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

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

The cover photo shows the A & P grocery store that existed on the east side of South Main downtown, next to the Wayland State Bank. This is the same area today, as photographed by Kathy Hamman Miller.

25 Years Ago— April 27, 1998

The front page of the Globe was graced by a photo of three Kramer boys, Benjamin, Tony and Tim and Robby Young promoting the “Scouting for Food” campaign sponsored by Troop 97 and Pack #3097.

The Henika Public Library officially severed ownership ties with the city to become a district library. With a budget of $107,000, Henika will have to seek a millage from the city and Wayland Township.

Gun Lake residents have told State Rep. Terry Geiger what they’d like to see done with water sleds, strictly regulated.

The first-ever belt sander drag races are planned for this weekend at Gun Lake.

Wayland Summerfest patrons this year will have the opportunity to tackle a portable climbing wall, organizers have announced.

The Wayland High School softball team defeated two O-K Gold Conference rivals in a doubleheader to hike its record overall to 14-2.

The Knights of Columbus chapter of Hilliards is sponsoring its annual Tootsie Roll fund-raising drive.

Helen Allen wrote a letter to the editor agreeing that paving roads is not a luxury, but raised serious questions about where Wayland Township chose do it this summer, on Fifth Street.

Allegan County Sheriff David Haverdink is considering a program in which low-level offenders perform community service on weekends rather than do time in jail.

Amy Timmer of Wayland, who has worked for the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, has been earned the 1998 Michigan Hotel, Motel and Resort Association Security Officer of the Year. She also is a volunteer with Wayland Ambulance.

Middleville won the Wayland Invitational girls’ track meet and the host team was second. The Wildcats’ Jason Moore set a meet record in the 3200 at 10:01.

50 Years Ago — April 24, 1973

Mimi Moulenbelt, Gloria Jean Sleeman and Laura VandenToorn were pictured on the Globe front page for spearheading a protest against the coverage are provided by Michigan Bell Telephone in the Hopkins area. They took their case to the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Ms. Moulenbelt wrote a letter to the editor exhorting citizens to get involved in issues they care about.

Supt. James Pelham, Elementary Principal Maurine Fuller and High School Principal James Danhoff all were offered one-year contracts by the Hopkins Board of Education.

Two new businesses have opened in downtown Wayland, Country Meats and Andringa Appliance.

Wayland High School sophomore William Bedford will have an exhibit at an art show at Central Michigan University.

Mimi Moulenbelt was elected president of the Hopkins PTA and Barbara Golm vice president.

Richard Wiley will direct a vocal music concert at the Wayland High School girls’ gym. The event will include the Triple Trio.

Kelloggsville’s Dennis Kruisenga twirled a two-hit shutout to deal the Wayland baseball team its first defeat of the season, 2-0.

Coach Mark Austin’s Hopkins baseball team got some terrific pitching from Louie Stein and quality hitting in victories over Byron Center and Allendale. Stein hasn’t given up a run in his last two outings on the mound. Sports writer David Young called attention to the pitching of Stein and Con Mauchmar and Gib Goodwin of Wayland.

C.J. VanDuine was pictured with the limit of 25 bluegills he caught in 50 minutes on Lower Crooked  Lake.

The Maple City Seed Pods are heavily favored to win the Ogre Table Hockey Tournament. The Ogres put on an authentic wrestling demonstration at the Wellington residence in Grand Rapids.

Robert Jackson of Wayland won a special award from Nutrena Feeds.

Gerald Pattock, a Hastings teacher who is a 1955 Wayland High School graduate, has received a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Mrs. William Chatfield, wife of a former Wayland State Police trooper, died in a car accident in Brownsville, Tenn. She was 29.

The Allegan County Republican Women’s Club will meet to hear an aide to State Sen. William Ballenger, who will discuss the importance of more women getting involved in GOP politicians.

75 Years Ago — April 30, 1948

Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher gave another account of his trout fishing opener in Baldwin with Harold Reinhart.

Two-year-old Lonnie Homrich lost a hand and two fingers after he caught them in a water pump on a farm in Dorr.

John VanHukelum has opened a produce store at the corner of Maple and North Main.

Earl Ryno has announced the open of Garden Street on property north of Wayland off Dahlia Street.

The funeral for Sgt. Marine Paul Cook of Bloomingdale will be at the Archer Funeral Home in Wayland Saturday. Sgt. Cook was killed in action in Iwo Jima March 11, 1945.

The Good Housekeeping Shop will have a pre-grand opening. It is operated by Mrs. John Greitzer.

Jack Gurney and Ivan Smith, captains of the American Legion membership drive, were passengers in the Air Cavalcade from Plainwell to Grand Rapids.

Services were held at the Indian Mission 9n Bradley for Staff Sgt. Alin Chivis, who was killed at Iwo Jima April 20, 1945 in World War II. He had been awarded the Bronze and Silver Star.

The Leighton Grange is having a Fifth Friday night party on behalf of the National Cander Fund.

The Globe published a letter from Ruth Kinney Rawlinson, whose husband is a supervisor at a Firestone rubber plantation in Africa.

In “Wayland Brevities,” was an announcement that a son, Gordon Streeter, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Halden Hudson at Crispe Hospital in Plainwell.

The Future Homemakers of America Mother-Daughter Banquet attracted 60 guests, with Irene Perry as toastmaster.

The Wayland Rod and Gun Club is offering its services to area farmers in getting rid of pesky crows.

A pediatric consultant from the State Health Department will speak to the adult class at the high school about “The Physical Health of the Growing Child.”

Now Showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• William Eythe and Barbara Britton in “Mr. Reckless.”

• Alan Lane (Red Ryder) in “Rustlers of Devil’s Canyon.”

• Ruth Warrick, Walter Brennan and introducing Natalie Wood in “Driftwood.”

• John Wayne and Laraine Day in “Tycoon.”

100 Years Ago — April 27, 1923

Miss Helen Burchardt was announced as valedictorian of the Wayland High School Class of 1923.

Dr. I.L. Slater, advisor, is imploring residents of the village to have all manure heaps removed during the Clean-up Week. Dr. Slater also asked residents to not to use milk bottles for anything but milk.

Foster Dean Lewis, not yet 2 years old, fell down stairs at his home in Leighton and broke his collarbone.

The Rev. G.W. Weidman was in the village for the first time in the last 46 years to sell logs. He was in the lumber business many years ago in Wayland.

The Wayland High School baseball team will play Otsego at the North Side Ballpark Saturday.

Mrs. C.M. Sias is in St. Joseph receiving treatment  at the Whitcomb Bath Institute.

Harry Tarney was arrested in Wayland for driving a car without a license after traveling here from Kansas City, Mo., to Grand Rapids. He was fine $20.15 and ordered to purchase a license.

The Henika Library will be open only in Wednesdays from May 1 to Oct. 1, according to Director Fannie Hoyt.

Longtime local businessman L.W. Morford died in Homer, Mich., at age 66.

George M. Cohan’s “Get Rich Quick Wallingford” will be shown this weekend at the Regent Theatre downtown.

Clare Hoffman of Allegan will be guest speaker at the next meeting of the Corning Community Club.

The Wayland High School girls’ basketball team defeated Hopkins 26-8.

“Our WCTU is not dead and we have not disbanded. We had a very interesting meeting Tuesday at the home of Elizabeth Clark.”

Miss Smith of the Michigan Association of Counties was guest speaker for the recent meeting of the Leighton Housewives. “We hope it cleared away some of the ideas that have been spread about these things boosting our taxes so much.”

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