161 Cedar Grove Wisconsin 150 Years of Dutch American Traditions

Cedar Grove, Wisconsin: 150 years of Dutch-American Tradition compiled byRichard Dykstra and Patrica Premo. This is a copy of the book that is on the shelves at the Community Library. We are concerned both by the potential loss of the book for any of a variety of reasons and by the fact that it has a substantial amount of data that is not easily searched. By the process of the digital archive, we protect the book and allow for Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Thank you to A. Kenjar for the efforts to photocopy for the project

25397145

unknown

161 Cedar Grove Wisconsin 150 Years of Dutch American Traditions.pdf

Linda Valentine Snippets

Linda Valentine Snippets

Copyright undetermined

text

eng

Wisconsin

History

Midwest

Kenosha County, Wisconsin

PDF

Valentine
SNIPPETS of SALEM
j

161 -Cedar Grove
Wisconsin
150 years of Dutch-American
Tradition

Compiled by
Richard Dykstra
and
Patrica Premo
Contents: This is a copy of the book that is on the shelves at the
Community Library. We are concerned both by the potential loss of
the book for any of a variety of reasons and by the fact that it has a
substantial amount of data that is not easily searched. By the process
of the digital archive, we protect the book and allow for Optical
Character Recognition (OCR). Thank you to A. Kenjar for the efforts
to photocopy for the project

The citiations used to denote information found it the book should
reference the book itself, not this booklet.

o -118 pages
NOTE:
The materials herein were contributed by those of the area who wished that the history they have
experienced be saved for the future generations. These may represent private documents as well
as previously published articles and obituaries and images from their saved collections ..
Researchers should also refer to the Digital archives at the SALEM COMMUNITY LIBRARY for
more images in this collection or digital images of items photocopied in this booklet or related to
the topic ..

Compiled 8/2009 by L S Valentine Copyright©Valentine2009

Cedar Grove, Wisconsin
150 Years of Dutch~American Tradition

Project Coordinator
Richard Dykstra

Editors
Richard Dykstrll
Pmrici<\ Premo

Standard Printing, Inc.
Cedar Grove, WI

1997

3 3210 1251921
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The editors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the following groups and individuals:
The staff and volunteers at the Sheboygan County Historical
Research Center for assistance in obtaining reference material
and photographs for this text.
Erin Dykstra for inputting and formatting early-draft copies of
the text.
Cedar Grove Publlc Library for providing space for weekly
meetings.
Jordan Dykstra for providing delivery service between editors.
The Holland Guild Gezelschap for underwriting the book's printing costs.

Copyright © 1997 by
Holland Guild Gezelschap

Special thanks to Richard A. Dykstra for his boundless devotion to this
book project. His dedication, commitment and hard work have resulted in
a wonderful sesquicentennial gift to this community now and for years to
come. For his contribution or innumerable hours spent researching, writing.
verifying. and ediling, Rich deserves our heartfelt appreciation.

With sincere gratitude,
Cedar Grove Sesquicentennial Committee

Her Museum Board !'or assistance in providing phoLOgraphs for
the text.
Linda Dykstra for assistance in coordinating the book project
Joan Lenz for providing additional assistance whenever asked.
Lee Sternard for the cover illustration.
Bev Sohre for attending weekly meetings.
Mary Dykstra for copy editing several chapters.
Wilfred and Elinore Gesch for attending weekly meetings.
Robert Abicht for copy editing numerous chapters.
Greg, Chris, and Beth at Standard Printing, Inc. for helping keep
the book project on schedule.

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Including Primary Researchers)
INTRODUCTION ................................ 1

Richard Dykstra

AMSTERDAM, WISCONSIN.
Richard Dykstra

. ...... 5

GENERAL HISTORY.
. .............. 15
Joan Lenz, David Heuver
VILLAGE CHURCHES
. 29
Firs! Presbyterian Church, First Refom1ed Church, Calvary
Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Faith Reformed Church,
Rev. Van Rathbun, Annette TeRonde, Mary Dykstra
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS/HIGH SCHOOLS
.. 47
Marjorie Dirkse, Wilfred Gesch
POSTAL SERVICE .
. 69
David Neese
RAILROAD AND STREETCAR SERVICE .

83

F\·ter Fettt"rer

COMMERCIAL FISHING
Shirley Stokdyk Sager

RETAIL BUSINESSF$
Elinore Oesch

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
Bev Sohre

PUBLIC LIBRARY

. 95

. 103
. 135

l.kma Neu

!57

FIRE DEPARTMENT/FIRST RESPONDERS .

