(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — May 5, 1993
The sale of the former Kessler’s building on South Main is imminent, according to Wayland businessman Dennis Reno, who also is a member of the Allegan County Economic Development Corporation. Kessler’s, at one time Wayland’s largest employer, was shuttered by Tom and Donna White due to bankruptcy.
Wayland Union Schools Supt. Bob Brenner told members of the Wayland Township Board that local taxes will increase by 10.5% this year if the state-wide ballot proposal doesn’t pass in June. The millage rate will go down by 44.5% if it does, he added.
Watson, Monterey and Hopkins townships have agreed to establish a fire board, but there is still no agreement on how much each municipality will pay for maintenance of the new fire barn in the Village of Hopkins.
The 14th annual St. Jude’s Bikeathon was held this year in honor of longtime advocate Josh Trumbell who died recently of a heart attack.
Wayland Township Planning Commission members have developed an ordinance governing rules for development of local private roads.
Water rates in the City of Wayland will increase from 60 cents to $1.40 per thousand gallons to help pay off a bond.
The City of Wayland’s Mayor Exchange Day this year will be later this month with Douglas on the west end of Allegan County.
Michigan State Trooper Larry Medendorp of the Wayland post has announced his retirement after serving 25 years. He said he will devote his new-found time to fun, family and fishing, but it wasn’t long afterward that he became public safety officer for Wayland High School. Medendorp said he was concerned about crime continuing to increase while the number of officers declines because of budget cuts.
The Wayland High School baseball team split a doubleheader with Kenowa Hills to remain tied atop the O-K Gold Conference standings. The Wildcats, 13-3 overall, got some lusty hitting from Mike Wilson, Chris Vlietstra and Robert Moore.
Freshman sensation Heather Postma had to be retired to the sidelines with respiratory problems in a 66-62 victory over Caledonia. She still managed to win the long jump and high jump. Marcy Brown, Jessica Beattie, Bianca Pratt and Ann Iciek rose the occasion in the 1600-meter relay to provide the final winning points.
Junior Matt Barghan continues to impress in the discus with a toss of 137-10, but the Wildcats are struggling with inexperience.
The Wayland varsity softball team is 3-3 in the and 5-11 overall.
Pat Staley wrote a glowing review of the Spring Showcase with Allegan Cabaret performers Steve Ross and John Hotchkiss and a performance by “The Runaways, Amy Calkins, Jamie Kotrba, Shantel Hesser and Mystique Kotrba.
50 Years Ago — May 1, 1968
A front page editorial comment praised the service and demeanor of 1965 Wayland High School graduate Robert Parker, who was home from serving aboard the U.S. Lexington in Vietnam. “The reason for the military is not destruction, but rather the preservation of rights of the flower people and the other dissident groups.”
Indiana University of Pennsylvania has judged the Hopkins High School student newspaper, the Hopkinzette, best among 140 contest entries. Don Walker and Linda Karsten are co-editors and advisor is journalism instructor Mrs. Ear Brainard.
Hopkins High School graduate Gary Schmidt, 18, of Dorr, was killed in a traffic crash in Hudsonville.
Mrs. Clara Durfee was appointed to seat on the Wayland Board of Education to fill out the remainder of term after Board President Frank Langley resigned for health reasons. The school board also agreed to place a request for a 6.8-mill mill increase on the June 10 election ballot.
Karl Rewa, Joan Rewa and Randy Blain all suffered injuries in a traffic accident near the intersection of 142nd Avenue and Division Avenue and were taken to a Grand Rapids hospital.
William J. Cochran of the Michigan Office of Economic Expansion will talk about industrial development at the Wayland Chamber of Commerce dinner.
The townships of Wayland, Leighton, Dorr and Hopkins and the City of Wayland have agreed to chip in $350 each to maintain a Wayland Ambulance Service headquartered at the Archer-Hampel Funeral Home.
Four students, Joanne Grzezak, Lois Sykes, Kris Mellon and Tom Lanning, earned all-As for the fifth marking period at Wayland High School.
Former Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote in his “Observations Here and There” column about running into retired Admiral Harold Briggs, who grew up in Shelbyville, at a graduation ceremony at Western Michigan University.
This week in local historian Mrs. Ruby Smith’s column, she wrote about the first creamery in 1899, now at the house occupied by Grayce Delp; cheesemaker F. E. Picket, who came to Hopkins in 1865; Edward Fitch and his hardware store in 1876; W.H. Shuh and his harness business; 60 years of barbering by John Ward, and the first local undertaker, George Henika.
