(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — July 8, 1996
Evidence shows that the Little Rabbit River and Kalamazoo River carry examples of our excesses and seeds of hope downstream.
In two separate accidents on Pine Lake and Gun Lake over the Fourth of July holiday, a Gobles man and a Charlevoix youth suffered non-life threatening injuries.
The Wayland Township Board has decided to charge fees to residents as well as non-residents for use of Elmwood Cemetery.
Wayland High School soccer coach Loren Van PortFleet and the Great Lakes Soccer Club are proposing a 10-field complex for the sport to be located at the Dorr exit off the U.S.-131 expressway.
Sheryl O’Connor has been chosen principal for the Sycamore and Sand Hill schools in the Hopkins district, succeeding Steven Bird.
Richard Wykoski of Grand Rapids wrote a letter to the editor, promoted by the recent death of his uncle, Gene Pawloski of Wayland. He penned, “I salute them (veterans) with the utmost respect. I seem them not only as veterans of war, but also as veterans of peace and true patriots.”
Wayland Board of Education member Mike Kelly wrote a letter praising the performance and efforts of outgoing member Diane Butler, who the previous month narrowly lost her bid for re-election to Pam Rookus.
State Senator William VanRegenmorter was scheduled to be guest speaker at the First Baptist Church of Wayland during its Sunday, July 14, service.
IBM has announced it will use Wayland Union schools as one of the prime examples of how to introduce and implement computers and programs in public schools.
Zachary Viening, 21 months old, wandered off a pier and drowned at Camp Beach Point in Montery Township.
Andrew J. Marks has announced he will be a candidate in the August Republican Party primary for Allegan County Prosecutor, challenging incumbent Fred Anderson.
50 Years Ago — July 7, 1971
The Dorr Fourth of July celebration this year is being hailed as the largest ever, attracting about 10,000 people to the three-day festivities. Judges for the annual parade were Mrs. Marshall Towne, Mrs. Otto Banas, Mr. and Mrs. Irvin P. Helmey, and Mark Westdale of Grand Rapids.
Trooper Donald Wiersma of the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police has been credited with saving the life of 18-year-old Martha Bumgart of Allegan, who went into shock during a chain reaction traffic crash at the Martin exit off the U.S.-131 expressway.
Candi Hayes, a 1967 Wayland High School graduate, was killed in a traffic crash near Big Rapids. The passenger in her vehicle was hospitalized. Hayes had been employed at Wolverine Worldwide in Rockford.
Eileen Weaver was chosen Miss Hopkins at the annual Fourth of July celebration. Though she was an organist, she elected to perform an interpretative dance at the Allegan County Harvest Queen pageant.
State Rep. James Farnsworth of Fennville has introduced a bill to create the office of welfare inspector in an attempt to curb abuses in the system.
U.S. Senator Robert Griffin of Michigan meanwhile has introduced legislation in Congress to exempt physicians from military service if they agree to serve in needy urban and rural areas.
The local Dog ‘N Suds was advertising an all-you-can-eat special on fish and chips for $1.25 very Friday.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has approved a plan and a grant for $20,230 for Allegan County, according to Ellis Wykstra of Martin, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Subcommittee.
The Wayland City Council has acknowledged the Wayland Hotel and Robart’s Tavern as recipients of licenses to sell liquor by the glass, but is insisting the practice not begin in town until an ordinance is adopted.
Miss Betty Martin, a 1966 Caledonia High School graduate and recent grad of Grand Valley State College, will be the waterfront director of the local summer recreation swimming program.
Carole King continued to dominate the music charts with “It’s Too Late.”
75 Years Ago — July 12, 1946
Howard Clack was the winner of a three-way contest for a seat on the Wayland Board of Education. He polled 200 votes, Merle Peffley had 132 and Dr. A.L Larson 83. A proposal to raise the tax limitation to 16 mills won 250 to 144, but it failed to muster a two-thirds majority needed to have the proposal implemented.
The St. Therese Church chicken dinner Sunday will be held at the new Edward Alflen & Sons showroom o0n North Main Street, now home of sales for Plymouths and DeSotos.
Sgt. James William Burns has received discharge from the Army after serving under General George S. Patton and in armored reconnaissance along the borders in Europe since the war ended.
Editor-Publsher Rollo G. Mosher identified Richard Vandercook as the first area farmer he noticed to begin cutting wheat this summer.
Harry Haywood is disposing of his local personal property after living in Wayland for 20 years to buy and sell livestock and farm equipment. He plans to move to Texas.
The local A & P grocery is advertising cans of White House evaporated milk that “keep without ice until opened.” They cost 11 cents a can.
The Dixie plans to have weekend “old-time” dances starting later this month and continue with Rex Smith and his orchestra Saturday nights and the Sunday dinners featuring chicken, steak, fish and frog legs.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Milheim of Selkirk Lake have reported an extremely rare sighting of an albino pheasant.
Henry Harig suffered a severe leg injury when his horse ran away while he was raking hay. He is expected to be laid up for three weeks at Allegan General Hospital.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Ingrid Bergman and Gary Cooper in “Saratoga Trunk.”
- Wallace Beery, Marjorie Main and Margaret O’Brien in “Bad Bascomb.”
- Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney and Jackie Cooper in “The Return of Frank James.”
100 Years Ago — July 8, 1921
The community was anxiously awaiting the arrival Sunday of the film “Tarzan of the Apes,” starring Elmo Lincoln, at the Regent Theatre downtown.
The annual Allegan County Farm Bureau picnic will be held July 16 at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. Featured will be the Chicora Band and guest speaker will be James Nicol, president of the Michigan Farm Bureau.
William Ablett conducted a United Methodist service at Corning Church in the absence of the regular minister who was attending a conference at Albion College. He outlined the history of Robert Morrison, who translated the Bible into the Chinese language.
Hopkinsburg had a raucus celebration of the Fourth of July that included potato sack races, kids’ feet races, a fishing contest. Clarence McBride was the only contestant to successfully take down the dollar bill at the top of the greased pole. The married men defeated the singles in the tug of war and Martin bested Hopkinsburg in the baseball game.
Alto Dell suffered burns to the face and thumb when a Fourth of July toy cannon exploded prematurely, Dr. E. O. Hanlon treated him.
Mrs. Valentine (Mary) Baweja died at the age of 74 at her farm in Hopkins. She and her husband were married in Poland and came to Hopkins 50 years previous.
Also showing at the Regent Theatre were D.W. Griffith’s “Scarlet Days” and Harry Carey in “The Freeze Out.”
Citizens who live along Dixie Highway are being asked to provide water to horses working with crews installing the concrete highway from Wayland to Moline.
