(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Sept. 6, 1995
The Allegan County Sheriff’s Department has joined Barry County in providing patrol services on Gun Lake waters.
Scott Sullivan penned a “Soapbox” editorial in support of the Dorr Township Library’s request for an 0.875-mill tax levy in the wake of severing ties with the now defunct Moline Library, which will be replaced by passage of a two-mill levy to build a new Leighton Township Library.
Patricia Kelsey wrote a letter to the editor asserting there is no shortage of lockers for Hopkins grades 7-12. She noted the number of secondary students is 666, while the number of lockers is 347. By insisting two students share a locker, there are more than needed.
Betty Flock wrote a letter asking Hopkins district residents to refrain from yelling at school secretaries, who don’t make the controversial rules.
An M-60 tank now sits in front of the Dorr American Legion Hall, thanks to efforts by local Legion members.
Scott Sullivan crafted a photo essay on the third annual Dorr Labor Day tractor pull.
The Wayland girls’ varsity baseball season got off to a terrific start when the Lady ‘Cats defeated East Kentwood and Hudsonville Unity Christian in the Grand Rapids Press Tip-Off tournament. Angie Farmer swished a three-point bomb at the buzzer to beat the Falcons and Carley McCully chipped in eight points and 12 rebounds in the victory over Unity.
Plainwell spoiled new Wayland varsity football coach Larry Ward’s debut by posting a 41-19 decision. This, despite Kevin Bala picking up 171 yards rushing and teammate Mark Stauffer 139.
Jessica Gilder dropped in 18 points and Hopkins claimed victory over East Grand Rapids in coach Mary Sheltron’s first game, but the Vikings fell to Forest Hills Northern in their second contest.
Millie Kruzel scored 18 points and Kristen Fraaza 12, as Martin defeated Wyoming Lee in new coach Joe Orr’s coaching debut. The Lady Clippers afterward bested Saugatuck to get Orr off to a good start.
Greg Reno now is the fourth generation to join the Reno Insurance Agency. He was preceded by great-grandfather L.P. Reno, grandfather Phillip and father Dennis.
Martin and Hopkins both shut out their season opener opponents, 32-0 and 26-0, respectively.
Adeline Weick of Hopkins, who taught for 19 years at Hamilton schools, died at the age of 83.
50 Years Ago — Sept. 2, 1970
Among the new teachers this fall for Wayland schools are Brenda Dietiker, high school English, and Gerald Omness, junior high and new varsity football coach.
Pet Milk is donating $1,000 to Pipp Hospital in Plainwell, according to a “grip and grin” photo of Pipp Board Member Phil Reno and Pet Plant Manager Ted Green.
Newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Russell Bredeweg of Moline have just returned from a stay in Japan, where Russ was on assignment for his employer, Werner Lehara Corp.
Hopkins and Martin schools have opened on time after both districts came to employment agreements with faculty unions in the last week of summer vacation.
Wayland Chamber of Commerce President Walt Wenzel wrote a letter to the editor outlining the perils of teen shoplifting as the schools are back in session.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “Cactus Flower,” starring Ingrid Bergman, Goldie Hawn and Walter Matthau.
Airman First Class Melvin Spencer, a 1967 graduate of Wayland High School, is a metalworking specialist at an Air Force base in England.
Wayne J. Smith of Dorr has been promoted to Specialist-Four while serving in Vietnam.
Pat Slomski invited a group of her friends to her parents’ cottage at Gun Lake before they all fanned out to their respective schools. The group included Mary Lautenschleger, Sheryl Lee, Jill Smith, Diane Borgic, Laurie Heath and Maribeth Culver.
A total of 73 prospective gridders have showed up for practices in preparation of Wayland’s first football season in the O-K Blue Conference. The old Expressway League folded and members Wayland, Hamilton, Caledonia and Middleville joined the Blue, along with Wyoming Lee, Kelloggsville, Comstock Park and Byron Center.
Robert Ayers and Alan Kupres teamed up to win the men’s doubles title in the Wayland Globe tennis tournament and Ayers won the singles crown by beating Hal Brocker in the finals.
75 Years Ago — Sept. 7, 1945
Lloyd Fales is home on furlough after serving 37 months in England, working for a chemical company on an Air Force base in England.
Felix Ambrose also has just come home from England after serving in the military for five years, which he said was, “Too long.”
Frank Radimak was home o0n leave from Pearl Harbor, but he has re-enlisted for another year.
Art Standish won three ribbons at the Gun Valley Horse Show in Otsego over Labor Day weekend. He rode “Shorty,” owned by William Halloran.
Cpl. J.R. Willis has earned a Bronze Star for his service as a repairman in Manila, The Philippines, on communications wires.
World War I veteran William Troy, a native of Leighton Township, born in 1888, died at his home in Grand Rapids.
Wayland schools report 692 totals students, including 32 high school seniors set to graduate in the Class of 1946.
Fred Johnson has sold his Recreational Parlor on West Superior Street to Everett Boggs of Grand Rapids.
The Wayland Grange is planning for its next meeting a discussion on, “Shall we keep the present ‘war’ or ‘victory’ time or return to the standard time?”
Cpl. Alman Smith has received his honorable discharge to return home after serving in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Wally Brown, Alan Carney and Bela Lugosi in “Zombies on Broadway.”
- Charles Starrett in “Sagebrush Heroes.”
- Peggy Ann Garner, Allyn Joselyn and Michael Dunne in “Junior Miss.”
- Lynn Bari, Fred MacMurray and Chales Bickford in “Captain Eddie.”
100 Years Ago — Sept. 3, 1920
The annual fall festival and homecoming will be held between Sept. 30 and Oct. 2. Featured will be the Roseswift Airplane acrobatics, the Wayland Community Band, merry-go-round, Ferris wheel and farm produce exhibits. No gamblers will be given any concession booths.
The Barry County Fair this year in Hastings is scheduled for Sept. 7-10.
John C. Ketchum handily carried the counties of Allegan, Barry, Cass and Van Buren in the GOP primary election for Congress.
The Wayland Farm Bureau cooperative elected as new board members Roy Smith of Leighton Township and James Burchardt of Hopkins, succeeding Fred Baker and C.A. Clark, resigned. Frank D. Cutler was elected president.
Leighton District No. 4 voted 30-0 to consolidate with neighboring schools to form a rural agricultural school.
Mrs. Metta Sooy has sold her ice cream parlor to Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Tanner, who already have taken possession of the premises.
The Christian Church has announced it will celebrate the end of summer with a special Sunday service with the Rev. F.C. Wing and a Sunday evening movie presentation, including ice cream.
Miss Ethel Jansen has left her home in the community to attend Ferris Institute.
Some “misguided person” stole a package of linotype at the local interurban depot, causing delay of distribution of this week’s edition of the Globe.
Lewis McCloud of the State Highway Department recently conducted a traffic study and found there were more than 100 autos per hour in one day on Dixie Highway. The study reported a total of 1,909 modes of transportation moving along the highway, including 46 single horses and 131 run-walk vehicles.
Fox specials coming during the next six weeks at the Regent Theatre are “Les Miserables,” “The Honor System,” “Salome,” “Cleopatra,” “A Daughter of the Gods” and “A Tale of Two Cities.” “Four million dollars were spent in making these movies.”
