From the archives of the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr:
25 Years Ago — Dec. 18, 1991
Lt. Steve DeBoer, commander of the Michigan State Police post in Wayland, is urging area residents to make use of the new Travelers’ Advisory law enforcement authorities provide to local radio and television stations to give information about road conditions.
Applications for the Allegan County treasurer’s position must be submitted by Dec. 27. A committee consisting of Clerk-Register Joyce Watts, Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Marks and Probate Jud
ge George Grieg will select the successor to Fred Edgerton, who died earlier in the fall.
Dorr Township refused to issue a permit to Stan’s Tavern for the Fancy Dancers entertainment act, so the party was moved to a private barn in Salem Township. Dorr officials said the request was made unofficially in conversation only.
Larry Knowlton, Wayland Township trustee for the past 11 years, died of a brain tumor. He was 60.
A leaky underground gas storage tank was blamed for an explosion at a home in Moline. Not one was injured and there was no structural damage.
Wayland varsity volleyball coach said he was looking forward to matching wits against two former players Karen Volkers at Forest Hills Northern and Missy Ritz at Kenowa Hills, in the Allegan Invitational later this month.
Fifteen members of the Wayland boys’ varsity swim team earned 34 medals at the Hudsonville Relays. They were Sebastian Blanco, Tim Sherman, Jason Robinson, Rudi Monigold, Bjorn Olson, Mike Selzer, Todd Tarnutzer, Terry Chlebana, Andy Davis, Nick Mandaville, Scott Ingersoll, Chris Parker, Dan Bronsink, Dave Estafan and Matt Parsons.
Ron Francis dropped in 19 points and sophomore Matt Barghan added 10 with 11 rebounds, but coach Jim Orlowski’s Wayland quintet lost 50-48 in its season opener against Kelloggsville. The Wildcats then lost 71-56 to to Godwin Heights, as Jamie Spoor collected 15 points and Barghan 12.
Scott Kelch (140 pounds) pinned his way through the Jenison Invitational and Wayland finished second in the tournament.
Martin’s wrestling team won the Lawton team tournament. Lance Hildebrand (135) had a huge win over an opponent who had qualified for the Class C state championships the previous year.
Hopkins struck early and then had to hang on against Martin a 60-51. Sean Talsma netted 18 points for the Clippers and Kelly Reynolds had 17 and Jesse Beck 10 for the Vikings.
50 Years Ago — Dec. 14, 1966
Things have been rather musical and festive at the top of Frank Court lately with the Frank Kovacs family’s nativity and music piped outdoors from the home of the Kirk Kuper family.
Wayland High School student Diane Smith, president of the Leighton 4-H Club, has been selected to represent the local 4-H district in the state “Make It Yourself with Wool” competition.
Wayland boys’ varsity basketball coach Lyle Berry said his team suffered a “lackluster performance” in a disappointing 71-56 loss to Maple Valley. Mel Spencer scorede 12 points and Lee Pankratz 11.
The Allegan County Fair Board has announced a couple of changes for the 1967 version. The annual Harvest Queen contest will be moved to Saturday evenings and Fair Week now will go from Saturday to Saturday, adding another day.
Michigan State Police at the Wayland post are asking for donations to help the family of Sgt. Stanley VanTuinen, who was slain in the line of duty in Grand Rapids. A brother of the late officer lives in Wayland.
Paul Howard, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Howard of Dorr, has joined the Peace Corps in Nigeria.
Georgeann McGee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Kaur of Wayland, has graduated from the Patricia Stevens Career School for professional modeling in Chicago.
Clyde Culver, 78, of Shelbyville, was killed in a traffic crash on old U.S.-131 while driving his truck out of his son’s driveway when it was struck by an oncoming car driven by Donald Hendrixson.
Tom Haveman has purchased Lou Miedema’s body shop and renamed it Wayland Body Shop.
“And Now Miguel” was showing at the Wayland Theatre.
The New Vaudeville Band made it three straight weeks atop the nation’s music charts with “Winchester Cathedral.”
Advisor Roy Miller and members of the Hopkins chapter of the FFA attended the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago.
Mrs. Robert Hendrixson was scheduled to sing a holiday solo at the First Congregational Church of Wayland and the Pilgrim Choir, led by Mrs. Richard Worfel, was to sing, accompanied by Mrs. Calude Smith on the organ.
75 Years Ago — Dec. 19, 1941
Editor Rollo Mosher, in his weekly column, remarked, “Some folks may think that Wayland, located in the rural and farming section of Michigan and far away from the sea coast, would have little need to prepare for Civil Defense work… we are located on a main defense highway which leads from Fort Custer (Battle Creek) to the largest airport in West Michigan 15 miles directly north.”
The Village Common Council voted to install a second fire alarm to be connected with a fire alarm telephone on the roof of a business near the downtown traffic light.
“We are thrilled that a valiant has been made by those gallant Marines on Wake Island and Midway Island.
A dairy night school 10-week series will get under way next month at the Wayland High ag room, with J.A. Prescot, high school ag teacher, instructor.
Listed among the dead in the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor was Richard Brown, 25, of Petoskey, formerly of Leighton Township.
Local young people plan to put together a Christmas pageant Sunday evening followed by a choral presentation by the Congregational Church Choir in the annual union service.
First-graders at Wayland school are enjoying their “fireplace” with a lighted wreath above it. Making the “fire” is a lighted bulb under red paper to similate flames.
The local Red Cross chapter will meet at the home of Mrs. A.L. Larsen on North Main Street to take up the task of knitted sweaters for “our boys in the service.”
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Marjorie Woodworth, Tom Brown and Zasu Pitts in “Niagara Falls.”
- Margaret Lockwood in “Night Train.”
- Merle Oberon, Joseph Cotton, Alan Marshall and George Reeves (later “Superman”) in “Lydia.”
- Tommy Kelly, Walter Brennan and Jackie Moran in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.”
100 Years Ago — Dec. 15, 1916
The James Fenton Lodge F & AM of the Masons adopted a resolution honoring Andrew Jackson, who died in a traffic accident earlier in the month.
The eighth grade grammar class is studying the principles of writing business and social letters. Seventh-graders are drawing sketches of the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future in a unit on “Scrooge’s Christmas.”
Ninth-grader Fern Maurer has been writing poems, and her “Earth’s Snowy Blanket” was published in the Globe.
Third- and fourth-graders are invited to the Primary Room to enjoy the Christmas tree.
Chapel was held Monday at Wayland school to take advantage of the presence of Judson Bennett of Chicago, former principal at Muskegon High School and a representative for Henry Holt & Co.
Attorneys for drys advocates met in Lansing to propose a bill that would limit consumption of substances over a 30-day period, including one quart of whiskey, one gallon of wine, three gallons of malt liquor and printing of advertisements was to be prohibited.
A shortage of rail cars is hampering efforts of the A.D. Hughes Co. to move machinery for the manufacture of milling apparatus.
Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Walch have sold their milk route and entrusted the care of their farm animals to a neighbor while they make a trip out west to California to San Bernandino and Los Angeles.
An organizational meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Nagles beckons youth to join a Methodist young peoples’ club.
William Wamhoff dies suddenly at his home Wednesday morning after complaining of acute indigestion. He died in great agony at his home in Ohio Corners.
The Methodist and Congregational churches are planning a union service with a Christmas tree at the Methodist Church Dec. 23.
And orchestra from Chicago gave a fine entertainment performance to a full house at Ehle’s Hall.
PHOTO: The old antique house in Dorr.