25 Years Ago — July 21, 1993
An Aug. 3 referendum in a special election Aug. 3 will decide whether Ray and Norma Brenner can continue a gravel mining operation at their property on 10th Street in Martin Township.
C-D’s Quik Mart had gasoline pumps installed at in front of the store in downtown Hopkins to ensure the first gas station in the village since the Department of Natural Resources insisted Karon Knobloch had underground storage tanks removed at her site. Owner Dallas Kerber had purchased the store and station in January 1993.
Residents on the shores of Lake 16 in Martin Township are complaining about noisy activities and are asking the Township Board to install “No Wake” signs. Residents say speeding boats and jet skis are disturbing the normally peaceful area.
The annual Wayland Summerfest is scheduled to get under way this weekend, featuring a Ronald McDonald magic show, dancing in the streets, an accordion concert and the band Midnight Bandits.
Scott Sullivan penned a feature story about Wayland City Police Chief Dan Miller, who had served in that capacity for the past eight years. Miller recounted that two of his most memorable cases were the arrest and conviction of Diane Spencer for murdering her infant son and and saving a truck driver’s life in the aftermath of a serious traffic accident.
Miss Martin, Christine Leep, was crowned Miss Wayland Dahlia Festival in the contest pageant. She was a student at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and a graduate of Kalamazoo Christian High School.
Don Lauterbach has been appointed to a one-year term as principal at Moline Christian School, succeeding Ron Grassmid, who resigned to back into the classroom full time. Lauterbach retired in 1991 after serving as admissions director at Calvin College.
Nicki Halloran of Hopkins will be among the contestants in the two-state 4-H regionals for horse riding.
Students from the Carmen Huguet School of English toured Wayland and received keys to the city from Mayor Linden Anderson. They were given a tour of the fire safety smoke house used by the Wayland Fire Department.
About 1,500 students were in attendance from June 16 to July 8 in the Wayland Union Schools’ Extended School Year program. It was said to be the first of its kind in West Michigan.
50 Years Ago — July 17, 1968
Voters will go to the polls Monday, July 22, in a special election to once again the fate of a 6.8-mill increase request for three years from Wayland schools. The proposal was turned down in June.
A front page picture showed rehearsals for a centennial pageant, including Mrs. Milo Farnsworth, Ted Green, Mrs. Kenneth Bird, director William Cline and Mrs. A.B. Dangremond. They were all decked out in garb that probably was worn sometime around 1868, the year Wayland became a village.
Wayland High School graduate Jack Arbuthnot has earned a research grant in the field of mental health from the U.S. Public Health Service.
Ralph Sytsma, a Leighton Township dairy farmer, has announced his candidacy for the new Allegan County Board of Commissioners that recently replaced the County Board of Supervisors.
Local historian Mrs. Ruby Smith, in her weekly column in honor of the centennial, wrote about water, fires and fire departments. She noted the first community cistern was purchased in 1875, the hook and ladder brigade was created in 1889 by an act of the Village Council, and the first major fire destroyed the blacksmith shops of Hiram Stringham and William Stockdale and the carriage works business owned by Richard Olive. She also presented a survey of subsequent major fires in Wayland, including the blaze that took out half a business block on North Main Street in 1965.
Lt. Commander A. E. Rieder, a Wayland native, has been named commander of the Marine Corps Training Center in East Saginaw.
Parents of the late Frank Doezema Jr. of Shelbyville were presented with a Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam. Doezema, who was killed in action Jan. 31, was honored posthumously in a ceremony on the east side of the state.
The City Council fielded a number of complaints about careless teen-age drivers, vandalism, loitering and curfew violations downtown. Residents asked where the parents are to enable so many young people to congregate downtown with nothing to do but get into trouble.
Kathy Worfel, 11, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Worfel of Wayland, captured first place in the Holland City Tennis Tournament.
The Centennial Belles are inviting women from all local churches to attend a special Centennial Tea at the United Methodist Church July 29 and come in attire appropriate for olden times of 100 years ago.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Don Knotts in “The Shakiest Gun in the West.”
