(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — June 28, 1995
A study by Michigan State Police shows that 53 percent of all July Fourth holiday fatal crashes are tied to use of alcohol and 73% of those who die in them aren’t wearing seat belts.
Jennifer Medema from the Cooperative Extensive Service from Michigan State University is heading up the “Farm *A Syst” program to help identify sources of groundwater contamination at Allegan County farms.
Hopkins Supt. George Stamas was the winner of the Ralph’s Foods contest with a prize of $100 worth of groceries. He donated his booty to the Christian Neighbors Food Pantry in Wayland.
Suzanne Richards from Grand Rapids Creston has been selected principal at Hopkins Junior and Senior High School, succeeding Jerry Horan.
Troopers Todd DeKatch and David Caswell have are the newest members of the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police, bringing the roster to 18 officers.
Wayland High School will be shut down for the remainder of the summer as of July 1, including the pool and tennis courts, because of construction of the new middle school and Wildcat Drive.
The Wayland High School general and select choirs took in a production of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” during the groups’ four-day tour of Toronto.
World War II veteran Harris Paxton died at age 77. A resident of Wayland for the past three years, he had served as a gunner mate aboard the USS Enterprise. Before he came to Wayland, he owned a sales business for 25 years in Elgin. Ill.
Steve Flanigan, billed as an “inspiring, nationally-known recording artist, was set to perform Sunday evening at the Gun Lake Community Church.
A tree limb was felled by a storm over 124th Avenue in Shelbyville, causing a traffic accident.
50 Years Ago — June 24, 1970
The Rev. Leo Bennett has been assigned to the United Methodist Church of Wayland as new pastor. He and his wife come from Cedar Springs. The Rev. Bennett’s first sermon will be June 28.
Dr. Bruce Larson, spending time with his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Larson before serving his internship in St. Louis, Mo., was the subject of a feature story about his medical missionary work in South Africa. He said the country is overrun by diseases such as typhoid, tuberculosis, malnutrition, cirrhosis and venereal disease, but heart attacks are virtually unknown.
Mrs. Mack Short, known locally for her work with flowers and a member of the Garden Club, Order of the Eastern Star and Ladies Library Club, died of a heart attack in Mesick.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “Gaily, Gaily,” a film by Norman Jewison.
Trooper Howard Lee of the Wayland post is warning parents to tell their children to don’t go with strangers after arresting a Wyoming man, 35, for kidnapping an 11-year-old Wayland girl and possession of illegal fireworks.
Elton Ransler, 30, of Gobles, has announced he is a candidate in the Republican Party primary for the 23rd District of the State Senate. His opponent will be incumbent Gary Byker of Hudsonville.
Jon Wolcott asked the Wayland Board of Education to remove him from consideration as head varsity basketball coach and track coach for the 1970-71 academic year. The head basketball coach since 1967-68, Wolcott asked to remain as a teacher.
Retired letter carrier James DeYoung died of pneumonia at Pipp Hospital in Plainwell. A postal worker for 35 years, he was 79.
Seth J. Oliver, a 1921 Wayland High School graduate, wrote a letter to the editor bemoaning the fact the Class of 1920 members present were overlooked during the annual banquet until after the benediction was given.
Wade Greenawalt was elected president of the Wayland Lions Club, succeeding Win Adams.
Kathy Worfel, 13, of Wayland, captured the 14 and under singles championship and teamed up with Debbie Claussen to take the doubles title in the Grand Rapids Press Tennis Tournament.
75 Years Ago — June 29, 1945
Staff Sgt. Arthur Houseman received his honorable discharge from the Army. He served for three years in the Signal Corps in the Pacific Theatre. Though never injured in combat, he was rushed to Butterworth Hospital with a case of malaria after coming home.
The Daniels Brothers, new owners of Streeter’s Resort at Gun Lake, were hosts for the annual American Legion Fish Fry, which served 33 members.
Mrs. Otto Finkbeiner, 52, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Wayne Chrisman. A native of Leighton Township, she had lived in Wayland for the past 14 years.
Ten local Boy Scouts, chaperoned by Dr. Arthur Larson, Paul Johnson, the Rev. John Miles and H.B. Calkins, enjoyed a week canoeing and camping along the Muskegon River.
Second Lt. Warren Lapham of Wayland is attending officers’ armament and chemical school at Buckley Field, Colo.
Frank Hazen, a native of Monterey Township who moved to Hopkins at age 7, died in Allegan. A lifelong farmer, he was 74.
Staff Sgt. LVJ White was awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster as a gunner on the B-24 Liberator in the Pacific Theatre.
Charles Wegner, who was wounded in action in Germany, has been moved from a hospital in the British Isles to Chicago. He suffered serious leg and arm injuries in combat.
McDonald’s Tavern in Dorr proudly boasted in a display ad that it was serving fried chicken dinners seven nights a week, but offered fish on Fridays.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Arthur Lake and Dale Evans in “The Big Show Off.”
- Wild Bill Elliott, Gabby Hayes and Ann Jeffries in “Overland Mail Robbery.”
- Van Johnson, Lionel Barrymore and Gloria DeHaven in “Between Two Women.”
- Joan Fontaine and George Brent in “The Affairs of Susan.”
100 Years Ago — June 25, 1920
The Christian Church is planning a big blowout celebration Sunday, featuring a dinner, an address by the mother of an African missionary, devotionals by Coast Grove pastor Miss Ada Howley, and an address by Mrs. Terry King of Texas, from the Women’s Missionary Society.
The Anti-Can’t Club of the Congregational Church held an outing at the Gunn Lake in the Cooch Cottage, which since has been renamed the Anti-Can’t Inn.
More than 100 pupils, teachers and friends and relatives attended the reunion of the Hopkins District No. 5 at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hilbert. Edna Paul was elected president.
Fred Darling’s Dog and Pony Circus will be in town for two days, July 1 and 2, with proceeds going to the Wayland Concert Band. “It offers clean family entertainment without any of the objectionable features seen with larger organizations.” Included in the show will be tricks and pranks performed by dogs, ponies and a donkey.
The Dorr Progressive Farmers Club met at the home of Frank Bastian.
The Wayland community baseball team pulled out a 10-inning victory over Green Lake and seeking more opponents to add to its schedule.
The old Methodist Church bell alerted Bradley citizens to a fire at the store of Mr. Allen. Volunteers did the classic fire brigade work, but were unable to save the barn and a truck containing a load of groceries.
Mr. Krake, a representative from the Community Council of the State Grange, was scheduled to speak to members of the Wayland Grange.
An “unruly gasoline stove” was blamed for a small fire on South Main Street at the home of Frank Burlington.
“The tables groaned with with good things to eat” at the Lewis-Corning annual reunion at Green Lake.