(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — April 28, 1993
The Martin Board of Education voted 4-3 to reinstate “Literature of the Supernatural” into the freshman and sophomore curriculum. The board vote earlier in the year was deadlocked at 3-3, so newcomer Janice Johnson cast the deciding vote to permit the students to read works that included Shakespeare and Poe.
The Dorr Township Planning Commission fielded two special use permit requests for a private road to serve the Pine Hills subdivision and for construction of a gas station between 14th Street and U.S.-131.
Anne Meade, executive director of the Fontana Music Society, reminded readers in a letter to check out the summer concerts in Shelbyville later this summer.
Karen Knoblosh of Hopkins wrote a letter in supportof a state-wide proposal to raise the sales tax from 4% to 6% to help fund education while cutting property taxes.
A 5.4-mile stretch of U.S.-131 from Shelbyville to Wayland is scheduled for resurfacing and the Michigan Department of Transportation says the work should be completed by Nov. 1. The highway was constructed in 1959 and improved in the mid-1970s.
The Yankee Springs Recreation Area will have a bigger and better boat launch constructed beginning next year.
Bob Wagner and Norm Fifelski were quoted extensively in a feature story about the opening of the Dorr Recreation Association in 1963. First president was Frank Selzer, vice president was Bernie Damveld, secretary Eleanor Selzer and treasurer John Grafford.
Miss Marcy Jo McClellan has been chosen Miss Dahlia Fest to preside over the celebration April 30 and May 1, according to co-chairs Jeff Salisbury and Haroldene Bruinsma.
Sean Talsma struck out 13 batters and Martin captured its first baseball win of the season, 6-3 over Bloomingdale.
The Hopkins softball, racked by graduation losses from the previous year, recorded its first victory of the season, over Muskegon Catholic Central behind the six-hit pitching of Karen Schwartz.
Matt Barghan was a double winner in the throws, but Wayland’s track team lost 102-30 to Coopersville. The Lady Wildcats, meanwhile, won 85-42 as Heidi Moreau tossed the discus a school record 117-10.
Jenny Stratton and Jenny Merrell got the job done on the mound and Emily Guerrant clubbed a three-run double and a home run, as Martin improved to 7-2 overall.
Hopkins baseball, also reeling from graduation losses from a team that went 18-4 in 1992, now is 3-2 for coach Mark Austin.
Al Moran tossed the shot 42-3, but Martin settled for third in a tri-meet. The Clippers this season have 21 team members, more than double of last year’s total.
50 Years Ago — April 24, 1968
The Hopkins Board of Education will ask voters to approve a five-mill increase for two years to cover increased expenses and to hire more teachers. A few meetings are planned to explain the request to the public.
Wayland High School’s debate team, coached by Fred Komer, finished second in a league that included Plainwell, Hopkins, Fennville and Allegan. Team members included Steve Alflen, John Bilski, Linda Clark, Roxie Greenawalt, Arthur C. Johnson, Sandra Potter, Jeff Hampel, Wanda Messer, Mary Lee Hayes, Tom Latrondress Robert Ayers and Bob Bell.
There will be races for one two-year term and two four-year terms for the Wayland Board of Education. Current board member Wallace Wakeman intends to succeed Frank Langley, who resigned for health reasons. The other current member, Mrs. Wayne Chrisman, will not seek re-election. But Joe LaValley, Mrs. Frank Bastian and LaVerne Lettinga make it a 3-for-2.
Donald B. Smith of Bradley, a 1963 graduate of Wayland High School, was awarded a Purple Heart and special commendation medal for his service in Vietnam.
Earning all-As at St. Therese school for the previous academic term were Linda Shoemaker, Diane Borgic, Jim Graham, Joe Permoda, Alice Fifelski, Debra Kirby, Janice Shoemaker, Mary Harnish and Carol Pelka.
Chester Bala, 47, a World War II veteran, amateur radio operator and member of the VFW and Knights of Columbus, died while working in his yard.
Mrs. Ruby Smith, in her weekly history column, wrote about the first blacksmiths in the area, David Stockdale, Glenn McCaslin, Glenn Fales and Hiram Stringham. She also recounted the Hoys Borthers who built the first foundry and the first grist mill on the north side of Dahlia Street, home to the E. R. Ryno canning factory.
Wayland High School graduate Robert Hanlon has been promoted at Dow Chemical in Midland. He graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in packaging engineering.
George Towne, who played football, basketball and golf, was the winner of the annual Louis Japinga Award.
