School Days

It's September and the children are back in school or staying home to study this year.  I was inspired when I was reading a section of an essay by Freda Pollema Versluis written for her teacher, Alberta Visser, in Student for 6 years at a 1 Room School.  She wrote about the time she attended school in Blendon Township, probably South Blendon No. 2, in the early 1940's.

                                                           South Blendon No. 2

It struck me that the way time is spent in school is different, but certain things remain the same.  The subjects from arithmetic to spelling were studied, and although methods for learning have changed, the need for the same, practical knowledge hasn't.  

One area of study, though, did change over time - maps and geography. Borders are drawn and different areas are mapped out, but the world has now had sufficient time to determine what a state, country, continent, and the world physically look like.  In another treasure in the holdings at the Gary Byker Library is a textbook that belonged to Tom and Bernard Hughes.  It is easy to see from the illustrations and through improved mapping technology those things that have changed in the 146 years since this book was published.

Anderson's Historical Series, Anderson's Grammar School United States

Published in 1874

Front Inside Cover Inscribed with both Tom and Bernard Hughes names and address

Held at the Gary Byker Library in Hudsonville, Michigan

     

It's interesting to see Michigan drawn close to correct, but our dear west coast has some changes that need to be made!

Tom and Bernard Hughes, Inscription in front cover

What did you like in school?  Are there subjects you wish you could have studied?  

As always, I would love to read your comments and thoughts about this or any other post you've found interesting.  

A Cure for What Ails You

Another memory shared by Gerrit Elzinga in Memories of Bygone Days is titled, "Contagious Diseases".  There he shares a couple of very interesting cures for the diseases that were prevalent at that time.  Here are two brief sections taken from the above mentioned essay.

My earliest memories of contagious diseases was when chicken pox, scarlet fever or measles infected a family member.  The township health officer was notified; he was a farmer who lived about three fourths mile southeast of our place.  He would come and nail a quarantine sign on the house entrance door and convey instructions which also stated that after all family members had recovered he would be back to fumigate the house to kill all the germs.

At the proper time he returned with a bag of sulfur and a burner which he set in the center of a room.  Some sulfur was poured on the burner which was set afire making an indescribable stench which was to purify the air, destroying all the dangerous germs that might still be living in the corners of the room.

Later in this essay he writes of an even more interesting way to alleviate a cold.

In my early years we had a famous folk remedy for the chest congestion type of colds.  Farmers usually were able to trap skunks, and housewives would fry out the skunk fat.  This was allowed to cool.  The patient's chest was massaged with a liberal layer of this odd smelling mess.  The chest was then kept warm with a heavy woolen cloth.  It seemed to us that the smell alone would clear out any lung congestion,  and speed recovery.  Chicken soup was always and still is recommended as good medicine to speed recovery.

This might have prevented a few children from pretending to be ill to stay home from school or get out of chores if this was the cure!

Here is a page out of the Record of Dangerous Diseases, Blendon Township, 1905 - 1931: 

There are 20 cases of measles on just one page!  Sadly, one can see 4 deaths listed, also.  Fortunately, with the advent of vaccines, those numbers have fallen dramatically.

Going North to Blendon

As I am still home and my resources are limited, I’ve been poking through my own family history for ideas to share on this blog.  Doing so led to an hours long journey through pictures and stories I have of my ancestors.  It also brought on some chuckles when I remembered some of the history I was told when I was young about relatives who were probably royalty before they came to America.  They weren’t.  They were farmers and shopkeepers and fishermen and housewives, and as I’ve come to believe, their stories are worth more admiration than if I were to have ancestors who were hobnobbing with kings and queens.

Because of the help of genealogists all over the country and some still in this area, I have stories and memorabilia  that are truly precious to me.  One of these is a transcription of a letter that was sent back home to Germany from my great, great, great grandfather, Claus Behrens, detailing the great opportunities he saw in coming to America. *

Claus was correct when he encouraged other people he knew from Germany to come to America for the opportunities it held.  His family was able to benefit with their own businesses.  His son John owned a general store in Blendon Township.  

This is a commemorative plate from John Behrens' store.  It was common in the early 1900's to give these to patrons.

Also benefiting from Claus's journey from Germany was my grandfather Ken Behrens, Claus's great grandson.  Ken owned a TV and Radio shop that was located on Van Buren Street in Hudsonville.

