(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — April 12, 1995
An overheated furnace was blamed for a fire that destroyed the Wayland High School alternative education facility. It was reported there had been a break-in earlier that day, and arson has not been ruled out.
Replacement of the bridge over 133rd Avenue and and 22nd Street in Hopkins will be delayed for another year, the Hopkins Township Board has learned from the Allegan County Road Commission.
Pat Staley, in the weekly Soapbox, suggested Wayland Township charge for services rendered by Elmwood Cemetery to help make the cemetery become self-sufficient.
Charles A. Birr of Kentwood has been appointed director of the Allegan County Alliance, succeeding Barbara Kaarlie.
A community forum on reproductive health education for Wayland Schools is planned for April 24 at either the cafeteria or auditorium.
Pat Staley wrote a feature story about the war service, farming and community service of Tinus VanderWoude of Moline. He had been one of the pioneers for planning commissions throughout Allegan County.
Jim Veltman, Doug Cutler and Jason Burgess form the nucleus of a pitching staff that makes Wayland High School baseball coach Rick Morse optimistic. The Wildcats were 19-11 in the previous season and Morse enters the ’95 campaign with a career record of 319-210-1.
Catcher Jerry Funk, Ryan Rewa and Bob Schwartz are leading returning veterans on coach Mark Austin’s baseball team that won the last River Valley Conference title, but now moves over to the O-K Silver Conference.
The Hopkins softball team has eight of 10 returning starters.
The first Wayland High School girl’s soccer team, under coach Loren Van Portfleet will plays its first-ever varsity contest at Zeeland, led by juniors Gina Garza and Carrie McBride.
A display advertisement congratulated all-conference Wayland athletes B.J Predum, Daryl Prins, Nate Kruizenga, Jeff Browand, Jill Chrisman, Randy Mandaville and Jessica McEwen.
Heather Postma, an all-state performer and school record holder, leads the returning lineup for Wayland High School girls’ track
50 Years Ago — April 8, 1970
Scott Chesebro of Moline, a 1996 graduate of Wayland High School, has been honored as a top first-year salesman for a Tennessee firm and was invited to serve the company throughout the summer of 1970. He is a senior at Michigan State University.
Earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the most recent marking period at Wayland High School were Paul Calkins, Carol Crawford, Louise Sykes, Yvonne Whittoff and Bob Grafford.
Newcomers Ted Green and Willard Benedict and incumbent Walt Gurney were elected to seats on the Wayland City Council.
Terry Hildebrand, 10, of Shelbyville was seriously injured when the tractor he was driving overturned and pinned him underneath. He was taken to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo for emergency surgery.
Milo Farnsworth and Ernest Craft were honored at Pet Incorporated for serving for 26 years before retiring.
Hopkins Schools’ five-mill proposal was passed by voters, permitting the total levy to return to 21.9 mills. Separate proposals to establish a site sinking fund and one mill for building a bus garage also were approved.
New City Manager John Hefner wrote a letter to the Globe introducing himself and promising efficient government services.
Spec.-5 Russell Middleton has returned from a tour of duty in Vietnam.
The Heralders Quartet will perform a gospel concert at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at the Moline School gym.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Elvis Presley and Mary Tyler Moore in “Change of Habit.”
The “Cutouts” TOPS Club members elected Mrs. Keith Button as president.
The Girls’ Athletic Association (GAA) rented the Godwin High School pool, where Julie Kessenich, Luann Nakken, Joan Lautenshlager, Leslie Koster, Vicki Mauchmar, Marilyn Kuhtic, Linda Smith, Denise Kuhtic, Kathy Nickels, Cheryl Lee, Pam Rairigh and Pat Sheldon used the opportunity to trains for a 13-school meet April 30.
75 Years Ago — April 13, 1945
Mr. and Mrs. George Manning finally heard from their son, Cpl. William Manning, after a five-week lull in communications. He is serving with the Signal Corps in Belgium.
Pauline Hazen, RN, is awaiting orders from the Navy Nurse Corps and continues to provide work as a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids.
Marine Cpl. Mitch Laker, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Laker, was killed in action at Iwo Jima. A 1939 standout 4-Her and award-winner cattle raiser, he was a 1939 graduate of Wayland High School.
Mr. and Mrs. John Zant are moving from East Grand Rapids to Wayland to re-establish their business selling Dahlia tubers, for which they have been famous at Wildwood Gardens.
Laura Tanner, 23, a native of Bradley, was killed in a traffic crash in Grand Rapids. A graduate of Godwin High School, she had been a bookkeeper for Southlawn Theatre.
Mrs. Eva Truax, believed to be the only remaining local widow of a Civil War veteran, died at her daughter’s home at age 88. She also was believed to be one of the earliest settlers in this area.
Pvt. First Class Frank Cruschiel has been awarded the Bronze Star for his wire communications service with the Fifth Army Blue Devil Infantry in Italy.
Ward Welch wrote a letter to Wayland business owners Merle and Isla Peffley from the Philippines, where he is serving in the Pacific Theatre.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Edward Arnold and Hume Cronyn in “Main Street After Dark.”
- Charles Starrett in “Sundown Valley.”
- Laird Creger, Linda Darnell and George Sanders in “Hangover Square.”
- Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon and Agnes Moorehead in “Mrs. Parkington.”
100 Years Ago — April 9, 1920
Cordelia Wilde, who has been absent from school because of illness, has been returned to home, this time as a result of the flu.
In a straw vote for president at Wayland High School, students overwhelmingly went for Leonard Wood, but statewide the winner was Hiram Johnson.
Blanche Miller read selected stories from Joel Chandler Harris’ “Brer Rabbit” at the school assembly and Evelyn King entertained with a couple of numbers on the harmonica.
Prof. W. D. Henderson of Ann Arbor has agreed to deliver the commencement address at the June 4 exercises at Wayland High School.
Elizabeth Clark sang two solos, “The Lamplighter” and “The Good Child,” for members of the Ladies Library Club. Margaret Beall and Irene Yeakey had the lead roles in the play, “The Garoters.”
Mrs. Goodrich will speak on behalf of the idea of consolidating public schools at a community meeting Friday evening, April 16.
Wayland High School girls have been practicing outdoors for the upcoming spring basketball games.
Attendance at the grammar, junior high and high schools has fallen to between 89 and 91 percent because of illnesses.
A Parent-Teachers Association meeting at the home of George Shoger included recitations and songs performed by Genevieve Shoger, Albert Averill, Nels Jensen, Wilma Hooker, Basil Averill, Mrs. W. Averill and Roscoe French.
City plumber S.F. Yeakey is warning village officials that the new concrete highway running through the downtown will make it necessary to replace water main taps.
The Wayland Township Board voted to spend $1,200 on a receiving vault for Elmwood Cemetery.
Voting for president in Wayland Township showed a decided advantage for Leonard Wood, but turnout was light.