(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr:
25 Years Ago — April 30, 2001
East Superior Street in Wayland is scheduled to get a physical makeover from North Main east to the city limits.
Editor Nila Aamoth wrote in her Soapbox column about the dangers of getting calls from “telephone troglodytes,” also known as telemarketers.
Mary Martin of Leighton Township wrote a letter to the editor telling lawmakers they should be trying to lower gas prices instead of opposing Native Americans and casinos.
Brian and Colleen Thomas from Macedonia sent a letter asking for the Internet address of the Globe and how often the site is accessible.
Marybeth Pritschet wrote a column bemoaning the loss of fencerows in the American landscape.
Moving Day for the U.S. post office from its old location on East Superior to Reno Drive has been scheduled for May 19, including a grand opening.
A local woman will face neglect charges after her 3-year-old daughter was discovered wandering streets alone in the area of North Locust and Cherry.
An early morning fire at Charter Communications knocked out power to about 6,000 cable TV subscribers.
Martin school district voters will be asked to approve a 3.43-mill bond request for 26 years for renovations.
Felix Pankratz and Arnold Adamczyk were pictured trying to sell Tootsie Rolls for the Knights of Columbus annual campaign on behalf of impaired children.
Andrea Moma cleared 8-6 to set a new Wayland school record in the pole vault.
The Hopkins boys’ track team captured first place in the Wayland Invitational’s smaller schools competition. Sophomore Katie Pickette set the school record in the 300-meter hurdles.
The Wayland softball team recorded its 56th consecutive victory in the O-K Gold Conference by sweeping Hudsonville Unity. Amber Willison was the winning pitcher in both contests.
Martin claimed its first softball win of the season as Ashley Willover tossed a three-hitter at Lawton.
Senior ace pitcher Heather Houseman hurled a four-hitter and Casey Schweitzer and Jessie Striegle had two hits apiece, as Hopkins clobbered Naugatuck 11-1.
Choir coach and teacher Jan Laman’s select and high school choirs earned highest honors at the state solo and ensemble festival.
50 Years Ago — April 27, 1976
Allegan County Commissioner Dennis Nickels of Wayland has announced he will not seek another term. He has served since January 1973. He said he wants to spend more time with his family.
Contestants for the Miss Martin crown are Deb Coryell, Eileen Priebe, Cindy Savage, Robin Moore, Kim Steele, Kelly Steele, Karen Counterman and Vicky Noble.
The Martin Area Community Choir will perform the Bicentennial Cantata “I Love America” Sunday, May 2, at East Martin Christian Reformed Church. Janis Dykstra is director.
After absorbing funding cutbacks from the State of Michigan, Hopkins Public Schools has learned its state equalized value (SEV) is down by more than a million dollars from last year.
The Wayland marketing firm Sereco insists the Michigan Department of Commerce’s news release accusing the company of improper distribution was deceptive.
The Wayland Board of Education voted to seek a one-mill increase in the local tax levy in June because of the revenue lost with state aid cutbacks.
Wayland City Police are investigating a rash of reports of vandalism of school buses.
Ralph Gilden, dean of admission and financial aid, wrote a letter to Globe staffer Pat Staley praising the modern appearance of Wayland High School.
Mr. and Mrs. Rollo Mosher have returned to their Wayland area home after being in Arizona all winter. Rollo Mosher is former editor and publisher of the Wayland Globe.
The Play School Park Child Care Center will have an open house May 7 at its United Methodist Church facility next to the city park in Wayland.
The annual art show, sponsored by Hopkins Public Schools, will be held Saturday, May 1.
The Rev. and Mrs. William Erwin will direct the Building Fund Crusade for the United Methodist Church.
Wayland, behind the pitching excellence of Denny Patterson and Jim Longstreet, has emerged as a serious contender for the O-K Blue Conference baseball title.
John Vendeville clouted two homers to lead unbeaten Martin to two victories in the Southwest Athletic Conference.
Rick Merren was declared the winner of David T. Young’s trivia quiz contest, naming assistant varsity football coaches Robert Marutz, Harry Multer, Eugene Knobloch and Richard L. Akers.
