(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
Oscar F. Raab worked as a teacher for three school years, from the beginning of 1905-06 school year to the ending of the school year July 12 of 1908-09, at School District Number 5’s Franklin one-room school house that was also known as North, located on the North East corner of 146th and 34th, Northwest of Burnips
25 Years Ago — March 29, 1999
The nearly $4 million Wayland school bond issue was approved by district voters to renovate Moline and Baker elementaries and build a new transportation center on the south edge of town.
Henika District Library plans to ask voters for a millage to fund its operations. The proposal will be for 1.5 mills annually.
The Wayland High School track teams look forward to the 1999 season with optimism. Seniors Sarah Baker and Sarah Grygiel lead the way.
The United Church of Wayland is planning a 3,884-square-foot addition to its building at its 411 E. Superior St. location.
Moline Elementary third-grader Rachel DeWaard won the Spartan Stores’ “Out of This World” essay contest, earning a $2,500 donation to her school.
Fran Schippers penned a letter to the editor exhorting City of Wayland officials to allow the Then & Now Historical Society to remodel the old depot along Railroad Street.
Dolphin Properties of Charlotte, N.C. is announcing plans to build a 487-unit residential complex west of the Yankee Springs golf course and south of Yankee Springs Meadows mobile home park.
Daniel Stickney, 33, of Vestaburg, died in a traffic crash on U.S.-131 south of Martin after he attempted a U-turn.
Lt. Harold Schumaker of the Dorr Township Fire Department wrote a letter in praise of recent actions by Hopkins Chief Bob Larr in saving a house on fire.
Donna Hertel has been elevated from junior high to varsity girls’ track coach at Martin.
The Hopkins girls’ track team has only 18 members, but one of them is O-K Silver long jump and 400-meter run champion Fran Sage. Ed Perez is defending champion in the 300-meter hurdles.
Rick Parker has taken reins for the Wayland High School girls’ soccer team.
A historic barn burning was held west of Gun Lake with the demolition of the 100-year-old structure on the Medendorp farm.
Longtime Martin Township resident Kenneth Pardee died at Zephyrhills, Fla. He was 83.
Longtime Pet Milk employee Arthur Shade died at age 85.
50 Years Ago — March 26, 1974
Highlighting the annual spring city election is a contest between incumbent Mayor Marshall Towne and Councilman Robert Swartout. Four candidates, newcomer Margaret (Peg) Dangremond and incumbents Ted Green, Marie Hall and William Hooker, will seek three open seats on the City Council. There also will be a proposal to change the city charter to allow appointment of an assessor, a position no one filed for.
Editor-Publisher Irv Helmey wrote an editorial suggesting raising the pay for city assessor and treasurer to spur more interest in people seeking the job.
Outgoing City Treasurer Rose Marie Feldwisch wrote a letter to the editor favoring the treasurer and assessor’s positions be appointed rather than elected. Darlene Hoskins wrote a different letter defending the election of both offices rather than giving up power to the city manager.
Arthur Miller, assistant vice president of the Hopkins branch of Wayland State Bank, appeared in a photo of Shawn Moulenbelt and his mother, Mimi, modeling reflective safety tape children can wear.
The weekly recipe column featured Wayne Goodwin, whose chili has become famous, along with his football coaching in the community.
Mrs. Ruby Smith, amateur local historian, sent a get well letter to TV broadcaster Chet Huntley and received a reply.
Nancy Dandrow, a 1973 graduate if Wayland High School, earned a diploma at Patricia Stevens Career College of Milwaukee.
Sports writer David T. Young selected Rick Smith and Kelly McEwen of Hopkins and Paul Heckert, Randy Mauchmar and Alan Lettinga of Wayland to the Wayland Globe all-star basketball squad.
Wayland High School grad Don Klein, a 6-8, center has completed a year on the Grand Valley State College basketball team.
“Father” Ray Matterson fulfilled a promise to himself and to the Ogres on a Wednesday night by streaking a desolate Wellington Street.
Ogre chef Jim Wasserman put together a trout bake festival in Grand Rapids at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Chrisman, with guests Michael and Mary Ellen Burton.
