Zeeland in Ottawa County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

New Groningen
⎯⎯⎯
Jan Rabbers

New Groningen Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kathy Garman, June 6, 2021

1. New Groningen Marker

Inscription. New Groningen The village of New Groningen, which prospered in this area from 1855 to 1865, was the second colony established by a group of Dutch immigrants led by Jan Rabbers. The first settlement, Groningen, was located about one mile southwest of here until 1856 when the road between Holland and Zeeland (present-day Paw Paw Drive) bypassed the community. Unlike the Dutch farming communities of Graafschap, Drenthe and Overisel, founded in 1847 and 1848, Groningen developed as an industrial town. Around 1847, Jan Rabbers built a log house and a store on land now occupied by the New Groningen Cemetery. He erected a sawmill nearby. Other ventures followed. The Veneklasen brickyard, opened in 1851, is the most enduring industry. Many Veneklasen brick buildings stand today.

Jan Rabbers Jan Rabbers, the leader of a colony at Groningen and New Groningen, left Drenthe, the Netherlands, in 1846 with immigrants from Utrecht, Friesland and Overijsel. They planned to join Albertus Van Raalte in Holland, Michigan. After arriving in New York aboard the Isabella Bath, the group went to Albany to await instructions from Van

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Raalte. According to tradition, in 1847 Rabbers and fourteen others walked from Buffalo to Detroit. Believing the Black River to be a likely trade route, Rabbers established Groningen about one mile southwest of here where the river appeared to be navigable. When the bridge washed out in 1856, the settlers relocated here where they had better access to the new road between Holland and Zeeland. They called the settlement New Groningen.

Erected 2001 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number L2096.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1855.

Location. 42° 48.471′ N, 86° 2.457′ W. Marker is in Zeeland, Michigan, in Ottawa County. It is on Paw Paw Drive 0.3 miles north of Business Interstate 196, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10537 Paw Paw Dr, Zeeland MI 49464, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

Jan Rabbers Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kathy Garman, June 6, 2021

2. Jan Rabbers Marker

marker is in West Michigan,

specifically in Greater Grand Rapids,

and in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Veneklasen Brick Company / Veneklasen Brick (approx. 0.3 miles away); New Groningen Cemetery / Groningen (approx. 0.7 miles away); First Reformed Church (approx. 1.4 miles away); Zeeland Cemetery (approx. 1.4 miles away); Michigan's "Chick Center" (approx. 1.4 miles away); P. Henry De Pree / P. Henry De Pree House (approx. 1.6 miles away); The Van Raalte Farm (approx. 2.1 miles away); Noordeloos / Noordeloos Christian Reformed Church (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Zeeland.

Additional commentary.
1. New Groningen Schoolhouse
https://www.zeelandhistory.org/home/1881-new-groningen-schoolhouse/

— Submitted September 22, 2021, by John Garman of Rochester Hills.

New Groningen Schoolhouse and Historical Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John Garman, June 6, 2021

3. New Groningen Schoolhouse and Historical Marker

The Schoolhouse was established in 1881.

Photographed by Kathy Garman, June 6, 2021

4. New Groningen Schoolhouse and Historical Marker

Looking northeast on Paw Paw Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2021, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. This page has been viewed 1,491 times since then and 111 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 22, 2021, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.

New Groningen⎯⎯⎯Jan Rabbers

New Groningen
⎯⎯⎯
Jan Rabbers