(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Dec. 21, 1998
The Wayland Union school district plans to present a bond proposal for voters’ approval in March and Supt. Robert Brenner promises there will be no new taxes as a result. The bond is for almost $4 million to build a new bus garage and renovate old wings of the Baker and Moline elementary buildings.
Representatives from the Campbell Caron Company are planning to build a manufactured home community near the expressway in Martin Township. The Township Board approved rezoning for the project.
The Martin community is coming together to rally behind the Ken and Jan Martin, who lost their home earlier this month in a fire. They are living in an apartment on East Superior Street in Wayland.
A flaming red Camaro has been added to the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in Allegan County. The showy car will be used to take deputies to schools for their presentations.
Larry Ward has resigned as head varsity football coach at Wayland High School. He went 7-29 in four seasons at the helm.
Local police have promised to step up patrolling at Wayland High School and Wayland Middle School because of an increase in minor accidents involving pedestrians.
The Allegan County Board of Commissioners wrote developer Gordon Lyons out of a plan to remove scrap tires from a junk site he created.
Settlement of a lawsuit involving Wayland Township and Jaques Real Estate enables the real estate firm to develop a community center into a 20 residential condominiums in return for not using the Snowmobile Club building as a banquet hall.
Lyle Shanks and Ron Grassmid have been inducted into the Dorr Hall of Fame by the Dorr Business Association.
Jan Laman, choir director, said, “The more you expect of students, the more get from them,” in a caption beneath a photo of three Wayland High School students, Dan Pease, Sarah Connor and Joel DeYoung, who were chosen to join the Regional Honors Choir.
Hopkins bested Martin 52-41 in a neighborhood basketball encounter. Kevin Glupker scored 16 points and Paul Stein 13. John Tuinstra and Josk Gilkison both had 10 for the Clippers.
The Wayland wrestling team sports a school record best 12-0 record thus far in dual meets.
Divers Joel Schumaker and Pat Westover led the Wayland swim team to a second-place finish in the Sader Relays at Hudsonville.
Jan Bylsma, 51, operator of Lil Wags Dog Grooming, died at her home.
Doris Hurst, who worked at Harding’s Market in Wayland for 37 years, died in Hines City, Fla. She was 68.
50 Years Ago — Dec. 18, 1973
The Wayland City Planning Commission, led by Vice Chairman Dennis Reno, is conducting a survey of local residents, asking them what they would like to see in Wayland’s future. The survey will be implemented by students in Mrs. Viola Caroll’s sociology class.
The Wayland City Council is considering a curfew for snowmobilers after receiving a number of complaints from local residents about loudness of the machines in late night activities.
Wayne Ritz of Moline has been appointed to a seat on the Allegan County Public Works Commission.
State Senator Robert VanderLaan if Kentwood plans to announce his candidacy for the Congressional seat being vacated by the appointment of Gerald R. Ford to the vice presidency.
The Senior Youth Fellowship of Hopkins United Methodist Church will presents a live Nativity scene in front of the Gordon Funeral Residence.
William S. Kingsley of Wayland has been granted a junior membership in the American Angus Association of St. Joseph, Mo.
The Hopkins varsity basketball team rebounded from two losses by beating Fennville 79-64. Rick Smith had 21 points, Kelly McEwen 13, Steve Pawloski and Dennis Kiser 11. Mike Smith had 15 rebounds.
Al McCaffrey, Dave Oetman, Jerry Seekman and Jeff Lawler all fouled out in Martin’s 68-58 loss to Gobles.
Wayland overcame a sluggish start to defeat Middleville 65-44. Alan Lettings had 19 points and Rick Mauchmar 14.
Don Klein, a 1970 graduate of Wayland High School, has earned a spot of the Grand Valley State College basketball team.
Sports writer David Young suggested athletic conferences choose their all-star teams by having each squad vote for their all-opponent team with the exception of not being about to vote for themselves of their teammates. That was the system used by Major League Baseball in years gone by.’
Eight Wayland High School students earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages for the second marking period. They were Alan Steines, Linda Crawford, Anita Alflen, Pat DeMaagd, Shelly Low, Jeff Rairigh, Jeff Merritt, Deb VanderWoude and John Sandmeyer.
