Bygone Days: A look at the history of NE Allegan County

25 Years Ago — June 30, 1993

Hillcrest Mall in Dorr, which hasn’t been fully tenanted since it opened in 1986, is getting a name change to the Country Market Place with a goal of filling every open space. Developers are Glenn and Sue Jager, former Dorr residents.

A citizens’ watchdog group led by Sandy O’Dell has filed suit against the Yankee Springs Township Board, charging Supervisor George London and board members with adopting the 1993-94 budget without giving the public an adequate chance to view the spending plans.

The Wayland City Council has agreed to drop the requirement for the Jolly Bar & Grille and Wayland Hotel to acquire additional liability insurance for the downtown Summerfest festivals.

Anita Kerber of Hopkins, expressing frustration with yet another defeat at the polls statewide for education funding, calls on area residents to form a grass-roots effort to reform the way public schools are funded in Michigan.

Michigan State Trooper Lane Booms of the Wayland post and his pal Kahn, the tracking canine, successfully apprehended a car thief in Wayland.

The Dorr Lions Club selected Rusty Dutkiwewicz, wife of the founder of Dick’s Market, as the community’s Citizen of the Year.

Two Wayland boys, ages 11 and 13, suffered injuries when their bicycles collided in town. At the urging of Police Chief Dan Miller, their parents almost immediately purchased helmets.

Hopkins High School sophomore Toni Newell, daughter of Jim and Susan Newell, is representing her school at the National Association of Student Councils in Newark, Delaware.

The Wayland post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its auxiliary put together a perch and smelt dinner for members of the Grand Rapids Veterans Facility.

Scott Sullivan wrote a feature about Gun Lake Lawn & Garden owner Tom Fischer, who has a herd of 18 buffalo at his farm near Caledonia.

Wayland varsity tennis coach Cheri Ritz, in the wake of earning Regional Tennis Coach of the Year honors, has launched a summer tennis camp she says has a student to instructor ratio of 6 to 1.

50 Years Ago — June 26, 1968

Don Clack and Steve Parks have just returned from representing Wayland High School at the American Legion’s annual Boys’ State conference in Lansing.

The “Brothers of the Brush” group plans another meeting before the Wayland centennial celebration in August to continue to monitor proper grooming techniques for the many men growing beards and mustaches for the festival.

Mediator Joseph VanderArk has been chosen to provide services for the Wayland Board of Education and Wayland Education Association after the breakdown in negotiations for a new employment contract.

Glenn Noble, a Wayland High School graduate, wrote a letter from Vietnam, where he is serving in the military, indicating how much he and other homesick soldiers appreciate getting local news.

Dr. C. A Dickinson of Wayland has been appointed medical director for Allegan County, despite having retired from his local practice.

Robert E. Johnson of Shelbyville has been recognized for having a safe driving record for 12 years as a rural letter carrier.

Mrs. William Herb of Wayland, a nurse at Butterworth Hospital, suffered injuries in a traffic accident on U.S.-131. Michigan State Police from the Wayland post said she apparently fell asleep at the wheel while returning from a long shift.

Donal Mellon was installed as president of the Wayland Lions Club by Fred Edgerton of Plainwell.

Buck Barry and his horse, Thunder, will be featured in the Wayland Fourth of July parade, along with the Junior Drum and Bugle Corps.

Allan Armintrout, a 1965 graduate of Wayland High School, is studying at Baptist Bible College to become a minister for the deaf.

Air Force Capt. Frederick TenHoor, a Wayland High School graduate, is serving in Vietnam with the 39th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1965 from the University of Nebraska.

The Michigan Court of Appeals will have a hearing on the constitutionality of changing county boards of supervisors to county boards of commissioners. Attorney Fred Read Barton and the Jaycees of Otsego and Plainwell filed suit.

Mrs. Ezekial Smith, widow of a longtime Wayland businessman and sister in law of Wayland High School business teacher Julia Smith, died at Blodgett Hospital. She was 72.

