(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Oct. 4, 1999
The Globe published a front page photo of the fall colors coming to the Yankee Springs Recreation Area.
A student visiting the Ebersole Education Center east of Wayland learned a difficult lesson that grabbing rattle snakes isn’t such a good idea. The 12-year-old from East Lansing was treated at Pennock Hospital and released.
Four people died in a traffic crash while coming home from attending a Detroit Tigers’ ballgame. One of the victims was Jamie Elizabeth Smith, 21, of Middleville.
Dorr Township firefighters took part in a nationwide firemen’s memorial service in Roscommon.
Jean Gallup wrote in this week’s Soapbox that those attempting to sue Big Tobacco for lying to the American public should be careful to avoid hypocrisy.
Letter writer Mary Martin of Moline cautioned area motorists to be careful about passing other vehicles on the right, particularly school buses.
Roger Weick of Hopkins was taken to Spectrum Hospital after an explosion at his house in a welding torch accident.
Tom Ensing of Wayland has fielded complaints about his exotic pet, an alligator, which he said is confined to the basement of his home.
A 14-year-old girl from Dorr was struck by a car while she was attempting to cross at 24th Street and 140th Avenue. She was taken to Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids.
Josh Smith scored a touchdown in overtime to propel Wayland to its first win of the season, 21-14, over Cedar Springs.
Hopkins now is 4-1 for the season after a 28-21 victory over Comstock Park, sparked by offensive fireworks by QB Jack Klunder and running back Kevin Gulper.
Hopkins harriers edged Wayland 28-29, led by Viking ace Luke Williams at the Wise Farm.
Sara Harthorn and Allison Talsma delivered clutch play for the Martin girls’ varsity basketball team, which improved to 8-1 with two wins.
Wayland also is 8-1 for the girls’ season, including a satisfying triumph over South Christian, which had a 24-game win streak in O-K Gold play. The Merchants, Jessie and Nicki, and Kara Potter led the way for the ‘Cats.
The Wayland girls’ tennis team captured its fifth straight invitational title, this time at Rockford. Coach is Cheri Ritz.
50 Years Ago — Oct. 1, 1974
The first-ever Wayland Tour of Homes is being planned by the Wayland Schools Service League for Tuesday, Oct. 8. Leading the charge were Mrs. Robert Lindgren, Mrs. James Langley, Mrs. A. B. Dangremond and Mrs. Michael Batterson.
Frank Kuhtic of Wayland is recovering at Blodgett Hospital from injuries he sustained in a traffic accident Sept. 14 while returning from Hastings.
Sandi Snyder was selected Miss Wayland and her court included Reney Dewey and Pamela McKee.
Lia Spoelstra, a foreign exchange student from the Netherlands, will be guest speaker at the annual Grange Booster Night at Grange Hall, which also will be host to a potluck supper.
The Wayland eighth grade band, under the direction of Kenneth Dunsmore, received positive accolades for its performance at the Allegan County Fair.
The Michigan State Board of Education has banned smoking in its meeting room.
The Wayland Young Homemakers Extension group heard Mrs. Robert VandenToorn talk about Battered Child Syndrome, a subject she studied at ‘College Week at Michigan State University.
Martin QB Duane Knight passed for 188 yards and Dan Snyder rushed for 136 as Martin shocked Lawton with a 38-0 verdict.
Wayland was denied the Cowbell by Caledonia 12-0 in the annual rivalry contest.
Hopkins absorbed its first loss of the season, 30-8, at the hands of state powerhouse Galesburg-Augusta, which demonstrated an effective tackle-to-tackle ground offense.
Kelvin Lapham was third and Roger VanVolkinburg eighth as undefeated Middleville defeated Wayland in cross country at Douglas Walker Park in Byron Center.
Wayland golfers got some quality nine-hole scores from Doug Paul and Kim Suhusky to beat Middleville and Hamilton and tune up for the O-K Blue Conference meet.
