(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Aug. 25, 1993
The Dorr Township Planning Commission decided to follow the master plan in handling two issues. Approved was a request to rezone from agricultural to low density residential a parcel in the Red Run Estates to accommodate an addition, but denied a request to change a low-density property to B-2 for multi-family dwellings on property just west of the Dairy Ranch.
The Martin Township Board received complaints from neighbors of Lake 16, referred to as the local “party lake.” Residents said there’s too much noise, speed boating and jet ski use after hours.
Thompson McCully is asking Yankee Springs Township for an extension of 23 days for its permit to mine gravel into the fall to finish the project.
Dorr Library Board Trustees Betty Sinke Mann, Charlotte Kadwell and Gerri Kurdelski penned a collective letter trying to clear up any misoceptions that may still exist about the aging Moline Library building. Other letters were written by Mark and Joi Bouwman and Gerry Smith.
Anita Kerber wrote a letter asking Hopkins residents to support yet another school bond proposal in a special election Sept. 28, warning that the schools were bursting at the seams with overcrowding.
Wayland City Treasurer Karen Doyle is one of 38 treasurers in Michigan this year to earn the coveted Certified Municipal Finance Administrator designation.
Thieves broke into the Sea Shanty shop at Gun Lake and pilfered a large amount of men’s clothing.
Franco’s Pizza owner Franco LaFrance pleaded guilty to receiving and concealing stolen property in connection with embezzlement of hot tubs and Quality Pools. His alleged partner in crime earlier had pleaded guilty to filing a false income tax return, a felony.
Deputy James Moeller has been selected to head the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program in Allegan County schools, succeeding Trooper Karla Christianson, who was promoted at the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police.
Kevin Pike and Larry Kubiak, proprietors at the Gorden Funeral Residence and Kubiak Funeral Home agreed that new options of cremations for burial are being used, but about 80% are still traditional.
The Dorr Township Planning Commission denied a special use permit for a vehicle hauling, car repair and class car storage business on 12th Street north of Moline.
Twins Kristy and Kathy Hoffmaster, both standing at 5-11, are being welcomed back to the Hopkins girls’ basketball team, which is defending district champion.
Wayland is getting ready for its girls’ hoop season after uncharacteristically going 11-11 the previous year under veteran coach Zack Moushegian. Freshman Angie Farmer and sophomore Jessica McEwen show a lot of promise. Point guard Tamara Moushegian promised, “We’re gonna bust ours to beat yours.”
50 Years Ago — Aug. 21, 1968
The Globe published a special edition commemorating Wayland’s centennial, featuring a front page with the original edition published Sept. 25, 1884.
A special section had stories and photos highlighting the community’s 100 years of being incorporated, including local churched, local government, civic clubs, agriculture, schools, Henika Library. Several prominent individuals and events were presented, including Vice President Hubert Humphrey’s visit in 1964, the big downtown fire in 1965, Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Merren’s largest tree of its kind. Wayland’s celebrities included Major league pitcher Phil Regan, NFL lineman Ron Stehouwer, boxer Martin Levandoski and Scott Williams, the original Tonto on “The Lone Ranger” on the radio.
Mrs. Ruby Smith’s last historical column was a collection of oddities in local history. She wrote about Hiram Stringham, whose Civil War pension was cut when he was discovered mowing his lawn; Cynthia Carnes’ bizarre journey through the town in a wheelbarrow collecting donations for carpeting at the United Methodist Church; Alida Arthur’s unusual battery-operated “Cruiseabout;” the village’s first electric plant, which started in 1906, but was only operable from sundown to midnight until 1921, and taking sheep to Selkirk Lake for washing.
Lt. Gov. William Milliken formally asked six Allegan County school districts to settle teachers’ employment contracts, including Wayland. The school board and faculty published their positions in the Globe.
Cpl. James Lyons, 20, who attended Wayland High School, was killed in an explosion in Vietnam, where he was serving his second tour of duty.
Casey Munster, Dave Flanagan, George Konyndyk and Paul Bertram have formed a partnership to launch Wayland’s newest industry, Midway Die and Engineering, on South Main Street.
Mary Gape, Carl Bergner and lyrics composer Ruby Smith unveiled the special centennial; song, “Where There’s a Will, There’s a Wayland,” during the centennial celebration.
