(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Nov. 22, 1995
The Hopkins varsity football team’s storied first-ever playoff season came to an end in the Class CC state semifinals with a 36-6 loss to perennial powerhouse Detroit DePorres. The Vikings finished with an 11-1 overall record and defensive back Tim Kisner and kicker-punter-linebacker Jerry Funk were selected to the all-state team.
The Wayland girls’ varsity basketball team captured the Class B district championship with 46-34 victory over Middleville Thornapple Kellogg. Veteran coach Zack Mousegian’s outfit once again was led by all-state candidate Angie Farmer, Jessica McEwen and Marge Reurink.
The Martin girls’ basketball team claimed the Class D district crown with a very satisfying 53-54 triumph over a Lawrence squad that had beaten the Clippers twice during the regular season. Kristin Fraaza had a monster game with 25 points and 25 rebounds, strengthening her bid for all-state accolades.
The Note, a heralded nightclub, dance and teen hangout over many years has been taken over by Craig and Diane Timmerman, who want to convert the Gun Lake building into a cabinetry business.
Debi Rookus of Moline, was attacked by a dog and required more than 100 stitches, but she has recovered enough to return to school.
Editor Nila Aamoth, in her Soapbox, noted the lack of notice for government employees idled by the shutdown, insisting it doesn’t seem to matter a great deal to everyday people just going about their lives.
Beth Maher wrote a glowing letter about the Hopkins football team, its players, coaches and the community after they ended the season with an 11-1 record in the state semifinals.
Pat Staley put together a photo-essay about the City of Wayland Department of Public Works employees, featuring Phil Adams, Dave Long, Jim Bush and Paul Haywood.
The Wayland City Council is wrestling with a policy requiring drug and alcohol testing for city employees.
Hopkins junior Becky Berndt earned all-conference honors for the O-K Silver in cross country.
Wayland Junior High School students are building a fiber optic night light under the watchful tutelage of science teacher Craig Rizley.
50 Years Ago — Nov. 18, 1970
The Wayland City Council intends to conduct a study on how to implement policy for liquor by the glass permits in the wake of voters’ approval in the general election.
Miss Adaline Beaver, 51, of Hopkins, died at the Grand Valley Nursing Center in Grand Rapids after a lingering illness. A vice president at the Wayland State Bank, she had been choir director and organist at the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.
William Conwell Sr. resigned his seat on the Wayland City Council because he has to move outside the city. The longtime publisher of a local free shopper newspaper, he also had been meat cutter at Gurney’s IGA.
The Wayland High School Choir will be one of 10 ensembles to take part in an O-K Conference music festival at Byron Center High School. Included in the program will be selections from Handel’s “Messiah” and Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Alexander Frary, 80, president of the Dorr School reunion group, died in Lake Worth, Fla. He was a Mason and an insurance agent.
James Chruschiel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cruschiel of Wayland, has been named vice president and secretary for Hawaii Ki House at Northern Michigan University, where he is a junior.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “The Swiss Family Robinson.”
Local Girl Scouts plan to compete in the “Dolly Derby” in Kalamazoo, a doll dressing contest.
Former Wayland Globe Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher was married in Rockford, Ill., Nov. 12 to Mrs. Eurie Hall of Tempe, Ariz. The couple will live in Ft. Meyers, Fla.
The Wayland varsity football team completed coach Gerald Omness’ first season with a 5-3-1 overall record after a 38-6 victory over Hopkins. A. J. Predum rushed for 108 yards and scored two touchdowns. QB Mike Longstreet, Joe Koperski and Joe Permoda each scored one TD.
Wayne Thomas gained 1,076 yards over nine games for the Wayland junior varsity football team, which fashioned an 8-1 season and its only loss was by two points, 14-12, to Hamilton.
75 Years Ago — Nov. 23, 1945
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher told readers, “We are devoting considerable space on the inside pages of this issue to notes about returning servicemen as a sort of record of what our local boys did in the Great War.” The returning veterans mentioned included Lt. Chet Brevitz, POW James Carpenter, Capt. Jack Henderson, Ward Welsh, Richard Phelps, Russell Truax, Edward B. Smith, Lloyd Fales, Loren Mauchmar, Maurice Emmons, Felix Ambrose, Emory Stora , Clayton Tolhurst, Jack Perry, Alvin Truax, Carl Finkeiner, Jay Smith, Richard Hines and Delbert Krebbs. The local American Legion Post continues to ask residents to submit names of veterans so they can be included in a special honor roll.
Weldon Duncan, formerly of Wayland, was found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon less than murder for the stabbing of Pearl Tanner and her companion in Plainwell. He was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.
Gertrude Clack, a Dorr native, 1903 Wayland High School graduate and area teacher, died of meningitis at the Coldwater Health Center. She was 60.
Gene Weber played two flute solos, “Waltz Caprice” and “It Might as Well Be Spring” for members of the Ladies Library Club at the high school music room.
John E. Greitzer has opened Wayland’s newest clothing store for men and women, featuring shoes, at 132 W. Superior St.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Phil Harris, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson and Leslie Brooks in “I Love a Bandleader.”
- Gene Autry Smiley Burnette and Polly Rowles in “Springtime in the Rockies.”
- William Eythe and Lloyd Nolan in “The House on 92nd Street.”
- Betty Grable, John Payne and June Haver in “The Dolly Sisters.”
100 Years Ago — Nov. 19, 1920
The Village of Wayland has adopted an ordinance making it illegal for young people ages 16 and under to be seen on the streets downtown without being accompanied by parents or guardians.
Wayland High School seniors had a box social for Bradley Armistice Night that raised $23.95.
The weekly school assembly focused on the history of Thanksgiving, featuring appropriate presentations by Sidney Clark, Lillian Fifelski, Dale Rankin, Frances Benedict, Elton Calkins, Blanche Miller, Hilda Morri, Margaret Hanlon and Louvia Trautman.
Ruth Ward was the winner of the fourth-graders’ spelldown competition.
There have been at least nine students of late who have just returned from home because of bouts with the measles.
The Potowatomi Camp Fire Girls’ group has been organized at the home of Mrs. Harry Allgeo. Mrs. H.E. Tanner is “Guardian of the Fire.” The group’s first activity will be a march to Bradley.
The Regent Theatre will present the documentary film “Back to God’s Country,” featuring the wilderness regions of northern Canada.
The Northwest Hopkins Community Club met to discuss the economic troubles dairy farmers have been experiencing and what to do about them. The Rev. Atkinson of the Hopkins Congregational Church presented a talk on dairy farmers in North Dakota, where he resided before coming here.
Irene Yeakey gave clever presentations on “Three Girls at a Movie” “Hush! Here Comes the Dream Man” and “The Hen” at the most recent meeting of the Ladies Library Club.
F.D. Hilbert, J. Levandosky and M.E. Paul traveled to Lansing to be representatives from the local Progressive Farmers Club at the Farm Bureau Convention.
Jerome Zaiser suffered a broken arn while trying to crank up his Ford Roundabout.
Peter Foltyn was taken to Robinson Hospital in Allegan, where he received the bad news of liver cancer and has returned home.
Several people suffered injuries at the Moline Christian Reformed Church when its floor collapsed. The church is still building a new church.