Wayland City patrolman Dan Miller was pictured demonstrating a new moving radar device on police cruisers.
George Miller and Sons of St. Joseph won the bidding to improve 135th Avenue west four miles from U.S.-131 to Hilliards. The bid was $234,754.
Ivan DeVries, a World War II veteran and Fisher Body employee, died of a heart attack at his home in Dorr.
John Denver captured the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Sunshine on My Shoulder.”
75 Years Ago — April 1, 1949
Miss Fannie Hoyt, retired Henika Library director and community activist, died at her home in Wayland after a short illness that confined her to her bed. The first Henika librarian, she was 81.
Bessie B. Baker has resigned as principal of Wayland High School after serving in that capacity for 21 years. She first served the school district as a teacher in 1924. She will remain as a teacher of civics and guidance director. E.M. Bassett has been chosen principal at WHS.
Rosemary Schwab of Wayland Township, only 14 years old, has given birth to twin boys, Robert Edward and Richard Erwin, at Crispe Hospital in Plainwell.
Former Wayland man George Burlington died of a heart attack at his home in Galesburg after suffering a bout of pneumonia.
Vernon Jansen lost three fingers in an accident while drilling for oil near Delton with his father, John.
The Wayland High School junior class will present the play “The Inner Circle” April 7 and 8 at the auditorium. Ruth Clack will portray a colored maid. Entertainment will be provided between acts by the junior girls and high school orchestra.
Two thieves, a husband and wife, pilfered a number of household items at the home of Arden Dean in Shelbyville. The man attacked Arden Dean when he discovered them, striking him with a vase and leaving him with a gash on his head.
The seventh- and eighth-graders of Dorr will present “Aunt Billies from Texas,” at the town hall April 7.
The Wayland Extension Club meeting March 24 at the home of Mrs. Don Chestnut attracted only nine members and those “not present at this meeting were greatly missed and hope they will be able to attend the next meeting at the home of Mrs. Charles Towne April 28.”
Mrs. Margaret Theresa Jenkins, in her “Hi Neighbor!” column, told readers, “I was rather disappointed that the column I sent in a couple of weeks ago got squeezed out due to lack of space. So I hope you folks don’t think I’m forgetting you.”
Landscape architecture specialist Thomas Cox will discuss basic principals of landscaping at the music room at Wayland High School at 8 p.m. Friday.
Fire of unknown origin destroyed the sugar shanty on the Lynn White property in Hopkins. About 18 gallons of maple syrup was burned to the ground.
Preliminary plans for a six-room addition to Wayland school will cost an estimated $80,000, according to architect Lewis J. Sarvis of Battle Creek.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Richard Crane and Gloria Henry in “Triple Threat.”
• Charles Starrett as the Durango Kid, Smiley Burnette and Nancy Saunders in “Whirlwind Raiders.”
• Dan Dailey and Celeste Holm in “Chicken Every Sunday.”
• Glenn Ford, William Holden and Ellen Drew in “The Man from Colorado.”
100 Years Ago — March 28, 1924
The Ladies Library Club’s most recent meeting was dominated by Shakespeare, with many related presentations by members. Four piano solos were played by Miss Carmelita La Clear of Kalamazoo.
The final community meeting of the season at the Methodist Church featured C. Lawrence Abbott, Lyceum entertainer, who praised the work of the Wayland High School orchestra.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Mary Miles Minter and Tom Moore in “The Cowboy and the Girl.” Harold Lloyd in “Grandma’s Boy.”
Mrs. Ella Heazlit, born in Leighton Township in 1853, died March 20 in Birmingham, Ala. She lived in the Wayland area until 1915 and then moved south to live with her daughter. “She lived an active life and will be mourned and missed by scores of friends in the north and south.”
The Wayland Grange will have a discussion about whether tobacco or poor cooking is most injurious to men.
A presidential primary election will be held in Wayland Township April 7.
Jerry Rumery and friend Mr. Hare left Wayland for Tennessee, where they are going for medical treatment. Mr. Rumery has been living here with son Sib and daughter Mrs. Lonnie Baird.