(Belatedly, taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago —Feb. 2, 1994
A homeless couple, Al and Rose Mokma, has been served with an eviction notice from the Allegan County Health Department to vacate their makeshift home at the auction barn on North Main Street in Leighton Township. Auction owners Carl and Gail VanderKolk acknowledged they permitted the Mokmas to store their belongings after they were evicted from their mobile home in Middleville, but they had no intention of letting them live in the barn.
A Plainwell business is making an offer to but the former Kessler’s building on South Main Street after negotiations have broken down with a Grand Rapids firm. Barb Kaarlie of the Allegan County Alliance has reported the company is known nationally with a division located in Plainwell.
Marge Meyers of Wayland wrote a letter to the editor backing embattled Hopkins Board of Education member Christine Schwartz, saying, “Support the board member who is leading us down Christ’s path.”
Marv Helmholdt has retired from the Dorr Township Fire Department after 35 years of service.
It was so cold at the Gun Lake Winterfest over the past weekend that only 65 dared to venture into the icy waters for the “Polar Bear Dip.”
Midway Die & Engineering is expanding its facility off South Main from 30,000 to 45,000 square feet and is now employing 25 people in the plant.
Pipp Community Hospital has purchased Otsego Family Physicians from Dr. Kenneth Berneis, who is undergoing chemotherapy for treatable leukemia.
Mike Davis, 28, of Martin, rolled a perfect 300 at Airport Lanes. It was said to be the first perfect game in the 47-year history of the establishment.
Wayland High School’s basketball team edged Byron Center 62-60 to equal the five victories posted by the Wildcats in the previous season. Matt Barghan scored 18 points and gathered 14 rebounds.
Sophomore sensation Richie Guerrant pumped in 39 points and collected 23 rebounds, as Martin defeated Bloomingdale 83-72. Ben Knight, another sophomore, added 22 points.
Jake Schut, Comer Skinner, Jack Schut, John Schut and Tim Miller all won FFA Legion of Merit awards at the annual national convention in Kansas City.
50 Years Ago — Jan. 29, 1969
The Automobile Club of Michigan (AAA) conducted a traffic study between July 1966 and June 1968 and determined that Wayland’s situation was good. It was reported the most accidents occurred on Monday, between 5 and 6 p.m. and during fair or partly cloudy weather.
Mrs. Irvin P. Helmey, wife of the Globe publisher, was elected chair of the Allegan County Board of Canvassers.
The Allegan County Road Commission has announced it will spend $30,000 to repair the bridge over 12th Street northwest of the City of Wayland.
High school English instructor Eugene Washchuck wrote the latest in a series of “Our Teachers Speak” columns, this one about the crucial roles of parents children reading.
The latest school aid payments to local schools for the last two months are Wayland, $144,630; Martin, $68,440, and Hopkins, $67,460. It was the fourth of six installments annually.
Thirty members of the Wayland High School Girls’ Athletic Association, accompanied by advisors Pat McKee and Mrs. Osborne Brown, are traveling weekly to Holland to take lessons in skiing.
Wayland High School senior Shona Middleton won the annual Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow award.
Prognosticator Jeanne Dixon, famous for predicting the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, was guest speaker at the All-Michigan dinner in East Lansing. Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey, who was in attendance, said she insisted former Michigan Gov. George Romney would be “a pillar of strength” as President Nixon’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, that the economy would stabilize under the leadership of Nixon and she called the rise to prominence of the birth control pill communist inspired.
Henry Kaumeyer and Walt Steines led the local Boy Scout troop in the Klondike Derby at the Allegan State Game Area.
Don Klein, 6-8 center, scored 13 points and hauled down 24 rebounds as Wayland won a 38-34 defensive struggle with Hamilton. Featured was the ‘Cats strong defense on Expressway Conference scoring leader Gordie Poll, limiting him to just nine points.
The first-ever Wayland High School wrestling tournament, called off Dec. 20 because of inclement weather, has been rescheduled for Feb. 1. The Wildcats, in only their second year under coach Eugene Knobloch, have a 7-2 record in dual meets.
The Hopkins basketball team lost 83-65 to No. 1 Covert, as John Wilson tied the school individual game scoring record with 42 points. The Vikings then lost to Lawrence, despite a 35-point performance from 6-6 center Don Krause.
