(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now historical library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Feb. 3, 1997
The front page of the Globe was graced by a picture of Mimi Gabriel, who was showing off her Hopkins home all decked out with Valentine hearts.
Dorr volunteers for Project Hope are keeping open Anetta’s Pantry for the food insecure in the area.
A planned mock disaster demonstration took place at Wayland schools on the same day a bomb threat was issued. The district was shut down and a $500 reward was offerd.
A church group opposing Wayland Schools’ reproductive health curriculum is planning an “Amway-style” response. Board Trustee Robert Wiersema told 80 members of the Moline Baptist Church to “start praying now… Ring their (board members’) phones off the hook. Surround them. Don’t let them leave.” The group’s principal beef was that the district didn’t include abstinence as the only choice for teens.
The Hopkins and Wayland High School volleyball teams remain undefeated atop their respective O-K Silver and O-K Gold Conference standings.
Letter writer Calvin Taylor asked if the new Wayland High School electric sign violates local ordinances, but City Manager Barb VanDuren said such rules for schools are regulated by the state, not local governments.
Ginnie White, representing the United Church of Wayland’s Covenant Class, urged the school board to continue with the present program for bus drivers.
Louise Heth and Jim and Shirley Heth lost their home to a fire believed to have been started by a pan left on the stove.
Tim and Laura Kelly lost everything inside their home to a fire at Gun Lake.
Good neighbor Martin lent its wrestling mats to Hopkins so the latter school could put together its first-ever tournament, which was won by Rockford.
All-state basketball player Tim Kisner of Hopkins said he planned to accept a scholarship offer from Grand Valley State University and then scored 34 points to lead the Vikings past Saugatuck and improve their record to 10-1.
The Wayland varsity basketball team lost two of three to fall from the top of the O-K Gold, despite offensive efforts of Walter Smith and Boone McEwen.
The Globe published a feature story about Leighton Township dairy farmer Randy Lettinga insisting bulls be respected.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 2, 1972
City Manager John Hefner has resigned to take a job as administrator for Dane County, Wisc., which includes the state capital, Madison. He had been city manager in Wayland since April 1970 and the sanitary sewer system has been implemented on his watch.
The villages of Martin and Hopkins are planning their annual caucuses for the election of March 13.
The terms of City Council Trustees Willard Benedict, Walt Gurney and Ted Green are up for election. They will be challenged by William Schuh, Arthur Shade, Mrs. Dale Hall and William Hooker. Mayor Phil Reno is not seeking re-election.
Fluoride applications will be administered to Allegan County children, supervised by the Michigan Department of Public Health.
Arthur Miller of Wayland has been selected to join the Board of Directors for Allegan General Hospital.
William J. Conwell III has been appointed to a vacant seat on the Henika Library, succeeding his mother, Joy Conwell, who moved to Manchester.
Requiem mass was held at St. Therese Church in Wayland for Pvt. Edward Glusic, who was killed in an accident in Germany while serving in the U.S. Army.
Helen Jane Helmey has been named chairwoman of the Allegan County Board of Canvassers.
Mrs. William Dobson, longtime member of the Wayland Calvary Church, Sunday School teacher and past president of the Women’s Missionary Society, died of a lengthy illness.
Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey wrote an editorial maintaining the Allegan County Board of Commissioners’ membership should remain at 21 after being transformed from the old County Board of Supervisors. He wrote, “We prefer citizens’ participation and oppose permitting government to rest in the hands of a few.”
Larry Pietrzak wrote a letter praising the quick action of the Dorr Fire Department in a blaze that sent his brother, Jimmy, to the burn hospital in Ann Arbor.
Wayland High School teacher Ken Kolk was shown in a photo with a one-pound perch he caught while ice fishing at Gun Lake.
David T. Young wrote in his column, “It is improbable the girls’ basketball team will ever draw decent crowds while playing in that ancient area (the “girls’ gym”) that seats maybe 50 people.”
The Wildcats varsity lost to Byron Center 83-50, but starting newcomer Gib Goodwin scored a season-high 19 points.
Dave Foley netted 19 points, Bob Walker 14 and sophomore Kelly McEwen 10, as Hopkins captured its third straight win, 79-70 over Bloomingdale.
The Wayland wrestling team earned its first O-K Blue Conference win, over Middleville, featured by consecutive pins by Paul Fair, Joe Permoda and Rex Truax.
