Brief History of Holland MI
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Albertus VanRaalte, a 36 year old pastor from Overijssel, Netherlands, led 100 followers to emigrate to Holland, Michigan on September 24, 1846. They sailed on the "Southerner" from Rotterdam, and seven weeks later arrived in New York City. Initially, VanRaalte planned to plant his "kolony" in Wisconsin, but he found temporary employment in Detroit for his countrymen and  he took the Michigan Central Railroad west to the end of the line, Kalamazoo. There he met with people who convinced him that western Michigan would be an ideal location for his colony. [source: Larry B. Massie, 1993]

As immigrants arrived form the Netherlands, VanRaalte directed them to different localities, arranged and named as they are in the Netherlands. Thus a newcomer would be situated with people of his same background. That is how the communities surrounding Holland, Michigan received the names of Zeeland, Vriesland, Drenthe, Overisel and Graafschap. [source: Tulip Time Tour Guides used at Pillar Church, Holland, Michigan]

Because so many colonists died in the spring and summer of 1847, there were many orphans. The council decided to build an orphanage, but by the time it was ready to be occupied, there was no one to live in it. The orphans had been absorbed into the families of friends and relatives. [source: Tulip Time Tour Guides]

In June of 1847 a group of 70 people from Grafschaft-Bentheim, near the Dutch border, founded the village of Graafschap. They left Bentheim on March 25, 1847 and journeyed through Coevorden and Hasselt by canal, to Rotterdam, where together with 34 emigrants from Drenthe, Netherlands, they boarded the "Antoinette Marie" on April 4, 1847. After an uneventful voyage of 49 days, they arrived in New York on May 23. Traveling by way of the Hudson River to Troy, and then by the Erie Canal to Buffalo, they sailed across lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan and finally, June 20 landed at Macatawa. This ended 77 days of travel for the group. The sailors rowed them to the shore and showed them how to construct shelters from the boughs of evergreen trees. These shelters were a protection against wind but not against rain, must less against mosquitoes. After resting a few days, they were determined to go on to Holland and there took up residence in the Indian Village. VanRaalte was too ill to help them at this time so Jan Rabbers helped them purchase government land, which at the time was going for $1.25 an acre.

Pioneers built a log cabin church in 1847 where the current church is now. Current church members built a replica of that original log church, just 24 x 32 feet, next to the present sanctuary, which was built in 1862. Before erecting a log church near this site, early settlers attended services conducted by Rev. VanRaalte in nearby Holland. This church was affiliated with the Reformed Church in 1850, but 7 years later made ties with the Christian Reformed Church. Services were in Dutch were 2 generations.

The structure is made of hand-hewn timber and one of the roof beams spans its entire length. Education facilities were added in 1922 and the entryway was expanded in 1937 and 1949. The sanctuary was renovated in 1956.