(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
The Michigan State Telephone Company (the predecessor of Michigan Bell) purchased its first motor vehicle in 1905. It was a one cylinder Cadillac truck that was mainly used for emergency services as the horse and wagon still remained the main method of transportation.
25 Years Ago — May 3, 1999
Martin Public Schools this past week has received a “copycat” bomb threat in the wake of the shooting tragedy at Columbine High School in Colorado. Reporter Pat Staley wrote in the weekly “Soapbox” column her opinion that the media must report on the horrors of what happens, though it also must avoid fueling the fires.
The Globe did an enterprise story on what local school districts were doing to try to ensure safety for staff members and students.
Hope Township Clerk Sylvia Forster and Orangeville Township Clerk Darlene Harper responded to Editor Nila Aamoth’s Soapbox piece the week before about funding roads by noting that townships get only a small amount of the total tax revenue collected.
Susan Barker penned a letter to the editor saying, “Before we get too caught up in a domino effect rush for growth and development, let us pause and reflect on the things which will truly enhance the quality of life in our town, for all of us who live here.”
Wayland Fire Chief Hugh DeWeerd said he was very pleased the local department earned a rating of six, which is much higher than customary ratings for fire departments with all-volunteer firefighters.
Diane Smith of the Christian Neighbors food pantry wrote about the irony of two local girls, Bailey Wright and Amanda Richardson, collecting pennies to help feed the needy at the same time 20 students and teachers were being killed at Columbine High School.
Charles Steven Brigeford, 43, of Grand Rapids, was arrested and charged with making a bomb threat at Michigan Auto Auction in Leighton Township.
Pat Staley wrote a feature story about Ham Radio operators in Allegan County who help emergency personnel with spotting tornadoes and other weather troubles.
Ransom Heth of Leighton Township complained about the prevalence of dust as a result of a building project for a new business near his home.
Students from Wayland, Hopkins and Martin took part in the Eco Expo, which featured a lot of solar experiments.
The Wayland boys’ and girls’ track teams won both competitions in their own invitational. A highlight was wins in the shot and discus by Luke Fisher and Justin Niemchick clearing 12-6 in the pole vault. Keri Blain, Sarah Westover, Sarah Grygiel and Sarah Baker set a meet record in the 3200-meter relay.
Ed Perez won both hurdle events and Hopkins handled O-K Silver Conference opponent Wyoming Lee in a dual meet.
Class A power Hudsonville handed Wayland’s softball its first loss of the season, but the Wildcats rebounded afterward, thanks to pitching from Kara Potter and Amber Willison. They are now 13-1.
Hopkins sophomore Heather Houseman tossed a no-hitter at Wyoming Lee.
Tony Paul wrote a feature piece on how busy things are for Angela Hooker, co-founder of the Wayland High School Environmental Club.
Longtime farmer and member of the Michigan Farm Bureau Harold Thaler, died at the Sandy Creek Nursing Center. He was 95.
Clifford Schwartz, longtime bookkeeper at Wayland Livestock and employee at Pet Milk, died. He was 69.
Marty Vanden Bos, 66, of Leighton Township, died at his home in Moline. He had been a Navy veteran of the Korean Conflict.
50 Years Ago — April 30, 1974
Wayland Middle School sixth-grader Lesley Irvine won the grand prize in the Southwestern Michigan Regional Science Fair with her project, “Effects of Cigarette Paper Toxicity on Daphnia.” She also received the top award in the category of air pollution.
Gerald Nelson has been elected president of the Wayland Jaycees. Other officials include Dave Miller, Jim Levandoski, Bill Conwell, Bob Lindgren, Barry Miller, Gary Kotrba, Barry Meconis and the Rev. Rich Koster.
The terms of Dorothy DeWeerd and Marilyn Bastian are expiring as the annual Wayland school election approaches. In Hopkins, it’s the terms of Burrell Stein and Russell Brenner, and in Martin Bruce Culver and Anton Leep, both of whom have decided not to seek re-election.
“A Disturbed Taxpayer” wrote a letter to the editor questioning the school’s policies and procedures in funding club and individual trips.
The Wayland Grange now is meeting at the hall again, planning a potluck.
The Hopkins baseball team moved into first place in the A-O Conference standings.
Bill Mauchmar won the high jump and John Lubberts the shot put and 220-yard dash, but the Wildcats fell to Middleville Thornapple Kellogg.
