(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — July 19, 1999
Four area teen-agers were caught in the act of whacking mailboxes, imitating a scene from a popular movie, on 10th Street north of Wayland.
Brian Rendak, an 11-year-old Wyoming boy, was killed in a boating accident on Gun Lake during a collision with another watercraft.
There are second thoughts expressed by area township officials about closing the Gun Lake area recycling facility at Weick’s Foodtown on 124th Avenue.
The community of Wayland was preparing for its annual Summerfest celebration this weekend downtown.
Two Hopkins men, planning commissioners Henry Blaauw and 24-year commissioner Russell Parmalee, were honored for their service to the township. Blaauw most recently has been chairman of the commission.
Bob and Kathy Merren wrote a letter to the editor thanking Globe sports editor Scott Sullivan for his feature story about WHS graduate Tyler Merren, who is excelling at the unusual sport of goalball.
Barb Chachulski penned a letter excoriating AT&T for its new policy, insisting customers will be charged for long distance whether they use it or not.
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a right-wing think tank, provided a guest editorial about “cost of government goes up while the cost of living goes down.”
Six local young ladies will vie for the title of Miss Martin at the 45th annual pageant Saturday, July 24. They are Mary Ann Leep, Dolly Gregersen, Natasha Porter, Sarah Zuidema, Lindsey Wykstra and Emily Smit.
The Gun Lake Area Sewer Authority has announced it will retire its bond
John L. Hooker, 85, and his wife, Beatrice, 83, were pictured in front of a historic log cabin being built in Leighton Township.
A ceremony in Leighton Township honored the legacy of Civil War veteran Charles Barrell, who was a lieutenant for the Union and awarded a Medal of Honor. He and his family moved to Leighton in 1854 and he died in 1914 at age 71.
Steven Becker, 29, was killed while riding his motorcycle on Charlton Park Road in Barry County. He was struck by a mini-van.
Cappon’s Food Mart at 11378 Chief Noonday Road has added a Subway fast food outlet.
Arlo Clemens has opened a Farm Bureau Insurance office on 142nd Avenue in Dorr.
50 Years Ago — July 16, 1974
Wayland High School students Kim and Craig Suhusky and Bill Monroe have been awarded scholarships to attend music camps this summer at Blue Lake and Western Michigan University.
The Hopkins Lions Club and Hopkins Village Commission have launched a beautification project for the community, featuring light poles, patio stones, a picnic shelter and flowers.
Community Education and Recreation Director David Van Eerden has announced the Wayland Union School District will offer community education classes with an eye toward adults earning high school diplomas.
Fred R. Hunter has been appointed Allegan County Prosecutor, succeeding Gary Stewart, who is the new district judge.
James Stringham of Wayland, a sixth-grader at Dorr Elementary, has been named second place winner in the state competition “Why I Love America” essay contest sponsored by Amvets Auxiliary.
David Young’s sports editorial about girls playing sports with boys prompted a couple of letters to the editor in response. Cross-country and track coach Jon Jensen said the best thing for girls is to adopt a “separate, but equal” policy. Mrs. William Mooney opined, “Let’s keep the girls’ sports apart from the boys” and noted a girls’ softball program has started in Wayland.
Harry Johnson is running in the GOP primary for the post of Allegan County Treasurer, opposing Fred Edgerton, who was appointed earlier this year.
Mrs. James Balkema has joined the Globe office staff. She formerly was a member of office staff for the Grandville weekly paper.
Marty Japinga Landwher was an invited guest to the wedding of Vice President Gerald Ford’s son, Mike, in Catonville, Md.
Mrs. Ray Young of Hopkins has been elected president of District No. 8 VFW Auxiliary.
The Wayland Jaycees defeated the Ogres 6-3. Ed Matusak Buchanan was losing pitcher. Conrad Mauchmar, John Johnson and Dave Wolowicz checked the Ogres on just five hits. Jim Seth and Bob Lindgren combined for stolen bases and David Hunsberger, nephew of Mrs. and Mrs. Russell Hunsberger of Wayland, collected two hits for the Ogres.
The Hopkins Organization of Parents and Educators (HOPE) presented outgoing Supt. James Pelham with a plaque thanking him for his service.
Area members of the Grange will gather at the Wayland facility to talk about how different life was in the days of their grandparents.
George Greig has announced his candidacy for the new 48th Judicial Circuit judgeship. Greig was the first full-time prosecuting attorney for Allegan County.
Ron Nakken of Hopkins was among 96 high school sophomores and juniors to attend a special introductory engineering program at Michigan State University.
Miss Ann Ryno has returned to her missionary teaching duties at the Arctyic Bible Institute in Alaska.
