25 Years Ago — July 29, 1992
Barb Kaarlie, director of the Allegan Alliance, denies rumors that the organization will be disbanded soon. Formerly known as the Allegan County Promotional Alliance, it was formed in 1984 and perhaps its biggest accomplishment was securing a $750,000 federal community development block grant for Kessler’s in Wayland, though Tom and Donna White went bankrupt several years later and now the building and property are up for sale.
Linda Hutchings, a staff reporter, wrote the editorial in this week’s edition, taking up traditional family values and non-traditional lifestyles. She was prompted by Vice President Dan Quayle’s remarks about the TV character Murphy Brown, portrayed by Candace Bergen.
Elsie Owings of Bradley wrote a letter to the editor adding her opposition to a proposed amphitheater in Wayland Township.
Dorr Township Supervisor Don Kaczanowski and Trustee Norm Fifelski wrote letters exhorting local voters to approve a road millage renewal and a half-mill request for fire equipment.
Wayland Junior High School teacher Michelle Foster wrote a letter opposing the paving of Second Street, insisting the action will spoil the pristine rural area.
As the Aug. 4 primary election approaches, the Globe continued coverage of candidates, particularly noting the challenge of Peter Hoekstra to unseat 26-year veteran Republican Congressman Guy VanderJagt in the Second Congressional District. Hoekstra said he’s running because “there’s too much manipulative political back scratching going on and not enough problem solving.”
The annual Wayland Summerfest softball tournament attracted 90 teams, 59 male and 31 female, according to coordinator Bob Golm.The Merren family’s team was the only squad to go undefeated, fashioning a 5-0 record, and Roger Merren was named tourney MVP.
Watson Township is planning a 150th anniversary celebration with a picnic, pig roast, horsehoe tournament, volleyball and music in August at the township hall at 1895 118th Ave.
50 Years Ago — July 26, 1967
Mr. and Mrs. Don Gales of Moline and friends attended a Detroit Tigers’ baseball game and witnessed some of the looting and rioting in the downtown area. They endured setting of fires and violent behavior before getting on the expressway to return home with bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Monique Souche of France and Chister Perrson of Sweden were interviewed for a feature story about their experiences as foreign exchange students at Wayland High School over the past academic year. Souche stayed with the Joe LaValley family and Perrson was a part of the Marshall Towne family.
The 22nd annual Wayland Community Fair was scheduled for Aug. 24-26. The fair, billed as an opportunity for young people in the community to exhibit their creations, is sponsored by the Wayland Garden Club, Future Homemakers of America, Wayland Rotary and the Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce.
Representatives from Wayland, Leighton and Hopkins townships, city officials and Archer-Hampel Funeral Home Director conntnue workling on a proposed agreement to provide public ambulance service for constituents.
Neil Bultman and his wife have decided to retire as bus driver and custodian and hot lunch program superviro, respectively, after 17 years. He will be succeeded John Nagel and she will be replaced by Mrs. Ernest Berends.
Rhoda Edwards, a sophomore pre-med student at Michigan State University and Wayland High School graduate, earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the spring term.
Former Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his “Observations Here and There” column, must have been feeling nostalgic after noting the demolition of the Malmstone Building downtown, waxed eloquent about his father, George, moving his printing press to Wayland in early 1885 (see photo), several months after publishing the first edition of the Globe.
Robert (Whitey) McEwen of Hopkins carded a hole in one at Orchard Hills No. 7 hole using a three-iron.
Wayland Calvary Church planned to have a Silver Tea July 30 honoring Ann Ryno, who will leave Aug. 18 to teach at the Arctic Bible Institure.
Mary Young, daughter of Wayne and Doris Goodwin of Wayland, has announced her engagement to Frank Chrisman. She is a 1967 graduate of Wayland High School and he is employed at Midway Packing.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre was “The Cool Ones.”