John Wilson fired a one-hit shutout for Hopkins against Wayland and he, Dennis Jager and Al Brenner formed a formidable trio of Viking hurlers, all with earned run averages of less than 2.0.
Senior Robert Ayers leads the Wayland tennis team, but the Wildcats are off to a 1-2 start on the season.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” starring Clint Eastwood.
Diane Smith of the “Ten & Teen” Club and Cindy Miedema of the Wayland Clovers have been chosen to represent Allegan County at this year’s state 4-H Style Show.
The Michigan State University musical group, “The Foreunners,” will perform at the Wayland High School girls’ gym Saturday night. Featured is MSU basketball player John Tregoning.
Bobby Goldsboro’s “Honey” spent its third straight week atop the nation’s tunes.
75 Years Ago — April 30, 1943
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his weekly “Observations” column, declared that Frederick Hilbert “can spot a cock pheasant father than anyone.” He waxed eloquent about the joys of going north with Hilbert for the annual trout season opener. He also noted that four Hopkins men, George Barnum, Don Weick, Francis Brower and Leonard Clawson, have been saying at the cabin next door for the past several years.
Jack Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Smith, penned a letter from Iceland, where he had been stationed with the U.S. Navy.
The Wayland Grange has been planning a special Mothers Day program, feating a “Battle of the Sexes.”
The Wayland Catholic Ladies Club has been preparing for a grand bazaar fund-raiser May 8 at Tom Bennett’s store.
Rex Allen, former Wayland High School economics teacher, has received his commission with the U.S. Navy at Fort Schuyler, N.Y.
Mrs. Florence Herbert, a lifetime resident of Martin Township, died at her home.
Darl Goodspeed, a 1942 graduate of Wayland High School, has volunteered with the U.S. Navy and is en route to the Great Lakes Training Center in Illinois.
Mrs. Louis Japinga, manager of the local rationing service, has indicated there is no word yet on applications for canning sugar.
Harriet A. Corkins, who came to Leighton Township in 1879 at the age of 3, died at her son’s home after an illness of eight months.
Marie Radinovich, a native of Czechoslavakia, died at age 65 at her home in Bradley.
Congressman Clare Hoffman penned a column titled, “Statement of Fact from Washington,” which said, “Barbarous as was the conduct of the Japs in executing American fliers who bombed Tokyo, their sacrifice will not have been in vain if it arouses us to the folly of relying on other nations, spurs us to send all possible aid to MacArthur.”
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Jimmy Lydon and Frances Gifford in “Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour.”
- Richard Arlen and Jean Parker in “Wrecking Crew.”
- Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in “Who Done It?”
- Richard Carlson and Martha Driscoll in “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.”
- Charles Starrett and Shirley Patterson in “Riding the Nevada.”
100 Years Ago — April 26, 1918
Clyde Gillispie wrote a letter from France, where he is serving in the U.S. Army, saying, “We are in barracks now and sleeping on things that are about like double deck chicken roosts… I but I guess know I could sleep on a pile of rocks.”
Evart G. Wilson, also serving overseas, wrote, “I cannot say how hard life would be if we were in an unfriendly country. The French people are very kind to us.”
Students who achieved 100% marks on current events include Beatrice Brog, Glenn Calkins, Bailey Franks, Russell Hilbert and Genevieve Shoger.
“We hope to make Wayland a 100% Thrift School… every student must buy a Thrift stamp.”
The high school civics class had a debate on a proposal to send all state prisoners to war for service.
The junior class play, “Jones’ Dress Suit, a three-act comedy,” will be presented at Frank’s Opera House May 2.
John Chrisman suddenly was taken to John Robinson Hospital in Allegan for surgery. He is “greatly relieved of pain and suffering.”
Julia Harrington, 77, died in Ohio. She had spent many winters in Michigan with Mrs. J.L Smith. Her funeral was to be held at the Smith residence.
A “monster patriotic rally” is scheduled at the Wayland United Methodist Church, featuring “splendid addresses given by notable orators” and songs.
Local Red Cross members are rehearsing for a patriotic play “Mrs. Tubbs Does Her Bit.”
Mrs. L.C. Root of Allegan gave a presentation to the Wayland Grange about “Buying and Selling Cooperatives.”
Real war photos of American soldiers in the war overseas will be on display at Frank’s Opera House and then returned to the War Preparedness Board.
Byron Parks spoke to the Ladies Library Club about leather and the many tanneries in Michigan.