(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago— May 11, 1998
Two Dorr businesses, Wonderland Tire and Williams Tooling and Manufacturing, have been granted tax abatements in return for promises of money and jobs they will bring the community.
The Globe published a feature story about Wayland man Tom Stora, 88, who despite four surgeries and a stroke still farms the land purchased by his parents.
Project Hope Annetta Jansen Ministries, which offers food pantry services, has met a grant challenge from the Allegan County Foundation.
The Dorr Township Library Board plans to seek a millage to handle cost increases of $12,500 over 1997. A proposal for three-quarters of a mill will be on the August primary election ballot.
Debora Blackmore penned a letter to the editor opposing the “helter skelter” growth of Gun Lake and instead insist on managed growth and sensible development.
The City of Wayland has purchased a 35-acre parcel along 133rd Avenue on the west edge of the city from Pauline Brown for $255,193, or $7,000 per acre) to provide land for industrial purposes.
Yankee Springs and Thornapple Township officials continue to have differences of opinion about fire protection services and aired them at a joint meeting.
Four Holland teen boys have been arrested in connection with a robbery at the Clak gas station in Martin and assault on the service station’s clerk Nov. 10, 1997.
Sealed Power Corporation (SPX), with 74 employees, has been granted a tax abatement from the City of Wayland after moving into the building formerly occupied by Kessler’s Undies and Woolies on South Main Street.
Hopkins freshman pitcher Heather Houseman lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to Comstock Park.
Sophomore Ricky Mena broke the Martin school record in the pole vault by clearing 12 feet even. Shot putter Justin Mead also broke the school record with a throw of 47-4.
Wayland will be the host school for the O-K Gold Conference track meet over two days.
Seven Hopkins girls broke school track records at the O-K Silver Conference meet, including Fran Sage in the 400, long jump, Maria Nixon in the pole vault, Lindsey Peck in the 100-meter hurdles, Julie Baweja in 1600 and the Sage, Winters, Nixon and Baweja in the 1600 relay, Breaking records for the boys were Tim MacArthur in the 400 and Ed Perez in the 110 hurdles.
WHS senior Jason Hilaski blasted two homers and a double in the ‘Cats’ victory over Lakewood.
Carl “Bill” Kelsey, former maintenance director at Martin Schools and Martin Township’s first zoning officer died at age 88.
Thomas Frederick Woodward, 91, of Gun Lake died. He was a life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Lester Herb, longtime owner of Herb Chevrolet in Wayland, died of a heart attack at his home. He was 66.
Wayland High School graduate (1963) Mrs. William Peterson, the former Kathy Parrish, is the first woman chosen to be featured speaker at the Wayland High School Honors Convocation. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Smith.
Mary Kaczanowski, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephan Kaczanowski, was chosen Miss Wayland at the “Barrel of Fun” variety show at the Waylkand High School auditorium.
Joanne Merbs was named valedictorian and Theodore Howard salutatorian for the Hopkins High School Class of 1973.
The weekly recipe column this time featured Ed Matuszak, roommate of Globe sports editor David Young, with his beer and sauerkraut concoction. The chef was better known by his radio handle, Ed Buchanan.
The Hopkins baseball team’s six-game winning streak was snapped by Gobles, 3-2.
Wayland will open district baseball tournament play at home against Easton Rapids May 16.
Alan Lettinga and Wayne Thomas were triple winners as Wayland finally scored its first dual meet track victory, over Comstock Park.
Gib Goodwin, who has 57 strikeouts in just under 30 innings, came on in relief to put out the fire and salvage a Wayland win over Comstock Park.
Bill Biesbrock, who helped with restocking the Rabbit River with trout, was pictured with five brown trout he caught. The Rabbit in recent years had been overrun by trash fish.
John Roon of Hopkins set the O-A Conference record in the pole vault by clearing 12-6.
Wayland High School senior Robert Grafford won a scholarship sponsored by the Otsego chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
75 Years Ago — May 14, 1948
Michael “Mickey” Chesebro, 3-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Chesebro of Moline, was the winner of a personality contest sponsored by Cecil Davis Studios and the Kalamazoo Camera Club. The contest was open to children ages two weeks to 6 years.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote in his column, “The frequent rains of the last two weeks have greatly slowed up work on farms and folks who plan to put in a garden.”
The Wayland Grange is planning a White Elephant Sale with a potluck luncheon May 21.
The Wayland Extension Club will have an exhibit on “Correlation of Color in the Home” in the Allegan County Women’s Achievement Day at the Griswold Auditorium in Allegan.
Mrs. Myrtle Starr was the guest of honor at the annual Dorr-Leighton Teachers’ Club. Mrs. Starr soon will be leaving the community for her new home in Indiana.
Miss Fannie Hoyt has tendered her resignation as director of the Henika Public Library after serving for 33 years, citing health issues. Mrs. Rowena Delvin will be temporary successor and the Library Board will begin a search for a permanent director.
The annual Mother-Daughter Banquet will be held at the United Methodist Church May 19.
Miss Mary Bullis, Allegan County Home Demonstration Agent, presented a lesson on aprons designs, construction and trimmings to the East Bradley Extension group.
A demonstration on outboard motors, sponsored by Weaver Hardware and Gore Sales at Wayland Lansing, Gun Lake, because of inclement weather.
The Wayland Village Band will have its second rehearsal for the coming season.
A benefit dance for Crispe Memorial Hospital in Plainwell, sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will be held Wednesday night, May 26, at the Dixie Ballroom.
There are indications that oil is being discovered in Hopkins near the Barnhardt and Fred Wamhoff farms.
Coming soon to the Dixie Ballroom — new singing star Russ Carlyle on Saturday, May 15.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Janet Martin and Al Pearce in “Main Street Kid.”
• The Hoosier Hotshots and Kirby Grant in “Song of Idaho.”
• The Walt Disney cartoon “Bambi.”
• Rita Hayworth, Orson Welles and Everett Sloan in “The Lady from Shanghai.”
100 Years Ago — May 11, 1923
Hopkins Township pioneer resident Walter Bennett died at his home southwest of Wayland. He was 78.
The Dorr Township post office is anticipates a job opening for fourth class postmaster is sponsoring an exam. The position paid $999 in 1922.
The Allegan County Board of Supervisors has announced it intends to take over the John Robinson Hospital in Allegan, which formerly was private imn most instances. The supervisors will act together as a board of control.
Barry County Sheriff Charles Parker contends he shot and killed a Hastings area farmer, James Bryant, 50, in self defense, after catching him and two others poaching fish at Middle Lake.
The front page headline read, “Old Man Winter Plays a Trick on Young Miss Spring,” as a freak snowstorm. The Globe reported between six and seven inches of the white stuff fell, and the Hunt Stock Co. was setting a circus, but operators struggled to let the show go on because of the storm. “Make a notation in your diaries, you weather prophets, and remember the big snow of May 9, 1923.
The Wayland girls’ basketball team routed Allegan 36-6.
Mrs. Melvin Paul suffered rib injuries when the condensary wagon she was riding overturned because the horses were spooked and ran away.
The Wayland Schools Parent-Teacher organization voted to spend the last day of the academic year with a potluck meal for all students and staff.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: A solid hour of happiness — “Just Around the Corner.” Also “Captain Fly by Night.”