25 Years Ago — June 29, 1992

Cellar Door Companies of Northville is working with Wayland Township officials on a proposal to build a $5 million 4,000-seat concert amphiteater that could provide as many as 300 part-time jobs and attract 12,000 visitors and 3,000 motorists. The company has an option on 1,500 acres north of 129th Avenue east of the U.S.-131 expressway.

Roy Phil Hines of Bradley wasted no time in penning a letter to the editor opposing the proposed amphiteater, insisting it “will make the area a living hell” because of increased traffic, alcohol, drugs, bas behavior, etc.

Wayland Union Schools Supt. Bob Brenner wrote a letter to the editor urging Wayland Township residents to support a half-mill proposal on behalf of the Henika Library.

Construction and resurfacing has begun on Patterson Road from 126th Street south to 129th Avenue.

David Swoveland, 47, of Wayland Township, pleaded no contest to criminal sexual conduct after being accused to videotaping him fondling two naked minor girls.

The Fontana Music and Arts Festival will resume at the Arts Emporium in Shelbyville from July 19 to Aug. 30.

Ruth Anne Hayes Pitcher, formerly of Dorr and a 1965 graduate of Wayland High School, was presented with her master’s degree 20 years after she suffered a closed head injury in a traffic accident in Arizona.

This week’s edition of the Globe had a heavy health care theme and Paul Jackson wrote a feature about the increase in physicians assistants to ease rural doctors’ burdens and Pat Staley wrote about the return of the practice of midwives in assisting with births.

Tom and Maria Westbrook have opened a gift catalogue business in the former Cook’s Jewelry business on West Superior Street in Wayland. Ryan Konecny is store manager.

The Rev. Daniel Snyder has been granted a one-year leave of absence from the active ministry and will leave St. Thereseparish in Wayland. He is being succeeded by Fr. Gary Pamment of New Salem.

50 Years Ago — June 28, 1967

Former editor and publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his “Observations Here and There” column, was very critical of the U.S. government’s decision to force Michigan to move to Daylight Savings Time.

Jeri Barahoma, foreign exchange student from Costa Rica, received her diploma from Wayland High School after completing her senior year. She has been staying with her aunt, Mrs. Walter Kles of Wayland. She now plans to begin a career as an English and French teacher.

The Wayland City Council authorized placement of a ballot question in the fall for construction of a sewer system. Williams and Works of Grand Rapids will be the engineer.

The Grand Rapids men were aboard a Cessna plane that had to make an emergency landing in a rainstorm near the Ralph Sytsma farm in Leighton Township.

Cheryl Shuck, a Hudsonville High School graduate, was named Miss Dorr at the annual pageant, emceed by the Rev. Fr. Hugh Michael Behan, star of the TV-8 show, “Fifteen with Father.”

Michigan Bell telephone has announced a switchover for Hopkins telephone users that will allow them to direct dial their long distance calls.

Russell Culver of Davis Studios has just returned from a two-week seminar, “The Principles of Professional Portraiture,” at Winona Lake, Ind.

Wayland native William McClintock was installed as president of the Michigan Bankers Association at the group’s convention on Mackinac Island. He is senior vice president of the National Bank of Detroit.

The annual Wayland Globe tennis tournament this year will be held from July 21 to Aug. 4. Wayland High School tennis coach Donald Spriggs TeRoller will be the director.

Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church is planning its 50-year jubilee celebration and homecoming with a chicken barbecue dinner at Catalpa Hall.

Wayland piano students Patricia Krup. Lesley Irvine and Diane Borgic all earned top marks in the examination administered at Kalamazoo College by the Michigan Music Association.

Walt Disney’s “Bullwhip” was showing this weekend at the Wayland Theatre.

The Association took over the No. 1 slot on the national music charts with “Windy.”

75 Years Ago — July 3, 1942

The Mike Radimak family is doing their part for America, as two of the boys are in the Marines and the other in the Navy in fighting overseas.