Sandy Getty has a hefty .800 batting average and Cheri Ritz is the top pitcher for coach Sharon Nelson’s defending champion O-K Blue Conference softball squad.
The Wayland tennis team broke a dual match losing streak of 12 games with a tight victory over Caledonis.
Longtime local farmer Paul Gregerson marked his 100th birthday with an open house at the Gun River Conservation Club.
Frank Suhusky Sr. dropped in at Herb Chevrolet’s 50th anniversary celebration as one of the most loyal customers over the years.
The “minor sports,” golf, tennis, track and cross country, have been eliminated by Hopkins Public Schools for the 1976-77 academic year because of budget cuts from state aid.
The Bellamy Brothers ended the five-week dominance of “Disco Lady” at No. 1 with “Let Your Love Flow.”
75 Years Ago — May 4, 1951
Mrs. Edith Kidney died at Allegan County General Hospital of an illness she endured for six years. She was 56.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his weekly Observations column, noted a pleasant trout fishing excursion in the Upper Peninsula. He and his colleagues stopped in at Naubinway to go smelt dipping. Jack Gurney served them at the next Rotary meeting.
The first annual Mother-Dauighter PTA banquet will be held May 7 at the high school cafeteria.
The Globe published results of Airport Lanes’ first Inter-league Bowling Tournament.
The Rev. and Mrs. Harold Wolfe, will be guests at the Hopkins Community Church through May 13. They are missionaries from Nigeria.
Mrs. Virginia Paine will entertain members of the Young Married People Club in Shelbyville.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Forrest Tucker and Adele Mara in “California Passage.”
- Eleanor Parker and Anthony Dexter in “Valentino.”
- A Korean story, Robert Hutton and Steve Brodie in “The Steel Helmet.”
- 100 Years Ago — April 30, 1926
Ivan Hunsberger stepped off a roof backwards while helping with installing shingles and suffered a severe spinal injury, falling 12 feet. He was recovering in a Grand Rapids hospital.
Mr. Looyengoed has improved the appearance of his furniture store downtown with installation of awnings and upstairs windows.
The building and fixtures of Beall’s store has been sold to Frank Malmstone, who has arrived in Wayland from Barryton. Mr. Malmstone has more than 30 years of experience in the business. The Bealls are moving to Kalamazoo because of his ill health.
Fire destroyed Bird Frank’s new barn near Moline. All livestock was spared, but his automobile was burned along with the barn.
Wayland soon will have its fourth gasoline service station, as A.E. Chapman is having carpenters tearing down a part of his residence near the corner of Pine and South Main streets.
The Better Homes Week Baking contest will be held Saturday, May 1, at the Henika Library.
Harold Hawkins is erecting a building in the rear of the one he recently purchased just south of the Wayland State Bank. One new machine he has ordered will be a new steam press for pressing suits and other clothing articles.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Richard Dix in “The Sock Punch” and an additional Our Gang comedy. Lefty Lynn in “Breed of the Border.”
The Wayland Garden Club notes, “No country can boast of so many beautiful trees and shrubs as the United States” and urged all readers to plant a tree.
All baseball games have resulted in victories for Wayland so far this spring. Wayland defeated Martin 9-5 and Hopkins 24-12. The local team will play Otsego this afternoon at 3 p.m.
Mr. Ingham will take his track team to Kalamazoo College May 1.
The senior play, “The House Next Door,” will be presented at the Regent Theatre May 6 and 7.
Pauline Smith has been determined to be valedictorian for the Class of 1926 and Dean Davidson salutatorian. Other top 10 students are Everette Wilde, Faith Fleser, Helena DeJongh, Bill Miller, Dorothy Douglas, Frank Peet, Opal Cozzens and Helen Koehler.
May Dunwell was elected president of the Ladies Library Club and May Reno first vice president.
Raymond Brown, only 28, son of Mrs. Eva Brown, died at Old Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo.
Harold Watts had his car stolen in front of the Regent Theatre in Grand Rapids Saturday night, but found it Sunday.
Barnaby’s Family Orchestra will furnish the music for the dance at Woodmen Hall. There will be Quadrilles and round dances.
A great many Allegan County residents have expressed a desire to have home demonstration work continued, so it was decided by Farm Bureau to launch a campaign for financial support.