165

fvlEDICAL PROFESSIONALS,

175

Ri~·hard Lewi~, William May, Al Holk
Jo Ellar~on, Elinore Gcsch

SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

.. 183

Lcnz, LeRoy Winkc!horst. Eugene Lemmenes.
Americrm Legion Post No. 338, American Legion Auxilinry,
Caroline Kmis, Delores Non hot: Margaret Meerdink,
Marguerite Neerhof
.TiXH1

PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE .................. 207
Joan LenL, Carolyn Heinen, Leona Theune, Laveme Lemmenes

HEROES AND LEGENDS ....................... 227

Rct!ph DeSmidt

Chapter One In troduc ti on
By Richard Dykstru

A

fter 150 years the strong Dutch heritage of this small
Wisconsin cormnunity is still very evident Past and present business names include DeZwaan Restaurant, Dutch
Crust Bakery, Windmi1J Gardens, DeSmidt's Winkel van de
Achterhoek, and the Dutch Cleaners. The village also has
De Visch Windmill, Het Museum, the Holland Guild Gezelschap,
and an annual Hollnnd Festivu! during which area residents display their Dutch pride to visitms from throughout the country.
While increased mobility and ease of travel have had a sign if·
icant impact on the village, one need only page through a local
telephone book to appreciate the strong Dutch influence that still
exists. Names like Bruggink, Hilbelink, Huenink, Mentink, Prinsen,
DeMaster, DeRuyter, and Voskuil still dominate the listings.
A great deal of information has been written about the Village
of Cedar Grove since its founding in 1847, but most of those
writings are in report form and highlight only specific historical
subjects. Unti.l now that information has been scattered throughout local libraries, the Sheboygan County Historical Research
Center, and a variety of private collections. The purpose of this
text is to provide a single definitive source for people to Jearn
more about the histmy of the Village of Cedar Grove.
The concept for this project came out of a committee formed
to help celebrate the Village of Cedar Grove's !50th anniversary
in 1997. That committee, which was established to generate ideas
for the sesquicentennial celebration, consisted of Village
President Erwin Claussen, Holland Guild representative Leona
Theune. and community representatives Laverne Lemrnenes,
Dan Molter, Jane Herzog, Bev Sohre, Pat Premo, Joan Lenz,

Clwp1er I

Chapter 1

Lillian Wissink, Richard Dykstra, Carolyn Heinen, Larry Lenz,
Winson Graven, Judy Risseeuw, Karen Eernisse, and Bev Garside.
Most readers are probably familiar with the old saying "If you
want something done, ask someone busy to do it." Well, that is
exactly what was done to get this book finished in a timely manner. V•.fe asked busy teachers, busy factory workers, busy housewives, busy librarians, busy entrepreneurs, and busy retired
people to assist in the research and writing of the book. The
response from these people was typical of the response from area
residents whenever assistance has been needed on community
projects. VirtuJlly without exception people agreed to help
immedintely. 'Those who felt they could not complete the task by
themselves helped find someone who could. Pat Premo, librarian
for the Cedar Grove-Belgium Area School District, graciously
agreed to assist as co-editor for the project.
In suggesting this book as a possible sesquicentennial project,
I quite truthfully did not envision the project becoming as
involved us it has. It simply seemed that this was an appropriate
time to have all of the informntion that lws been written about rhe
Village of Cedar Grove cornpiled into a single source. Originally
the book was intended to have one main chapter devoted to the
general history of the village with a few lesser chapters covering
specific topics in more detail. It soon became obvious, however,
that the few lesser chapters would turn into much more, and what
was to have been a 150 page book tumed into a much larger reference. In total, an estimated 1,200 hours of research, writing, and
editing have been dedicated to this pmject by dozens of volunteers
who tmly care about the past, present, and future of this community.
As a teen I cared Vel)' little about the history of the community I lived in or about the past in genernl. I was far more interested in playing sports, getting my driver's license, buying a car, and
meeting my friends at Smitty's Sweet Shop. There we could play
the pinball machine, talk about the next week's activities, and sit
around making fun of just about everything. In school, I was
quite good at math and science but cared very little about history. I can still remember sitting in my history classes daydreaming
about everything but the subject being taught.
But something has changed over the years, and I now have a
much greater appreciation of the past and for those who con-

tributed so much to our heritage. It is difficult to conceive what
our ancestors went through to establish the communities we now
live in. Whi!e some immigrants were relative!)· Wialthy, many
more were not. The poorer immigrants trnveled in the cargo holds
of ships as they crossed the Atluntic Ocean and arrived in this
area with little more than the clothes on their backs. Many of the
immigrants were Jured here by promises of wealth and luxury
from friends or family members who had made the trek earlier.
In actuality lhose promises were made by lonely, scared settlers
who simply wanted someone to comm.iserate with. Though lonely
and afraid, these people did not give up. They worked hard, relying
on lheir faith in God, as they stilJgglecl to survive. With n work ethic
that is envied to this day, they built communities such as Cedar
Grove. For those bold pioneers we should be eternally grateful.
Perhaps the suggestion for this project and the countless hours
devoted to it are a form of penance for my paying so little attention to histmy in the past And perhaps the reason I now have a
greater apprecintion of the past is that I am finally beginning to
understand the impact" that our ancestors huve had on the world
\vc live in [Oday, Whatever lhe reason, the past now n1eans much
more to me, and it hns been a plcnsure and a privilege to play a
part in documenting and preserving the history of our community for generations to come.
At one point, shortly ufter this history project began, the editors considered rewriting chapters as they were submitted in an
effon to provide a common style and fom1at for the book. This
plan was quickly abandoned, however, for two main reasons.
First, it became obvious very quickly that the project time frame
simply would not allow significant rewriting to be done. The
entire project, from concept to printing, had to be completed in
le::.s than five months. Since the contributing authors were given
approximately two months to research and write their individual
chapters, there would be very little time for the book's editors to
do a ::.ignificant amount of rewriting after the chapters were submitted. Secondly, and possibly more importantly, the editors felt
that in doing any significant rewriting something might be lost in
the translation. While each chapter has been edited, efforts have
been made to maintain each author's individunl style. The one
exception to this rule involves chapters where so much infonna-

