(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago— Dec. 29, 1997
The Globe’s front page collage of pictures was of the Grooters Development Co.’s factory building in Watson Township, one of many construction sites sprouting up in the area.
Longtime Fire Chief Bill Fifelski Sr. was inducted into the Dorr Township Hall of Fame. His father, Floyd, was Dorr’s first fire chief.
Staff writer Pat Staley wrote a feature story about “Wayland: A city on the grow,” quoting mayor David Miller about continued growth in local business, industry and housing. He singled out City Manager Barbara VanDuren.
The Allegan County Youth Home at the Dumont Lake complex now will be under the direction of Family Court.
In a review of 1997 by Louise Honderd about Dorr, the biggest success was completion of a new Archer-Hampel-Kubiak funeral home on 18th Street. The worst disaster was the June 20-21 fierce summer storm that wreaked much havoc.
One big story for 1998 will be the opening of a new United Bank facility on West Superior, moving from its current historic headquarters at the corner of South Main and East Superior streets.
Wayland Union Schools officials are preparing for the change in population to Class A from Class B for the first time in its history. Supt. Bob Brenner said projections are for the district to welcome as many as 4,000 students in the next five years.
The biggest challenge facing Hopkins Township, according to staff writer Daniel Kelsey was holding the line on preserving the rural agricultural character of the community.
Hopkins Schools Finance Director Bob Hennip said he was anticipating student population growth, but didn’t think it would be rapid.
Leighton Township Supervisor Dar VanderArk said when he took his position in 1988 there were two building permits issued. Nine years later that number rose to 15. He said local officials’ task is to control that potential growth.
Allegan County Sheriff Dave Haverdink has been granted a request for 12 semi-automatic AR-15 guns for the department’s use.
Jonathan Koops, 12, of Gun Lake, was killed in a traffic crash at Patterson Avenue and 68th Street, where the car in which he was riding was struck by an eastbound vehicle.
Wayland High School’s early season volleyball winning streak was halted in the Wyoming Park Tournament. The Lady Wildcats were missing the services of Kara Potter and Amber Fifelski.
Scott Sullivan wrote a feature story about Thornapple Kallogg graduate Faith Heikkila, who was one of the first women in this area certified as a referee for high school basketball games.
Continued problems on offense resulted in a Hopkins hoops loss to Allendale, 53-30.
Martin Township Supervisor Terry Sturgis said he worries about residential growth explosion because of expansion of the Perrigo plant in Allegan.
Longtime Green Lake Calvary Church Sunday School teacher and Wayland schools reading teacher Phyllis Bultman of Moline died. She was 64.
50 Years Ago — Dec. 26, 1972
The Wayland Township Board granted zoning amendment variances to Gene Holmes and Duane Scott for a junk car collection point. However, a request by Elvin Wabeke to rezone agricultural property to commercial was denied because it was regarded as spot zoning.
The Richard Stantons and Frank Belkas were the winners of the Wayland Beautification Committee’s Christmas lights contest, both winning $25 gift certificates.
The Allegan County Democratic Party re-elected David Blok of Moline as chairman.
Rev. and Mrs. Reinhold Barth of Mt. Prospect, Ill, were special guests at Sunday services at Green Lake Calvary Church.
Muriel O’Leary, director of nurses, and RN Marian Swope are offering expectant parent classes for six weeks at Pipp Hospital in Plainwell.
Dr. Dale Kuiper, in the second installment of his columns on drugs, stated that heroin and LSD are intrinsically dangerous on their own and others are bad because those with addictive personalities indeed will get hooked.
Grand Rapids Covenant Christian ended Hopkins’ early season winning streak by posting a 72-64 triumph. Mike Smith scored 16 points.
The Vikings edged Wayland 69-68 in overtime after spotting the Wildcats by as many as 14 points in the first half. Mike Smith had 24 for Hopkins and Bob Lehocky had 24 for the Wildcats.
Charlie Rewa of the Hopkins FFA was determined to have the state broiler champion in the annual poultry improvement contest at Michigan State University.
The Wayland High School wrestling team suffered a 31-24 dual meet loss to Kelloggsville. Brian Groeneveld, Dave McBride and Roger VanVolkingburg recorded pins.
75 Years Ago — Jan. 2, 1948
Adult evening classes in agriculture, homemaking and typing will begin at Wayland High School Jan. 5.
There was a veritable plethora of obituaries on the Globe’s front page this week:
Life-long Dorr Township resident Charles Arndt died at age 84.
Gerald Baker, a resident of Wayland for 44 years, died at the home of his daughter east of Wayland. He was 54.
Mrs. Harriet Brower, founder of the Brower Nursing Home, did at age 65 at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo.
Ernest Notestine, 60, well known in the Wayland area, was killed by his son in an accidental shooting while in California. His son was trying to scare off a dog and instead shot his dad in the abdomen. Notestine married Sadie Chamberlain of Wayland 32 years before.
Hopkins native Jesse (Lee) McBride died at the home of his son in Allegan. He was 75.
Kalamazoo Rendering Works insists it pays the highest cash prices for dead and disabled animals in its advertisement.
The C.J. Farley Wholesale Dry Goods Co. in Grand Rapids is going out of business after 79 years and has placed a huge advertisement in the Globe.
Wayland schools music teacher Miss Lenora Sykes and 20 of her students went caroling in town for elderly people.
Mr. and Mrs. Blesch Malmstone have left for Jasper, Ind., where he will begin duties as a manager of a men’s furnishings store.
Wayland Congregational Church has secured the services of Rev. Frank Bruce Bachelor of Kalamazoo, beginning next week. Rev. Bachelor has been connected with Kalamazoo College for the past 25 years.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Philip Reed, Hillary Brooke and Robert Lowery in “I Cover Big Town.”
• William Boyd and Andy Clyde in “The Marauders.”
• Joan Blondell, Coleen Gray and Tyrone Power in “Nightmare Alley.”
• Bob Hope, Signe Hasso and William Bendix in “Where There’s Life.”
100 Years Ago — Friday, Dec. 29
The 14 lodges of the International Order of Odd Fellows are organizing a county-wide organization of the fraternity. Wayland representatives were Dr. Ira Slater, Sib Rumery and J.L. Robinson.
Former Wayland man G.H. Haywood has purchased the Farmer’s State Bank in Anoka County, Minn.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre Downtown: Harold Lloyd in “An Eastern Westerner,” an all-star cast in “The World Aflame” and Herbert Rawlinson in “The Black Bag.”
Cleo Fox, who is on the Chautauqua circuit, came home for the holiday to visit with parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Fox.
Miss Agnes Robinson has gone to Allegan to begin duties in the office of register of deeds, headed by Frank Chamberlain.
The F.D. Travis Co. has reported its finances are more favorable than they were a year previous.
Mr. and Mrs. Lavern Pegg of Hopkins and Mr. and Mrs. Lewis McLe were delegates to the Allegan County convention for the Michigan State Grange Jubilee.
The Globe’s job rooms now are engaged in printing the new 1923 telephone directory for the Leighton Telephone Co.
