Tag Archives: Bill Branz

A wooden box reveals a sticky piece of Wyoming History

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, , , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

A few years ago when Bill Branz was visiting in Colorado, he found an old wooden box with the word “Tanglefoot” printed on the side. The Wyoming Historical Commission chair quickly snapped it up. 

Tanglefoot is one of the most well-known flypaper manufacturers, and while some know that the company got its start in Grand Rapids, many may not realize Tanglefoot had a factory operation in Wyoming.

“Back in the early 1900s we had this little factory operation here in Wyoming Township and it was a family of four brothers who worked with their father in the late 1800s in Grand Rapids,” Branz said.

The Thum family ran a drugstore in the late 1800s. Due in part to the horse-drawn carts, flies were a big problem during that time period, with farmers to lawyers visiting the local drugstore to have flypaper, paper covered in a sweet, tacky substance, prepared. 

“The two younger brothers discovered with the chemistry that their family played with that they could make this flypaper out of some of the chemicals they were using,” Branz said. The flypaper was a hit and the family patented the product. 

Where the former Tanglefoot building was located. The building is still there. (WKTV)

“They stated up a factory operation right along the old railroad track line that ran from the Kalamazoo/Allegan area into Grand Rapids,” Branz said. “They made enough money to become what is considered wealthy and moved to California, the Pasadena area, and the youngest brother, William, became the mayor of Pasadena.”

The wooden box is now housed at the Wyoming Historical Room, located in the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW. 

“I thought it was an interesting story and it is just fun to have something like this in our room to show people and bring back a little story involving our local history,” Branz said of the box.

The Wyoming Historical Room is always looking for items related to the history of Wyoming. If you have something you would like to donate or if you are interested in volunteering, call 616-261-3508 or visit the Wyoming Michigan Historical Room on Facebook. 

Former Wyoming restaurant had its own ‘secret’ sauce

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

McDonald’s may have had its “secret sauce” for its Big Macs, but many locals can recall the special homemade relish recipe you could only get from Wyoming’s Kum-Bak Burgers.

“You have to go back to the late 1950s when 28th Street was becoming a booming community and in fact, 28th Street was being called the Miracle Mile,” said Wyoming Historical Commission Chairman Bill Branz.

The Kum-Bak restaurant was located at 1105 28th Street, where the Huntington Bank is now. (Supplied)

With the then proposed Rogers Plaza set to be built along 28th Street and the 131 freeway also coming in, businesses were moving in along the 28th Street corridor. 

McDonald’s was the first fast-food restaurant to open along 28th Street at 28th Street and DeHoop Avenue, where it still operates. About a year later, a local couple, the Ybemas, opened Kum-Bak Burgers, where the burgers were only 15 cents. The restaurant was kiddy corner to the Wyoming City Hall at 1105 28th St. SW, which is now where the Huntington Bank is located.

The Kum-Bak owners were Seret and Marianne Ybema. (Supplied)

“It became very popular and in fact, it was a favorite for all the teenage kids to hangout,” Branz said. 

The burgers, and fries, were delicious, according to Branz. The restaurant was open for about 18 years, closing in 1977. But before doing so, Kum-Bak had created quite a following for its homemade relish, which some years later was republished by Marian Stevens, the former recipe writer for “The Advance” newspapers. The recipe is still sought after today with people posting requests for it on recipe queries. 

For those interested, here is the famous Kum-Bak relish recipe. Enjoy.

Kum-Bak Relish

1 small bunch celery, finely diced

1 large onion finely diced

1 jar (10 ounces) sweet pickle relish

1 small bottle ketchup

1/4 cup mustard

1/3 cup vinegar Tablespoons sugar

In large saucepan, combine celery, onion, relish, ketchup, mustard, vinegar, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Spoon into clean pint jars. Process into water bath for 5 minutes. 

For more City of Wyoming historical facts, visit the Wyoming Historical Room in the KDL Wyoming branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW. The room is open from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month or by appointment. Call 261-3508 or visit its Facebook page.

A paper hat from Kum-Bak