2

·'

Chapter 1

tion was provided that some degree of rewriting was necessa1y to
provide proper continuity of the edited material.
Contributing authors have made every effort to be as accurate
as possible in summarizing the historical data presented in this
book> Readers must realize, however, that some of the information in this book could only be obtained through interviews and
conversations with individuals having knowledge of the subjects
being discussed. Information obtained in this manner can only be
as accurate as the recollections of those providing it.
The authors have also tried to be as informative as possible in
presenting the histo1y of our villuge. It ls virtu[llJy impossible,
however, to say everything about every subject in the space
ullowed and to muke evetyone who reads this book think that
their particular business or family histo1y has received adequate
attention. Thus, the editors ask your understanding as you read
this text. This may be particularly true as you read the chapters
relating to village business and industry where a large turnover in
business over the village's 150~year history has made it virtually
impossible to cover every business entefprise thnt existed over
the years. As readers will find, those chapters are devoted prlmariJy to full-time business esw.bllshments that advertise, as well
as to some additional businesses with unique historical significance. Obviously, for a book of this nature, more attention will be
given to businesses and business locations with established his ..
tories and storied pasts.
As will be seen, input for this reference has been provided by
a large number of contributing authors with a wealth of knowledge about the Village of Cedar Grove. The editors gratefully
acknowledge the willingness of these authors to donate their time
and talents to this project. We hope that those reading this text
will appreciate the efforts put fmih by these individuals as welL
We also hope that readers will gain a greater understanding of the
roles that area church, business, and civic leaders have played
over the years in paving the way for continued progress while
maintaining and nurturing a profound appreciation of the past.

- Chapter Two Amsterdam, Wisconsin
By Richard Dykstra

T

he relationship between. the Village of Amsterdam along
Lake Michigan's shore und the Village of Cedar Grove
approximately one mile mland has been a topic of conversation for many generations. Unfortunately, as stories relating to
these two villages have been passed down from generation to
generation it has become somewhat difficult to differentiate fact
from fiction. The purpose of this chapter is to help clarify the
relationship between the two villages and to dispel some of the
myths and misconceptions that have been perpetuated over the
years. Some of the most common misconceptions regarding the
two villages include the following,
l. One common misconception regarding the two villages is
the suggestion that the Village of Amsterdam became the Village
of Cedar Grove. This concept was presented in a local newspaper
anicle as recently as 1988. An article in the July 3, 1988, edition
of the Sheboygan Press stated:

Cedar Grove 1-vas not olways Cedar Gmve. The first name of the
village was actually Amsterdam, and the village was not even in
today's location. Amsterdam stood east of today's Cedar Grove
along the Lake Michigan shoreline in the 1840s.
Background inf01mation for the subject newspaper article was
probably obtained from Cedar Grove area residents who thought
they were providing accurate data or from previously published
writmgs about the Village of Amsterdam. Unfortunately there
have been so many myths and misconceptions about Amsterdam

4

5

Chap!er 2

Chapter 2

communicated over the years that either source of information
was likely to be flawed.
In actuality the Villages of Cedar Grove and Amsterdam were
always separate entities and the two villages coexisted tOr many years.

2. One of the most frequently repeated misconceptions relating to the Villages of Amsterdam and Cedar Grove is the suggestion that Amsterdam was founded prior to Cedar Grove.
The Village of Cedar Grove wa:-; founded in 1847 by Rev.
Pieter Zonne. The land thnt became the Village of Amsterdam
was purchased by Gllbeti H. Smith in 1850 and was platted as a
village in 1852. The year 1852 appears to be: recognized as
Amsterdam's founding date since the 75th anniversary of its
founding was celebrated in 1927.
Gilbert Smith operated a small fishery along Lake Michigan's
shore for two years before he purchased the land that became
Amsterdarn. And while there may have been a few otht~r settlers
in the area by thut time, there is no evidence to support the sug~
gestion thm a formal community existed along the Jake shore
prior to the time Cedar Grove was founded in 1847.

