(Taken fro0m the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Dec. 1, 1993
Gov. John Engler’s survey of Michigan schools was not well received by officials from schools in the Allegan County Intermediate School District. The study showed the state pays school districts an average of $114 per pupil in state aid and the average millage rate was 33.6. Hopkins, Martin and Wayland all came in below the Michigan average.
Pat Staley wrote a feature story about Sunday Bingo events at the Wayland VFW, highlighting Wayland High School graduate Barry Brower calling the numbers. The VFW was averaging 60 attendees each Sunday.
Staley also wrote a feature about bowling, focusing on the more than a half century old Airport Lanes just north of the city. Owner Douglas Flick intimated that without leagues from Labor Day through April, the establishment would not be able to remain open.
New Wayland High School varsity basketball coach Mike Hudson was preparing to unveil his first team in a special “meet the team” night, including pizza, pop and coffee.
Meanwhile, Hopkins was getting to start the season plagued by a lack of size. Coach Mike Oshinski was welcoming “precocious” freshman Tim Kisner and 6-2 center Scott Van Bonn.
Martin’s varsity hoops squad was loaded with returning talent and size, led by Richie Guerrant, Mike Smith and Chris Rants.
Marilyn Hess wrote a feature about ice fishing and the anglers who don’t seem to give up the sport. She honed in on Louis “Snuffy” Schmidt of Dorr, who is starting his 62nd year.
For the first time in its 13-year history, the Gun Lake Winterfest will be held at the Allegan County Park at the end of 124th Avenue. The festival customarily had taken place at the north end of the Yankee Springs State Park.
Justin Boone as Charlie Bucket and Billy Drewyor as Willy Wonka were the headliners for Brandon Elementary’s production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Oompa Loompa.
The Wayland chapter of the Jaycees served more than 90 hungry citizens at its second annual Thanksgiving dinner at Rudy’s Restaurant on South Main Street in Wayland.
50 Years Ago — Nov. 27, 1968
William Hooker of Wayland will be installed Dec. 5 as president of the Grand Rapids Transportation Club, which about 250 members who restore truck lines, railroads, and shippers and receivers of freight.
Annette Jansen wrote a letter to the editor praising the humility and courage of the Pilgrims in their first celebration of Thanksgiving.
Larry Oetman penned a letter noting he saw a car bumper sticker with the message “America: Love It or Leave It.” He said he was pleased by such a display of patriotism and asked, “Would anyone know where to purchase these signs?”
Miss Gertrude Ann Franklin, a 1913 graduate of Butterworth Hospital School of Nursing who served as a nurse in World War I, died in Grand Rapids. Miss Franklin, a Hopkins native, was 77.
The Rev. James Smith of the Wayland Congregational Church wrote a Thanksgiving Prayer published on the front page of the Globe.
Allegan historian John Pahl was scheduled to speak to the Wayland Chamber of Commerce Dec. 2 on the topic, “Let’s Take a a Look at Our Community Picture.”
Five Hopkins students earned perfect 4.0 grade point avarges for the first nine-week marking period. They were senior Linda Reynolds, junior Linda Morris, sophomore Teresa Dunsmore, eighth-grader Bill Cabot and seventh-grader Bronevan Haefner.
Wayland Education Association President Mrs. Donal Mellon told members of the Wayland Board of Education they should begin the contract negotiation process earlier next time and advised them to pay visits to classrooms to get an idea about what’s happening inside the schools. The board noted that Wayland had the second highest tax rate in Allegan County.
Richard Bushouse died in a fire at his Gun lake home on Robbins Bay. He was 58.
Randy Rairigh, Jerry LaValley and Howard Thomas were returning lettermen on coach Jon Wolcott’s Wayland varsity basketball team. But also counted on were sophomores Tom Latrondress and Mark Schipper and 6-8 junior Don Klein.
Don Krause, a 6-6 center, was a key figure returning for a Hopkins ballclub that went 5-12 the year before. Other starters are expected to be guards John Wilson and Chad Hildebrand and forwards Jim Anderson and Tim Morris. Hopkins and Wayland will start the season on a Saturday evening, Nov. 30.
Randy Mankin, husband of 1966 Wayland High School graduate Linda Taylor, was chosen Airman of the Month at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.
Wayland High School senior Diane Wykoff of Dorr has been selected as a correspondent for the CO-ED magazine.
The Beatles’ nine-week run with “Hey Jude” at No. 1 ended with the emergence of Diana Ross and the Supremes’ “Love Child.”
75 Years Ago — Dec. 3, 1943
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his weekly “Observations Here and There” column, noted that warehouses across the nation were well stocked with surpluses of butter for the government while ordinary citizens were settling for “artificially colored and flavored oleomargarine… There is enough butter to serve the civilian population,” he declared.
Fredrick Bauman, not quite 3 years old, died at his Dorr home after suffering from a severe cold. Baby Leon Jackson, 11 months, died at his home in Bradley.
First Lt. Fredric Deardorf, 26, was killed in a plane crash near Panama. His grandmother was Mrs. A. Hughes and his aunt was Mrs. Garyce Delp, both of Wayland. His widow was a teacher in the Plainwell school system.
Morris E. Stokoe, 82, died after bing in a coma for several days at his farm home northeast of Wayland, where he had lived for most of his life.
Lydia Elenbaas and Nyla Tarnutzer were incharge of a program “Notable Women” at the latesr meeting of the Ladies Library Club at the music room in Wayland High School.
Donna Jean Blue was a member of the group performing in the Little Symphony concert at the Civi Auditorium in Kalamazoo.
Wayland lost both the junior varsity and varsity basketball contests to Hopkins, but the girls’ team prevailed in the opening round of the triple bill.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Robert Paige, Diana Barrymore and Leo Carillo in “Frontier Badman.”
- Harold Peary in “Gildersleeve’s Bad Day.”
- Robert Taylor, George Murphy, Lloyd Nolan and Thomas Mitchell in “Bataan.”
- Van Heflin, Kathryn Grayson and Marsha Hunt in “Seven Sweethearts.”
100 Years Ago — Nov. 29, 1918
Dr. Ira Slater, village health officer, told the Village Council he recommended “schools and everything of public meetings be closed” because of continued difficulties with the spread of influenza. So the council decreed, “all schools, churches, pool rooms and public places with 10 ore more people be closed and all residences have placards placed indicating presence of the disease. However, the council, in emergency special session the following day, rescinded the action.
John Thomas broke a limb in yet another misfortune for a man whose family lost its home and contents to a fire.
Rev. Sears of the Comstock Park Church in Grand Rapids was to be guest speaker for the Thanksgiving service at the Congregational Church.
Mary Burchardt continues to lead in the Wing Furniture Store contest and Margaret Hanlon has pulled into second place.
There are close to 1,000 volumes for circulation at the Henika Library since it formally opened its doors to the public two years earlier.
Rollo Mosher sent a letter to his father, George, editor of the Globe, from France, where he has been serving in the military.
Dr. and Mrs. E.O. Hanlon were called to Ann Arbor to be with their son, Harold, who was seriously ill with influenza at the University of Michigan. His condition was, however, reported to be improving.
Dr. George W. Brower, received word that his brother, Clarence, was killed in action Oct. 25 while serving overseas in France.
A headlined national piece, asserted, “America’s willingness to give up luxury (of sugar) demonstrated the nation’s war conscience.”
“FOUND: Auto tire and rim. Owner can have same by calling Newkirk Pool Room in Wayland.”