(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — July 20, 1998
The front page of the Globe included a photo of Otto Beard showing off a box of blueberries that have been growing on the farm just west of Dorr Township.
Discussions about gypsy moths and E. coli dominated the meeting of the Gun Lake Protective Association.
Ron Dolegowski, a Dorr Township contractor has been awarded $4,000 in a “dirt dispute” with County Administrator Kim Higgs.
The annual Wayland Summerfest celebration is just a weekend away, July 24-26.
Construction on the new Leighton Township Library is nearing completion. An open house will be held later.
Staci Lowman, a 1997 graduate of Hopkins High School, had many kind words in assessing the effectiveness of the Allegan County Foundation’s Teens Aiding Growth (TAG) program.
Editor Nila Aamoth noted the Wayland Township Board is plagued by squabbling, but all local officials agree something needs to be done about the roads and they support a millage request on the November election ballotr.
Jennie Genther penned a letter to the editor defending the fireworks display in Dorr on the Fourth of July, put on by the local fire department.
Sun Communities, a Farmington Hills firm, plans to build a mobile home park on 106 acres on the west side of Division in Leighton Township. Between 300 and 400 units are being forecast.
Parker Hanifan of Otsego has relocated a portion of its pump division to Watson Township along 12th Street north of M-222.
Jack Adamczyk and Marcia Halloran, members of the Dorr Business Association, were pictured with a “Welcome to Dorr” sign placed at the entry of Dorr Township.
Eclipse Too and Die and Center Manufacturing, two industrial firms located in Byron Center, are planning to move to Leighton Township’s industrial park.
Eleven students and two chaperones from Spain visited Wayland through New York-based International Education Forum.
50 Years Ago — July 17, 1973
Don Lapham was re-elected president of the Wayland Board of Education at its reorganizational meeting. Mrs. Hugh Deweerd was elec ted secretary amnd Mrs. Frank Bastian treasurer.
Bruce Culver was re-elected president for the Martin board, Mrs. Anthony Geib secretary, James Lapham, treasurer, and James Boss, vice president.
Cindy Weber, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Weber of Wayland, will make her first television appearance on a taped Buck Matthews Show on Channel 8.
Harry Were has taken the president’s gavel passed to him by Mel Watkins as president of the Wayland Rotary Club.
The Wayland Community Fair will be held Aug. 17 and 18 and the boys’ high school gym on Pearl Street.
Maynard Guy of Hopkins will tour with the American Musical Band in Europe later this month. He plays the baritone horn and is now a student at Western Michigan University.
State Senator Gary Byker wrote in his column, “…there are numerous marches on the State Capitol by protesters of all kinds, but there is one march that legislators and workers are happy to see — and that is Boys’ State.”
Elmer White, in his Michigan Mirror column, suggested that fuel companies are creating a fuel shortage. “An energy crisis exists when you can’t fuel all the people all of the time.”
Richard Stankey, formerly of Wayland, has been named manager of engineering conferences for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, headquartered in Dearborn
Gary Stuifbergen and Kenny Stoken combined efforts to pitch a no-hitter for the Harding’s Market Little League team.
Golden Gordon Wolotira visited the Ogres from New York and pulled some cagy strategic moves to help his “B” team pull out a 6-4 victory over Ed Buchanan’s A squad.
Col. Nita Heth, Michigan’s first licensed female auctioneer, will handle the local VFW White Elephant Auction.
Ken Estelle of Wayland has been accepted into the American Shorthorn Association.
The Rev. Jerome Winikatis of the St. Stanislaus Church in Hilliards, died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, four days after suffering a stroke. He was 62.
Janet Kelsey, a Martin High School graduate, earned a perfect 4.0 grade poimnt average at Michigan State University, where she is a senior majoring in anthropology.
Jim Croce captured the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.”
75 Years Ago — July 23, 1948
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher waxed eloquent about his love of feeding birds in his back yard, but made some harsh comments about the unwelcome intrusion of starlings.
Albert Genther, a lifelong resident of Dorr Township, died at his home. He was 66.
Charles H. Walker, manager of the Walker Pickle Co. in Bradley, has indicated prospects are good for a quality crop this year, with acreage about double over last year.
