(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Sept. 9, 1996
Some Moline residents are complaining that their new half million dollar county drain is a disaster, and even worse, it will be costly to have it repaired.
The Allegan County Board of Commissioners will decide whether the County Road Commission will be elected, as proposed by cities, or remain appointed, as favored by townships.
City of Wayland officials have said “no” to residency in the downtown commercial district, prompting some citizens to respond with charges of racism and prejudice. Dan and Luisa Castillo, owners of Rosita’s Resaurant at the four corners downtown, are suing the city after remodeling the former Cook’s Jewelry store into living quarters.
The Globe published a feature story with pictures about the Cook family and its program for canning fruits and vegetables for the coming winter.
A woman was killed and her husband remains in critical condition after a traffic crash near Burnips involving a double trailer full of pickles.
Margaret W. Boyce, a member of the Allegan County Jury Board, penned a guest editorial on the importance of ordinary citizens serving as juries when compelled.
Karen Ann Slater of Dorr wrote a letter to the editor encouraging the Globe to initiate a “Kids’ Page” in the newspaper.
Karen Krulac penned a letter opposing the city’s proposed annexation of Wayland Township properties, insisting the continued economic growth eventually will turn a nice, small community into a larger and more impersonal city.
Brian and Paula Kilbane, Bob Hennip, Lee Murray, Art O’StranderMike Zomerlei, June Krug, Dorothy Miller, Billy and Katrina Bregg and Mimi Gabriel all wrote letters to the editor supporting the Hopkins Public Schools’ Sept. 21 bond request. Barbara Chachulski and Phyllis DeGlopper wrote in opposition.
Dorr, Leighton and Salem Township officials are researching the possibility of a cooperative deputy plan for all three townships.
Dean Foods won approval from the Wayland City Zoning Board of Appeals for expansion to include a powder dryer on the west side of its building on Elm Street.
Barbara Van Duren officially was named city manager for Wayland as of Dec. 15 to succeed the retiring Harmon “Pete” Stull. Her salary will be $41,500 per year.
The City Council gave approval to two annual concerts in City Park next summer.
The Hopkins girls’ basketball team came from behind to beat Kalamazoo Christian overtime. Coach Mark Austin’s Lady Vikings now are 4-0 thus far overall.
Wayland High School junior Zeke Fletcher won the Wyoming City Junior Tournament with 18-hole rounds of 69 and 71.
50 Years Ago — Sept. 8, 1971
Project Supervisor Jim Romaine has reported about 75 percent of the work on the new sanitary sewer plant on the northeast corner of the city has been completed.
Patsy Reiger, a 1963 graduate of Wayland High School, has earned her master’s degree in elementary education at Western Michigan University.
Michigan Bell Telephone officials have announced that Moline residents with the 877 prefix must dial all seven digits in order to call each other.
New Superintendent Charles Pelham and 12 new teachers have begun duties with the Hopkins Public School system.
Rotary District Gov. Ronald E. Weger penned a guest editorial on “The Modern Day Red Riding Hood,” suggesting times have changed so that we memorialize the Big Bad Wolf and excoriate the Woodman.
Mrs. Eugene Moore wrote a letter to the editor suggesting organizations and families alter their schedules to accommodate the necessary slit session class times for Wayland Middle School and High School.
Local pastor George VanderWeit also wrote and blamed the situation on the public’s unwillingness to approve a millage for a new high school.
Richard L. Akers has been named athletic director at Wayland High School, succeeding Lyle Berry, who left to join the faculty and coaching staff.
Doyle Disbrow has agreed to be Wayland High School’s first golf coach, with an eight-man squad led by Evan Siefert, Doug Baker, Ed Sevigny and football recruit Larry Lawrence.
Hopkins has only five returning lettermen for coach Paul Mooradian, including Bill Demarest., Rick Martin, Hank Reurink, Bob Walker and Dan Brenner. The Vikings were 1-8 in 1970 and are looking to a 6-2 jayvee squad for optimism.
Donny Osmond captured the No. 1 slot among the nation’s song with his remake of Steve Lawrence’s “Go Away Little Girl.”
