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  Joint Classified Advertising Database Education Religion Tourism Resources Commerce Holland History Economic Forecast Weather Joint Classified Advertising Database |
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 TIMELINE: Holland's First Fifty Years1846September: Led by 35-year-old Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, 60 men, women and children left Rotterdam for the U.S. aboard the "Southerner." After 47 days, they landed in New York, immediately departed by train for Buffalo, then from there by boat to Detroit.Van Raalte left the group in Detroit and travelled in search of a place to locate. With Judge Kellogg of Allegan, Van Raalte explored the Black River area late in 1846. He spent some time by the Grand River also.
1847February 9: Van Raalte and a small group of immigrants arrive by oxcart from Allegan at a site near the mouth of the Black River. The group is aided by Isaac Fairbanks, a government Indian agent working with the local Ottawa Indians, and Rev. George Smith, a missionary to those Indians. Two log cabins are built. Wheat bran and corn are the main foods, which had to be cooked on an open fire. Bread was made by rolling it in balls and baking in the ashes.
1847Summer: Arriving in Holland are 700-800 Dutch immigrants. They find an undrained swamp, insect infested forests, inadequate shelter, poor food supply, and smallpox, malaria and dysentery. Much work was done to drain the swamp and build housing. It was sheer faith and the strength of the Dutch that pulled them through.
1847Fall/Winter: The fall and winter were mild. The sicknesses of the summer ended and building continued, including a church, a school, and then stores. A Mr. Grootenhuis and a Mr. De Young traveled to Albany and New York and brought back supplies for the stores -- sent by boat.
1848Nearly 4,000 immigrants settle into the area around original settlement.
1849The Ottawa Indians, led by Chief Waukazoo, and accompanied by Rev. Smith, leave Holland to settle near Northport. Also this year, school began with one teacher -- Elvina Langdon.
1852Holland has seven stores, two hotels, a baker, a tinner, a tailor, a jeweler, and various machine, wagon and blacksmith shops.Market Square -- a busy place where food is sold -- eventually becomes Centennial Park. Industries are taking hold -- a sawmill, brickyard (1848), shingle mill and ashery (wood ashes converted to lye and potash salt) are among the first. The General Synod of the Reformed Church in America grants permission for founding of the Holland Academy, forerunner to Hope College.
1855John Van Vleck becomes principal of the Academy and Van Vleck Hall is begun.
1857The Cappon-Bertsch Tannery is established.
1862Holland Academy becomes Hope College.
1867Holland is incorporated as a city and Isaac Cappon is chosen as the first mayor of the new city.
1871The Pere Marquette Railroad arrives in Holland.On October 9 a major fire destroys much of the city on the same day as the historic Chicago fire. A total of 243 homes, 75 stores, shops and offices, 15 manufacturing firms, 5 churches and 3 hotels are destroyed. The Cappon-Bertsch Tannery is heavily damaged. Cappon home is destroyed.
1872The 25th Anniversary Celebration.
1873The Panic of 1873 hits Holland, and the newly rebuilt city faces a devaluation of 50 percent and interest rates of 10 percent.Isaac Cappon begins construction of a new Italianate home on West Ninth Street.
1876Rev. Albertus Van Raalte dies, resulting in the largest funeral procession the town had ever seen.
1890sHolland more than doubles in population from 3,945 in 1890 to 9,000 in 1897, and industrial growth stays in pace. The furniture manufacturing business grows here, as well as tourism. The Interurban line and Great Lakes ships allow almost daily connections to Grand Rapids and Chicago.
1897The Semi-Centennial Celebration.
Source: The Holland Museum |
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