(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — July 7, 1997
The Cuddy Drain, which serves farmers in Allegan County and boaters in Barry County, needs repairs, but the work appears to be expensive and there is talk of drain expansion.
Allegan County has a plan to get homeless people into housing of their own through federal assistance.
A small Russian girl is living with a family at Barlow Lake while she recuperates from surgery to repair a hole in her heart. Dasha Shaban, not yet 3 years old, of Belarus, is staying with Mary and Donna Helder.
Wayland Union School District has ratified a new three-year contract with its teachers, who will receive a 3 percent raise.
The Small Business Administration and emergency management officials are seeking federal funding for Allegan County businesses and residences while road patching operations continue in the wake of the June 20 summer rain and windstorm.
Construction on the Yankee Springs Fire Department Substation has begun, with completion expected in November.
Former Wayland Union Schools secretary Denise Hermenitt, 31, of Delton, has been charged in Allegan County District Court with embezzlement of a considerable sum of money.
Editor Nila Aamoth, in her “Soapbox” column, contended that boxer Mike Tyson’s ear biting performance against Evander Holyfield, “is simply bringing boxing up to the entertainment level of other physical contact sports.”
Derick Bonga, 5, of Dorr, was killed when he was struck by a car while he was trying to fetch a ball in the road on 18th Street.
Mike Browand was re-elected president and new trustee Jon Carroll was sworn at the reorganizational meeting of Wayland Board of Education.
The Gun Lake Chapel on 126th Avenue and Patterson is celebrating its 60th anniversary, featuring the southern Gospel music of the Majestics Trio.
Opal Hendrixson, 83, retired supervisor for the H.L. Friedlin Plant died. She also was a 1933 graduate of Wayland High School.
New businesses in Dorr include Common Sense Carpets, a Dollar General in Hillcrest Mall and Action Family Wear at 138 N. Main St. in Wayland.
50 Years Ago — July 3, 1972
Wallace Wakeman, 50, longtime community activist, school board president and assistant vice president at Hastings Mutual Insurance, died unexpectedly Saturday evening at his home. He had just resigned his seat on the Allegan County Intermediate School District Board. He was trombonist for the Terrible Troubadors music combo, was a member of the United Church of Wayland and was active with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Congressman Guy VanderJagt (R-Luther)will make a campaign swing through Martin and Wayland Friday, July 7, in his bid for re-election.
Carol Wilson was crowned Miss Hopkins at the community’s annual Independence Day celebration.
Mrs. Donald Goorhouse was elected president of the Wayland Union Schools Mothers Club and Mrs. Mike Ellinger vice president.
Mrs. Marie Predum, co-owner of the Lakeview Tavern at Gun Lake with husband Arthur, died at Grand Valley Nursing Home, She was 61.
Miss Marian Malmstone, former owner of the Marian Shop, died at her home of West Superior Street where she lived alone. She was 74.
Twenty-four young people in the United Church of Wayland have returned from their trip to Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Ky., camping and doing their own cooking along the way.
July 15 has been declared as Phil Reno Day, honoring Wayland’s first mayor, who is retiring.
Conrad Mauchmar, a junior at Wayland High School, has won all-state honorable mention accolades as a pitcher in baseball.
Debbie Holbrook will show the Wayland Grange slides of her trip to England, Denmark and Sweden.
Wayland High School Athletic Director Richard Akers has announced that the limitation of high school varsity football and basketball games combined per season has been increased from 25 to 29, nine for football and 20 for basketball.
Frank Godzwa and Al Downing carded a 33 to win the Wayland Jaycees’ best ball golf tournament at Yankee Springs.
Bill Withers took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Lean on Me.”
75 Years Ago — July 11, 1947
Voters will choose two members of the Wayland Board of Education Monday, July 14, among eight candidates who have filed. Voting will commence at 12:30 and continue until 7:30.
Lifelong Hopkins resident Dudley Hendrixson died at his home after a long illness. He was 75.
Miss Marian Malmstone has opened her Marian Shop in the former Lutostanski’s Market site and is selling ladies’ lingerie, hosiery and children’s and infant wear.
The annual St. Therese chicken dinner and festival will be held July 13 at the Edward Alflen property on North Main Street.
Leighton, with a 5-1 record, holds a half-game lead over the Vets in the Wayland Softball League standings.
The Dorr Merchants baseball team hammered out a 17-7 win over the Edgerton Red Sox, but otherwise were rained out for the week.
The Hopkins school election also is July 14 and correspondent Lena Martin asked readers, “Are we to have a high school, or will we be compelled to send our boys and girls to some other high school? Let’s get behind and push instead of pull away.”
The voting will take place from noon to 8:15 p.m.
Word has been received that Mrs. Clark will not return as girls’ basketball coach after a successful tenure.
Mrs. E.L. Strong and children Richard and Betsy plan to spend a week in Ironwood as guests of her mother.
Stanley Powell, a “watch dog” for the interests of farmers, spoke to members of the Leighton Grange as a lobbyist for Michigan Farm Bureau.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Andy Devine in “Bells of San Angelo.”
• Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Peter Lawford and Jimmy Durante in “It Happened in Brooklyn.”
• Spencer Tracy, Kathryn Hepburn and Robert Walker in “The Sea of Grass.”
100 Years Ago — July 7, 1922
The free Redpath Chautauqua series will be held for five days, commencing Wednesday, Aug. 23. Featured will be the Nevin Concert Company, clever crayon artist J. Franklin Caveny, violinist Gretchen Cox, orator Anthert Ott, the National Male Quartet, storyteller Stephanie Schutze, travel expert Sydney Greenbie, the “Friendly Enemies” comedy troupe, the Kublick Company and lecturer Henry Adrain.
About 50 people were present for the Northeast Hopkins Community Club meeting at the home of E.M. Ring.
In a collision in Hopkinsburg between E.M. Ring’s team and wagon and Ray Gaylor’s car, damage was confined to “two flat tires for Mr. Gaylor and a badly damaged temper for Mr. Ring.”
A funeral was held for Walter Anderson of Ohio Corners, who was killed by lightning that struck while he was loading hay.
Miss Pegg of Hopkins has been hired to teach at the Hooker School starting this fall east of Wayland.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Katherine Mac Donald in “Curtain, the Love Story of an Actress,” and Ralph Connor’s story “Cameron of the Royal Mounted.”
“The term of the postmaster of Otsego, it is quite possible that someone may be found to fill his post if he does not care for it any longer.”
While lighting his pipe one day last week, Henry Blaine of Moline suffered injuries when his car tipped over and pinned him underneath.