(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)

25 Years Ago — Sept. 13, 1999

The Allegan Intermediate School District will ask for additional millage in the upcoming special election Sept. 28, The Globe ran a feature story about the Hodel family of Moline, who are grateful recipients of ACISD special education services.

The Wayland post of the Michigan State Police now has a new commander in Lt. Dale Peet from Battle Creek.

Yankee Springs Township Board and Thornapple Township Emergency Services (TTES) are still trying to hammer out an agreement on a new fire contract.

Jim Schaendorf, organizer of the Labor Day Dorr Tractor Pull is stepping down after overseeing “the biggest best” pull in 1999.

Dick Baxter has agreed to sell his stock shares in Moline water in order to keep his local position.

Gun and ammunition were the victims of a storage unit fire.

Editor Nila Aamoth in her Soapbox suggested that one of the reasons it’s so hard to find quality local public servants in government is the penchant of local citizens to not appreciate the art of compromise.

Robert Larr of Hopkins, assistant director of the Allegan County 911 program, said a sliced fiber optic line was the cause of a temporary shutdown of the service.

Wayland and Martin townships may join in financial support of placing a recycling bin at Weick’s Foodtown on 124th Avenue.

The Yankee Springs Township Board received a letter from a local resident complaining about “unruly conduct” of Zoning Administrator Kenneth Worsham.

The eighth annual Gun Lake Homes Tour will be held Sunday, Sept. 26, sponsored by the Gun Lake Federation of Women’s Clubs.

In high school football, Martin and the No. 2-ranked Hopkins Vikings both won their Friday night contests, but Wayland lost to Byron Center.

The Wayland girls’ tennis team bested league rival Caledonia 6-2 and now is 3-0 in dual matches overall.

Duane Doublestein, owner-operator of Cornerstone Realty and Duane’s Kitchens, died at his home in Allegan. He was 67.

Ruth Wobma, matriarch of the longtime farm family in Wayland Township, died at the age of 72.

Diane Hyslop, who taught special education in Wayland schools for nine years, died at her home at Gun Lake. She was 45.

50 Years Ago — Sept. 10, 1974

The new road west of Wayland to Hilliards, 135th Avenue, is getting a reconstruction and paving job. Miss Allegan Julie Beckers was crowned Allegan County Harvest Queen at the Allegan County Fair. Miss Wayland, Lenore Burchardt, won a few fans over with her entertainment on the accordion.

An anonymous reader sent a letter to the editor claiming teens and other young people are gathering in the City Park, the Harding’s Market parking lot and the Allegan County Park to use drugs together.

Wayland Community Education published a large advertisement for its first lineup of adult leisure classes being offered for the fall.

Eighteen members of the Hopkins Mothers Club helped students and staff for the first day at Hopkins schools.

Globe sports writer David T. Young has taken to making predictions for the coming Friday football games. His crystal ball was favorable for Hopkins, but he foresaw 50-50 seasons for Martin and Wayland. Opening Night won’t be until Friday, Sept. 13.

Miller’s Sand & Gravel emerged as the champion of the summer recreation softball league.

Wayland High School exchange student Lia Spoelstra was given the opportunity to meet with some of her family members in Grand Rapids.

Hopkins native and longtime Kalamazoo State Hospital nurse Mrs. MaBelle Bellows died at the Cunningham Nursing Home in Plainwell. She was 89.

Brewster Russell Hendrickson, 70, a longtime time meat cutter for Midway Packing in Wayland, died at his Watson Township home.

75 Years Ago — Sept. 16, 1949

Local officials reported the crowds were large at the close of the Cowbell Festival Friday and Saturday nights, including 1,280 children riding the merry-go-round.

Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his weekly “Observations” column, praised remarks made to the Rotary Club by guest Russell Boyle of Grand Rapids, whom he said wasn’t afraid to “call a spade a spade.”

Mr. and Mrs. John Blauuw both suffered serious injuries when their car crashed into the caboose of a freight train just west of Bradley. They were taken to Allegan General Hospital.

Coach Walter Gillett and about 40 boys are getting ready to defend their Bar-Ken-All Conference football title. The Wildcats went 5-1-1 the previous year, with their only loss to non league foe Galesburg. They will open the season Sept. 14 against Comstock.

The fourth annual Community Fair will be held Oct. 7 and 8, at Wayland High School.

The Hopkins State Savings Bank has announced its assets have exceeded one million dollars for the first time ever.

The Wayland Garden Club has announced a number of its members won awards for floriculture, artistic arrangements, handicrafts, doll displays and house plants at the Allegan County Fair.

John McElwee, who has been confined to his bed at home since his traffic accident near Ypsilanti, recently received the gift of a signed souvenir baseball from the Detroit Tigers.

Class presidents this academic year at Wayland are Joe Fifelski, seniors; Richard Hudson, juniors; Harvey Bredeweg, sophomores, and Judy Peffley, freshmen.

Nearly 80 pupils have registered for enrollment at the St, Stanislaus Catholic School in Hilliard.

The Allegan County Road Commission has been asked by County Prosecutor Chester Ray to release him from representing them because of the press of business.

The Author of the weekly “Hi Neighbor” column wrote a free ad for the Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church chicken dinner this Sunday. She called the church’s homemade biscuits and gravy “out of this world.”

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• Tom Brown, Audrey Long and Grant Withers in “Duke of Chicago.”
• Monty Hale, Paul Hurst and Gail Davis in “Law of the Golden West.”
• Richard Widmark, Linda Darnell and Veronica Lake in “Slattery’s Hurricane.”
• Loretta Young, Celeste Holm and Elsa Lancaster in “Come to the Stable.”  

100 Years Ago — Sept. 12, 1924

Michigan Gov. Alexander Groesbeck, Congressman John Ketchum, Sheriff Ben Lugten, Register of Deeds Frank Chamberlain and Treasurer Vida Congden all were nominated by the Republican Party in the primary election.

M & W Light and Power will service Bradley with electrical current.

The Mary Ellen Style Shop will have an “extraordinary” fashion show on South Main Street Friday afternoon and evening.

Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: John Gilbert in “The Exiles.” May McAvoy in “Her Reputation.” The comedy “Puppy Love.”

William Rewa has commenced working on his new filling station at Corinth.

The Kinner School has begun its academic year as of Sept. 8 with Harriet Farnsworth as teacher and 16 pupils. Stephen Kuhtic was elected president of the school’s boosters group.

Miss Margaret Beall is resuming her teaching duties in Battle Creek.

Miss Hazel Peterson is the new laboratory assistant at the office of Dr. Eagan on Superior Street.

The Yeakey Auto Co. will have a special show to introduce new models of Ford cars, trucks and tractors next Wednesday downtown.

The Ladies Aid group of the Christian Church will have a bake sale at the M & W Light and Power next Saturday.

The Hunt Stock Co. will present a three-day engagement here, “Where the River Shannon Flows.” It will be the group’s last offering for the year.

The Messengers of the Methodist Episcopal Church plan a marshmallow roast at the City Park Wednesday.

Arthur Dean of Plainwell apparently consumed too much moonshine and crashed his vehicle near Pine Creek. Undersheriff Hare and Deputy Stevens impounded the vehicle and he was fined $100, the minimum penalty.