75 Years Ago — July 22, 1949
Judy Peffley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Merle Peffley of Wayland, was injured when she was struck by a milk truck after getting off a bus on her way to a party in Bradley. She suffered bruises and cuts and her glasses were destroyed.
The Village of Wayland has been fielding a lot of complaints about speeding traffic and Rollo G. Mosher reported “The Village Dads plan to hire and extra officer and may even purchase a police car…”
A mass meeting in the Village of Wayland will take up the proposition of implanting a sanitary water and sewer system. Currently, Wayland has two deep wells, an overhead storage tank and water mains serving 438 subscribers. Sewage disposal methods include a primitive privy and semi-modern septic tanks. Estimated cost of a sewage collection system is $250,000.
The local Rod & Gun Club will have its annual picnic July 31 at Murphy’s Point, Gun Lake.
Work has begun on constructing a new school at St. Stanislaus, Hilliards. Officials hope to have the building ready by the start of the second semester.
The Martin Business Men’s Association has set July 28, 29 and 30 as the dates for the Homecoming celebration at the Martin school grounds. Wilbur Wolverine Shows will provide concessions.
Mrs. Ted Little and son Maurice from England were special guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Bellgraph of Grand Rapids and Mr. and Mrs. Glen Fales of Wayland. The families became acquainted during World War II.
The new Wayland Flying Service is offering G-I and private flight instruction, with particular attention paid to all ex-servicemen.
The community of Hopkins is planning a carnival Aug. 24 and 25.
The Globe published a photo of people attending the St. Therese chicken dinner and festival held in the church’s new kitchen.
The Dixie Ballroom has set summer hours for mixed dancing, polkas, square dancing and popular music from Wednesday through Sunday evenings. Admission is 50 cents week nights and 75 cents weekends.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Zane Grey’s “Red Canyon,” starring Ann Blyth, Howard Duff and George Brent.
• Jeanne Crain, Madeline Carroll and George Sanders in “The Fan.”
• Majorie Main, Percy Kilbride and Richard Long in “Ma and Pa Kettle.”
Parking meters have been installed in the City of Allegan, A penny will get visitors 12 minutes of time.
Mike Uramkin, known as Allegan County’s “flying deputy,” made his first arrest, Richard Wyrick of Otsego, for flying too low. He was ordered to pay $20 in fines and $7 in court costs.
100 Years Ago — July 18, 1924
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher published a piece about a Nebraska businessman who after 10 years without advertising in the local paper suddenly saw business pick up a great deal with the change in policy. It was noted that rural folks are worried about small towns being swallowed up by bigger ones, but a small town local paper can be a great asset in resisting.
It was noted that 362 out of 478 applicants passed the eighth grade examinations in Allegan County.
The Rev. George Candee, 93, former pastor at the Wayland Congregational Church, died at Oberlin, Ohio. He was the oldest graduate of Oberlin College.
George A. Truax, former Wayland farmer and merchant, died at the home of his daughter in Grand Rapids. He had suffered from cancer for many months, but was still mobile until near the end.
Melvin Hulderman, 17, was arrested in Madison, Ind., for escaping the Allegan County jail while mowing the lawn. He and another lad had stolen a car.
The Globe maintained that the Republican presidential ticket of Calvin Coolidge and John Dawes was “one of the strongest tickets ever proposed to the people by any party.”
There was a good turnout at the annual Bradley school meeting and Simon Fox was elected director for the coming year. Wayne Parmalee was chosen director for Ohio Corners.
Allegan and Barry County ag agents were scheduled to be present at the meeting of the Alle-Bar Community Club Friday evening. Included will be a potluck and weenie roast.
Mattie Towne of Kalamazoo has returned to the community to take employment at the New Wayland Hotel.
Raymond Kaminski, 7-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Kaminski, was run over on his chest by an automobile in an accident in Grand Rapids. He is being treated for internal injuries.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown:
• John Gilbert in “Just Off Broadway,” the story of gay life and the bright lights. “The Reporter,” featuring Lupino Lane. For Wednesday: “The Telephone Girl” and Johnie Walker and a big cast in “Fashionable Fakirs.”
Mrs. Elizabeth Clark and C.C. Fowler were chosen to serve a full four-year term on Wayland school board. A.J. Bowman will take the two-year post.
A Standard Oil truck driven by George Wheeler caught fire while delivering gas at the Gun Lake cottage of Ivan Smith. Mrs. Smith put out the fire by dumping a sack of flour on it. Mr. Wheeler suffered burns to his hands and the truck’s damages were estimated at $176.
The four-day Chautauqua went in the hole financially this time, but organizers promise it will return to Wayland next year. Many expressed the opinion that this year’s offerings were as good as ever. “Next year it is not expected that there will be any loss.”