(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — May 8, 2000
The search has begun at Wayland Union Schools for a successor to Supt. Robert Brenner, who is leaving June 30 to take over as superintendent of the Allegan County Intermediate School District.
The Dorr Township Library Board has decided to go back to the drawing board and ask for a millage for the fifth time. Voters will be asked to approve 0.54 mill for 10 years in the August primary.
The Allegan County Intermediate School District’s request for millage was defeated by voters in a special election.
Globe Assistant Editor Pat Staley wrote this week’s Soapbox encouraging citizens to check out after school and evening events at the schools, where they will be surprised by good things happening.
The Weed Wizard Acquisition Corporation is recalling trimmer heads and local residents are encouraged to take advantage of the free replacements offer.
The proposed Bauman’s Grove housing development on 18th Street south of 142nd Avenue in Dorr Township has been delayed, awaiting a ruling by the DNR on wetlands.
The Wayland Band Boosters are seeking help in renovating their barn at the Allegan County Fair.
The Gun Lake Area Sewer Authority now is officially debt free, paying off its last bond. A small celebration is planned.
Michigan Gas Utilities officials told the Wayland City Council it is having trouble keeping up with the community’s growth, but Mayor David Miller questioned the city’s responsibility to finance a public utility.
The Wayland City Planning Commission has given approval for Rockwell Automation to build a facility on 133rd Avenue in the industrial park.
The Hopkins track team, featuring Brooke Brenner’s firsts in the 1600 and 3200, defeated Saranac and Montabella in a non-league double dual meet.
Sprinter Justin Stuive took the 100 and 200 as the Wayland bus’ track team was edged by Hudsonville Unity Christian.
Hopkins alum Ed Perez is excelling in the 400 meters and running a leg of the 1600-meter relay at Hope College.
The Wayland baseball team defeated three O-K Gold Conference foes by a combined score of 42-0 during the past week.
Heather Houseman tossed a one-hitter and the Hopkins softball team won five in a row.
The Globe published a large action photo of No. 2 singles tennis player Cole Lutz. The Wildcat netters won their own invitational over Godwin, Wyoming Rogers and Lowell.
50 Years Ago — May 6, 1975
The Wayland High School wind ensemble earned first division ratings at the Michigan High School Band & Orchestra Association state festival at Three Rivers,
The Wayland Planning Commission presented the City Council with a proposal to turn the former landfill site into a recreation park.
Work has begun on the demolition of the old Masonic Hall building in downtown Dorr to make room for a new post office facility.
State Rep. Ed Fredricks will drop in at Henika Library May 10 to visit with constituents in the 54th District.
Wayland City Police Chief Harold Ernst reported three break-ins occurred in the last week, at the Farm House restaurant and twice at the Kayo gasoline station.
Wayland High School social studies teacher Bobby Kerley has been elected president of the Wayland Education Association.
This month’s meeting of the Organic Soil and Health Builders Club will feature information about how to grow herbs and starting plants indoors.
A new camping club, “Swinging Dorr Ways, will have its first meeting at the Allegan County fairgrounds.
Dr. and Mrs. Allen Dangremond entertained guests at a Kentucky Derby party at their home in Wayland.
The Wayland boys’ track team scored its second O-K Blue Conference dual meet victory. Winning events were Brian McBride, Kelvin Lapham, Russ McCarren, Andy Warner, Jim Krick, Lee Kelly, Ken Kool, Ty Brewer and John Lubberts.
Wayland senior Doug Goodwin is leading the Wildcat baseball team with a batting average of .467.
Brothers Tom and Tim Bala were shown in a picture with a 10-pound, 24-inch steelhead trout they caught out of the Rabbit River.
Cheri Ritz was named winner of the second annual Multer Award for athletic and academic excellence. She was O-K Blue Conference tennis champion.
Hopkins High School freshman Kevin Krotz has returned from the national poultry conference in New Orleans after winning the state FFA broiler raising contest.
Lifetime Wayland area farmer and Road Commission employee Floyd Fales died at his home. He was 83.
75 Years Ago — May 10, 1950
Dale Fields of Berlin Center, Ohio, has been named new manager Master Feed Mills, replacing Robert Jackson, who is a new co-owner of the Forrest Grove Elevator west of Byron Center.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher said Wayland is fortunate to greet new residents, Prof. Jacobs and Anna Puroks and their 18-year -old son.
Jack Cook has purchased Glenn Zumbrink’s interest in the local jewelry business. The Zumbrink & Cook Jewelry store will now be known as J.F. Cook Jewelry.
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Wilson and family are moving to Dearborn because of his employment with the Ford Motor Co.
Mrs. Florence Camp, widow of former Wayland minister the Rev. George Camp, died at her home in Luther. She was 90.
Graduation exercises at Dorr School will be conducted at the Town Hall May 17.
The South East Martin 4-H Club elected Robert Merry president for the coming year.
Local Boy Scouts joined Dr. Arthur Larson, Harold Koster, Ivan Smith and Richard Larson on a canoe voyage on the Pere Marquette River. Some of the boys had no experience canoeing until this trip.
A high wind Saturday evening ripped off the steel roof of the barn at the Frank Dozema farm in Shelbyville.
Martin Anderson, a native of Sweden and a resident of Shelbyville since 1908 and a active member of the Methodist Church, died at Brower Hospital in Plainwell.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Desi Arnaz and Mary Hatcher in “Holiday in Havana.”
- Leo Gorcey and the Bowery Boys in “Blonde Dynamite.”
- Bill Williams, Jane Nigh and Ralph Morgan in “Blue Grass of Kentucky.”
- Broderick Crawford, Joanne Dru, John Ireland and John Derek in “All the King’s Men.”
100 Years Ago — May 8, 1925
Judge Orien Cross of Allegan is considered a front runner for a state level judgeship.
Mary Ellen Connor, who came to Bradley in 1865 from Indiana, died at age75.
All Wayland High School students took part in a special cleanup day May 6. Seniors were in charge of preparing the tennis court. Juniors staked out new roads. Sophomores planted trees. Freshmen cooked a dinner of baked beans, scalloped potatoes, sandwiches and hot dogs.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: D.W. Griffith presents “Orphans of the Storm” with Lillian and Dorothy Gish. Fred Thompson in “The Silent Stranger.”
The Althea Class of the Church of Christ will have a special service honoring mothers on Sunday. The Ladies’ Symphony of Cedar Springs will be featured and a potluck dinner will wrap up activities.
Miss Lillian Knapp, Miss Ruth Warner and Hubert Warner were among those who wrote the teachers’ examination in Allegan.
Susan Harvey, a native of England who came to a Leighton Township farm in 1866, died after receiving hospital care in Cutlerville. She was 81.
Postmaster Rollo G. Mosher and his wife entertained the Rural Letter Carriers Association. A potluck dinner followed.
Unknown thieves entered the home of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Heibel in Ohio Corners and stole two quarts of maple syrup, a shotgun, and their Ford car, which was located the next day on the side of a road not far away.
Newton & Hilbert have just completed painting the exterior of the new Wayland Hotel and Yeakey Auto Co.
F.A. Burlington, proprietor of the Golden Rule Poultry Yards, has been forced to increase his hatching capacity to meet growing demands.
Francis Hooker has advanced another notch in his work for the Michigan Railroad Co. He is now assistant traffic manager with headquarters in Grand Rapids.
