(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Feb. 7, 1996
Race car driver Bob Senneker has made an agreement not to build on lots near his airstrip in Dorr Township.
Architect Judson Jones appears to be out of luck in receiving a $78,000 payment for his services in drawing plans that were never used for the Dorr Township Hall at the corner of 18th Street and 142nd Avenue.
Philadelphia native Sheldon Herman has moved into the former grocery store building next the elevator in Moline to set up an international bicycle shop.
St. Therese fourth-grader Sam Fearnow wrote a letter to the Globe thanking staffer Scott Sullivan for judging the school’s speech contest.
Letter writer Robert DeHaan said of the Fuzzy’s video store owner, “I do not like letting Mr. Reid wave his legal right in my face at the cost of exposing my community to his pornography.”
A 13-year-old boy has been arrested and placed in a juvenile home in connection with the second bomb threat in a month at Martin schools. Allegan County deputy sheriff Brian Augustine was credited with solving the case.
Dorr Township has been suffering from a plague of gypsy moth caterpillar feces appearing on trees.
Wayland High School swimmer Randy Mandaville broke his own school record in the 200-yard freestyle and his time is approaching qualifying for the state meet.
Tim Kisner tied the Hopkins High School single game scoring record with 44 points, but the Vikings lost in overtime to Freedom Baptist. They also lost in OT to Kelloggsville.
The Wayland High School volleyball team, led by Jessica McEwen and Keri Anguilm is preparing for a showdown of O-K Gold Conference unbeaten with South Christian. The ‘Cats are 6-0 in the league and 29-5-5 overall.
The Wayland wrestling team now is tied with Caledonia for second place in the league with a 4-2 dual meet record.
Jason Burgess scored 22 points and Walter Smith 15 as the Wildcat varsity evened its season record at 6-6 with a victory over Kenowa Hills.
A parent of Lawrence player “went after” Martin star Rich Guerrant and the Clippers lost big time at the free throw line in a 66-54 defeat.
Louis B. Thompson, 84, former justice of the peace at Gun Lake and Gun Lake Protective Association official died.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 3, 1971
A unwelcome Friday night snowstorm visited Wayland and environs, almost stranding players and fans at the Wildcats’ basketball game at Byron Center.
Gerald Pattok, a 1955 Wayland High School graduate, was named Young Educator of the Year by the Hastings Jaycees.
Hopkins schools’ special election for a $1.48 million bond to construct a new elementary school will be held Tuesday, Feb. 9.
The Wayland volunteer fire department reported it answered 24 fire calls in 1970, the worst of which was at Plank Road Farm.
Incumbent Councilmen Max Barnes, Marshall Towne and Don Shafer are expected to face challenges from newcomers Wade Greenawalt, William Schuh, James Koster, Henry Miller and Robert Swartout.
Lifetime Hopkins resident Burl Lovall, owner of the Burton Bootery in Grand Rapids died. He was 78.
Despite the Friday night storm, about 120 people attended the United Methodist Church “Night of World Adventure” film.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Julie Andrews and Rock Hudson in “Darling Lili.”
The Globe published a photo of Mrs. Joseph Lamhpear of rural Wayland, who has faithfully subscribed to the weekly newspaper since March 5, 1914.
Former Wayland and Hopkins High School teacher and coach Dave Nelson has been named player-coach for the Grand Rapids Tackers professional basketball team.
Wayland absorbed a controversial quadruple overtime loss to Byron Center and four players fouled out. The controversy was over the counting of fouls assessed against Jeff Arnold, Mark Schipper, Jim Hendrixson and Dan Hall. Coach Dave VanEerden said he would lodge a protest against the official scorer, but acknowledged it probably wouldn’t make a difference.
75 Years Ago — Feb. 8, 1946
Mrs. Russell Hunsberger and Mrs. Charlotte Preap spent four days in Chicago attending the Spring Market.
Rachel Donovan, who lived in Wayland for 27 years, died at age 69. Her health had declined significantly since she suffered a stroke in 1943 and she was nearly blind.
Carlye Williams, 45, of Kalamazoo, drove his car on the ice at Gun Lake and had to break a window and climb on top of the vehicle as its sank into frigid water. He was able to get ashore and walk to a neighboring residence.
Erle D. Stone, a lifelong Hopkins area resident, died at his daughter’s home in Gobles several months after undergoing an operation. He was 83.
Herman Seif and Russell Boone plan to open an auto service and repair shop about four miles north of Wayland on U.S.-131.
Pfc. Russell Herbert has returned stateside after serving with the 84th Division as they pushed east on the Elbe River to meet up with the Russians.
The Wayland PTA will be entertained by members of the Ladies Library Club with a one-act play, “These Husbands of Ours,” at the high school music room.
John Hendricksma has been discharged by the Navy after serving on a ship that maintained supply lines to troops in the Pacific Theatre.
Jean Gillett of Shelbyville is a cast member of the Western Michigan College theatrical production of “Rossum’s Universal Robots (RUR).”
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette in “Gun and Guitars.”
- Preston Foster, Gail Patrick and the Wilde Twins in “Twice Blessed.”
- Edward G. Robinson, Agnes Moorehead and Margaret O’Brien in “Our Vines Have Tender Grapes.”
- Eddie Bracken and Veronica Lake in “Hold That Blonde.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 4, 1921
The Automobile Dealers of Wayland will have their fourth annual auto show Feb. 10-12 at the Yeakey, Stockdale and General garages in the village.
Harry Clack penned a letter to Wayland friends from aboard a ship in Cuba.
The Musical Memory Contest is in full swing, with competitions weekday mornings at the school at at local churches Sundays. Featured are Rubinstein’s Melody in F and Verdi’s Il Travatore.
Avis Grantham had a runaway accident on her way to school and suffered minor injuries.
Local Camp Fire Girls are planning a box social and ”hard times” party at the Grange Hall Feb. 8.
Harry Davis of Martin fractured his elbow while playing basketball and was transported to John Robinson Hospital in Allegan.
The Methodist Church will have a special program on “China’s Four Hundred Million,” focusing on famine troubles in that country.
Charles Harrinsgton, 10, was drowned when he fell into the Kalamazoo River near Allegan.
Bids for the storm sewer along the proposed concrete highway north of Wayland included one for $14,000 from Wayne Lapham of Martin, for $5,000 from Round & Murdock, and for $4,000 from John Slattery.
E.A. Corning, a Leighton Township farmer for 42 years, died in Florida. He was 82.
WANTED: Manager for Leighton Township Telephone Co. Responsible for switchboard and about 200 telephones.