Original Plat of the Villnge of Amstenlam
fPhGI\' (\,unesy

Ced~r

Grove Pl:hlk

Libr~ry\

to Sheboygan County officials on May 15, 1852. The same

document was received for record in the Sheboygan County
Register of Deeds office on September 8, 1852. This original vil~
lage plat appears to be the first official record of the name
Amsterdam being used for the settlement
While there were many Dutch immigrants living in and
around Amsterdam, it appears that many people of other ancestry
lived there as welL Several written accounts refer to the fact that
former Ohioans settled in the area both before and after the vii··
lage was platted. The Ohioans, who presumably were not of
Dutch descent, moved to this area after fishing became unprof~
itable in their own Lake Erie. Some written accounts suggest that
the Ohioans fished here during the summer months and then
returned home at the onset of winter. Other accounts suggest that
the former Ohioans maintained residence here, working as fish~
ermen during the summer months and as hunters and trappers
during the winter.
While the Village of Amsterdam was not founded by the
Dutch, there is some indication that it may have been named by
a Dutch immigrant. Several writings indicate that a Walvoord,
enher Gerret or his father Hendrik, may have been instrumental
m naming the village. This contention is based primarily on

6

7

3. Another common misconception is the suggestion that the
Village of Amsterdam was founded by the Dutch.
The land that became the Village of Amsterdam was pur~
chased and platted by Gilbert H. Smith, a Yankee who moved to
Wisconsin from the Lake Ontario region of upper New York
State in approximately 1847. According to Smith family history,
Gilbert Smith and his father William lived in the Port Washington
area of Wisconsin Territory very briefly and then set up a small
fishery near Cedar Grove in 1848. When William Smith passed
away that same year, he left the fishery to Gilbert. In 1850, when
Gilbert was just twenty-three years old, he purchased the land
that became the Village of Amsterdam.
According to documents available at the Sheboygan County
Register of Deeds office, the official plat of the Village of
Amsterdam was signed by Gilbert H. Smith and was submitted

Chapter 2

Chaprer 2

Walvoord family histories that were drafted well after
Amsterdam was established. The first reference to the nanling of
Amsterdam from a source other than Walvoord family histories
was found in a 1927 Sheboygan Press a1iicle about a celebration
marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of Amsterdam.
That August 29, !927, article states:

4. One additional misconception is the suggestion that Gilbert
Smith purchased the land that became Amsterdam from the
United States Government.

In actuality Gilbert Smith was not the first or even the second
owner of the land that became the Village of Amsterdam.
According to documents in the Sheboygan County Register of
Deeds office, the land was originally acquired from the U.S.
Government by Charles and Carlton Wheelock of Brown
County, Wisconsin Tenitory, in the late 1830s. While Town of
Holland Abstracts indicate that the tfansaction took place in
1836, the official U.S. Government document describing the land
transfer was not signed unril 1839, and the transaction was not
recorded in the Sheboygan County Register of Deeds office until
November of 1850. The reason for the lengthy delay between
transaction and recording dates may have something to do with
the fact that the document describing the transaction had to be
signed in Washington, D.C. It is also possible that the signed document was then filed with Wisconsin's Territorial Headquarters in
Green Bay rather than with the newly organized Sheboygan
County. Apparently it was a common practice to fi!e such docu~
ments at territorial headquarters prior to Wisconsin becoming a
state in 1848.
In 1847 Charles Wheelock, whose residence was then listed
more specifically as Green Bay, sold the land to Elisha Morrow
of Brown County. The document describing this transaction was
signed in Brown County, Wisconsin Territory, on October 21,
1847, and was recorded in the Sheboygan County Register of
Deeds office on August 12, 1848.
Gilbe11 H. Smith purchased the land from Elisha Morrow and
his wife Maria in October of 1850. The document relating to this
transaction was signed in Brown County, Wisconsin, on October
5, 1850, and was recorded in the Sheboygan County Register of
Deeds office on November 14, 1850.
Gilbel1 H. Smith, whose sons went on to found the Smith
Brothers Fish Co, in Port Washington, eventually owned much
more land than that which became the Village of Amsterdam.
While it is possible that some of that other land was acquired
directly from the U.S. Government, the land that became the
Village of Amsterdam was not. Although much of the land
~iilbert Smith owned in the Town of Holland was acquired from
mdividuals rather than from the U.S. Government it is still possi-

8

9

D1: Sweeme1; in his extemporaneous address, told of the time
when he was a boy and lived in Amsterdam. He said that, as Jar
os he knew, there was no definite reason for naming the settlement lmt that it 'h'as generally conceded that Henry [Hendrik}
lfhfl•oord Jwd been responsible for the name ond that he H'ished
to give it a name which made the settlement appear as if the
Hollanders settling there had been mai11ly responsible for the
founding of the village.
It is not known in what vein the latter portion of the above
statement was made or whether the statement, if intended to be
factual, was totally true. Two more likely reasons for the viHage's
name arc the fact that the lowlands along Ltke MicPjgan reminded the Walvoords and other Dutch settlers of their native land, and
the fact that the new village was located in Holland Township.
Hendrik Walvoord, who purchased shares in the Holland
Trading Company shortly after moving to the Town of Holland
in late 1849, appears to have been a rather influential businessman in this area during the mid-1800s. In Amsterdam the
Walvoords engaged in merchandising and in the sale and transportation of cord wood from the Amsterdam pier. The pier, which
according to the original plat of the Village of Amsterdam was
"one thousand feet in length,'' allowed ships of significant size to
dock there. Various written accounts alternately give credit to the
Walvoords and the Smiths for construction of the pier in approximately I 85 I. In all likelihood both families probably had something to do with construction of the pier since it was a necessity
for both the Walvoords' and the Smiths' business interests.

