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

25 Years Ago — March 25, 1992

Wayland City Police issued 36 parking citations to fans attending the Class B regional championship basketball game on a Wednesday evening at the high school. Unhappy out of towners protested, calling Wayland an inhospitable community. Police Chief Dan Miller said he was just doing his job, at the request of school officials.

Paul Jackson wrote an impressive feature story about happenings from exactly 25 years previous, when some 130 Allegan County dairy farmers protested milk prices and dumped the substance rather than have it sent to market. Tom Pavlak, then vice president of the National Farmers Organization (NFO) said some bitterness over the controversy still remains a quarter of a century later because some who took the action resented farmers who did nothing getting the benefits of resultant higher milk prices.

Michigan State University officials are reporting there apparently is no solution in sight for the growing problem of declining population of honey bees.

Allegan County students’ scores were reported to be in line with the rest of the state, but scores for the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) testing were low.

Dick’s Market announced it was one of the first grocery stores in West Michigan to provide apparatus for credit cards such as VISA, Mastercard and Magic Line ATM.

Seven young women, including Heather Washburn, Melissa Howell, Heather DeSmit, Julie Martin, Melissa Hunderman, Anne Martin and Christie Leep, will view for the Miss Martin title in the annual pageant April at Martin High School’s gymnasium.

Wayland Junior High School students put together a “white out day” to draw attention to the dangers and heartbreak of alcohol abuse.

Zack Wilson and Kelly Reynolds, both of Hopkins, were selected to the all-River Valley Conference basketball team. Lady Viking Leslie Engel made the all-league volleyball squad. Lady Wildcats Wendy Niemchick, Kristie Niewenhuis and Shannon VanPutten were named to the all O-K Gold Conference volleyball team. Virginia Wheatley made the Southwest Athletic Conference volleyball squad for Martin.

James Levandoski of Wayland was scheduled to be guest speaker at a Grand Rapids group of Great Lakes Shipwreck history enthusiasts. He was to talk about the sinking of the U.S.S. Cedarville in 1965.

50 Years Ago — March 22, 1967

The main story on the Globe’s front page was about the Allegan County dairy farmers’ protests against milk prices. Shown in a front page photo were Gary Henningson of Bradley, Jim Gilder of Hopkins, Ron Zeinstra of Martin, and Phil and Orville Henningson of Bradley. The lead for the story said, “A million pounds of Allegan County milk did not flow to market this week.”

Wayland City Council members decided to proceed with updated plans for sanitary sewer hookups.

Tracy Furjanic, only 5 years old, of Monterey Township, died at Ann Arbor University Hospital.

A Civil Defense Committee was to meet with Commander Louis Schmidt in Dorr.

Richard Miller earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a teaching certificate for secondary social studies. Meanwhile, Mrs. Robert Marutz received her master’s degree in speech from MSU.

Wayland High School Future Teachers of America chapter President Norma Bredeweg and advisor Viola Carroll have announced the near completion of the group’s busy year of activities.

The final Rotary Club travelogue of the season, “Alaska Journey,” will be shown by Harry Reed at the girls’ gym.

The weekly “With Our Men in the Service” column this week included local soldiers now serving Vietnam, including Larry E. Smith and James Mayrand, both of Dorr, squad leader Jams Kotrba of Wayland, William Nicolai of Hopkins and recently promoted Private First Class Jim Panyrek of Gun Lake.

Globe Editors and Publishers Irvin P. and Helen Jane Helmey ran a full-page spread with photos of their new equipment that updates the means of typesetting and printing. Also shown in the photos were employees Robert Riedlinger. Mrs. Lewis Nakken and Mrs. Robert Nicolai.

Miss Mary Hooker was awarded first place for her piano solo in the Northeast District 4-H Club Fun Festival.

The Delton chapter of the Girls Athletic Association visited Wayland for four volleyball games and a basketball contest. The two schools split in volleyball, but Delton prevailed 12-10 in basketball. Lesley Wakeman scored six points for the Wayland girls and Carol Draaisma and Sue Worfel both added two.

Shirley Jones and Gordon McRae were starring in “Carousel” at the Wayland Theatre. The Sun Theatre in Plainwell was showing “Dr. Zhivago.”