Wayland Grange will have a presentation on the history and development of home economics programs in America, in which the organization played a proud role.
In an anonymous open letter to the first-graders entering school in the fall of 1968, “A Parent” wrote that many in the community voted often to support the local schools’ millage requests in 1968, but they were outnumbered by thos who did not.
75 Years Ago — July 23, 1943
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his weekly column, observed the ridiculously high numbers of license plates and stickers required for semi-trailers and tractors hauling commercial materials.
Mrs. Martha Japinga and Russell Rugaber reported they have received more than 400 requests for gas rationing books from local citizens.
Mrs. Emil (Minnie) Dietiker died at her home at age 57. She had been active in the Church of Christ, the Ladies Aid and Aletha Society.
Ed Kaminski of Wayland received a Good Conduct Medal while serving a year in the North African Theatre of the war.
Allegan County thus far has had 2,444 men inducted into the military since December 1941, when the war commenced.
The fifth son of Mr. and Mrs. Pirl Truax has joined the military effort, joining brothers Harley, Alvin, Harold and Ivan.
Staff Sgt. Thaddeus Bilski of Hopkins has graduated from the airplane mechanics program at Shepard Field in Texas, hooking up with the “commandos in overalls.”
The Young Men’s Holy Name group held its ninth annual picnic at Murphy’s Point, Gun Lake,
Letters from local servicemen serving overseas were published for Rodney Cole in North Africa and Gene Robinson in Australia.
The Hilliards School reunion has been canceled this summer because of the war.
The Wayland Catholic Ladies Club will have a bake sale July 31, with plenty of pies reported to be on hand.
Now Showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- “Salute for Three,” featuring lots of rhythm.
- William Boyd as Hoppalong Cassidy and Andy Clyde in “Stick to Your Guns.”
- Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in It Ain’t Hay.”
- The Ritz Brothers in “Hiya Chum!”
- The Dead End Kids and Little Tough Guys in “Keep ‘Em Slugging.”
100 Years Ago — July 19, 191
W. K. Pruden, federal fuel administrator, presented Order No. 48 on the distribution of anthracite coal in Michigan this year during the war.
Village Water Commissioner John B. Stockdale announced that because there are so many violations of local water sprinkling rules, anyone caught watering their lawns outside of the approved times and days would be subject to a $2 fine.
John A. Damoth had the misfortune to lose a cow worth $75.
Mrs. Ida Chamberlain and Mrs. Jessie Fales were in charge of an agenda item “Surprise!” at the next Wayland Grange meeting July 30.
The Bradley Red Cross dinners swerved weekly for the organization have raised almost $30 over the last two months.
The Rev. S.W. Saas, pastor of the Comstock Park Congregational Church, will be guest speaker Sunday afternoon at the Bradley Congregational Church.
Clyde Pierson, Stanley Eggert and Rollo Mosher have been called to duty and were given a festive sendoff at Yeakey’s. They will join a detachment of 575 men training to repair Army trucks.
W. Mattison caught a 35-pound muskie in Gun Lake.
J.W. VanArsdale has moved into his “handsome and commodious” farm bungalow south of town.
Charles Sias was elected president of the Wayland Board of Education. L.D. Chapple is secretary, D.F. Fox treasurer, L.B. Mason truant officer and A. J. Bowman trustee.
Francis Hooker of Wayland won a gold medal in the long-range shooting competition at the Virginia Beach rifle range. “The boys from this neck of the woods are all after the Kaiser’s scalp good and plenty,” commented Editor-Publisher George Mosher.
“The Sleeping Memory, starring Emily Stevens,” was being shown Saturday at two different times at Frank’s Opera House Saturday evening.
The Allegan County Women’s War Work Conference will meet July 27 at the Wayland Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Groto Band will provide military music downtown Saturday evening.
Mrs. Nora Morehouse has been appointed clerk in the Chief Signal Office in Washington D.C., starting in August with a salary of $1,100.
COVER PHOTO: “Ya meet the gang where the action is. Stomp all night and drink your fizz.” The Note at Gun Lake was “where it’s at” in the mid-1960s Saturday night. (Photo courtesy of Pat Wilde)