(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
COVER PHOTO: Lawrence Jones pumping gas for a motorist at the Jones gas station in bygone days.
25 Years Ago— Feb. 16, 1998
Wayland police officer Mark Rookus, a 10-year veteran of the force, will go to court in connection with a charge he used excessive force in a confrontation with teen suspects.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has declined to provide money for cleaning up the scrap tire pile in Watson Township this year.
Joan M. Ross wrote a letter to the editor explaining that she and her family run a kennel not for commercial purposes, but instead as a hobby showing dogs.
The Globe received two more letters to the editor about a Soapbox column from a couple of weeks ago about a Wayland High School journalism class suggesting rudeness by students. Both were critical of the informal survey conducted by the class and results being printed in the Paw Prints student newspaper.
Ernie Sakrasta, a representative of Consumers Energy, appeared before the Hopkins Township Board to explain the frequency and duration of power outages this winter.
First Lt. Michael Olson, post commander at Michigan State Police in Wayland, is part of an effort to organize a county-wide crime task force. He commented, “The major crime task force removed the politics and territorialism and puts the public in a position of number one priority. People expect us to be responsible and professional; they should have it.”
A pay increase for Leighton Township Supervisor Dar VanderArk would result in an annual salary of $34,200 because he also is assessor, zoning administrator and land division officer.
Wayland High School choral director Jan Laman is spearheading an effort to have a new fine arts auditorium because the current one just isn’t big enough to handle the growing theater and music programs.
Wayland, Middleville TK and Caledonia will compete in the Division 2 team wrestling districts at Middleville next Wednesday.
Sophomore Kara Potter was perfect in serving, helping the Wayland volleyball team snap a two-match skid with a victory over Caledonia.
Kammy Larr was perfect in serving for Hopkins in a win over Allendale and sophomore Sabrina Bird contributed five kills.
Centenarian Anna Schmidt of Dorr died Feb. 7. She was 101.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 13, 1973
The Wayland Chamber of Commerce Monday learned that a new mobile home park will be constructed as soon as mortgage funds are available for the firm that has purchased the land on West Superior adjacent to the U.S.-131 expressway. The proposed Wayland Homestead Estates would include 127 units.
A 22-car train derailment just south of Wayland had Penn Central crews working to make repairs over the weekend. A broken rail was blamed for the mishap.
Marvin DeYoung and Klaus Tanis will seek one open commission seat in the March 12 Martin Village election, succeeding Anthony Geib.
Jim Levandoski of Wayland said he was pleased to learn of the release of Commander Robert Schumaker of Wilmington, Pa., from the Philippines as a prisoner of war since 1965. Levandoski had been selling POW-MIA bracelets with Schumaker’s name.
Councilmen Max Barnes, Donald Shafer and Robert Swartout will run unopposed in the April 2 city election.
Supt. James Thomas wrote another “Your School Operation” column about the importance of approving a 4.11-mill request in a special election March 5.
In a Jekyll-and-Hyde week, the Wayland varsity basketball team lost 71-55 to basement dwelling Middleville, but then rebounded to spank Wyoming Lee 67-51. The Trojans held Bob Lehocky to just 14 points, but he led the way in the win over Lee with 22.
O-A Conference leader Saugatuck defeated Hopkins 76-57, dropping the Vikings’ league record to 3-3 and 9-5 overall. Martin, meanwhile, clinched a tie for second place with a victory over Allendale.
David T. Young wrote a column maintaining that the O-K Blue Conference continues to be mediocre in competition because the “have nots,” Wayland, Comstock Park, Middleville and Kelloggsville, did not improve despite not having heavy graduation losses in 1972.
Linda Gerritson was named winner of the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow award for1973 at Wayland High School.
Dr. Stanley Forkner will talk about the Redbird Missionary in Kentucky in a presentation Feb. 18 at the United Methodist Church.
Wayland High School graduate Cathy LaValley has landed the role of Nurse Ratched in the Northwood Institute presentation of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” which wasn’t yet the outstanding movie with Louise Fletcher and Jack Nicholson.”
Nick VanderVeen sang in an Adrian College quartet rendition of “Four Love Seasons.”
The Wayland Grange will observe the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in the group’s next meeting Feb. 16.
James C. Tolhurst died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. A lifelong local farmer, he was 76.
75 Years Ago — Feb. 20, 1948
A famous degree team for the Veterans of American Legion was scheduled to visit Wayland next week to take part in installation of officers.
Glenn Zumbrink has sold half of his interest in his local jewelry business to Jack Cook of Clare, Mich.
Prof. Edward C. Prophet of Michigan State College gave a presentation on “Geography in the News” to members of the Wayland Ladies Library Club celebrating their 55th anniversary.
The Wayland Village Caucus determined Harold Hawkins as nominee for president, Harry Elenbaas clerk, Elizabeth Clark treasurer, and trustees Frederic Hilbert, Naman Frank and John L. Gurney.
Mrs. Carrie Hoerner, whose son George was killed in the 1919 explosion at the Hopkins Creamery, died at her home. She was 86.
Wayland and Moline fire departments were summoned to a fire at a Caledonia-area barn at the Ralph Anderson farm. The structure was destroyed, along with some machinery and two head of cattle.
A majority of Hopkins basketball fans were in Wayland Friday evening to watch the Blue Devils trim the Wildcats.
Allegan attorney Rex Orton, who served in the FBI during the war, was guest speaker for the recent meeting of the Hopkins Ladies Library Club.
Correspondent Margaret These Jenkins reported, “In a recent public school students, it was found that seven in ten children didn’t know the 10 Commandments… and we call this a Christian nation!”
Mrs. Ruth Cooper of Hopkins was pictured with a 19-pound pike that measured 44½ inches.
Wayland Grange members will see the motion picture “Irish Linens,” featuring processing of flax and converting it to linen.
Russell Hilbert, formerly of Wayland, took over Feb. 1 as superintendent of schools at the Detroit suburb of Redfield.
Charles E. Chapman died at his Watson Township home at age 75. He had been a machinist in the coal mines in Colorado and mines in Wisconsin, working with explosives.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Tim Holt and Nan Leslie in “Wild Horse Mesa.”
• Phillip Reed and Hillary Brooke in “Big Town After Dark.”
• Ginger Rogers, Cornel Wilde and Spring Byington in “It Had to Be You.”
• Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott and Kirk Douglas in “I Walk Alone.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 16, 1923
Wayland School District No. 2 plans to have a special election on a $50,000 bond issue to construct a new school building. The bond will be for the first unit, which will contain a large auditorium, assembly room and recitation room.
The Village Caucus for the Citizens’ ticket nominated H.F. Buskirk for president, Morris Ehle as clerk and John E. Ward treasurer.
The East Allegan dairymen have formed a new organization, with Irwin Hendrixson of Hopkins president, David Anderson of Shelbyville vice president, and Guy Bracelin of Allegan secretary-treasurer.
Members of the Ladies Library Club sang old-time songs such as “Old Black Joe” and “Dixie,” along with “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
The Wayland Republican Village Caucus will be held Feb. 19.
Roy Morganstern has severed his connection with the Wayland Farm Bureau and Carol McBride has temporary charge.
Five-month-old Evelyn Lois Noyes died at her home on North Main Street.
Russell Hilbert has resumed his studies at Western Normal College after a two-week illness.
The Leighton Ladies Aid Society had to postpone its meeting because scheduled speaker Rev. George Murbach came down ill.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Hobart Bosworth in “His Own Law.” “Lots of Action, full of pep. Hot dog! Watch Your Step.” Herbert Rawlinson in “The Loaded Door.”