the village streets has been improved greatly” under the care and sweeping of Henry McLoud.
Mrs. Howard Morrill underwent a successful operation of a poisonous goitre.
F.A. Baxter and 26 members of the Young Peoples’ Bible Class at the Methodist Episcopal Church visited Trinity ME Church in Grand Rapids and then toured Blodgett Hospital, later attending a musical.
