This month’s training we tried to answer all of your questions! You will find these questions, and answers, listed below. A big thank you to Caz for researching everything!!!
Q: What happened at Windmill Island when Prince Bernhard visited?
Prince Bernhard at Windmill Island
A: He only had Dutch money on him and they were unable to make change. So he paid for himself and Governor Romney.
Q: Which of the glass churches in the museum lobby are still in existence?
A: 9 of the 10 are still in existence. The Baptist (actually a Mennonite church) in Beverwijk recently celebrated their 100th anniversary. The Reformed, New Church, in the Hague closed in 1969, but is now a concert hall. The CRC in the Hague is still standing, as well as the Old Catholic, Catholic Parish, also located in the Hague. The Christian Scientists Church in the Hague is still standing. The Hebrew Synagogue, New Synagogue, in Amsterdam is now part of the Jewish History Museum. The Roman Catholic Church, St. John’s in Hertogenbosch is still standing, as is the Remonstrant Church in Oude Wetering. Unfortunately, the Orthodox Reformed Church was lost in the bombing of Rotterdam in 1940 (we think).
King Basket Factory
Q: Why are there so many hills in Kollen Park?
A: The King Basket Factory had steam vats sunk partially into the ground. When the factory was razed to turn it into a park, the concrete resisted all attempts to dynamite it into pieces. So they covered them with dirt and called them the upper and lower terraces.
Q: It is now a public park, but what used to be located next to what is now Cold Stone Creamery?
A: The Center Theater and Herfst Photo Studio
Q: How much does the marriage cabinet in the Dutch Galleries weigh?
A: It is estimated to weigh 1,000 pounds!
St. Francis Catholic Church
Q: Why was the Catholic Church (St. Francis) located so far out of town?
A: When the parishioners wanted to build a church building (they had been meeting in people’s homes), the bishop wanted them to purchase an acre of land to allow for future expansion. The first building was built in 1903 and the parish moved to Maple Ave. in 1913 (so much for future expansion)!
Q: Why do all of the areas on the south side of Lake Macatawa seem to be named “Park”?
A: Macatawa Park was named in 1881. Many of the other parcels started as just that, parks, and as the land was divided and sold the plats were named after the parks that had been there. Vacationers/city dwellers looking for somewhere quiet to relax.
Q: Tell me more about heating at the Cappon House.
A: Parlor fireplace and small parlor stoves served as first heating system (probably one in the family parlor and one in the dining room). The kitchen stove heated that area of the house. There is no mention of any stoves upstairs. In 1889 a boiler was added to the basement and the radiators were installed. The boiler was replaced in the 1920’s and again when the house was remodeled by the Trust/city.
Q: Where is the stone by the 16th Street access to Kollen Park from? It is dated 1901.
A: Holland Shoe Company was located on the north side of 16th between Cleveland and Harrison. This was the factory’s cornerstone. It is probably not too far from it’s original home, although none of the photographs we have of the factory show the stone’s actual location.
Keep your questions coming! If we get enough, we’ll hold a “Your Questions Answered, Part 2″ this fall!
Upcoming training: Living in Victorian Times at the Cappon House on April 16 and 20 (training to be held at the Cappon House); no training in May due to Tulip Time; Summer 2013 training will be on temporary exhibitions and behind-the-scenes of collections storage.
-Taylor