Pat Rowley, Pat Sowle and Sharon Nelson are coordinating the first-ever banquet for girls’ sports teams. Included in the plans is the presentation of the first-ever Harry Multer Award, the female equivalent of the Louis Japinga Award for athletic and academic excellence.
The Wayland baseball team absorbed its first league loss to Wyoming Lee, 9-8. The Wildcats are 6-3 overall.
Wayland student Phil Shattuck and J.V. Hurst finished seventh in the Grand Rapids city bowling tournament.
Hopkins defeated Fennville in a dual track meet, as Bernie and Rick Smith both cleared 6-0 in the high jump. Rick Smith also won the shot, 880 and high hurdles.
Several area softball teams are preparing for the summer season, including Miller’s Sand & Gravel, VFW, the Jaycees and Pet Incorporated.
Veteran Wayland High School teacher Claude Smith is this year’s chairman of the Lions Club White Cane Drive for the Blind.
Steven Fisher, 20, of Wayland, suffered a fractured pelvis after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a car driven by Linda Gruver.
Grand Funk Railroad’s cover of the old Little Eva song “The Locomotion” was the No. 1 tune on the top 40.
75 Years Ago — May 6, 1949
Local voters will go to the polls May 10 to decide on a proposal to add a six-classroom wing to the southwest side of the school building. School officials insist the current building is too crowded as the student population continues to grow.
Wayland will have its annual Cleanup Week and the dump will be open for people to deposit their refuse.
Mrs. Ford Brower was delighted and surprised to be the grand prize winner in a Grand Rapids merchandise contest, receiving a new television and radio set, giving her and her husband the distinction of being the first in town to own a television.
A number of local boys are expected to take part in the Allegan County Scout Circus.
Services for Joseph Ambrose, 19, who was killed in action in New Guinea during World War II, will be held Friday at the Archer Funeral Home. His remains arrived here last Thursday.
St. Therese Church officials have announced the annual chicken dinner will be served July 10.
The Gun Lake baseball team will have its first game of the season against the Grand Rapids Black Hawks Sunday, May 15.
A number of cows were poisoned and died after drinking from a stream near a Standard Oil Truck that overturned and spilled about 1,000 gallons of fuel oil.
Three juveniles were picked up by the sheriff’s department at the Walker Pickle Co., where they had stopped in to sleep overnight.
Russell Hanlon Jr. is touring with some 60 Albion College students in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois as part of a choral group.
Juvenile delinquency seems to be decreasing, according to Probate Judge Harold Weston. Most cases are breaking and entering, truancy and loitering.
A eulogy by the Rev. William Hainsworth of Dexter, former local pastor, was given in honor of the late Fanny Hoyt, the longtime Henika Library director who died March 31. He said he will recall her tall, slender presence with a humorous twinkle in her eye.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Robert Livingston and Mae Clarke in “Daredevils of the Clouds.”
• Allan “Rocky” Lane in “Sundown in Santa Fe.”
• Brian Ahern, Constance Bennett and Barry Sullivan in “Smart Woman.”
• Bing Crosby, Rhonda Fleming and William Bendix in “A Connecticut Yankee.”
100 Years Ago — May 2, 1924
President Wilson installed officers of the Village Common Council, including A. J. Bowman president pro tem, John C. Devitt marshal, Charles Nelson water commissioner, C.A. Ryno, tree commissioner, D.G. Clack and Harold Smith fence viewers, D.G. Clark and Harold Smith Board of Review, Dr. I.L. Slater health officer, and George Douglas fire chief.
Charles Hiram Morris, who came to Bradley in 1862, died at age 71. He was described as “a patient sufferer.”
Nettie Baker was elected president of the Ladies Library Club.
During Cleanup Week May 12-17, state law makes it the “right, duty and responsibility for each citizen to examine his premises for sources of nuisance, filth and further the duty to have them removed.”
Fourteen bird houses were entered by the boys at school for a contest. Clyde Fowler was awarded first prize.
German native Martin Hoerner died at Allegan General Hospital. A resident of Hopkins Township, he was 74. He had moved to Wayland in 1919.
A chicken pie dinner at the Congregational Church April 12 netted $51.
Harriet Elizabeth Church Cutler, died April 18 at age 87. She taught school and “boarded around.”
The county has purchased a combination tractor-scraper to keep road surfaces in shape. The Globe suggested Wayland Township looking purchasing such a machine.
Work on the foundation for the new grade school building is near completion and officials hope it will be ready for occupation next fall.
A stump blasting demonstration on the farm of Charles Burchardt will take place Monday afternoon. The public is invited.