(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)

25 Years Ago — Dec. 6, 1995

The retirement of Jimmy Jackson five months previous continues to cause Wayland Township officials to scramble for a sexton to handle Elmwood Cemetery.

Large crowds were reported to be in attendance at the annual Christmas parades in Martin and Wayland.

The Martin girls’ basketball team’s terrific season ended with a 13-3 overall record after a loss to Portland St. Patrick in the Class D state quarterfinals. The loss also ended the fabulous four-year varsity cage career of all-stater Kristin Fraaza.

Farm Bureau volunteer members Don Dandrow, Carol Ritz, Karen Blaauw and Sue Collier presented a hands-on science activity for Wayland schools students.

The controversy surrounding farmers shooting dogs on their property to protect livestock continued through letters to the editor by Alan Arbanas and Neal and Jean Davis.

Consumers Power has been awarded $300,000 in attorney fees by the court that rules against a Martin-area couple, Paul and Judy VanDenBerg, who claimed the health of their livestock and family was compromised by stray voltage.

The Wayland City Council approved a variance for Midway Die & Engineering to expand its business just off South Main Street.

Beth Arms and brother Craig Hardin are joining tryouts for “Star Seek,” a cable television talent show competition.

Junior guard Angie Farmer was selected to the second unit of the Class B all-state basketball team. She averaged 18.8 points and 5.8 assists per game and was named to the O-K Gold all-conference team for the third straight season. Jessica McEwen, who averaged 11.2 points per game, also earned all-league accolades.

Melanie Heslinga and Cheri Belka won all-conference honors in the O-K Silver Conference from Hopkins.

Wayland Councilman David Miller and wife Mary Kay were grand marshals for the annual Christmas parade. Charlie Gwilliams was grand marshal at Martin.

Virginia Petroshus, partner with Petro Dairy Farm business and a longtime 4-H leader, died. The “Sweet Corn Lady” was only 57.

Ariah Frank, who worked in the egg drying plant in Wayland during World War II and was a telephone operator, died at age 85.

50 Years Ago — Dec. 2, 1970

Vandals went on a window-breaking spree in Wayland over the Thanksgiving holiday. Damage was reported that the school, Pet Milk’s rental at the old Ryno Building, on South Main and at the Calvary Church parsonage.

Mrs. JC Clyma will sing Christmas songs at the annual holiday dinner for the Wayland Chamber of Commerce. She will be accompanied on the organ by Mrs. Claude Smith.

Longtime Mason and employee at the Alflen Brothers Equipment Co. W.G. Hedges died at the Allegan County Health Center. He also had been a trustee on the Martin Township Board.

The Reno Insurance Co. marked its 50th year in business in Wayland with a ceremony that included founder L.P. Reno and son, Phillip, who also happens to be mayor of the city, who joined the firm in 1933.

The critical $2.8 million bond election for a new Wayland High School building is approaching, Dec. 8. The proposal lost by 101 votes in 1969 and was defeated by just 17 votes in June 1970. The school district is struggling with a severe space shortage and will have to go to split sessions in the next academic year if this proposition goes down.

Mary Ellen Mynatt, former village clerk, has been named secretary for the Wayland City Planning Commission.

Wayland native Wayne McClintock, a faculty member at Northern Michigan University, died in Marquette.

Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey wrote in an editorial, “With passage of the school millage proposal, the district will still be in trouble for at least two years while construction (of a new high school) is being completed… The request for the new building is not a ‘cry wolf’ plea.”

Dave Smith, editor of the Wayland High School newspaper, wrote a letter to the editor urging a “yes” vote on the school bond proposition, describing the overcrowding problems.

City Manager John Hefner discussed local snowmobile regulations with City Council members.

The Big Band sound of the Newports will be featured in a gala New Year’s Eve party at the Middle Villa.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Marlo Thomas and Alan Alda in “Jenny.”

Lineman Tom Wilcox, receiver Mark Schipper and quarterback Mike Longstreet were named to the all-conference football team in the O-K Blue Conference.

Dan Hall laid in 32 points for Wayland and Don Cadman scored 16 for Hopkins as the Wildcats opened the basketball season with a 60-51 victory.

Ex-Beatle George Harrison rose to the top of the nation’s music charts with “My Sweet Lord.”

75 Years Ago — Dec. 7, 1945

Cpl. Donald Baughman was honorably discharged from the Marines Nov. 3 after serving in the Pacific Theatre for almost two years.

Charles Clark underwent surgery in Butterworth Hospital for glaucoma in both eyes.

Mrs. Cordelia Clack, born in Dorr in 1858, died at the home of her son, Fred. She lived in Wayland and Dorr for all of her 87 years.

Capt. George Cozzens has been discharged from the Army after serving in a tank battalion with Patton’s Third Army in Czechoslavakia.

Glenn Deuel, who grew up in Bradley before taking up a real estate business career in Los Angeles, died at the age of 62.

Titus Hunsberger, who came to live and farm in Leighton Township in 1868, died in a Grand Rapids hospital. He was 78.

Engineer Donald Culver was discharged from military service after working on a ferry on the Elbe River in France.

The Wayland Theatre will be closed for two weeks this month for repairs and renovations. It will be back in operation Christmas night with a showing of the comedy “Guest Wife.”

Albert Jager of Hopkins has been promoted to cptain while serving with Air Transport Command in Shanghai, China.

Fred Hilbert will entertain the Hopkins Grange potluck with movies of his fishing and hunting exploits.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• Tom Conway and Ann Rutherford in “Two O’Cock Courage.”
• Ted Donaldson and Margaret Linsey in “The Adventures of Rusty,” featuring “Ace, the Wonder Dog.”
• Ida Lupino, William Prince and Sydney Greenstreet in “Pillow to Post.”

100 Years Ago — Dec. 3, 1920

Fred Nelson, taking an automobile trip to Florida, wrote a letter. Published on the Globe’s front page, he commented, “In Alabama there seems to be about five niggers to one white man. It seems about all we saw in Georgia and Alabama was niggers, mules and cotton.”

Allegan County Farm Bureau agent Alfred Bentall reported that he spent time in Middleville organizing a cooperative similar to the organizations in this county.

The Regent Sunday in downtown Wayland will show “Domestic Trouble,” “A Jealous Wife” and “A Stenographer.”

Area farmers are skimming their milk, selling the cream and marketing butter until the dairy price crisis situation improves.

A village curfew for young people ages 16 and under in Wayland will go into effect next Tuesday.

“Wayland merchants are preparing for the Christmas holiday. Their stocks of Christmas goods were never better than they are this year… Almost every day finds some article of merchandise marked down to pre-war prices.”

The Hope Rebekah Lodge members plan to have a Christmas bazaar in town commencing Dec. 15.

Mrs. Henry Hooker and daughter, Mrs. George Kelch, are doing housework chores for Mrs. Phil James, who is suffering from tuberculosis.