(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Oct. 19, 1998
Annual Fourth Friday counts for schools have been conducted and statistics show all of them are showing population gains. Hopkins Assistant Supt. Bob Hennip said it was the largest student population ever, 1,376 total.
Rumor has it that a Wendy’s restaurant will go into a site on West Superior Street in Wayland, just west of Jackson’s Western Store. There are considerable challenges in making it happen.
The Wayland High School girls’ cross-country team has its sights set onits first-ever conference championship. Sarah Grygiel is leading the Cats’ charge with school record performances.
There are plans to have the Wayland railroad depot building moved from its location of Railroad Street. The Wayland City Planning Commission will recommend the city give the old depot to the Then & Now Historical Society. Owner Joe Miller insists the depot be moved.
A request for rezoning may mean the addition of 180 to 200 homes in Martin. The Caron Campbell Group is planning to establish a manufactured housing community on the northeast quadrant of M-222 and U.S.-131.
The Globe outlined the three state-wide proposals on the November general election ballot — changing “handicapped” to “disabled,” permission to terminate a terminally ill patient’s life and a proposal to authorize bonds for environmental resources.
Mary Martin of Moline penned a letter criticizing Wayland school officials for subduing the spiritof the students at Wayland High School.
Terry Delp of Wayland is a Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Patricia Birkholz for a seat in the state legislature from the 88th District.
The Wayland City Planning Commission has approved a rezoning request from Dr. Michael DeWeerd to establish a dental practice across the street from Wayland High School on West Superior Street.
The Gun Lake Area Sewer Authority plans to amend its sewer hookup ordinance.
Allegan County 911 Central Dispatch is preparing a public relations campaign with the idea of passing a tax increase in a ballot proposal in November.
Hopkins is nearing awarding of a bid for post-season playoffs after a 32-0 victory over Wyoming Lee.
The Martin girls’ basketball team scored a 37-34 upset victory over Saugatuck, ranked No. 5 in the latest statewide poll for Class D. Stacy Hildebrand scored 18 points to lead the winners.
Jay L. Smith and Smith Lumber & Coal is celebrating its 100th anniversary of doing business in Wayland.
The Wayland girls’ tennis team, coached by Cheri Ritz, just missed earning a berth in the Class B state tournament by tying for fourth in the regionals.
Luke Williams shaved two seconds off his Hopkins school record for the five-kilometer cross-country race, finishing in 17:01.
Dave Mandeville has added Radio Shack to his Wayland Carpet & Linoleum business in downtown Wayland.
50 Years Ago — Oct. 16, 1973
Mrs. Joan Medendorp, wife of Michigan State Trooper Larry Medendorp, has been named to the Wayland City Planning Commission.
The Globe published a front page photo of the Charles Andringa family of Wayland visiting with soon to be Vice President Gerald Ford.
Wayland and Martin schools reported student population increases in the Fourth Friday count, but Hopkins had a slight decrease from the previous year.
Martin Supt. Robert Brandon reported the district is approaching a budget of nearly a million dollars.
The Wayland Board of Education has sold a 40-acre site it orginally intended for a new high school site, west of the expressway, for $40,000.
The Wayland Rotary Club honored Harry Elenbaas for his 25 years of service with a dinner at the Orchard Hills Country Club.
Professional magician “Mr. Magic” will be guest at the Moline Baptist Church for a program Sunday, Oct. 21.
Lin Tackett was the second straight Ogrette to be featured at the weekly recipe column, following the previous week’s entry by Mary Ellen Hollibaugh Burton.
State-ranked Marcellus pinned a 12-6 loss on Hopkins, Martin beat Gobles 8-6 and Wayland took a 30-0 from Wyoming Lee in Friday night football.
Sophomore Kelvin Lapham broke the 17-minute barrier for five kilometers, but the Wildcats lost to Byron Center.
Hamilton defeated Wayland in the O-K Blue Conference girls’ basketball season opener, 47-31. Kathy Worfel scored 17 points.
Hopkins’ Dan Isenhoff came in second in the A-O Conference cross-country meet.
Father William P. Kobza has been granted a leave of absence as a priest by Most Rev. Bishop Paul Donovan. The Rev. Fr. Kobza formerly served at St. Therese Parich in Wayland.
A group of loal women, Mrs. Joseph Miller, Mrs. Bill Presser, Mrs. William Reid, Mrs. Tom Hooker, Mrs. Glenn Miller, Mrs. Howard Lee and Mrs. James Tinsler, signed a letter declaring they are proud to be identified by their husband’s name. It was in response to women who said they wanted to be known by their actual first name.
The Rolling Stones found their way into the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Angie.”
75 Years Ago — Oct. 22, 1948
Voters will have seven state-wide ballot issues to vote on in the November general election, including setting salaries for the governor and other state officials, order of succession of the governor and regulation of foreign agencies in Michigan.
The Michigan Public Service Commission has increased telephone rates by Michigan Bell, to be applied to the service’s 242 exchanges.
Wayland’s football team defeated Kelloggsville 9-7. Bert Jager blocked a Kelloggsville punt for a safety that proved to be the difference. It was the first time the Wildcats had beaten Kelloggsville since 1939.
Daniel Halloran, a longtime engineer at Armour’s and homestead owner in Leighton Township died at Blodgett Hospital. He was 68.
Members of the American Legion will be hosts to their ladies for a Halloween party at the hall Tuesday evening.
The Grange Home Economics Club had a potluck dinner and began making plans for a chicken dinner Oct. 25.
Mrs. Louis Japinga has been teaching second grade at Wayland school for the past two weeks, substituting for Mrs. Majorie Sherwood, who has been ill.
The Rev. Carl Binhammer, who served at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hopkins from 1891 to 1895, died in Coloma. He was 79.
The Hopkins theater was opened to the public Oct. 12 and each lady was presented with a rose.
Dorr School will have its third annual Harvest Festival Oct. 28, with an auction, music and good food.
The Allegan County Health Dept. will sponsor two meetings on “Better Milking Practices” Oct. 27 at Martin High School and Hamilton Auditorium.
Mrs. Grayce Delp coordinated a program welcoming five past presidents at the Ladies Library Club.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Ted Donaldson and Rusty in “My Dog Rusty.”
• William Gargan, Richard Travis and Mary Beth Hughes in “Waterfront at Midnight.”
• Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Leon Errol and Cathy Downs in “The Noose Hangs High.”
• William Bendix, Claire Trevor and Charles Bickford in “The Babe Ruth Story.”
100 Years Ago — Oct. 19, 1923
H.T. Stringham had a special 92nd birthday dinner and party at his home in Wayland Oct. 12.
A group of Hopkins section men avoided serious injuries in a foggy encounter between their car and a train. Walter Gilligan was the driver and his passengers were John Schwartz, John Daniels, Frank Hoffmaster and Frank Roxbury.
Wayland’s luck was of a losing kind in a ballgame against Martin girls’ basketball. The Wildcat lineup included Thelma Smith, Donna Luce, Ollie Tooker, Hazel Hilton, Dorothy Luce, Vivian Chapman, Myrtle Brocker and Dorothy Douglas.
The Wayland High School sociology class is studying Prohibition with great interest.
Third grade pupils are studying Indians, with relics from an Indian coroner.
A boosters’ club is being formed at Wayland High School. All students are invited to join to improve the school.
After losing to Otsego, the Wayland High School football squad is preparing to face Allegan Friday afternoon.
Pauline Smith and Robert LaTourette performed a piano duet for the Ladies Library Club. The next meeting will include Miss Harriett Lee, secretary of religious education of the YWCA in Grand Rapids.
Members of the Ladies Library Club were told Michigan makes more automobiles than any other entity in the world and the industry is the largest producer of finished products.
Mrs. Fen Chapman underwent an operation to remove a growth in her nasal passages. She is in a hospital in Kalamazoo.
C. A. Clark has commenced working on another addition to his greenhouse, doubling the size of the Clark Floral building.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Harry Morey, Mary Astor and several Indians in “The Rapids.” “Fun from the Press.” Coming Oct. 26, 27 and 28, D. W. Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation.”