Members of the Leighton Farm Bureau met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Maichele and discussed the merits and demerits of the Unfunded Motor Insurance Fund.
Sonny James, Faron Young, Darrell McCall and Delores Smiley were the headline acts at the Ottawa County Fair.
The Doors captured the No. 1 slot among the nation’s top 100 tunes with “Light My Fire.”
75 Years Ago — July 31, 1942
First Sgt. Robert Kovar of Wayland was reported to have been killed in the Dec. 7 Pearl Harbor attack while aboard the USS Arizona. Born in 1921 in Indiana, he moved to Wayland in 1930 and enlisted in the Navy in September 1940.
Village Street Commissioner Elmer Kugelard, according to Editor Rollo Mosher, “gets out early in the morning and cleans up the accumulation of debris and trash folks throw on the ground or sidewalk, especially after Wednesday and Saturday night activities.
A representative from the Goodrich Rubber Co. made a presentation to Rotary about the problems obtaining the substance during the wartime effort.
Ira Moore, president of the Peoples National Bank of Grand Rapids, was scheduled to speak to Rotary next week about the growing threat of inflation.
The Blue Ridge Mountaineers, who have been heard often on WLAV Radio, will be the guest performers at the next Wednesday night downtown entertainment offering, sponsored by the Wayland Business Men’s Association.
A farewell party was given by the Boy Scouts for Claude Smith at the Rod and Gun Club. Smith will be leaving Wayland for the U.S. Army soon.
Mrs. Phil Reno, RN, has reported that 14 young women have graduated from the home nursing class she has been teaching. Another class series is scheduled in the fall.
Bill Hooker has compiled a 3-0-1 record in boxing while being stationed at the 11th Battalion Field Artillery Replacement Center in Ft. Bragg, N.C.
Gladys Baum of Otsego has the unsual distinction of being a female candidate for Allegan County Register of Deeds in the Sept. 15 primary election. Of course, she is a Republican.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Constance Bennett and Bruce Cabot in “Wild Bill Hickock Rides.”
- Maria Montez and Patric Knowles in Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Mystery of Marie Roget.”
- Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings and Ronald Reagan in “King’s Row.”
- Tim Holt and Ray Whitley in “Riding the Wind.”
- Richard Travis and Brenda Joyce in “The Postman Didn’t Ring.”
100 Years Ago — July 27, 1917
George P. Wilson, assistant cashier at the Wayland State Bank, was the first Wayland Township man to be drafted. L.D. Kaechele was first in Leighton, F.H. Gulch in Dorr and Joseph Ballinwski in Hopkins.
Mrs. L. B. Fitts, missionary to Mexico, will be guest speaker in separate programs and the Wayland and Bradley Congregational churches. She served in Mexico until President Woodrow Wilson ordered all Americans out of the country because of deteriorating relations.
Jessie Hoyt, one of the teachers at Grand Rapids High School, is taking some advanced coursework at Columbia University in New York this summer.
The Helvetica Milk Condensing Co. has raised the price of milk again to its highest level ever paid to local producers at $2.45 per hundred pounds, up 25 cents.
Mrs. Ina P. Williams of Washington was this week’s Woman Legislator in the spotlight. She polled the highest number of votes among all legislators in the state in its most recent election. She said of women, “surely they should help solve all problems that concern their homes and their children.”
S.J. Gunn of Ottar Creek. Fla., stopped in Wayland to visit with old friends. He now is a very successful businessman in the lumber trade as manager of a company.
Many YMCA boys from Grand Rapids are attending a camp on Barlow Lake. There are about 40 and more expected later.
“The community was shocked Friday morning to hear that Edwin McBride had committed suicide by taking poison.”
Thomas E. Wilson, an area rural school teacher for more than 50 years, died at his home in Bradley, He was 71.
PHOTO: This was the building that housed the printing press brought from Mackinaw City in 1885 by Editor-Publisher George Mosher. The picture was taken in 1907.