Bygone Days: A look at the past in NE Allegan County

25 Years Ago — Jan. 26, 1994

Officials with the Wayland City Council and Wayland Township Board had a lengthy discussion about the arrangement in which city residents use Elmwood Cemetery for free and township residents receive service from the fire department. Globe Editor Nila Aamoth weighed in on the issue in her Soapbox editorial by writing about the cemetery, “tax monies are allocated to provide gratis a service most of us will never use.”

Marv McBride was scraping Elm Street with a city dump truck when it collided with a ConRail train car. There were no injuries and damages were reported to be minimal.

Candy Adrianson of Watson Township wrote a letter asking, “Are you aware that convicted sexual offenders will be riding the (Hopkins) school bus with your children during the 1994-95 school year?” She was referring to Watson-Glen’s proposal to have a facility for teen-age boys ages 13 to 17.

Medical and public safety officials have determined that Clayton Brown was killed accidentally and almost instantly the week before when he spilled fuel inside his rural garage, starting a fire.

Joshua Lubbers, 13, escaped serious injury after his snowmobile struck a passing vehicle on 140th Avenue in Leighton Township.

Wayland Mayor Linden Anderson has declined to seek another two-year term after serving eight years. Councilman Mike DeWeerd already has thrown his hat in the ring as a result.

Dorr Township residents have indicated they favor a five-year recreation plan for local parks projects.

Scott Sullivan wrote a feature story about Melodie Harris, 18, of Shelbyville, who is trying out for a berth on the U.S. Olympic team in archery.

The 13th annual Gun Lake Winterfest is scheduled to get under way in the coming weekend, with ice sculptures featured in the festivities.

Wayland lost 49-47 to Hudsonville on a last-minute shot. Matt Barghan had 15 points, Ken Stewart 14 and Jon Ainsworth 11.

Sophomore forward Richie Guerrant was switched to point guard for Martin, which took a 56-37 decision from Decatur. Guerrant scored 25 points.

Todd Tarnutzer, Randy Mandaville and Andy Davis turned in heroic performances as Wayland upset three-time Rainbow Conference champion Forest Hills Northern 95-91.

Hopkins defeated a winless Saugatuck quintet 73-35 after taking a 22-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. Shannon Bird came off the bench to score 14 points.

Hopkins varsity volleyball coach Terri Merren said she was worried that her team suffers from “tourney phobia” because the Lady Vikings are 3-1 in dual meets and 1-6-1 in tournament play.

Wayland varsity baseball coach Rick Morse was honored for capturing his 300th career victory over the past summer.

50 Years Ago — Jan. 22, 1969

The Wayland City Council has decided once again to put the issue of funding a sanitary sewer on the ballot in the April 7 annual election. The issue has been defeated twice before.

Council also is pledging to work with Pipp Hospital officials in Plainwell on efforts to recruit new doctors to the city.

Wayland High School social studies teacher Dick Miller has been selected chairman of a new “Thinking Persons Get Involved” political action group launched in Allegan.

Ggt. Harold Ernst, commander of the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police, has announced safety inspections for school buses and drivers will be conducted this winter.

The interior of the Dorr Township home of the Francis Ladourier family was severely damaged by fire, causing the five children and two parents to be separated in the interim.

World War I veteran and local Masonic Lodge master Merle Wyatt died at Veterans Hospital in Ann Arbor. He was 68.

A recount of the Daylight Savings Time referendum showed the proposal losing in Allegan County by 14,391 to 8,224, but tallies statewide still are being conducted.

Pfc. First Class John Pinney of Wayland is working as a scoop loader while serving in Vietnam.

Gunnery Mate Robert May of Shelbyville is serving aboard the USS Newport News on the coast of Vietnam.

In his “Helmey at the Helm” column. Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey wrote about the going away ceremony in Lansing for Gov. George Romney, who has been selected by President Richard Nixon to become the first Housing and Urban Development Secretary.

Elementary teacher Nancy Marutz outlined the five reasons why she loves to be an educator in the latest of the series of “Our Teachers Speak” columns.

Former State Senator Fred Hilbert, a Wayland native, urged all citizens in the city to educate themselves as much as possible about the sewer referendum to be included on the April 7 election ballot.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “King Kong Escapes.”

The Wayland High School wrestling team registered a whopping 56-0 victory over Middleville and a 27-17 decision over Plainwell.