Wayland High School graduate Ron Stehouwer, who spent five season as an offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, now is personnel relations manager at the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Co. in Newark, Ohio.
The Wayland High School varsity tennis team is only 2-4 on the season overall, but No. 1 singles player Robert Ayers has won all six of his matches.
The Hopkins baseball team continues its winning ways, defeating Lawton, Gobles and Hamilton. Al Brenner is batting .593 and Dennis Jager tossed a two-hitter in one of the victories.
Attempts are being made to start a local chapter of the Junior Chamber of Commerce with a meeting called for the Herb Chevrolet showroom on West Superior.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Frank Sinatra in “Tony Rome.”
Bobby Goldsboro’s tear-jerker “Honey” was still on top of the nation’s musical charts.
75 Years Ago — May 7, 1943
Rollo G. Mosher tattled on Wayland Cleaners owner Fred Greenawalt for dunking his tie into the chili at the most recent Rotary luncheon.
William H. Dendel, Hopkins general store owner for more than 50 years, died at his home at age 84.
Mrs. Mack Short reported seeing a couple of loons on Doan’s Lake.
Mosher announced that circulation of the Wayland Globe is now at an all-time high for its more than 50 years in the weekly newspaper business. He also noted the recent challenges in distribution with shortages of newsprint.
The Red Cross, Crippled Children’s and war fund-raising campaigns were singled out for orchids for their continued unselfish efforts.
Miss Margaet Dado, best known in the community as the reporter for the “Hi Neighbor!” news chatter column in the Globe, became the bride of Pvt. Herschell “Jack” Jenkins of Shenango, Pa., in a ceremony at Sts. Cyril & Methodius, Gun Lake.
The Gallants was bonds fund-raising campaign eclipsed its goal by more than $1,500 by taking in $43,246.
Warren S. Lapham, 71, a resident of Gun lake for 62 years and believed to be the first onion farmer in the region, died at Crispe Hospital in Plainwell. A drain contractor by trade, he had his onions shipped by rail from Shelbyville.
The Globe published a letter from Don Gurney, serving in the military in the Pacific Theatre. He said he had to walk eight miles to attend an Easter Sunday service.
Vasa Mizu, a native Rumanian, died at age 70 at County Hospital in Allegan. He was naturalized as a U.S. citizen and had lived with the C.O. Kugelard family in Wayland.
Cpl. Claude Smith was home on furlough from the medical corps in Chickasa, Okla.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Roy Rogers in “Idaho.”
- James Craig and Bonita Granville in “7 Miles from Alcatraz.”
- Henry Fonda and Maureen O’Hara in Immortal Sergeant.”
- Simone Simone and Kent Smith in “Cat People.”
- Eddie Albert and Anne Shirley in “Lady Bodyguard.”
100 Years Ago — May 3, 1918
Genevieve Shoger was named valedictorian of the Wayland High School Class of 1918 and Wayne Thomas was salutatorian. The class had only nine members. Graduation exercises were planned for May 28 at the Disciples Church on West Superior Street with D. W. Waldo, president of Western Normal Teachers’ College as speaker.
The Liberty Loan representatives have been granted a time extension for their presentation at Chapel Time at Wayland School.
Wayland students were able to buy a total of $2,500 in Liberty bonds and $175 in collections of Thrift stamps.
Former teachers John Hoyt and Verne Crandall and 19 former Wayland students are among those serving in the military.
The Allegan County eighth grade exam will be administed at Wayland School May 9 and 10.
Longtime Van Buren County farmer Raymond C. Morris, a Republican, has announced his candidacy for State Senate.
Mrs. George Hendrixson died at her home in Ohio Corners, leaving a husband and seven sons.
Charles Yeakey was in Grand Rapids Monday for the McAdoo Liberty Loan Day festivities.
Jerome Zaiser of Wayland was apprehended and he confessed to the Allegan County Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney to stealing $11 from the cash box at the interurban. He was sentenced in Allegan County Court to a $31 fine and 60 days in jail.
Dr. O.H Van Brussel has been elected secretary of the West Michigan Veterinary Medical Association.
“Trout season opened May 1. There were no great records broken in this neck of the woods, that is no one has shown us a blessed one.” — George Mosher.
Henry Ford’s new tractor will be distributed in Allegan County by Yeakey Ford of Wayland.
Mrs. Barbara Pierson has been chosen Worthy Matron of the local Order of the Eeastern Star chapter No. 336.