75 Years Ago — Dec. 24, 1948
The Wayland High School basketball team is off to a fast start at 7-0. Gene Weber scored 15 points, as the Wildcats defeated the Hopkins Blue Devils 35-29. It is the longest basketball winning streak that anyone can remember.
“The Michigan State Legislature did right well by themselves at a special session of that body called for the purpose of raising salaries for themselves and heads of state government…”
The lawmakers now will receive the tidy sum of $2,900 a year.
The A & P grocery store downtown is being remodeled by a crew of carpenters and painters.
Byron E. Sweetland died at his home south of Wayland. He had operated a resort business in the Gun Lake area. Also a longtime realtor, he was 85.
Adly Fam, a missionary from Cairo, Egypt, will be guest speaker at the Wayland Calvary Church Sunday morning.
The American Legion welcome 60 people to its Christmas dinner and program. Weldon Rumery had charge of the program, which included Bingo and singing carols.
The first service at the new St. Therese Church building on South Main Street on Christmas Day. Parishioners officially thanked Mr. and Mrs. Naman Frank for allowing them to hold services in the Wayland Theatre for seven months.
Cash Christmas gifts totaling $15,000 were presented to employees of the Kroger grocery.
The Hopkins High School Christmas program included the community and the Methodist Episcopal and Lutheran churches.
The Hopkins and Wayland chapters of the Order of Eastern Star had a joint vespers service and proceeds of a collection were to go to Adrian Villa for orphaned children.
The Bradley OES also had a service and collection for the orphaned children.
Richard Strong, 7-year-old son of Elmond and Agnes Strong, will come home for Christmas from the Blodgett Home for Children in Grand Rapids, where he is undergoing treatment for polio.
A 20-voice choir from Bangor will present a cantata at the Church of Christ in Wayland at 7:30 Sunday.
The Hopkins High School basketball team edged Caledonia without injured center Ray Greene.
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Knowlton presented a program about their visit to post-war Germany at the Christmas Part of the Party Line Extension Club.
“The community turns out from miles around for the Christmas program by Inez Hallan at the Sproat School… Again the blessed Christmas story was was spirited in a fashion most convincing even to the severest critic.”
Donald Japinga, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Japinga, was taken to Blodgett Hospital with a case of double pneumonia. He was put in isolation and is improving rapidly.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Monte Hale and Pamela Blake in “Son of God’s Country.”
• Jean Porter and Jimmy Lydon in “Sweet Genevieve.”
• Veronica Lake, Mona Freeman and Billy DeWolfe in “Isn’t It Romantic?”
• Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews and Teresa Wright in “The Best Years of Our Lives.”
100 Years Ago — Dec. 21, 1923
John E. Sturgis, a former Wayland boy, is making a name for himself in the music world. He sings some solos and duets with Harry K. Shield on vinyl records produced by the Columbia Graphophone Co. Sturgis is compiler and editor of “Wonder Hymns of Faith,” a songbook.
The post office has approved an amendment to postal laws allowing carriers the day off on Christmas Day.
A meat pie supper was served at the most recent meeting of the American Legion.
A special Christmas Night show is planned at the Regent Theatre. The William DeMille production of “Nice People” will be presented, starring Wallace Reid, bebe Daniels and Conrad Nagle. On Wednesday: “The Broadway Madonaa” and George O’Haro as Gale Galen the prizefighter in “Fighting Blood.”
About 25 local business leaders attended a gala chicken dinner by the new landlord of the Wayland Hotel. Guests included Charles Silas, John Yeakey, Mark Beall, John Stockdale, Russell Hanlon and Rollo G. Mosher.
Extensive Christmas musical programs are planned at the Gun Lake church and the Bradley Congregational Church.
G.W. Colby was elected president of the Northeast Hopkins Community Club.
About 125 local school children took part in the special Egg Night celebration at the Regent Theatre downtown.
The date for the special election in the Wayland school district will be Dec. 21. Voters will be asked to approve a proposal for $3,000 to complete a plumbing and heating plant.
Louis Baker, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Baker of Bradley, escaped serious harmat the Interurban intersection on West Superior Street when the car he was driving ran into a snow plow. He was rendered unconscious, but revived and was able to attend school the next day.
