(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — July 1, 1996
Popular and controversial Indian-owned casinos seem to be popping up all over the Midwest, and the greater Wayland area may be next. Wayland Township Supervisor Don Black said he didn’t think such a facility would be approved in the township.
Eight Tibetan monks came to the Buddhist temple in Bradley to take part in a special ceremony to “help lift dead souls to the pure land.”
The historic, but non-functional Pinned Pratt Trussle Bridge in Hopkins Township is scheduled to be replaced again.
Volunteer coordinator June Krug issued a challenge to all area people to participate in the annual Hopkins Fourth of July pie eating contest.
Incumbent Wayland Board of Education member Diane Butler is asking for and has been granted a recount of the election last month in which she lost to Pam Rookus by 10 votes.
Editor Nila Aamoth offered a jab at Gov. John Engler in her Soapbox, insisting that while he’s been leading the charge for budget cuts for state services, he should pay more attention to the bloated state budget for issuing junk mail.
State Sen. William VanRengenmorter has announced that it’s official now that same-sex marriage is illegal in Michigan. Saying he supports the position that marriage is between one man and one woman, he commented, “To weaken those standards would have significant adverse impact on the citizens of Michigan.”
Country music singer Daryle Singletary will be the featured musical performer at the Dorr Fourth of July celebration.
The 17th annual Fontana Festival of Music and the Arts will get under way Sunday and the following Wednesday, July 14 and 17.
The July 1 edition of the Penasee Globe was the first to be combined with the Orbit and distributed free of charge to 19,000 homes. The Globe’s roots were from 1884 and the Orbit was started by Irvin P. and Helen Jane Helmey in 1966.
50 Years Ago — June 30, 1971
The Reno Insurance Agency, a fixture in Wayland for more than 50 years, now is a three generation firm with the addition of Dennis Reno, who recently was a field representative with the Hartford Agency. He joins father Phillip, Wayland’s mayor, and his grandfather, L.P. Reno.
The Wayland Board of Education has learned that about 30 young people are working this summer at $1.60 an hour under the Neighborhhood Youth Corps program.
The school board also learned from physical education teacher and counselor Pat Rowley that the Girls Athletic Association is being terminated, so local girls won’t have a way to make money to pay for GAA. She asked for and was granted a $1,000 contribution.
Noel Summers was elected president of the Wayland Lions Club, succeeding Wade Greenawalt.
The Lions welcomed as guests coaches Jon Carroll and Richard Akers for the Wayland baseball team that earlier this month advanced all the way to the Class B state semifinals before losing to the state champion.
Business educator Julia Smith asked the school board for permission to buy an electric typewriter with a tape punch for her classes.
Charles Pelham has been hired as new superintendent for Hopkins Public Schools. He comes from Byron Area Schools, where he was superintendent for three years.
John D. Robbe, who co-owned the Airport Diner with his wife, Josie, for many years, died at Pennock Hospital in Hastings. He was 85.
The Jack Cook family attended National Square Dance Convention in New Orleans and each of its three generations had the opportunity to call a dance during the weekend.
The Wayland Grange is planning an all-Michigan potluck supper July 2 in the City Park. Master Clayton Smith will preside over the festivities.
Doug Bosin is hitting better than .700 and the Wayland Merchants, fresh from a four-hit shutout by Dick Bruin, remain atop the Moline Softball League standings.
75 Years Ago — July 5, 1946
The annual school election for Wayland will be from noon to 7 p.m. Monday, July 8, with a meeting to start at 8 p.m. There are three candidates for board seats, incumbent Dr. A.L. Larson, Howard Clack and Merle Peffley.
Harry Briggs, formerly of Wayland, has been nominated by the Democratic Party to be a candidate for state representative from the Second District of Kent County.
Harold Calkins appeared in Ray Barnes “Over the Rapids” column in the Grand Rapids Press for scoring a hole in one at the Indian Trails Golf Course in Grand Rapids.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher commented in his “Observations” column, “We do not know when we’ve ever seen crops look better than they do now at this time of year.”
The Jacob Eding Co., the local Ford and Firestone dealer, is pulling up roots from its South Main location and moving to North Main next to the Chevy garage. Leasimng the vacated building will be Globe Knitting Mills, which manufactures underwear and plans to employ as many as 100 workers, most of them women and girls.
The food and meat shortages continue in the area, with prices rising for cattle and hogs. Whenever there is a shipment of meat that arrives, the lockers are packed with shoppers.
Staff Sgt. Edwin Alflen has been discharged after two years in the military and he plans to join his father, Edwin Sr., and brother Vernon in a dealership business on North Main Street.
Postmaster Morris Ehle said there will be two additional mail trains arriving in the wake of the coal strike to ease the transportation crisis there.
The Hopkins school election will take place from noon to 7 p.m. Monday, July 8, with a meeting afterward at 8 p.m. Board Trustee C.B. Hoffmaster is retiring, but he will be succeeded by Maynard Miller.
The Henika Library will receive $97.50 in state aid and another $50 from Wayland Township this year.
Dorr is leading the local softball league standings with a 4-0 record. Jay DeJonge is leading all hitters with a .636 average.
Art Kassel and his orchestra will make a special visit to the Dixie July 9. Admission is $1.47.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Henry Fonda and Tyrone Power in “Jesse James.”
- Ann Southern and George Murphy in “Up Gooes Maisie.”
- George Raft, Ava Gardner and Tom Conway in “Whistle Stop.”
100 Years Ago — July 1, 1921
Eugene D. Sigler died at his home in the village after serving faithfully in the Masonic and Knights Templar organizations for many years. He was 69.
Paul Janotrk, 18, was drowned while swimming with friends at Hoag Lake in Barry County. His comrades said they heard him cry for help, but by the time they arrived, he had gone under three times. His remains were taken back to his hometown of Whiting, Ind.
Roy Amith, W.A. Crocker, William Tanner and D.G. Clack led a discussion at the latest Grange meeting about “What do roads mean to you?”
Dr. Ira Slater and M. Looyengoed are circulating petitions tpo the State Highway Commission to state dissatisfaction with the new concrete road on North Main Street, which has a grade that is higher than the sidewalks. Eitel & Ayers was the firm contracted and the project is proceeding apace because of two cement mixers. “The work should not lag and the road through the village should be completed soon.”
The local United Methodist Church is planning a special service focusing on the history of the hyms being sung in the church, their origins and authors.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre: Otis Skinner in “Kismet,” Enid Bennett in “What Every Woman Learns” and an all-star cast in “The Speeders.”
About 100 spectators attended the ballgame in which the Hills Lake squad defeated the Leighton Vets, 7-4. N. Farnsworth was the winning pitcher.
C.L. Goodrich, high school inspector, is expected to be on hand Monday night for the community meeting to lead a discussion on “What are we going to do about a new school house?”
“FOR SALE: New row boat on Gun Lake. Don’t leak a drop!”
Who is the band in the photo?
Can anybody tell? It was in 1972 in Moline.
The Williams Family
The William’s Family Blue Grass Band