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.

Another entry from the Memories of Bygone Days by Gerrit and Gladys Elzinga shows what young women could do once they graduated high school. The options were limited, but teaching provided a good income for most. While you read this and think back to your own experiences, reminiscing about the friends you had, the way you spent your school day, and what you did after you finished with your own formal education, be it High School, 8th Grade or earlier, how would you compare it to your children’s education or your grandchildren’s education? What do you miss about those times? What brings a smile to your face? Feel free to comment on your own experience.

Here is a photo found in our own collection at the Gary Byker Library.  The only comment about the photo was that it is Alward School and the two teachers are Henrietta Brink and Gladys Gerrits.

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The Improved Curtis Washer

Recently we were given a copy of  "Memories of Bygone Days" by Marshall and 
Jacqueline Elzinga.  It was written by his grandparents, Gerrit and Gladys Elzinga 
and is filled with humorous, eloquent and  descriptive essays, wonderful poems, and
black and white photos from a bygone era in Hudsonville's early history.

Too good not to share, we've decided to feature an excerpt from this work on our new
local history blog, where we hope to share more such Elzinga entries, as well as 
entries from other hidden gems given to us over the years by local residents.

So, sit back and be transported briefly back in time to find out some of the early 
ways life began to get easier for people in the early 1900's - courtesy of Gerrit 
and Gladys *!

*(Gerrit Elzinga, b. 1906, d. 1994; Gladys Elzinga, b. 1905, d.1993, married in 1931)