Both of his descendants were able to own their own businesses just as Claus felt his family would have the opportunity to do.

What I think is the greatest example of Claus's hope for his family is that of his great-great grandson John Behrens and his wife Megan Odegaard. Together they opened a business on the same land that the family has owned since the 1867.  Claus built a farmhaus and planted an apple orchard and now in 2020 John has returned to working with this same piece of land building a ciderhaus. He and his wife's business have truly taken Claus's vision on a better life full circle.  **

Farmhaus Cider, Blendon Towhship - John Behrens and Megan Odegaard owners

Henry and Ida Behrens home, later Marvin and Marian Behrens home
- located on the same propetry as Farmhaus Cider

*Thanks to Gary Seydel for sharing this letter and other information while I researched the Behrens family.

**I am so grateful that John Behrens and Megan Odegaard allowed me to take photos of the farm and Ciderhaus for this blog, and, also, for creating so many delicious, tasty ciders!  To learn more about the Farmhaus history visit Farmhaus Cider, About Us.

Hudsonville's Favorite Recipes

I've found myself with some extra time for the next couple of weeks and with it I'm getting some projects done and I have time to bake!  I'm paging through cookbooks looking for something different to try, and finding some recipes that I remember from when I was growing up.  In the 1970's oleo was still called out as an ingredient!  I was reminded of a donation recently received from the estate of Carol Groters, a long time resident of Hudsonville.  It included a 1950's cookbook put together by members of the Hudsonville Congregational Church.  I thought it would be fun to share a couple of those recipes.

Perhaps you remember when the Congregational church was located on Van Buren Street or maybe the old building looks familiar.   It is still standing, but is now a family home.

Peanuts seem to be a pretty popular ingredient.  I've never heard of these recipes, but I have a feeling some of you do.  I'd love to hear about some of the food you made back in your day that you don't see around anymore.  

Go ahead and share in the comments section.

Memories of Freda Alward

Another lovely memory that Freda Alward shared in her journals speaks of her mother churning butter.  Freda's parents were Fred and Lubbertje (Bessie) Boldt.

The home that Fred and Bessie lived is located on 40th Avenue and Barry Street.
Fred Martin Lubwig Boldt b. 03 Nov 1857   d. 05 Jul 1939
Lubbertje "Bessie" Snyder b. 22 Feb 1860    d. 27 May 1927

The Box Social

The library is lucky to own three copies of  Blue and Maize. It was the first yearbook  published for Hudsonville High School in 1921.  

The memories of events are still included in many current yearbooks, but many of the ways they were celebrated has changed.  The seniors of 1921 enjoyed a box social and it was included in the yearbook, as described below.  

Box socials, although not common now, were a way to raise funds.  Young ladies would decorate a box, pack it with a lunch, and the young men of the area would be allowed to bid on the box.  Frequently, the winner of the box would then have the pleasure of sharing its contents with the young lady who offered it up for auction.

Also found in this  yearbook were ads for local businesses.  Perhaps you recognize the name of the store or the owner?

                          

The library was given a wonderful opportunity when Polly (Alward) Lowing, a long time resident of Hudsonville, let us scan 10 albums of amazing photos and beautifully written journal entries that her mother, Freda (Boldt) Alward, compiled.

Transcriptions of the journal entries are located at the end of this post.

The first journal entry is a simple, yet elegantly written entry describing the beginning of her project.

 


Another photo that we're able to share is a picture of the homestead of Robert Alward Jr., along with the accompanying journal entry.

Journal Entry 1 - "Reminiscing - Sat in my chair Put my head back closed my eyes folded my hands and rocked.  Thats what I did most of the time those hot and muggy days of the summer of 1988.  And as I rocked I tried to remember something pertaining to the pictures I had picked for the album I had decided, before the hot weather, to put together for each one of you kids.  I didn't think I'd have more than a couple of dozen pictures but it mushroomed into a much bigger project than I had first planned.  I now have over 100.  When ever I would think of something pertaining to my childhood, I would jot it down and write about it later.  These were leftover."(sic)

Journal Entry 2 - Homestead of Robert Alward Jr.  It took 5 years to build.  Some of the stones and lumber were from the Pine area near cemetery and grange hall.  Some had been burned or charred.