Chapter 2

ble that he did, as legend has it, walk to Green Bay to initiate,
process or record some of his land transactions.
5. One last misconception regarding the Villages of
Amsterdam and Cedar Grove is the suggestion that the once
thriving Village of Amsterdam ceased to exist immediately after
the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad was completed
through Cedar Grove.
While there is a consensus that Amsterdam was once u thriving community, the village's degree of economic success is some~
whm more difficu!! to discern. In reviewing hundreds of pages of
material both at the Sheboygan County Historical Research
Center and the Cedar Grove Public Library, no thoroughly documented information could be found regarding the number of
businesses located in Amsterdam during its peak economic times.
One ott-repeated statement regarding the Village of Amsterdam
suggests that at one time the village had "four stores, three
saloons, a blacksmith shop, und n barrel factory." This basic statement has been found in numerous books and newspaper nrticles
published over a relatively wide time frame without any indica-tion as to the original source of the statement. The earliest mention of the oft-repeated phrase, as found at the Historical
Research Center, was in an August 29, 1927, Sheboygan Press
article about the 75th anniversary of the founding of Amsterdam.
That article referred to remarks made by then 74-year-old Dr.
William Sweemer who lived in Amsterdam as a child, and stated:

D1: Sweemer also told of the business places of the village, the
four stores, including the "department" srore of Wm Tilberg,
Walvoord, Stokdyke and Hoyt, the three saloons and the blacksmith shop and the rough factory where the old fashioned
hogshead barrels rvere made.
This newspaper article excerpt appears to have become the
basis of information for many future writings about the Viliage of
Amsterdam, but the information is based on recollections from
sixty to seventy years before the quotation was made. A more
conservative estimate of Amsterdam's peak economic times was

Chapter 2

also found at the Historical Research C~n~er. The more modest
estimate was included in a Febmary 10, 1900, Cedar Grove
Business Directory that was published by the Shebo.vgan Herald.
That publication, which included historical perspectives of both
Cedar Grove and Amsterdam, stated:

In her thriving period here could be found two stores, blacksmith
shop, saloon and coopershop thar employed ten ro twelve men,
•vhich then H'as considered quire [a] concern
Regardless which estimate of Amsterdam's peak economy is
correct, the village's economic boom was short-lived. By 1872,
when the first steam locomotive reached Cedar Grove,
Amsterdam was already suffering from shortages of cordwood
and lumber for shipment from its pier, and commercial fishing
was not as prosperous as it once had been. The advent of rail travel through Cedar Grove also reduced the need for much of the
lake shipping that had played such a significant role in
Amsterdam's economy. As a result of these adverse economic
conditions, many Amsterdam residents moved into Cedar Grove
at about that time. Some of these people even placed their homes
on skids and brought them along as they traveled with teams of
oxen. An August 12, 1947, Sheboygan Press article, which was
based on the recollections of a former Cedar Grove area resident,
suggests that Amsterdam was totally abandoned soon after the
railroad passed through Cedar Grove. But the stories in that article, though very well told, are derived primarily from reminiscences and recollections rather than from documented fact, and
many of the recollections are based on second-hand infmmation.
While some, maybe even most, of Amsterdam was abandoned
after rail service reached Cedar Grove, it appears that at least a
few residents stayed, and the village continued to appear on printed maps. An 1889 plat map of Amsterdam indicates that there
were still ten buildings standing or occupied at that time. By 1902
that number had dwindled to just six. And while Amsterdam was
no longer a thriving community after the railroad passed through
Cedar Grove, it continued to appear on county and township
maps into the 1900s.
In 1904 ninety of Amsterdam's originally-platted 131 building

10
11

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

lots were "vacated," which means the legal description of the
individual lots ceased to exist and the lots reverted ro J single,
larger parcel of land. Sometime between that point and 1916 the
remainder of the village lots, though still platted Jnd having individuaJlegal descriptions, began to be shown on maps o.s a single,
larger p<:~rcel of land. By that time the land's ownership had been
transferred several times. The property was sold by Gilbert
Smith's widow Minerva to William H. Timlin and his \:vife Celia
in 1899. Timlin, who became a State of Wisconsin Supreme
Court Justice in 1907, sold the land to Ernest Smith in 1910. and
Smith resold the propetiy to Charles Olson and his wife Carrie
just months letter. A 1916 Town of Holhlnd plat map sho\vs
Charles Olson as owner of the property that was once known as
Amsterdam and no longer shmvs Amsterdam a~ J. separute entity
on the map.
Several additional lots of the original plat of Amsterdam were
replatted as part of Longfield Shores subdivision along Lake
Michigan in 1948. According to the Sheboygan County Register
of Deeds office it appear~ lhctllub that were not vucated or replarted over the years b:Jve rcwincd the \egul dc.~cription;; d1Hl were
assigned to them during the original platting in ! 852, This rn::ty
explain why Amsterdam began to reappear on some Town of
Holland plat maps after some time. A 1941 Sheboygan County
Atlas shows the "Village of Amsterdam" as a platted parcel in the
Town of Holland, And a 1992 Sheboygan County Atlas and Plat
Book still shows "Amsterdam Plat" as n separate entity along the
south edge of Longfield Shores in the township.
In much the same way that Amsterdam retained its name long
after its economy faded and its population declined, the enterprise that helped establish the community endured for a time as
well. And although commercial fishing was no longer the booming industry it had been during the 1850s and 1860s, it did continue along Amsterdam's shores through the first half of the
twentieth centUiy. The last commercial fishermen to operate a
business there were Dan G. Smies and Jim Wieskamp, These two
men operated the Amsterdam Fish Co. until the late 1940s. At
that point the business was purchased by Dan G. Smies, Abram
Smies, and Jannes Smies with Dan G. Smies having controlling
interest Following that pun::hase, most of the nets and equipment
12

AnlS!erdnm Pier. Fish Shnmy. nnd Ice House During the Lnte 1940s
{Photo Courte>y Wnyne VoskuilJ

as the pier (which was
no longer the original Amsterdam piet), were moved to the operations of D. Smies Sons' fishery at the end of the present Smies
Road. Approximately one decade later rising lake waters and
crashing waves brought down the fish shanty that had once been
the hub of activity in the Village of Amsterdam. By then there
was virtually no commercial fishing activity in the Town of
Holland, and most lake shore property was privately owned land
dotted with summer cottages.
By the late 1960s, plans were being formulated to convert portions of the land at Amsterdam into a public park. Eventually the
Town of Holland, Village of Cedar Grove, and Village of
Oostburg obtained land for the park through trade, donation, and
purchase of the prope1iies involved. The three municipalities then
set up a park commission to oversee operation of the public
lands. The facility, appropriately named Amsterdam Park,
includes a sand beach, boat launch, and shelter. On wann, sum~
rner days the Amsterdam area is once again buzzing, with one of
the most popular activities being sp011 fishing,
Sport fishing, which has replaced commercial fishing as an
activity along Amsterdam's shore, has been bolstered in recent

!bJt had been used nt Amsterdam, as well

13

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

years by the stocking of Lake Michigan with lake trout and
Chinook and coho salmon. The enhancement of sport fishing was
actually the last of a chain of events that began in the 1950s when
lamprey began to invade the waters of Lake Michigan in large
numbers. The lamprey, a destructive eel-like fish that presumably
reached the Great Lakes through the St. Lawrence Seaway, decimated the lake's population of lake trout, perch, and other large
fish that fed on the much smaller alewife, When the population
of large fish declined, the alewife population increased drarnaticnlly. The overpopulated alewives frequently washed ashore creating a Jess than desirable sight and smell. Officials first
controlled the lamprey problem with various management techniques and then began stocking Lake Michigan with lake trout
and salmon to help limit the alewife population. This approach
reduced the alewife problem significantly and greatly enhanced
sport fishing in the area as welL
So it is fishing that once ugain draws people to the shores of
Lake Michigan nlllch as it first attrarted Gilbert Smith to the area
in the micJ.. J800s. And although the fishing is now of a somewhat
different nature, it has helped revive the shores of Amsterdam,

14

Chapter Three General History
By Joan Lenz nnd David I-Ieuver
Immigration and Early Settlement
he people of the Kingdom of the Netherlands were enduring difficult times in the 1840s. The population was
expanding but the land was not. This led to overcrowding
and fewer opportunities for the nation's youth. Young men won·dered how they would support their families and how they could
provide even the most basic needs for their children. Conditions
were unsettled at the very JeasL For many families food was
scarce, the guilder was even more scarce, and there was an
uneasiness regarding religion. The Refonned Church of the
Netherlands had been reorganized in the early 1800s, introducing
a new, more liberal doctrine that was not accepted by all. This
controversy became an important issue among many pious Dutch
Protestants.
By the 1840s economic conditions within the Netherlands had
been somewhat depressed for nearly thirty years. The industrial
revolution which had been so successful in parts of Europe was
less successful in the Netherlands. Trading centers like London
and Hamburg began to overshadow Amsterdam, and high taxes
plagued the Dutch people. Compounding all of this was the devastating potato blight of the mid-1840s. When this inexpensive
mamstay of the Dutch people disappeared from their tables, it led
to Widespread hunger amona the working class and agricultural
families. A combination of ;ocial, economic, and religious conditions, including the issue of basic survival, led to a decision by
many Hollanders to seek their fortune elsewhere. America, the
spacious land of milk and honey, awaited them.
Imagine the emotional family meetings that must have

T

15

Chapler 3

C!wpler 3

occurred as many Hollanders chose to leave their native land. In
some instances entire families left together, while in others a single family member was sent ahead, anticipating that other family members would follow. Often, aged parents and grandparents
were left behind. Family members surely had to face the fact that
they would never meet again on this earth. In preparing for travel, many possessions had to be sold or given away since only a
limited amount of clothing, a few essentials, and non-perishable
foods could be taken on the voyage. This difficult decision meant
material and emotional separation. Emotions must certainly have
run the gamut from heartbreak to euger anticipution as family
members left for the adventure of the new world.
The first leg of the journey, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, typically lasted over thirty days according to most written accounts.
For all but the wealthy this leg of the journey was made aboard a
crowded, dirty, possibly even lice-infested or rodent-infested
ship. The inunigrants knew that the journey was perilous and
knew that terrible storms awaited them on the Atlantic Ocean.
They also knew they would be facing sea-sickness, hunger and
illness as they traveled but con!lnuecl jusr the same. Upon arrival
in New York, the immigrants went through customs, interviews,
and brief health screenings. A health problem or disability could
mean another temporary family separation, but then finally,
thankfully, the Hollanders were on their own.
The Dutch immigrants who were headed to southeastern
Wisconsin often traveled by boat to Albany, then took a train to
Buffalo, a boat through the Great Lakes to Sheboygan or
Milwaukee and then traveled overland to their new "home."
From 1845 to 1848, Hollanders arrived quite regularly in southeastern Wisconsin.
While written accounts vary somewhat regarding the first
Dutch settlers in Sheboygan County, it appears to be fairly well
accepted that Jan Zeeveld and his father Lawrence, Jacob Smidt
(DeSmidt), and Teunis DeVos arrived sometime in 1845 with
Gen"it Koiste (TeKolste) arriving in late 1845 or early 1846.
Other famibes who reportedly arrived in the area by 1846 include
those with last names of VandenDriest, Caljou, DeLyzer,
Vrijheid, VerDuine, and Voskuil.
These early settlers had heard of a fe11ile area of old-growth
16

forest abundant with wildlife. The location was in a prime spot
located along an impoitant trade route on the Green Bay Road and
Sauk Trail. The area was near Lake Michigan and was also along
a mail route. The land was inexpensive at eight to twelve dollars
an acre for usable farm land and just $1.25 an acre for timber land.
Gerrit (Gert Hendrik) Koiste, who was from Aalten in the
Netherlands, purchased the land that became the Village of Cedar
Grove from the United States Government in 1846. Mr. Koiste
was instrumental in the settlement of Cedar Grove as revealed in
the following recollections of a young woma.n whose family
immigrated to the United States sometime later:

Grandma was 8 years old and had a vil,id recollection of the
events, .. coming home (in Gelder!mzd) in the spring of 1847 and
finding herfatheJ; brothers and neighbors reading a lerterjrom
G. H. Koiste . ... He had bought land and built a home. . reporting the land could be had for practically nothing,- where deer
were so plentiful that fresh meat \1'GS always to be fwd; where
plums could be picked fi·om the wi11dow ond the finest sugar
oo::.ed out (~frrees. He advised his friends in Gelderland to come
to America and settle in Sheboygan Coullfy.
It is no coincidence that Holland and Zeeland, Michigan;
Pella, Iowa; and Cedar Grove, Wisconsin are all celebrating their
sesquicentennials in 1997. In early 1847 three separate parties,
each under the direction of a prominent Dutch minister, left the
Netherlands to establish settlements in the new world. The three
ministers, who had reportedly studied together in the
Netherlands, all settled in the midwest but in distinctly different
areas of the midwest. One group, led by Rev. R.C. VanRaalte, settled in Western Michigan while a second group, led by Rev. H.P.
Scholte, settled in southern Iowa. The third group, which was led
by Rev. Pieter Zonne, settled in the Cedar Grove area.
Various written accounts suggest that those arriving in this
area in 1847 include familv names such as DeSmidt, Walvoord,
Daane, Ketman, Voskui( Wissink, Eernisse, Stokdyk, and
Sprangers. It i~ not known which of these early settlers may have
been a pa11 of the Rev. Pieter Zonne contingent.
The Reverend Zonne, who is generally credited with founding
17

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

and cabins raised. One early settler in the Town of Holland, Pieter
Daane, wrote:

.. the early settler cleared off sujjicient ground, cut the logs into
proper lengths and hauled them with a yoke of oxen to the spot
designated for the house. Then the)' had a bee with what neighbors they could get together, to help them "log up" or raise their
house or shanty, as they were called. The house }ras logged up to
a proper height, a!JVays taking care to have the back part about
1 112 feet lm-ver than the jl-ont. The roof C(Hisisted of basswood
troughs, or trees split in two and hollowed out. These were laid
on the top of the shamy, side by side, the hol!mv side up, and over
the opening one was laid with the hollow doH'n to shed the rain.
!11 the jl'om an opening ;vas cut for a dooJ; and next to the door a
place was cut for an 8 by 10 six-light H'indmv. Ve1y many had
nothing but a gmundjloOJ; stools sawed from logs were the only
seats, a chest answered for a table. Such were the homes of the
early settlers.

