(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now historical library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Sept. 30, 1996
Area school administrators are poring over Michigan Assessment Program (MEAP) results that just came in.
Former Hopkins Board of Education Trustee Christine Schwartz has filed a complaint with the State alleging wrongdoing by the local school system during the successful bond election campaign. She said the proponents vandalized and damaged signs that opposed the proposal and she said school officials showed improper bias.
Firefighter Ed Hitt has decided to retire from the Hopkins Fire Department after 37 years.
Wildflower Meadows, a proposed site condominium, now will go before the Dorr Township Board.
Wayland High School seniors Summer Brown and Gretchen Beuschel were finalists in the Chicago national debate institute competition at Northwestern University. They are students in Denise Kling’s debate class.
A hastily prepared pamphlet was distributed in the Hopkins community making false allegations about sex education in the schools just before the bond election.
Several letters to the editor were written expressing relief and thanks for the contentious Hopkins schools bond passage.
Wayland Auto Parts has decided to call it quits after 55 years in business and its neighbor, Midway Die & Engineering, plans to move into the area vacated.
South Christian booted a 26-yard field goal to enable the Sailors to avoid an upset at the hands of Wayland, 9-7. Lance Laker scored the ‘Cats TD and Ben Frigmanski kicked the extra point.
Matt Noble and Mike Guerrant both scored two touchdowns as Martin beat Fennville.
Freshman Nicki Merchant came up to the varsity and helped Wayland win two girls’ basketball contests.
Coach Mark Austin’s Hopkins girls’ basketball team hiked their overall record to 10-0 with an 81-36 victory over Wyoming Lee.
Martin is now 7-0, led by Bethany Hunderman, Jennifer Hildebrand and Stacey Hildebrand.
Wayland High School sophomore Tim Johnson, 17, of Selkirk Lake died at his home. He had been manager of the Wildcat football team.
50 Years Ago — Sept. 29, 1971
A proposal for a new high school was passed by Wayland district voters, but separate proposals for a new swimming pool and auditorium were defeated.
Richard E. Wilson, former vice president of manufacturing at Kessler’s in Wayland, has purchased the Robey Manufacturing firm of Newaygo.
Delbert Farnsworth of Wayland has been appointed chairman of exhibits for the Michigan Association of School Librarians. He is school librarian at Milford Elementary in Kalamazoo.
A narcotics raid at a private residence on Elm Street in Wayland has resulted in the arrest of a 21-year-old local man for selling and possessing marijuana.
Mary Hooker will present slides of her trip to Britain this past summer at the next Wayland Grange meeting Oct. 1.
Hopkins Public Schools has hired Mrs. Allen Bennett as guidance counselor, succeeding Dick Moleski.
Construction is under way at the Sandy Pine Pines campground west of Dorr, Allegan County’s newest outdoor attraction.
Members of the newly-appointed Wayland Township Planning Commission are Bob LaTourette, Steve Kuhtic, Tom Jackson, Ken Lawther, Emelda Andringa and Phil Hines.
A public notice was published by Dorr Township Clerk Dick Dutkiewicz announcing a public hearing on proposed purchase of 10 acres for township park west on 142nd Avenue.
Wayland High School varsity football team used a strong second half offensive performance to overpower Wyoming Lee 36-12.
Tom Bala, 17, of Wayland, said he was surprised to learn he had shot and killed an albino squirrel.
Fennville defeated Hopkins 18-0 in the Vikings’ second game of the season.
Coaches this fall for the Rocket football program are Wayne Goodwin, Dr. Allen Dangremond, Charles Gardner, Don Schwartz and Len Sutterfield. Field director is Dick Chapple.
75 Years Ago — Oct. 4, 1946
Wayland Union High School has been notified by the Office of Veterans Affairs has approved it as a veterans’ educational institution. Local veterans now can attend classes in certain specific fields and receive subsistence allowances.
The local Methodist Church, under the leadership of the Class in the Corner, will celebrate its 90th anniversary. The Rev. Roy Williams was the first pastor in 1856. Guest speaker will be former pastor Rev. A.A Buege.
The new Gamble store will open next week (Oct/ 8 and 9) at its West Superior Street location. Alex Wolfe is the new manager and William Graczyk completed the renovations.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher announced that only 360 residents had registered to vote for the Nov. 5 general election.
George Herbert Ross, former owner of the We-Gu-La Lodge jn the Gun Lake area, died at Crispe Hospital in Plainwell of a ruptured ulcer. He had recently sold the resort to Chelsey Baldock.
“Scattergood Baines Rides High” will be the featured movie offered Saturday night at Hopkins school.
Lorraine Iciek was elected student council president at Hopkins High School.
Donna Blue of Wayland played the violin for the YMCA breakfast on the campus of Western Michigan Normal College.
Middleville edged Wayland 14-13 on the gridiron. The Wildcats’ next game will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Caledonia.
The Ladies Library Club had 41 present to listen to music by Berdine Chapple and Dorothy Wisniewski and accompanist Lenora Sykes.
The local Congreational Church this weekend is showing the film “Who Is My Neighbor?”
A lunch plate plan has been adopted for Wayland High School. Students can get a balanced meal of meat or meat substitute, vegetable, fruit, bread and butter and a half pint of milk for 15 cents.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Stephanie Bachelor and Robe Livingston in “The Undercover Woman.”
- Sunset Carson and Peggy Stewart in “Alias Billy the Kid.”
- Joan Leslie and Robert Hutton in “Janie Gets Married.”
- Charles Coburn, Charles Drake and Beverly Tyler in “The Green Years.”
100 Years Ago — Sept. 30, 1921
“LITU” are the mysterious letters that represent the second division of Wayland High School girls’ clubs, with Bertha Fox as captain. Ina Gilbert is captain for the “Eurodelphia” girls’ club.
The freshman reception Friday evening featured a bacon and weenie roast.
A speed limit of 35 miles per hour is being applied throughout Michigan for country roads.
The topic of discussion for the Oct. 1 Grange meeting was to be “How can corn be treated to keep rats and mice away?”
Civil War veteran John C. Jordan died at age 82. He had been a prosperous Wayland area farmer for 14 years. He was a corporal in the Union Army.
Hope Rebekah Lodge No. 12 will celebrate its 70th anniversary Friday, Oct. 7, with a potluck supper and light refreshments.
H.F Buskirk, George Laker, C.A. Ryno, Frank Chase, Fred Nelson, Delmore Baughman and F. Cutler paid fines of $9.35 each for operating motor vehicles not properly supplied with licenses. The first five mentioned had their cars supplied with Florida licenses.
The Wayland Military Band will supply the music for the Martin fair.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre: Anita Stewart in “The Fighting Shepherdess.” Eileen Percy in “Why Change Your Husband?” Gladys Walton in “Rich Girl, Poor Girl.”