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 — July 13, 1998

Dorr Township firefighters rescued a 14-year-old, Patrick Morefield, who was buried in sand for more than 20 minutes. Firefighter Billy Fifelski Jr. acknowledged that when department members arrived at the scene of the cave-in, prospects weren’t good. Though things turned out well, he noted a “no trespassing” sign and a fence should be installed. 

Ken Nederveld, a resident of the Hopkins Public School District has been overseeing construction of the new high school and calls it his “ever so humble second home.”

The cover photo of the Globe was of Mike Ensing and Matt Nixon, a couple of members of the Wayland Roadrunners group nearing the end of a five-mile race at the entrance of Wayland High School.

Wayland Township officials have decided to place a request for 2.5 mills on the November general election ballot for roads.

An Orangeville Township firefighter, Nicholas Elden-Lee Wyatt, has been arrested for arson.

Dorr Township firefighter Jim Schaendorf, in a letter to the editor, has indicated that individuals setting fireworks is “dangerous.”

Former teacher Dar Evers has been elected president of the Martin Board of Education. Pat Hoekstra wrote a letter to the editor praising departing board members Roger Evans and Monte Burns.

Editor Nila Aamoth, in her Soapbox, suggested that perhaps the volume of audio in theaters is too loud, causing some to watch movies in the comfort of their own homes, where they can turn it down.

The Michigan Jobs Commission has awarded Wayland a $1 million loan to help build the local industrial park in the western portion of town.

50 Years Ago — July 10, 1973

Marsha Wilson was chosen queen at the Hopkins Fourth of July pageant and will represent the community at the Allegan County Fair Harvest Queen contest.

E. Waterworth, a retired minister who lives in Delton, will be interim pastor at the United Church of Wayland in the wake of the Rev. Jmes Smith being transferred to Trinity Church in Walker.

The Miss Wayland Queen Pageant will be held Aug. 4 and the winner will be crowned by current Harvest Queen Cathy LaValley.

An estimated 15,000 people attended the two-day Independence Day celebrations in Dorr. James Haveman and Ann Getzen were injured during award ceremonies when a couple of horses bolted and ran, but both were treated at a hospital and released.

Hopkins Township Supervisor William Punches wrote a letter to the editor asking voters to pass a two-mill three-year request for roads.

Debbie Clouse, Debbie Billings, Donna Heppe and Idalynn Bellgraph accompanied advisor Mrs. Colette Parks to a Future Homemakers of America workshop at Central Michigan University.

Eric Weber, a student at Davenport College of Business has joined the staff at the Wayland Globe to perform a variety of duties, including watering the plants.

Tom Tarnutzer, director of the annual Wayland Globe tennis tournament, has announced the competition will begin Aug. 6.

Max Huntoon, 70, of Shelbyville, was killed in a traffic crash. He was backing his trailer into his driveway when struck by a truck.

75 Years Ago — July 16, 1948

Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher reported the entire village was plunged into darkness by a lightning storm on a Saturday, from 6 to 11 p.m. before power could be restored. Lightning destroyed a large barn at the property of George Irish west of Wayland. Mrs. Irish was inside the barn during the strike and suffered injuries.  

O.B. Little, from Bangor, has been announced as the new pastor at the Wayland Church of Christ. A Michigan native, he studied for the ministry at Johnson Bible College in Tennessee and was president of the Michigan Christian Missionary Society.

Retired Shelbyville farmer Byron Carpenter was found dead at his home of a self-inflicted gun shot wound. He was 81.

Norman Strayer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Strayer, was injured when the motor bike he was riding struck the back of a parked International Harvester. He needed four stitches for a head injury.

Fred Greenawalt and Helen Buskirk were elected to seats on the Wayland Board of Education in the election, which attracted 222 total votes. Harold Dieteker won the one-year seat unopposed.

Cornelius Halloran, 75, was killed when he tried to cross U.S.-131 in Wayland. He was a lifelong resident of Leighton.

A number of students have been practicing landing and takeoff procedures at the Wayland Airport prior to their first solo flights.

The Dorr Farmers Club will have a picnic supper at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hammerstrom July 20.

Mrs. Pauline Bouck and son Steven have left for Panama, where her husband, Sgt. Bouck, will be stationed for two years. She is the former Pauline Ellis.

Mrs. Vera Clark was guest speaker at the Wayland Garden Club meeting, leading a discussion on “The Romance of Flowers,” focusing on flower arrangements.

It was estimated that nearly 2,000 guests attended the St. Therese chicken dinner on the Alflen property north of town.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• Johnny Weissmuller and Brenda Joyce in “Tarzan and the Mermaids.”

• Lynni Roberts and Donald Barry in “Madonna of the Desert.”

• Barbara Stanwyk, Van Heflin and Charles Coburn in “B.F.’s Daughter.”

• Irene Dunne, Barbara Bel Gaddes and Sir Cedrick Hardwick in “I Remember Mama.”

100 Years Ago — July 13, 1923

Henry Rogers was installed as the lead officer of the local chapter of the International Order of Odd Fellows.

The Rev. C.M. Keene and evangelist W. M. Mundell of Missouri will conduct evangelical meetings for the Church of Christ. Mundell, besides preaching, will sing and play the harp.

Addie Fox, Floyd Fowler, Charles Ward and Michael Novosel of Bradley received their diplomas after passing their eighth grade exams.

Mrs. George Brush added to the thrills of the Fourth of July celebration in Hospkinsburg by driving her car into a ditch in front of a crowd. No one was hurt.

E. C. Nevins of Moline had a narrow escape of serious injury when the car he was riding had a head-on collision with an electric vehicle near Zeeland.

The band of Mexicans who have been working in the sugar beet fields of Henry Buskirk farm have been transferred to the beet fields in Ohio, where there is a shortage of farm laborers.

The Wayland community band will present a concert Wednesday evening in the village park rather than the main four corners downtown.

Playground equipment for the village park has arrived and local children will be able to take advantage as soon as it has been installed.

Rain finally arrived in the area to improve dry conditions that have affected farmers.

Members of the Wayland Grange have been invited to the 50th anniversary celebration of Rural Grange No. 37.

Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Richard Barthelmess in “The Seventh Day.” Special attractions: “Another Men’s Shoes” and “All Over Twist.”

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