75 Years Ago — Sept. 13, 1946
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher reported the earliest “killing frost” he had ever experienced, negatively affecting corn, tomatoes, pickles and other truck crops. It has come on the heels of a drought, which complicates farmers’ prospects.
Mrs. Frances Meade, 52, died of injuries in a traffic crash southeast of Wayland. She was a passenger in a car that crashed with another driven by Edward Panyrek. George Westbrook, the driver of the vehicle in which she was a passenger, was taken to Bronson Hospital.
Eileen Dado, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Dado of Wayland, is appearing in “Mary Had a Little” at the Schubert Lafayette Theatre in Detroit. She is playing the part of the head nurse in the production.
Krulac Dairy, operated by Nick Krulac for 22 years, is merging with Buttercup Dairy, it was announced. Stanley Mrozkoski bought Buttercup a few years ago from founder J.R. Willis.
The Rod & Gun Club will have a potluck supper Sept. 19 on the club grounds. Trap shooting plans will be discussed.
The annual Homecoming Day service for the Church of Christ will be Sunday, with the Rev. Fay C. Wing of Woodland telling stories about olden times.
Fire of undetermined origin destroyed 11 tons of stacked straw at a tool shed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Darl Goodspeed.
The Hopkins chapter of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union met at the home of Maude Weick Sept. 3. Mrs. C.E. Ellinger was elected president.
Little Linda Olsen of Bradley suffered a broken leg when she fell from her father’s truck.
Miss Dorothy Larson will attend Kalamazoo College and is enrolled in the pre-med program.
Wayland Calvary Church had an ordination service for the Rev. John Miles. He will be installed into the Independent Ministry.
Henika Public Library is observing its 30th anniversary of circulating books and magazines.
Edwin St. John has been engaged to teach an adult agricultural education section for Wayland High School.
Harold Lohrberg is class present for Wayland seniors, Bob Jager juniors, Bill Dobson sophomores and John Buskirk freshmen. There are 209 students at the high school this year.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Eddie Dean in “Colorado Serenade.”
- Paul Kelly, Sheila Ryan in “Deadline for Murder.”
- Olivia deHavilland and John Lund in “To Each His Own.”
- Barbara Stanwyk, Van Heflin and Kirk Douglas in “The Strange Love of Martha Ivers.”
100 Years Ago — Sept. 9, 1921
C.L. Goodrich of Allegan will be one of the principal speakers at the Wayland Community Picnic at the school Sept. 17. “Bring your baskets filled with dinner and a cup for hot coffee, which will be furnished free.” Mr. Goodrich will talk about the advantages of school consolidation.
There are 146 pupils enrolled in the grade school and 93 at the high school, which opened Monday, Sept. 5.
Guy E. Pierson, 51, died at his Wayland home. “He was in the employ of Beall Brothers, remaining there until illness compelled him to lay down the working tools of life.”
Wayland Township residents were shocked and saddened by the news that W. Earl Briggs, 42, hanged himself. He had taken the cord of his wife’s bathrobe, tied it around his neck, fastened it to the bed and rolled off. He had been a member of the Wayland Township Board, but had recently been in poor health.
The barn at the farm of Fred Averill burned to the ground in southeast Dorr during a thunderstorm that flooded his fields.
Lynn Adams has left Shelbyville to resume duties as manual training teacher in Big Rapids. Roy Ring is doing the same in Decatur.
John T. Ross, proprietor of the shoe repair shop, suffered burns to his hands when some ether he was using exploded. Damage to the building was slight.
Martin is planning a “pavement dance” at the completion of cement paving in the village.
Several hundred Indians attended the Bradley Indian Camp meeting at the Selkirk Sprague Grove.
William Ruseel will star in “The Cheater Reformed” at the Regent Theatre Saturday. “The Jack-knife Man” will be shown Sunday and Zane Gray’s “the Man of the Forest” will be presented Wednesday.
Though there were 23 reports of Typhoid Fever, including one death, in the Otsego-Plainwell area, health officials insist there isn’t evidence of an epidemic.