Pianist Mrs. Ralph Sasser will be special guest at the next meeting of the Wayland Ladies Library Club, marking its 76th anniversary.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “Have to Save Your Marriage and Ruin Your Life.”
The Hopkins Ladies Library Club had a special program with four speakers telling of experiences with minorities. The speakers were Mark Austin, Mrs. Joel Bensema, Joseph Iciek and Mrs. Robert Keating.
Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” finally, after seven weeks, was overtaken at the No. 1 slot by Tommy James & the Shondells and “Crimson and Clover.”
75 Years Ago — Feb. 4, 1944
The Village of Wayland has been assured of a $20,000 grant to establish a Michigan State Police post here. Michigan State Police Commissioner Oscar Olander told Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher the move was being recommended to the governor while they chatted at the recent Michigan Press Association Conference in Lansing.
The Hilliards Parish paper drive successfully picked up three tons of scrap paper for the war effort. Singled out for their efforts were Jerry Pattok, Bill Herb, and Thomas and Richard Hudson.
The most recent three basketball games for Wayland was a mixed bag. The local boys lost to Middleville 34-29, but came back to beat Martin with 51 points and Plainwell 41-40, with Sutton scoring 18 and 15 points, respectively. Ed Christensen was praised for his ball-handling skills.
Lt. Morris Merren of Grand Rapids, who had many friends and relatives i9n Wayland, was killed in an accident Langley Field in Virginia.
Pvt. Haven Tarnutzer recorded the second highest academic average among 58 students in aerial mechanics training at Kessler Field, Miss.
Marine Mitchell Laker has been promoted to corporal while serving in the South Pacific.
Military policeman Frank Taylor has arrived for duty with the Army Air Corps in the Central Pacific.
Sending letters to the Globe from overseas were Chet Brevitz from Italy and George Gardner on furlough in Hawaii.
Warrant officer Milo Carpenter, son of Mrs. William Button, has arrived for duty with the U.S. Navy in the Gilbert Islands.
An advertisement asked for men to come work full-time at the Otsego Falls paper mills, “an essential industry.”
Lt. Donna Curie wrote home from Italy after serving in North Africa with the WACs, “More than two-thirds of the children (in an African community) follow us everywhere ragged and begging.”
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette in “The Old Barn Dance.”
- Ann Savage and Tom Neal in “Klondike Katie.”
- Errol Flynn, Julie Bishop and Helmut Dantine in “Northern Pursuit.”
- Dorothy Lamour, Dick Powell and Victor Moore in “Riding High.”
100 Years Ago — Jan. 31, 1919
Corp. Dick Heydenberk, who has moved to his third town in Germany and France since the war ended, wrote home saying the YMCA has given the troops packages of cookies, cigars and cans of Velvet for Christmas gifts.
Everett Wilson wrote a letter home about spending his second Christmas in France. He reported he dined on goose on Christmas Day. He and his comrades are building phone lines in Luxembourg.
Russel Perry wrote to Leon B. Mason, “At last our hard task is over. We have pulled old (Kaiser) Bill’s whiskers and are sitting almost in his back yard.”
The Wayland High School senior play will be offered Feb. 7 with the production of “The Hoodoo,” a comedy about a man about to be married, starring Custer Sherwood. Ticket sales will go to defraying costs of graduation.
Arnold Leslie Ehle died of a lingering illness only days before his 20th birthday. He has attended Wayland High School, but had to drop out because of his health troubles.
The Rev. D.A. Holmar of Hopkins presented the sermon at Bradley Congregational Church and has been invited back for another Feb. 9.
The Bradley Red Cross members made 25 large aprons to be used for relief work.
The little son of Mr. and Mrs. N. Hendricksma died at home of influenza Sunday night.
The Older Boys Conference of the Allegan County YMCA will meet Feb. 7-9. “Kirkpatrick” is supposed to get home from overseas to join in the mass meeting Sunday.
The Christian Church in Wayland continues to be the hot spot for entertainment Sunday evenings, this past week showing motion pictures on “The Heavenly Cook” and on helping solve problems of farm machinery.
About 25 students have been taking advantage of the hot lunch program besides bring their own cold food from home. “One girl said she hasn’t had a headache in a week.”
Ernest Sigler wrote a letter home from France indicating there is now snow, but plenty of rain and mud for the army of occupation.
Red Cross Christmas gifts for soldiers overseas include a pair of socks, a handkerchief, a package of figs and a huge sack of candy and cookies.