75 Years Ago — Feb. 7, 1947
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his weekly “Observations” column, wrote, “Congratulations this week to our State Representative, Edward Hutchinson, who was among the dissenters when the House voted 60-37 for the expense grab bill that will give legislators $7.50 per day extra expense money.”
Peffley’s Ice Cream Bar and Grill has reopened after being closed for four weeks for remodeling and installing new equipment, featuring a new popcorn machine operated by Miss Judy Peffley.
The Ladies Library Club is making preparations for the annual banquet Feb. 18 at the Wayland High School cafeteria and music rooms.
Merle Rairigh’s International Harvester dealership will have an open house at the building on South Main Street, featuring a first class stage show and colored pictures.
Mrs. Hilda Nelson of Orange Lake, Fla., died from injuries in an automobile accident, “when their car was struck broadside by a truck driven by two negroes.” She had lived in Wayland until 1920 before moving to Florida.
The Globe published photos of the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce’s top 10 young men of the year, including John F. Kennedy of Massachussetts.
Shirley McKinnon and Clara Hall both scored 10 points to lead the Hopkins girls’ basketball team to an easy 31-4 victory over Byron Center to remain undefeated for the season. The report noted, “Both teams played with speed, but the Hopkins girlies manifested much closer team work.”
The adult education agriculture class will discuss “Dairy Pastures” that will include a moving picture of new methods wused in harvesting hay.”
Miss Amy Jean Holmblade, a Michigan State College instructor, showed members of the adult homemaking class how best to measure a chair for slip covers.
Those interested in starting a local chapter of the Humane Society are encouraged to meet at Village Hall Feb. 10.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Roy Rogers, Gabby Hayes and Dale Evans in “Home in Oklahoma.”
• James Dunn, Mona Freeman and William Marshall in “That Brennan Girl.”
• Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in “The Big Sleep.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 3, 1922
One of the pupils at Wayland Schools’ Intermediate Room surprised the kids by arriving in class with “baskets filled with good things to eat.” The occasion was the birthday of William McClintock.
The Virginians appeared for the third night of the Lyceum. They presented jubilee songs and local solos.
Myron Wilde, described as a boy who never gets discouraged, has enrolled in the ninth grade at the high school. Owing to ill health and a hospital stay since January last year, he has been given clearance to return to the classroom.
The Wayland High School’s basketball team went down to defeat, 22-21, at the hands of Middleville, which has won all its games this year. Wayland players included Harold Weaver, Gerald Andrus, Dale Rankin, Alanson Immel and Raymond Fox.
Juniors are rehearsing for their play “Gallagher,” a clever portrayal of high school life, Feb. 9 and 10.
Miss Glenna Sayles sand two solo selections and gave readings to member of the Ladies Library Club. Mrs. Hazel Brower played “Kelley’s Frost Blues” on the piano. Edward J. Mazurkiewicz, who recently returned from South America, will be the entertainment for the next LLC meeting, speaking on “My Experiences in the Philippine Islands.”
The Ladies Aid Society of Gun Lake is sewing items at the home of Mrs. F. D. Cutler for a family whose home was destroyed by fire near Pickeral Lake.
Walter Tolhurst and Clayton Jackson took advantage of the cold weather to fill their ice houses.
The subject for next Sunday’s sermon at the Congregational Church in Moline will be “Millions Now Living Will Surely Die.”
The Co-ops of Moline had their annual meeting at the Odd Fellows Hall and welcomed Allegan County Argricultural Agent Alfred Bental.
James Halloran gave an interesting presentation to the Dorr Farmers Club about his hardships in crossing the desert in Australia.
John Haley, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. John Haley of this village, died at Bronson Hospital, a week after falling from a work scaffold in Kalamazoo.
About 40 members of the Wayland Grange attended a debate between Mr. and Mrs. Clack on “Should Women Have an Allowance on Their Own?” Another discussion was held on the question of “Should We Abandon Our Good Roads Program Until Taxes Are Lower and Money Easier?”
Officers John Devitt and Frank Niemczyk foiled a robbery attempt at the L. Mason jewelry store downtown. However, the perpretrator was able to escape.
The Regent Theatre downtown will show “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” Special music will be provided by Prof. and Mrs. Kalson from New York. There are 12 reels, so one show will be presented on consecutive nights.
The price of a Fordson tractor took a tumble last week to $395, which should be good news to local farmers who want to do power farming.
The community around Dorr is preparing to build a new creamery and the ice house is already completed and filled.