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Holland
History Timeline
(1861 - 1900)
Larry J. Wagenaar,
Associate Professor
The Joint Archives of Holland
Hope College
c. 1997 The Joint Archives of Holland
All Rights Reserved
1861-65
Civil War. Over 400 Holland men served in the Union effort. Two of Van
Raalte's sons served; Dirk lost an arm in the conflict.
1865
Founding of Central CRC (then called the True Dutch Reformed Church),
the first CRC church in Holland.
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1866
Hope College is officially chartered (it entered its first college
class four years earlier, in 1862). Originally aimed at training
pastors and teachers, it now is a leading liberal arts college
with over 2,700 students. Shown here is the President' Study in
Van Vleck Hall. |
1867
Holland was incorporated as a city.
1868
After retiring from full-time preaching at First Reformed Church,
Van Raalte tried an unsuccessful effort to start a new colony
in Amelia Court House, Virginia. The effort failed and he returned
with his family to Holland, Michigan. |
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1871
Railroad arrived in Holland, connecting it with efficient transportation
to the outside world.
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October 8-9, 1871
Fire devastates nearly 80% of the community. Fires which burned for
several days to the southwest of town were inflamed by high winds,
and the fire swept into the city with only a brief warning. This
fire occurred on the same day as the Great Chicago Fire and other
conflagrations throughout the Great Lakes. For religious reasons
few Hollanders had insurance and those who did held policies in
devastated and bankrupt Chicago institutions. |
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1871-72
The decision by principals of the Cappon and Bertsch Tannery, including
Holland's first mayor Isaac Cappon, to rebuild the tannery in Holland
rather than Grand Rapids ensured the rebirth of the community.
Van Raalte again plays a key role in leadership. |
1872
Holland celebrated its 25th anniversary. Van Raalte makes a notable
speech commemorating the community.
1873
Financial panic of 1873 exacerbated rebuilding and expansion efforts.
1876
Market Square is renamed Centennial Park. |
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November 6, 1876
Albertus Van Raalte died on election day, 1876 |
1879-82
Masonic Controversy (membership in secret societies/Masons)in the
local churches rocks the community. Pillar Church splits and the
larger group leaves the RCA for the CRC, locking out the other
half of the congregation. The smaller portion retains the name
First Reformed Church and builds a new building on the corner of
9th and Central. |
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1890s
Major industrial growth in Holland. The establishment of the resort
complex at the channel (Macatawa Park, Ottawa Beach) was a new
tourist attraction which flourished until the 1920s. Population
rose from 3,945 in 1890 to over 9,000 in 1897. Furniture manufacturing
becomes prominent. |
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1897
The city held a grand celebration marking the 50th anniversary of
Holland. Two days of speeches, many focusing on the pioneer days,
mark one of the earliest and most significant groupings of historical
information handed down to us. Gerrit Van Schelven, Holland's first
historian, coordinated this event, preserved the information, and
published them in the local paper. |
Additional Sections:
c. 1997 The Joint Archives of Holland - Hope College |
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