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

(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)

25 Years Ago — Aug. 18, 1997

Monterey Township resident Joan Riksen reported she had been struck by lightning and lived to tell about it.

Allegan County officials are establishing a job description for a Geographical Information System (GIS) officer.

The Hopkins, Martin and Wayland football teams are getting ready for their football season openers later this week.

Hopkins Township officials appear to be dragging their feet on declaring a flood plain and a drain. Meanwhile, Allegan County Drain and Road Commission officials are still dealing with the results of the June 20 and 21 storm and they’ve been told there will be up to a six-week wait on new culverts.

Martin Village officials are applying for funding after flooding damaged electrical controls in the June 20-21 storm.

The bacteria count for E Coli is dropping near the Cuddy Drain near the Barry-Allegan County line.

Three teen-age lads, one from Shelbyville and two from Wayland, were arrested for the break-in at Phillips 66 gas station on West Superior Street near the expressway.

Superior Video, located next to the Little Caesar’s on West Superior Street, has changed owners.

The Williams Family will play bluegrass music at the City Park in Wayland from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 22.

Vernon Homrich, who operated the Southeastern Garage near Gun Lake for 38 years, died in Zephyrhills Hills, Fla. He was 75.

50 Years Ago — Aug. 15, 1972

Fred C. Yeakey, longtime member of the Board of Directors for Wayland State Bank, died in Fremont, where he was an official with Gerber Procts. He was 62.

Gary Elliston, 18, was killed in a traffic crash north of Wayland, where he was thrown out of a car driven by a friend. Three other passengers were not hurt.

Cathy LaValley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe LaValley, was crowned Miss Wayland at the annual queen pageant and she will enter the Harvest Queen contest at the Allegan County Fair in September.

The Wayland Board of Education and Wayland Education Association agreed to a new two-year employment contract. Starting teachers will be paid $7,675 annually. The maximum teacher’s salary will be $12,412.

Kathie Johnson of Tustin has been hired as a new language arts instructor at the high school, succeeding Mary Nyuli, who is moving to Florida.

Carl Kaechele, well known Caledonia agriculture teacher and coach, was killed in a car-train crash, along with three children who were passengers in his vehicle.

Members of the Wayland Grange are planning a “Michigan Meal,” made up entirely of foods grown and raised in this state.

The Farm House Restaurant and Bakery opened its doors just off South Main Street, with Bill and Nancy Kessler as proprietors.

Thirty-nine members of the Wayland High School Class of 1962 gathered for their 10-year reunion at the Pantlind Hotel in Grand Rapids.

The Globe published a picture of Mary K. Lewis of Wayland, a senior at Aquinas College majoring in German, standing in front of a castle in Austria.

American Legion baseball players Conrad Mauchmar of Wayland, Leon Hilaski of Dorr and Ted Yoaks of Burnips were playing in the world championship region al tournament in Marshall.

The Wayland Community Fair will take place Thursday, Aug. 17, at the boys’ gym, Wayland High School, from 3 to 9 p.m.

75 Years Ago — Aug. 22, 1947

Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher noted that Michigan Bell has developed a plan tyo allow residents in Wayland, Hopkins and Martin to exchange calls toll free, but suggested Dorr and Moline should be added as well.

Recent hot weather and drought has caused what to be be severely challenged and Mosher claimed, “Corn is no crop at all, with 95 percent fit only for the silo, if the grower has a silo.”

Eding’s, Dorr and Leighton  all are tied for first place in the Wayland Softball League standings with 3-1 records.

The Gun Lake Robbins suffered their first defeat on the season to Byron Center, as players Ed Panyrek was spiked requiring stitches and two outfielders collided during the game with minor injuries.

Teachers will meet Tuesday, Sept. 2, and students will start school on Wednesday, Sept. 3, in the Wayland district, Supt. Rudolph Steeby announced.

Chet Brevitz, Clarence Calkins and Wayne Tanner have advanced to the quarterfinals in the Wayland Men’s Golf Tournament. Brevitz in the next round will play the winner of a match between Rollo Mosher and Rudy Steeby.

The annual Ice Cream Social and Festival will be held Aug. 24, at St. Joseph’s Church, Leighton, five miles east and five miles north of Wayland.

Hopkins Public Schools will start the academic year Monday, Sept. 8. Third-graders will go to Spring Hill, fourth-graders to Ohio Corners, fifth-graders to Bear Creek, and six-graders to Lay School. Hot lunches will be available at least for the first month.

Rollo Mosher says, “Perhaps there are some who object to participating in a raffle as a means for raising money for even a worthy cause, and to those we are sure the committee will accept donations to be applied directly to the work of fixing up the athletic fields.”

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• Johnny Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce and Johnny Sheffield in “Trazan and the Huntress.”

• Jean Porter and John Shelton in “Little Miss Broadway.”

• Ann Southern and Barry Nelson in “Undercover Maisie.”

• Lorraine Day, Brian Ahearn and Robert Mitchum in “The Locket.”

100 Years Ago — Aug. 18, 1922

(Once again, there are no copies of this edition, so presented for your approval, just one more week, a smattering of news from Aug. 20, 1885):

Editor George Mosher reported that the Globe rejected a submission by J.S. Fisher, but it was printed in other county newspapers and it appeared on the streets of Wayland in a handbill, in which he claimed he had Mosher “in between his thumb and finger” for slander and he accused the Globe of being controlled by a pack of whiskey hoodlums.”

H.L. Brown of Corinth sent a letter to the editor expressing appreciation and admiration for the publication.

The Red Ribbon Club is prospering nicely and meets every Tuesday evening.

L.F. Wallbrecht and wife were in in Jackson last week and visited the state prison there.

The circulation of the Globe is steadily increasing. During the past week 25 new names were placed on the subscription list.

Work has begun on the new city hall and it will be pushed forward as rapidly as possible.

“There are two or three disreputable young girls in this village, and if reports are true they do not belong in this village and authorities will do well to look the matter up.”

 John Hartel will give a party at the Occidental Hotel on the evening of the 28th.

“The sidewalks on the residence portion of our village are made of gravel, the worst possible material, in our opinion. They should be repaired at once… We don’t see why a torn this size cannot have good plank or cement walks.”

Justice Garrett has reported three sheep killed by dogs and the Indian “White Pigeon” had two dogs put down.

H.F. Buskirk’s wheat crop this year have averaged 28 bushels per acre.

The seventh annual reunion of the Soldiers and Sailors of Allegan County will be held in Plainwell next Tuesday and Wednesday.

The young man killed on the G, R & I Railroad last week… had some money on his person when he left Martin… from $40 to $60, and when his remains were found no money could be found on him… I will probably always remain a mystery.”

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