Retyired local businessman Charles A. Sias, 77, died at his home in Wayland. He also was a longtime Mason and a member of the Order of Eastern Star.

Felix Rakowski, 72, a Hilliards area farmer, was killed by injuries he suffered at his farm when a team of horses bolted and threw him into the mower he was operating.

Crooners Frederick Hilbert Jr. and Tom Stafford and banjo player Bud Tripp of Allegan were the featured entertainment at the annual Rotary picnic at Gun lake. The buffet dinner was catered by the Doll House Restaurant of Wayland. In the auction, Arthur H. Johnson won an electric clock and Dr. C.A. Dickinson a ring of bologna.

Despite a heavy downpour, there was a good turnout at the Truax School reunion. Former teacher Vancha Pullen and 14 of her students stretching back 52 years were special guests.

“Adolph, Benito and Hirohito, the three blind mice… make them run with a 10% increase in War Bonds every pay day.”
One of the local correspondents had just returned from a vacation out West and wondered if there were plans for Sts. Cyril & Methodius to celebrate its silver jubilee. Indeed, an advertisement in the same edition announced the festival would be on July 5.

The Wayland school election and annual meeting will be held Monday evening, July 13, at the Wayland school auditorium. Electors also were welcome from the Nelson, Chamberlain, Kinner, Bradley, Gregg, Gardner, Hamilton, Shelbyville, Gregory, Sheldon and Robbins schools.

The Chas Ayers & Sons Service station was offering a Fourth of July special at $1 for 10 gallons of regular gas and $1.50 for six gallons of Ethyl.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

    • Lucille Ball, James Craig and Dean Jager in “Valley of the Sun.”
    • Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes in “Romance on the Range.”
    • Zasu Pitts and Grady Sutton in “The Bashful Bachelor.”
    • Guy Kibbe, Jed Prouty and Charles Lind in “Scattergood Rides High.”
    • Preston Foster and Lynn Bari in “Secret Agent of Japan.”

100 Years Ago — June 29, 1917

The Globe published on the front page a complete list of the young men who enlisted in the U.S. Military for the war overseas.

The Rev. and Mrs. W.W. Gray passed along their thanks to members of the community who took part in their surprise party under the auspices of the Epworth League.

Mrs. L. Murden was highlighted in the effort for local village gardens, reporting she has had great success in growing peas and potatoes.

Mrs. Esther Martin is spearheading a local campaign to start up a Canning Club for fruits and vegetables and plans a demonstration Saturday at “the little school house.”

Local Maxwell auto dealer Wilson H. Mosher plans a local contest for low gasoline consumption. Each car contestant will be given a red one-gallon container and the motorist who travels the farthest will win a Liberty Bond.

A Prof. Kimall of Napierville College was guest speaker at the Ladies Missionary meeting at the Evangelical Church, with 50 in attendance.

Three hundred Home Guards are expected to be on parade at the Fourth of July celebration in Allegan. Speakers will include State Grange Master John C. Ketchen and the Rev. Russell Bradley of Hastings, both rearded widely as excellent orators.

The film “The Fear of Poverty” was showing at Frank’s Opera House.

All area Sunday Schools for Patriotic Day Sunday, July 1, planned to do fund-rasing on behalf of the Red Cross.

Mrs. Emma Ingalls, a state representative in Montana, was featured this week, the sixth in a series for “Women Legislators.” Her pet bill is to establish vocational schools for delinquent girls.

Mr. and Mrs. M.H. Beall and daughter Margaret and Mrs. E.C. Campbell caught 64 bluegills on Gun Lake.

John C. Jeffers, proprietor of the pavilion at Inglewave on Green lake, has cards out announcing his opening dance on the Fourth of July, with the Byron Center five-piece orchestra providing the music.

1 Comment

Free Market Man
June 29, 2017
David, thanks for researching and writing this post every week - very enjoyable reading!

Post your comment

Discover more from

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading