(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Oct. 26, 1998
The Globe published a listing of candidates and issues for the November general election, which included a contest between incumbent Republican John Engler and Democrat attorney Jeff Feiger.
Hopkins school officials are pleased to announce they were able to lower the costs of the recent bond issue by a cool million because of a decrease in interest rates.
Wildcat senior Sarah Grygiel became Wayland High School’s first-ever O-K Gold individual champion in cross country. She completed the five-kiomewter course in 19:21.
The Leighton Township Board has adopted a dangerous building ordinance.
The Globe did a “man (or woman) on the street style poll on prospects for a mobile home community coming to Martin. As expected, the opinions were mixed.
Audie Davis, chair of the Wayland Township Roads Committee, wrote a letter to the editor in support of the upcoming 2.5-mill request in the November general election.
Don Black, former Wayland Township supervisor, has decided to seek election to the Allegan County Board of Commissioners from District No. 7. Muriel O’Leary of Plainwell is seeking her seventh two-year term on the board.
A van driven by Gerald Sevigny rear-ended a Wayland school bus on Division Street near 137th Avenue, resulting in minor injuries for students, but he has to be cut out of his fan by Leighton Township firefighters.
The gypsy moth infestation has found its way to Martin, yet another location for the long running problem.
Dr. Mike DeWeerd won approval for locating his dental practice in a building across the street from Wayland High School on East Superior Street.
Henika District Library and Director Lynn Mandeville are making plans to celebrate the historic library’s 100th anniversary.
Diversico Development of Grand Rapids has withdrawn plans for a residential subdivision on land near the corner of 146th and Kalamazoo avenues in Leighton Township.
Wayland’s new updated master plan includes a much larger downtown business district, chairwoman Dorothy DeWeerd said.
Eclipse Tool & Die and Center Manufacturing have been granted tax abatements for up to 11 years in the Leighton Township industrial park.
Repairs are being planned for the 14th Street bridge in Hopkins Township.
The continuing argument between Yankee Springs and Thornapple Township boards over fire service erupted again, as Yankee Springs objects to what it must pay.
Hopkins clinched the O-K Silver Conference football championship with a 53-0 win over Saugatuck. The Vikings will have a showdown next week against fellow undefeated Holton.
Wayland girls’ basketball team is 11-3 overall and 9-1 in the O-K Gold Conference. Hopkins is 10-5, but must face a very tall Grand Rapids Baptist outfit next week.
50 Years Ago — Oct. 23, 1973
Wayland State Bank Cashier Ralph Mallett has been elected president of Wayland Chamber of Commerce.
The new Hopkins Organization of Parents and Educators is sponsoring a workshop and Halloween carnival Oct. 25 at the Township Hall.
Vicki Painter and Rex Truax were elected queen and king for Wayland Homecoming, Jerry Seekman and Tillie Goodrich at Martin and Art DeBres and Nancy Gilder at Hopkins.
Believing the road that goes into the new high school is too narrow, the Wayland Board of Education has agreed to have a second road built.
Wayland and Martin school districts are showing the greatest population growth in Allegan County, according to Fourth Frioday counts.
Richard Kerber was elected Hopkins Village President, succeeding Richard Weick, who resigned.
Mrs. William Reid wrote a letter to the Globe claiming she received a prank call because she still insists on signing with her husband’s name.
Former Fire Chief Earl Miller wrote a letter claiming the Wayland, Leighton and Hopkins fire departments need better cooperation, particularly in the area of finances.
The Young Homemakers group for Allegan County will have a discussion about recent remarks from Judge Wendell Miles about the difference between the three branches of government.
Wayland native Howard Tanner of Bellaire died at a hospital in Petosky. He had been a prominent athlete here and was first commander of the Forrest Lewis Post of the American Legion.
Debbie Stora of Wayland took first place in a baton twirling competition at Edwardsburg.
Wayland is on the cusp of recording its best overall record in football since 1961, the senior year of Don Japinga. The ‘Cats are 5-1 and only Comstock Park poses a threat to make the total losses two.
Hopkins, led by slotback Louie Stein, tailback Phil Arndt, QB John Roon and back Scott Pavlak, is nearing another A-O Conference championship.