Descendants of James McBride, a pioneer settler of Hopkins, will have their 50th reunion just north of Maplewood Cemetery.
Dr. Harry Johnson has set up his practice at the former home of George Ryno. He is a native of Dorr Township.
Member of the congregation of the United Methodist Church held a dedication for their new pulpit Bible, a gift from Mrs. Elma Wiggins in memory of her late husband, Harvey.
Mrs. Ester Sherwood, a lifelong resident of Dorr and Wayland townships, died at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.
Lawrence Benedict died of what was described as “a violent heart attack” at his home Saturday evening, only hours after finishing carpentry work.
Several local people have indicated interest in establishing a private flying club based out of the new Calkins Airport.
Rural correspondent Margaret Therese Jenkins, author of the “Hi! Neighbor!” column, gave an extensive account of her first plane ride from Grand Rapids Airport to Phoenix, saying it was much like a train or bus ride and she appreciated the free meals provided by stewardesses.
Howard McBride and Harold Newell were elected to the Hopkins Board of Education at the annual school meeting.
A report indicated a new Hopkins school building is sorely needed because students in different grades are scattered all over the district.
Three Hopkins boys, Bob Healy, Dick Smith and Billie McKinnon, were injured in a traffic crash when the car driven by McKinnon overturned. The boys were back at work at Pet Milk later that week.
Mrs. William Rewa of Dorr won the $50 prize in the RFD program on NBC-Radio.
Frank Langley was elected president of the local American Legion and Joe Panyrek was chosen vice commander.
The Vets are leading after completion of the first half of the summer softball standings with 1 6-1 record and Leighton and Dorr are both a game back at 5-2.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Robert Lowery and Joan Barton in “Mary Lou.”
• William Bishop, Gloria Henry and Edgar Buchanan in “Adventures in Silverado.”
• Veronica Lake, Joan Caulfield and Barry Fitzgerald in “The Sainted Sisters.”
• Merle Oberon, Robert Ryan and Paul Lukas in “Berlin Express.”
100 Years Ago — July 20, 1923
A column, “On the Side,” appeared on the front page of this week’s edition, by ED. The mysterious author wrote, “We are for the people, and agin the corporations which are always grindin’ them down to the ground, but when a family of three spend 95 iron men for what they put in their stomachs in addition to $5 a month for milk, reckon we ain’t got no time to symphanize with ‘em, even if the missus does have to go out to work to help pay the bills.”
“Careful Joe” responded at the bottom of the column by suggesting he and his wife drive a little more sanely when traveling through Middleville and Wayland.
“There was quite a crowd at Deep Lake last Sunday for bathing and fishing. We have begun to think Rollo will have a to wear a star and carry a Billy Club.”
Mr. James Leaver had the pleasure of pulling a big car out of the swamp between the church and Mrs. Duffys.
The milk strike in Allegan when members of the Milk Producers Association signed a contract with the Overton Creamery.
The barn at the R. E. Knowlton farm in Shelbyville was destroyed by fire, along with three horses and a large quantity of hay.
John Unruh of Moline was injured Thursday when a pulley broke and struck him in the head.
Arnold Frank of Moline had the misfortune of having his silo struck by lightning, but the good fortune of a heavy rain to put out the blaze quickly.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Norma Talmadge in “Love’s Redemption.” Frank Mayo in “The Altar Stairs.”
While trying to crank his car, A.H. Clark slipped and broke one of the small bones of his ankle and now is confined to his home.
The Allegan County Road Commission has applied coating of calcium chloride to the graveled portion of Dixie Highway.
Wendell Smith of Leighton had his car tossed into a fence by a passing motorist, but he escaped injury.
Michigan Central and Pere Marquette railroads are offering trips to Detroit Sunday to see the Tigers play the Yankees.
Rural Grange No. 37 is celebrating its golden anniversary with a potluck in the village park. Jones Ames, the lone original member still living, was present.
Except it wasn’t called the Summerfest until sometime after 1965. It was still the ” Cowbell Carnival “, complete with a beauty contest where the winner was crowned the ” Cowbell Queen ???? “.