Zeeland in Ottawa County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
First Reformed Church
Photographed By Kathy Garman, June 6, 2021
1. First Reformed Church Marker
Inscription.
First Reformed Church. . Early in 1847 a group of Dutch families met in Goes, on the island of Zuid Beveland, and organized themselves into a congregation. With their pastor, the Reverend Cornelius Vander Meulen, the group sailed in three ships to America in search of freedom. They established their new homes in this forested area of Michigan and named it after their native province of Zeeland. The center of the community was the log church. In 1866 a wood frame structure, with fieldstone foundation, patterned on the church in Axel, the Netherlands, was built on this site. Use of the Dutch language was eliminated gradually and in May 1943 was discontinued. The present church, built around the old, remains as the physical evidence of the Dutch immigrant community founded upon a resolute faith in Almighty God.
Early in 1847 a group of Dutch families met in Goes, on the island of Zuid Beveland, and organized themselves into a congregation. With their pastor, the Reverend Cornelius Vander Meulen, the group sailed in three ships to America in search of freedom. They established their new homes in this forested area of Michigan and named it after their native province of Zeeland. The center of the community was the log church. In 1866 a wood frame structure, with fieldstone foundation, patterned on the church in Axel, the Netherlands, was built on this site. Use of the Dutch language was eliminated gradually and in May 1943 was discontinued. The present church, built around the old, remains as the physical evidence of the Dutch immigrant community founded upon a resolute faith in Almighty God.
Erected 1976 by Michigan History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number L0397A.)
Location. 42° 48.622′ N, 86° 0.854′ W. Marker is in Zeeland, Michigan, in Ottawa County. Marker is at the intersection
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of East Central Avenue and South Church Street, on the right when traveling east on East Central Avenue. Located across the street from the Three Corner / Vande Luyster Square Park & Gazebo. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 148 E Central Ave, Zeeland MI 49464, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Three Corner / Vande Luyster Square Park & Gazebo
Located across the street from the First Reformed Church of Zeeland.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2021, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. This page has been viewed 228 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 22, 2021, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