The Wayland girls’ basketball team dropped two games, to Hopkins and Kelloggsville. Kathy Worfel scored 13 points in one loss and Jan Shoemaker 12.
Sophomore Kelvin Lapham breaks a school record every time he runs cross country for Wayland.
Gladys Knight & the Pips captured the No. 1 position among the nation’s tunes with “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
75 Years Ago — Oct. 29, 1948
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote in his weekly column that a question on the state-wide ballot next month about gubernatorial succession was important to settle because in Georgia the governor-elect died before taking office and controversy ensued.
Mrs. Ethel Mae Bachelor, 61, wife of Congregational Church Pastor Dr. Frank Bachelor, died in Kalamazoo.
Mrs. Belle Lewis, 68, died at her Hopkins Township home after suffering for two years with a heart ailment.
Four hundred Wayland area youngsters are expected to take part in the Wayland Rotary Club’s Community Halloween Party at 7:30 p.m. in the Village Park. Included will be costume judging and free cider and doughnuts. In case of rain, the part will be at the Wayland High School auditorium.
Fr. Leo Malinoski has been transferred from St. Stanislaus in Hilliards to St. Mary’s Parish in Charlevoix. He will be succeeded by Fr. Leo Zelinski.
Hazel Perry was installed as president of the VFW Auxiliary in Wayland.
A masquerade and Halloween party is planned at the West Gun Lake Church Hall Saturday night, Oct. 30. Charles Kuhtic and his Orchestra will play music for dancers.
Community Fair winners Florence Oetman, Myrtle Sooy, Larry Knowlton and James Erdmans spent two days at the Chicago International Livestock Show.
The Wayland Teachers’ Club sponsored a display advertisement urging a yes vote on Proposal 5 to permits schools to expand building programs.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher recommended a “no” vote on Proposal 5, maintaining its would eventually price folks out of their homes.
Henika Library Director Mrs. Henry Peterson and Mrs. Frank Langley gave a program on color correlation to members of the Extension Club.
Hopkins High School graduate Gerald Hall has been appointed manager of Office Equipment Co. in Chicago. He is the son of Mrs. Gail Baxter.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Stuart Erwin and Glenda Farrell in “Heading for Heaven.”
• James Craig and Lyn Bari in “The Man from Texas.”
• Wallace Beery, Jane Powell and Elizabeth Taylor in “A Date with Judy.”
• Rosalind Russell, Leo Glenn and Claire Trevor in “The Velvet Touch.”
100 Years Ago — Oct. 26, 1923
Brick layers E.B. Jacques and Dan Harrington were arrested by Deputy Sheriff D. A. Stockdale for possession of moonshine in Wayland and their obvious condition alerted people in the community. They were taken to Allegan for incaceration.
Ed McKibben has got his potatoes all dug, and is now ready for corn husking at Yankee Springs.
Harlan Appleton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Appleton, was killed when run over by a truck in Lansing while riding his bicycle.
The pastor at the Congregational Church will preach his farewell sermon before leaving for the Congregational Church in Whitehall. The identity of the pastor was not disclosed.
The people of Wayland and vicinity will have an opportunity to Friday, Saturday and Sunday to see the world’s greatest motion picture drama, D. W. Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation” at the Regent Theatre downtown… “Every American citizen owes it to himself or herself to see this picture once at least.”
Agnes Troy, 7, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James and Nellie Troy, died at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. “Her life was short, but happy until her recent illness.”
Averill MacGowan, a graduate of the Travis School of Dance, will open children’s dance classes in the Woodman Hall at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27.
Wayland is experiencing a building boom this fall. Foundations are being laid as this is being written for three new residences and one or two more are in prospect. “This looks good to all boosters for a bigger and better Wayland.”
The auction sale at the E.S. Allen store Saturday in Bradley was attended by a fairly good sized crowd. It made Bradley look like a bustling village.
C. R. Snook of Bradley had the misfortune of going over an embankment and wrecking is car while trying to avoid hitting a dog.
“The WHS football team was snowed under by Allegan last week on the local field. This week, when the Wayland eleven goes to Nashville, better results are expected, as the boys have been attending practice more regularly of late.”