Ernie Strong, a graduate of Wayland High School and teacher and coach here, has been named varsity basketball coach at Hastings High School.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “The Ballad of Jolie” starring Doris Day.

The Shelbyville United Methodist Church and the Rev. Paul Scheiner held a rededication ceremony.

Herb Alpert kept the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “This Guy’s in Love with You.”

75 Years Ago — July 2, 1943

The Business Men’s Association has announced the Wednesday evening weekly musical series downtown will commence next week, but the entertainment acts with vendors and the Cowbell Carnival will be scratched this year because of the war. John Tiefendahl of Allegan and the community band will play weekly.

Rollo C. Mosher, in his weekly column opined, “Never before has there been such a vast number of meat animals on farms as today… But if the demand due to the war drops off overnight… The worker can take off his hat and walk out when the hostilities cease, but the farmer stands to lose not only his hat but his shirt as well.”

Mrs. Hattie B. Yeakey, widow of the former Wayland businessman and postmaster, at at the home of her son in Grand Rapids. She was 81.

Burdette Mauchmar and her four-piece orchestra will provide the music at the Fourth of July celebration at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church, Gun Lake.

Pvt. Clarence Dean of Wayland has been promoted to private first class at Keesler Field, Miss.

Serviceman Ted Willis wrote home from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, musing a lot about the fishing in the area.

Attending the 4-H Club Week at Michigan State College in East Lansing are local students Bob Commons, Douglas Cutler, Joyce Runkel, Dorothy Wrobleski and Helen Nickols.

Jerrod “Red” Chrisman has graduated from flying school in California and will receive advance training in order to earn his wings.

The annual school meeting and elections will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Wayland High School auditorium Monday, July 12. The only school board candidate is Dr. A. L. Larson. Sib Rumery is board president and Harry Elenbaas is secretary.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

    • Lulubelle & Scotty in “Swing Your Partner.”
    • Stanley Ridges, Rex Williams and Bill Henry in “False Faces.”
    • Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour in “They Got Me Covered.”
    • Deanna Durbin and Edmond O’Brien in “The Amazing Mrs. Holliday.”

100 Years Ago — June 28, 1918

Dick Heydenberk wrote a letter to the Globe, waxing eloquent about how well the French people have been treating the American GIs.

The Village of Wayland contingency fund for the month was reported to be $38, the streets fund $56.86, water fund $7.10 and library fund $2.

The Village Council adopted an ordinance forbidding motorists to park within 25 feet of the fire station, Frank’s Opera House and any fire hydrant. Fines could be up to $5 and jail time of up to 10 days.

Middleville and Shelbyville were scheduled to meet on the baseball diamond July 4 at Streeter’s Resort, Gun Lake, followed in the evening by dancing and music provided by Barnaby’s Orchestra.

Virgil Ingrain of Hopkins was reported to have been mortally wounded in action in France in the war overseas.

Miss Myrtle Chamberlain of Wayland is attending summer school at Western Normal and will teach this fall at Shelbyville. Deyo Fox also is at Western and he is enterining several job offers.

The annual Wayland School District meeting will be held at 8 p.m. Monday, July 8, to elect board trustees.

George Henika of Bellingham, Wash., a former local businessman, was in town visiting friends.

Residents were constantly being reminded to “get in line” at the high school to buy War Savings Stamps to support the troops overseas.

A Red Cross auction sale was being planned at Green Lake, with the Dorr Band to play during the event.

Clayton Jackson suffered injuries in an auto accident when he lost control of a car owned by D.G. Clack and plowed into a barn before being turned upside down.

Residents are observing flour rations in their own homes and when buying Victory Bread based on the maximum amount allowed.

“LOST: Stove lid and part of a reservoir cover between Nelson’s Corners and Mrs. Peterson’s residence. Leave at the Globe office for reward.”

Nelson & Levandoske was advertising the Dairy Maid, “a new farm hand trained for immediate service at big savings in time and labor… One man can milk as many as three men by hand. The easiest and simplest machine to use and install on the market.”

 

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