Don Klein scored 19 points, but the Wildcats fell 77-36 to Kalamazoo Christian.

Don Krause collected 19 rebounds and Dave Veltkamp came up with 18 as Hopkins defeated Gobles 60-48.

The Rev. Gordon Blossom, former chaplain for Starr Commonwealth for Boys, was to be guest speaker at the Wayland Calvary Church.

75 Years Ago — Jan. 28, 1944

Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher welcomed the recent January thaw, but noted the downside was ruining ice fishing prospects.

The Wayland Fire Department made quick work of extinguishing a roof fire at the Francis Hooker farm one mile north of the Robbins Schoolhouse.

The fourth local War Bond drive was getting under way with the slogan, “Back the Attack.”

Pvt. Edward Clark has arrived home after receiving a medical discharge, serving most recently overseas in Australia.

In its last three basketball games, Wayland lost 34-29 to Middleville, beat Martin by scoring 51 points and defeated Plainwell 41-40.

Guy Smith, 22, a 1940 Wayland High School graduate, has returned from duty at sea as a signalman first class with the U.S. Navy.

The Thomas McFarland family of Moline has been recognized as a “four-star family” because it includes three sons in the service as well as a son-in-law.

The topic of debate at the most recent meeting of the Wayland Rural Grange was “Who works harder, the farmer, or the farmer’s wife?” Also discussed in the meeting was information about the new drug penicillin.

Pfc. Ruth Chrisman, daughter of Mrs. Hattie Chrisman of Hopkins, is home on 30-day furlough from the Women’s Army Corps at Oglethorpe, Ga.

Fireman First Class Floyd House, formerly of Wayland, was home recently on leave from duty with the Seabees at Guadacanal.

Leonard Aspinwall of Hopkins wrote home from Australia, where he is serving overseas. He joined the military two years prior after working at a bank in Allegan.

Gene Pawloski wrote home to Wayland from Pensacola, Fla., where he is serving with the Navy Auxiliary Air Station.

Marine Pfc. Mike Laker of Wayand had his poem about the Battle of Bougriville published in the Globe.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

  • Dale Evans and Frank Albertson in “Her Comes Elmer.”
  • Lloyd Nolan and Donna Reed in Apache Trail.”
  • Mary Martin, Dick Powell and Franchot Tone in “True to Life.”
  • Louise Ranier, William Bendix and Paul Lukas in “Hostages.”

 

100 Years Ago — Jan. 24, 1919

Three letters from France appeared on the front page of this week’s Globe, even though the war ended two months earlier.

Former Bradley girl Hazel DePuy wrote from a hospital where she was serving as a nurse. She said she had stayed in barracks once occupied by Napoleon’s men. Of the U.S. soldiers, she commented, “They have done a lot for us and are brave.”

Paul Wing, wrote to his father, Christian Church Pastor Fay C. Wing, “We have a lot of flue here and everyone wears a mask, but no one has died.” He opined that Woodrow Wilson was America’s greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.

Forrest Clack wrote, “I don’t know when I can come home, but the French expect to be through with us sometime in February.”

Artielic Washburn was selected Noble Grand at the most recent meeting of the Moline chapter of the Rebekahs.

The Bradley Homestead of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen was one of six organizations chosen to be visited by Chief Correspondent Brother Davy of Des Moines, Iowa. James Halloran and Thomas Barnes of Wayland provided music for the festivities.

Former Wayland teacher Miss meta Ross visited the high school and talked to the students about “Walk Offs.”

A Mr. Clack visited the high school and gave a presentation on the difference between education today and back in his day in school. He said, “Every pupil ought to feel that he has a better heritage than his father or mother… Nine raps were given to Mr. Clack when he was through.”
The growing attendance at the Sunday evening movie nights at the Christian church has prompted talk about the need for a balcony to be added. The church most recently showed “Girl of the Open Road” and Willie’s Sacrifice.”
Elizabeth Clark sang “Dear Old Flag” at the ceremony in which the Pieric Acid Plant presented a huge U.S. flag to Wayland High School. Supt. Floyd Boughner accepted on behalf of the district.

Mrs. D.S. Douglas was thrown from her horse and buggy and broke her left arm, treated by Dr. James Bryson.

“Hands Up,” featuring Ruth Roland, and “Lonesome Luke” were the movies Wednesday evening at Frank’s Opera House.

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