The Turtles hit No. 1 on the top 40 music charts this week with “Happy Together.”

75 Years Ago — March 27, 1942

Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, exhorting local residents to write servicemen overseas often, wrote, “Keep on writing to them regularly, no matter what happens… Uncle Sam knows where all of the boys are all of the time.” He noted that during his service in World War I he witnessed the appreciation of soldiers who got mail.

Accepting appoints as local air raid wardens were Justin McCaslin of Wayland, Carol J. Nichols of Burnips and George Merchant of Martin. The Allegan County Council of Defense will meet March 28 on the second floor of the Allegan County Courthouse in Allegan.

Donald Culver of Shelbyville is working as an engineer in Alaska helping build a road over perilous territory. The intent is to have inhabitants of the territory to be able to receive supplies in case of attack by a Japanese U-boat in the Atlantic Ocean.

Members of the homemaking class are making a World War II service flag that will bear the names of all local boys serving overseas.

Members of the Wayland High School speech class entertained local Rotarians with music and oratory at their meeting at the Doll House Restaurant. Providing the entertainment were students Marge Sebright, Don Gurney, Janet Averill, Catherine Dobson and Clare Janse.

Phillip Reno and Harvey Zeerip were selected co-chiarmen of the Wayland Businessmen’s Association summertime Wednesday evening entertainment programs.

Wayland High School boys have been making model airplanes will be used by the U.S. government for training purposes.

Miss Betty Wobma has retuned from St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, where she had an eye removed. It had been injured badly nine years earlier in an auto accident.

The Oscar-winning movie “How Green Was My Valley,” with Walter Pigeon and Maureen OHara, was showing for three days at the Wayland Theatre. Also showing during the week were:

  • Lupe Valez and Leo Carillo in “Honolulu Lu.”
  • Alan Hale Sr. Alexis Smith and Wayne Morris in “The Smiling Ghost.”
  • The Weaver Brothersand Frankie Darro in “Tuxedo Junction.”
  • Constance Bennett and Jeffrey Logan in “The Law of the Tropics.”

100 Years Ago — March 23, 1917

Four Wayland students, Lellwyn Anway, Lela Tooker, Margaret Beall and Fern Maurer, were reported to have earned better than 95% in grades during March.

Dale Rankin and Alton Crowfoot gave a humorous reading, “The Rival Speakers” during chapel hour at Wayland School. Averill Yerrick gave a mucial minuet and sixth grade boys presented “The High Court of Inquiry.”

The Grand Rapids District of the Epworth League was having its annual convention March 28-30 in Wayland, which included a banquet.

The West Gun Lake Ladies Aid Society got together for a full day of sewing and was treated to a chicken dinner afterward. Music was provided by Mrs. Burt.

G.C. Mabey, in a classified advertisement, said, “Houses — I have them for sale here in Wayland. Nice home, fine location, $1300. Several other good ones. Will sell you a lot and build your house the way you want it.”

The scholars of the Sauger School. Leighton District No. 10, will present for the box social March 30 the play “Si Slocum Country Store.”

Misses Neva Welch and Ginsberg will furnish the music for the Wayland Congregational Church service, with the sermon title, “The Man Who Came to Himself.”

The Wayland Ladies Library Club plans a musicale at Frank’s Opera House with a 25-cent charge and proceeds to go toward purchasing new books for the Henika Public Library. Featured will be “Aunt Deborah’s First Luncheon” and music by violinist Mildred Andrews of Allegan.

The farm of E.D. Sigler was destroyed by fire southeast of the village. Alert neighbors helped the Sigler family save much of their belongings. The victims were moved into the house of Mrs. Mary Garrett for temporary quarters. A defective flue at the end of a chimney fire was believed to be the cause.

PHOTO: (Courtesy John Bouterse) Wayland High School journalism class during the 1979-80 academic year, responsible for the Wayland Winds newspaper. Students shown here were Lori Taylor, Kay Franklin, Carrie Earhart, Kelle Carpenter, Kim Nipper, Mark Foote, Tim Mosely, Mike Getty, Brian Fifelski, Darryl Weekly, and Bob Amborski is sitting at the desk.

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