Tom and Robert Ayers won the father-son division of the annual Wayland Globe tennis tournament, defeating Bob and Jim Hendrixson. Kathy Worfel defeated Mary Velderman of Middleville to take the young ladies’ division.
Green Lake Calvary Church plans nightly outdoor tent meetings between Aug. 25 and Sept. 6.
“Planet of the Apes” was showing at the U.S.-131 Drive-in Theatre near Plainwell.
The annual Allegan County Young Homemaker of the Year contest is about to get under way for married women between the ages of 18 and 35.
One of the longest-running No. 1 songs ever, “Hey Jude” by the Beatles, began its nine-week reign on top of the nation’s most popular songs.
75 Years Ago — Aug. 27, 1953
Fred H. Ely, architect of the Henika Library in 1899, dropped in at the Globe office and predicted the stately building would last at least 200 years. He referred to it as a “Simplified Romanesque” style of architecture.
Martha Japinga, administrator of the local war ration service, reported that more than 4,000 pounds of additional sugar for canning had been issued over the summer. The service is open Tuesday and Friday afternoons weekly.
Wayland schools will open Sept. 8 and a complete list of the 24 teachers and administrators was provided on the front page.
Mrs. Jerry Brown showed moving pictures of the bombing of Tokyo and some sea batteles to members of the Dorr Farmers Club.
Voters in the Hooker School District rejected a proposal to join the Wayland school system in consolidation.
Wayland soldier Bill Manning is in East Lansing as an engineering student at Michigan State College under the Army’s specialized training program.
The Allegan-VanBuren School Administrators group planned to meet at the Ot-Well-Egan Country Club.
Harold Reinhart of Wayland was elected historian of the Allegan County American Legion.
Globe correspondent Margaret Dado Jenkins reported she got her first glimpse of the new interior at St. Therese parish on South Main Street and was impressed.
Pauline Mason and Ruth Reno traveled to Kansas City, Mo., for a short visit with Air Transport Command Capt. Max Reno and his family.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher noted he avoids the noise of the radio most of the time because it too often only provides advice for housewives and continuing stories on the Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Stuart Eerewin and Evelyn Venable in “He Hired the Boss.”
- Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake in the Blondie series, “It’s a Great Life.”
- Loretta Young and Alan Ladd in “Cina.”
- Warner Baxter and Margaret Lindsay in “Crime Doctor.”
- “Mexican Spitfire” Lupe Velez in “Redhead from Manhattan.”
100 years Ago — Aug. 23, 1918
Dick Heydenberk wrote a letter from France and noted he was slightly injured by a shell that grazed him, but he’s back in action. He told his mother, “I’ll send you a piece of German money.”
Frank Hillman wrote a paid ad front page piece soliciting his candidacy for Allegan County Sheriff.
The Liberty Chorus will present another Saturday night concert, featuring patriotic tunes such as “Columbia the Gem of the Ocean,” “America,” “Tenting on the Old Campground” and “Darling Nellie Gray.”
The Globe published a cartoon insisting, “Every stalk of wheat will disturb the Kaiser’s pipe dream.”
Sheldon Coleman, candidate for state senate, brought three carloads of supporters and visited local businesses. His opponent, Raymond S. Morris, suggested in an ad, “Vote as you shoot.”
June Hayward Tolhurst, who was born in England in 1829, died at the home of one of her children in Grand Rapids. She had lived in the Waykand area for more than 40 years.
August Hardy visited Dr. George Hardy in Detroit before the latter left for the war overseas.
Ben Stockdale will report to officers’ camp “down south” after passing his physical exam in Lansing.
Bertha Pickett and Grace Chamberlain witnessed a concert by the French Army Band at Reeds Lake’s Ramona Theater.
Hilliards edged Shelbyville 6-5 in the rubber game of a three-game baseball series Sunday between the two towns.
The Michigan primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 27.
George Mosher wrote, “When a stranger drops in, jolly him. Tell his this is the greatest town on earth. Don’t discourage him by speaking ill of your neighbors.”
Every one of the defendants in the International Workers of the World (IWW) sabotage and sedition trial in Chicago has been found guilty.
The new Manpower Act permitting the draft of all men between the ages of 18 and 45 will mean another 13 million soldiers for the war effotrt.