Dan Isenhoff finished seventh in 16:21 as the Hopkins cross-country team finished seventh in the 13-team Fennville Invitational.
The Hopkins chapter of the FFA earned a gold rating for the ninth time.
Larry Howard of Wayland has been hired as project engineer for Plainwell Paper Co.
Andy Kim captured the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes this week with “Rock Me Gently.”
75 Years Ago — Oct. 7, 1949
An All Games Party and square dance was set for Oct. 21, with proceeds going to an emergency polio fund overseen by the local Rotary Club.
Jennie Selkirk, a Wayland High School graduate who taught penmanship in Wayland, Bradley and Moline died at her home.
Wayland lost 7-0 to Caledonia and was forced to surrender the cowbell, which was donated as a trophy by Fred Hilbert of Cowbell Seeds. The Wildcats took possession in the first meeting with a 13-0 win in 1948.
Doc Musten, who played with the Kay Kyser orchestra group, was featured on the opening night of the Allegan County Fair.
The Gurney’s Food Market downtown has begun a remodeling project, which includes new refrigeration for dairy products.
Bernard Barber, Emil Dietiker, Charles Pease, Cliff Averill and Marion DeWeerd have combined efforts to create a rolling deer camp out of a discarded old school bus.
Dr. John Scott Everton, president of Kalamazoo College, spoke on “An Experiment in International Relations” at the Ladies Night meeting of the Hopkins Lions Club.
The Village of Wayland will open sealed bids Oct. 14 for curb and gutter and sidewalk work downtown with concrete.
Dick Walker and son Timmy suffered injuries in a traffic crash just south of town after a car struck theirs while trying to pass other vehicles.
Seven planes from the Wayland Flying Club flew up to Newaygo and went sight seeing of the colors in Croton, Hardy Dam and White Cloud.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley in “The Wizard of Oz.”
- James Stewart and Joan Fontaine in “You Gotta Stay Happy.”
- Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald and Ann Blyth in “Top O’ the Morning.”
100 Years Ago — Oct. 3, 1924
Night school classes are planned this fall for bookkeeping, shorthand and typing. It was reported the day school could scarcely meet the demand. Miss Gladys Schwartz is in charge of 14 typewriters and 43 students.
The Grand Rapids Central reserves outpointed the Wayland varsity on the football field, 22-0. Quarterback and captain is Lewis Baker. Lester Herb was right guard and Floyd Tooker left guard. Leo Halloran showed great form in tackling.
The Wayland High School Library has added 450 volumes to its offerings.
Wayland High School has enrolled as a member of the Michigan High School Debate League. The local team will debate Middleville, Caledonia, Hopkins, Plainwell, Zealand, Grandville, Freeport, Fruitport and Naugatuck.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Booth Tarkington’s sequel, “Penrod and Sam.” A Sunrise Feature Wednesday, watch billboards for announcement.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher editorialized, “Nothing can shake the faith of the American people in the integrity of President (Calvin) Coolidge.”
Jay L. Smith, “our hustling agricultural implement dealer, has received another car load of buggies, surries… and they all will go before the snow flies.”
The Cadet Band will present the four-act drama “The Rough Rider” at the Opera House.
The stone work at the Henika Library has been completed for the first floor.
Mrs. Alice Anderson has been chosen commander of the Independence Hive No. 151 of the Ladies of the Macabees.
Norene Stauffer, 3, died at her Moline Home and her service was at the Moline Congregational church.
The Detroit Tigers American League baseball team will play an exhibition at Allegan against the Independents Oct. 7.
The Wayland varsity football team will play Fennville at the home field.
The Martin girls’ basketball team defeated Wayland “in a fast-practice game here.”
Two large maple trees will be removed near the north side of the bank because new pavement will be installed instead.
W.H.and Leon Schuh put on a demonstration here of their new invention, the automatic electric railroad crossing gate, according to the Grand Rapids Herald.
