(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Aug. 23, 1995
Jenny Zomerlei, Holly Stein and Mitchell Stein were photographed on the front page as a group selling cookies, lemonade and bracelets in North Dorr.
Lynne Fahrne of Shelbyville penned a letter to the editor protesting the location of Gus Macker basketball tournament on the south portion of Main Street in Martin. She suggested having the tourney next time at the high school or on East Allegan Street.
The Wayland City Council has enacted a new civil infractions ordinance that turns many local violations away from the courts by regarding them as civil infractions to be handled much like parking tickets, with fines.
Jeffrey and Debra Hampel have sold the Sandy Creek Nursing Center to the Laurels Healthcare group of Dublin, Ohio. Jeff’s parents, the late George and Evelyn Hampel, built the facility and opened it in 1974.
The Hopkins Village Council has voted to extend sidewalks to more than 600 feet in the residential portion of the downtown.
Dorr Township Planning Commission Chairman Bob Wagner has won approval to rezone three of his parcels to make way for residential subdivisions west of 18th Street.
The O & A Electrical Cooperative has announced it will cut checks of an average of $10 apiece to customers as part of its annual Capital Credit program, totaling $225,000.
Larry Johnson, former Martin High School football and basketball coach and former youth director for the Allegan County Extension program through Michigan State University, has been named Cooperative Extension agent. He succeeds G. William Robb.
The Globe published surveys of prospects for local high school seasons. Wayland will start with a new coach, longtime Grand Rapids Catholic Central coach Larry Ward. Hopkins veteran coach Rex Weaver has designs on making the post-season playoffs, which the Vikings barely missed the previous year. Martin looks to improve from its 1-8 season.
Laura Pastoor, who grew up water skiing at Barlow Lake, has won the slalom water skiing championship in Tennessee.
50 Years Ago — Aug. 19, 1970
Wayland High School senior Patricia Krup won the Miss Wayland title at the annual pageant at the girls’ gym. She won the talent portion performing Roger Williams’ “Autumn Leaves” on the piano. First runner-up was Renee Niemchick.
A new Wayland Recreation Planning Committee has been formed in order to seek state recreation grants. The panel includes Ted Green, Don Lapham, Max Barnes, City Manager John Hefner and Director Dave VanEerden.
The Pet Inc. Safety Committee has proudly announced the plant spent the past year without a time loss accident.
Dr. Marlot Williams has been named the first-ever full-time director of Allegan County Community Mental Health.
The City of Wayland is anticipating an order to close the dump at the south edge of town, but action has been delayed because it’s not clear a suitable means of handling refuse has been developed.
City Manager John Hefner indicated the local police department has been dealing with increasing complaints of teens wandering neighborhoods because of more camping experiences locally.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty.”
Vietnam Conflict veteran Barry Brower was welcomed home after his discharge with a party at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ford Brower. Brower, a 1963 graduate of Wayland High School, had penned a “Vietnam Diary” column each week during his experiences overeas.
Mrs. Robert Predum is heading up an effort to start up the first Senior Girl Scouts program in Wayland. Attending the first meeting were Sally, Janet and Cheryl Lee, Patricia Slomski, Cindy Gaulke, Nancy Potters and Mary Lautenschleger. The young ladies planned to have a display at the upcoming community fair.
Bread captured the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “If.”
75 Years Ago — Aug. 24, 1945
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher lamented in his weekly “Observations” column, “Mechanical or power farming certainly is raising hob with the horse population of our county… It just seems so cruel a good, faithful horse that would still be willing to serve its master, only to be sold as food for foxes.”
Local electric meters now will be ready monthly rather than every other month by Consumers Power employees.
The Southwest Jersey Parish Show will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Village Park.
The Wayland Village bowling alley on West Superior Street will open for the season on Friday evening.
Lewis Sager, who came to Michigan in the 1860s and started farming with his wife, Ida, in 1884 in Bradley, died at the Allegan Health Care Center.
Quartermaster Richard Overmire and his unit were headed to Japan from Europe for their next assignment, but now are headed home with the announcement of the Japanese surrender.
Staff Sgt. Ray Bellgraph, who served all over the British Isles, now is headed home from the recently concluded war.
Mrs. Peal Tanner, formerly of Wayland, is recovering at Crispe Hospital in Plainwell after she and her escort were stabbed by Weldon Duncan of Kalamazoo, who is now in jail.
Lucky Lett’s Hell Drivers and Ernie Young’s Musical Revue will be the featured entertainment at this year’s edition of the Allegan County Fair.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in “The Bullfighters.”
- Allan Lane and Peggy Steward in “Silver City Kid.”
- Phillip Terry, Audrey Long and Eve Arden in “Pan America.”
- George Raft, Joan Bennett and Vivian Blaine in “Nob Hill.”
100 Years Ago — Aug. 20, 1920
The community was saddened with the news of the death of Basil Averill, 14, who fell off a roof he was installing over the barn at the family farm in Leighton Township. He was revived at first, but died fours after the accident because blood vessel burst inside his head.
The Wayland Village population has increased by 128 to 853 and the county’s count was 37,540. Other population numbers in the census had Dorr Township 1,644; Hopkins 1,789; Leighton 1,134; Martin 1,265; Monterey 1,062; Watson 1,069, and Wayland Township, including village, 2,006.
The Redpath Chautauqua series of music, entertainment and lectures received high marks from area residents. Though the costs this year were absorbed by local businessmen, the hat was passed during the programs and nearly $600 was collected. The contract for next year’s show will be $1,650. It was reported that some crowds exceeded the 2,000 in capacity there were 116 automobiles parked next to the tent. “Lovers of good music were the loudest in their praise of this part of the six days of programs.”
Coming soon to the Regent Theatre downtown: “Thunderbolts of Fate,” “The Moonriders,” “The Riders of the Law” and “The Turn of the Card.”
Carl Jager of Plainwell was killed by a pitched ball during a baseball game in Kalamazoo. He died of a fractured skull.
Featured at this year’s Allegan County Fair: The Blanche McKinney-Hunter troupe of Equestrians with a Ben-Hur style of chariot racing.
Judge Willard Banyon of St. Joseph stopped in town to campaign for a seat in Congress and fellow candidate John Ketcham of Hastings toppede in at the Globe office.
Home Demonstration Agent Miss Margaret East gave a presentation on malnutrition to members of the Martin Home Economics Club.
