(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Oct. 5, 1998
The county artery known as A-42 finally has been designated as a Heritage Route state highway.
The Globe published a feature story with photos about Scotty’s Fire House and its role in teaching young people and adults about fire safety. The tool is owned by the Wayland Fire Department.
Watson and Martin townships have found common ground in negotiations about fire coverage for both municipalities.
The Penasee Globe has won seven awards in the Michigan Press Association contest, including first place for editorial writing and sports coverage.
Conrail has postponed repair work on 129th Avenue in Bradley.
A ribbon cutting ceremony welcomed the new Paws With a Cause facility in Leighton Township on 10th Street.
The Hopkins football team continues to steamroll opponents, most recently Allendale 47-14 for its fourth straight victory without a loss this season.
Sparked by a reserve performance by Sarah Kloska and the high scoring of Alissa Johnston in two victories, the Hopkins girls’ basketball team moved to 8-3 overall and 3-1 in the O-K Silver Conference.
Caledonia kept the Cowbell for the fourth year in a row with a 25-15 victory over Wayland.
The Wayland girls’ basketball team suffered through a bad week in losses to South Christian and Grand Rapids West Catholic. Coach Zack Moushegian’s Wildcats are now 7-3 overall and 5-1 in the O-K Gold Conference.
The Wayland girls’ varsity tennis team, coached by Cheri Ritz, won its own invitational tournament and now is preparing for the Class B regionals.
The Wayland girls’ cross-country edged South Christian 28-29 to keep O-K Gold Conference title hopes alive. Sarah Grygiel again led the way with record-breaking performances.
First-year sophomore Brooke Brenner led Hopkins to another dual meet cross country victory, over Comstock Park.
Helen “Busia” Kamyszek, a Gold Star Mother and lifetime member of the Hopkins VFW Auxiliary, died at age 105.
50 Years Ago — Oct. 2, 1973
It appears that plans for a new mobile park in the northwest section of the City of Wayland is becoming less of a possibility. City Council members, stating they did not want development of a trailer park subdivision, rejected rezoning requests because lots would be smaller than what the city ordinance allows.
The Wayland Fire Department has been asked to furnish protection services to Hopkins Township properties just to the west across the expressway.
The Martin High School marching band, under the directorship of Fred Bogdan and Drum Major Joe Bailey, was among 140 units that performed at the University of Michigan and Navy football game.
Wayland High School art instructor Jennifer Charboneau has received a “Project Teach” award from the Michigan Art Education Association.
Joanne Grzeszak, a 1969 graduate of Wayland High School, has entered medical school at Michigan State University, with hope of obtaining a doctor of osteopathy degree.
Prominent local citizen Walter Steines, only 50, died at Blodgett Hospital after a lingering illness.
The Rev. William Devine has been named new pastor at St. Stanislaus Church in Hilliards.
Local Boy Scout Commissioner, Lions Club member and World War II veteran Iman Fox died at age 58.
Sports writer David Young went out on a limb in a column predicting a 14-12 victory for Middleville Thornapple Kellogg over Wayland in a clash of unbeaten football teams.
The first annual Wayland Invitational Cross-Country meet will welcome Plainwell, Otsego, Hopkins and Fennville next Saturday.
Galesburg-Augusta defeated Hopkins 26-12 despite the offensive heroics of wide receiver Louis Stein, who caught eight passes from John Roon for 145 yards and a touchdown.
Kelvin Lapham set the five-kilometer school record in 17:14 in a 23-33 cross country loss to Middleville.
The Wayland girls’ varsity basketball team lost to Fennville, despite 15 points by Kathy Worfel and 14 from Jean Jackson.
David Stuart Briscoe of Brookfield, Wisc., will be guest speaker for the convention of the Allegan County Sunday School Convention.
Community organizations in Hopkins are banding to together for a benefit smorgasbord for longtime teacher and counselor Alice Bennett, who is recovering from surgery.
The Hopkins PTA and Mothers Study have merged to form the Hopkins Organization of Parents and Educators (HOPE) advocacy group for Hopkins Public Schools.
A controversy about identifying women by their husbands’ names instead of their own has emerged from the Globe’s letters sections. Mimi Moulenbelt, the ringleader of the effort to have the Globe change its policy, taunted the Globe editor by writing, “Mr. Helmey was at the top of my my list for the ‘male chauvinist award,’ but Bobby Riggs beat him out.”
Cher captured the No. 1 position among the nation’s tunes with “Half Breed.”
75 Years Ago — Oct. 8, 1948
A car belonging to a singer performing at the Allegan County Fair was stolen from Allegan streets. It was found two days later east of the city.
A meeting of the new local flying club will be held at the Wayland Municipal Airport Wednesday. Members are invited to take an air trip to Cadillac Sunday for a breakfast.
It was estimated that 900 people attended the Wayland Community Fair, which included 209 exhibitors. Fair association memberships were sold to defray the costs of the fair.
Wayland defeated Caledonia 15-0 and at the conclusion of the game, Fred Hilbert presented the Wildcats with the first ever Cowbell Trophy, “Which is similar to the Little Brown Jug between Michigan and Minnesota.”
Ray Barnes, a native of Warren, Mich., hs opened the Ray Barnes Tractor and Implement Co. and is distributor of the Ferguson Farm Tractor in Allegan County.
About 300 people attended a meeting of the Hopkins Township Schools to discuss possibilities of constructing a new building program.
The last of the Mexicans who have been working for C.H. Walker through the cucumber season have left for Lansing to work for the Michigan Sugar Co.
Former minister Claude Keene, who had been a pastor of 50 years before serving as an elder in Wayland, died here at age 84.
Now showing the Wayland Theatre:
• Roy Rogers and Andy Devine in “Eyes of Texas.”
• Alan Ladd, Donna Reed and George MacReady in “Beyond Glory.”
• Judy Garland, Gene Kelly and Walter Slezak in “The Pirate.”
100 Years Ago —Oct. 5, 1923
A crowd of about 2,000 people heard the Rev. A.O. Henry of Akron, Ohio, a Ku Klux Klan lecturer, speak in the village park Thursday evening. His address was of a patriotic nature and it was for the purpose of obtaining recruits for the organization in Michigan.
The Wayland High School girls’ basketball team is beginning practices and setting sights on this year’s cup. Miss Dehlin is refereeing with assistance from Miss McKinstry.
The Rev. Walter Mundel from revival meetings at the Christian Church was guest speaker for chapel at Wayland School.
Wayland Intermediate School was awaiting the arrival of a football and a portrait of the late President Warren G. Harding as gifts.
Sarah Culver, born in Kentucky in 1835 before coming to Wayland 18 years ago, died at age 87 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Rosa Brown.
Grand Rapids Central Reserves opened up a passing attack late in the game to take a 13-0 victory over Wayland in its season opener… “The colored boy, Ray, played a stellar game for Central.”
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Zane Grey’s “Golden Dreams.” Also the comedy, “Nothing to Think About.” Johnie Walker in “My Dad.”
Village Marshal J.C. DeVitt offered a notice to local motorists that it is illegal to operate a vehicle with the muffler open.
The local post office has received a limited supply of Warren G. Harding memorial two-cent stamps.”
The Women’s Christian Temperance Union met at the home of Elizabeth Clark, with a reading of the 12th chapter of Romans in the New Testament.