H!storicnl Marker Loc:ned Next to DeYisch Wwdmil!
on South Muin Street in Cedar Grove
(Photo Counesy H~t Museum)

the Village of Cedm Grove, was born in Vlaardingen, the
Netherlands, in 1807. Before becoming a leader in the Dutch
Reformed Church, he was 8 sail maker in Delft. Reverend Zonne
stayed in Milwaukee very briefly after reaching the United
States, ministering to the Dutch people there. He then led a group
of followers to this broad area of fenile clay soil covered with
hardwood forests in southeastern Sheboygan County. When the
Zonne contingent arrived in this area, the land was still inhabited
by friendly Sauk Indians and was teeming with wildlife. The
Sauk Indians had relinquished their land to the U.S. Government
in 1833 and had been given three years to move out. Many of the
Native Americans believed that the land was a sacred possession,
though, and stayed in the urea until approximately 1870.
Upon arrival in this area, the first necessity was a log cabin.
This had to be completed before winter set in. Trees were felled
18

Land was quickly cleared to raise crops of grain, corn, hay, and
vegetables. Except for occasional income from cleared timber or
the sale of a crop, the early Dutch settlers survived primarily by
living off all that this fertile land provided.
There is a great admiration for and interest in the lives of the
early pioneers. Every story carries its own joys and sonows. The
most heartbreaking story of this Jrea's emly settlement has to be
that of the propeller ship the Plweni.:r. The Phoenix, which had
left Buffalo, New York, on November 11, 1847, was bound for
southeastern Wisconsin with npproximately 175 Dutch imrni~
grJnts as well as an unknown m1mber of other passengers and a
c:a.·rgo of coffee, sugar, molasses, and hardware. The Dutch immigrants aboard the vessel had begun their journey from Rotterdam
itrSeptember of 1847 aboard the ocean Vessel The France.
Lake Michigan was rocked by a violent storrn on November
. so the Phoenix docked in Manitowoc to refuel and wait for
.~.· storm to subside. When lake waters calmed somewhat, the
:~.~oenix resumed its travel southward, parallel to the Lake
~Nl~?igan shoreline. At about 4:00a.m. on November 21, 1847,
;:P,,4S§_engers awoke to frantic cries of "Fire! Fire!" The ship's pas19

Chapter 3

Chaprer 3

sengers and crew battled the flames for a while, but the blaze was
out of controL Sadly, there were only two lifeboats aboard the
Phoenix. The scene is almost too awful to imagine.
There sat the Phoenix ablaze on the icy waters of Lake
Michigan, just five miles off Sheboygan's shore. Horrified citizens could see the fire clearly, but there was little that they could
do to help. Eventually the two small lifeboats reached shore. One
of the lifeboats immediately returned to the Phoenix in hopes of
rescuing others. The Delaware, a ship that was anchored at a
Sheboygan pier, also left port to help the foundering Phoenix, but
it was too late. Only three additional survivors Could be rescued
from the lake's icy waters. The Delmvare towed the smoldering
hulk of the Phoenix to shallow waters off Sheboygan's north pier
where it soon sank.
A bonfire was quickly built on shore to warm the cold, wet,
and grieving survivors. Only forty-six people were warmed by
those friendly flames. At dawn the ragged group traveled into
Sheboygan where they were taken into homes and cared for until
they could put their lives back together. That sometimes meant
weeks, even months of kind, tender-hearted care.
Touching stories of sacrifice and bravery have been told by
those who survived the Phoenix disaster. Passengers tossed anything they could into the water when the lifeboats were filled,
anything that would float. The water was bitterly cold and hands
numbed, grips were lost and courageous men, women, and children perished. Families were forever separated when young girls
were put into lifeboats while their parents and brothers faced their
doom. A succe.ssfu1 young Wiscon.sin businessman, David Blish
from Southport (now Kenosha), v1ms by all accounts an angel of
mercy giving the ultimate sacrifice, his own life, while helping
save the Jives of his new Dutch friends. Two young girls, the
Hazleton sisters, who were returning to Sheboygan from their
boarding school in Ohio, were seen embracing as they jumped to
their death within sight of their home. Two other children were
literally thrown into lifeboats to save their lives.
Some of the forty-three survivors aboard the two small
lifeboats are said to have bailed water from the boats with wooden shoes. On one of the lifeboats, passengers are said to
rowed with a broom for lack of an oar, The survivors watched in

horror as the Phoenix burned to the waterline and took with it
over 200 lives. Of the approximately 175 Dutch immigrants
aboard, only twenty-five survived. The known Dutch survivors
include Hendrik Esselinkpas; Berendina Willink; Hendrik
Wilterdink; Willemina TenDolle; Jan, Johanna and Harmina
Oonk; Hiram Ruselink; Derk Voskuil; Gerride Oberink; Mr. and
Mrs. Teunis Schuppert and Dena; Hendrika Landeweerd; Jan and
Mrs. J. B. Wissink; Hanna Landeweerd; Gerrit and Mrs. Antje
Geerlings and their children Henry, Jacob, Altje, Gerritje, and
baby Alberta who died very soon after.
The exact cause of the fire aboard the Phoenix has never been
determined. Some survivors believed that the fire was caused by
a careless, drunken crew that left water pumps unattended, thus
allowing boilers to run dry, overheat, and ignite surrounding
wood. Witnesses reported that water was flowing on the decks
shortly before the fire began. Was the water pumped onto the
deck instead of into the boilers? Or was this truly an accident,
caused by a burst pipe or some other flaw? There is no way of
knowing the exact cause of the blaze or where the fire began.
Muny survivors, quite understandably, prefened not to talk about
the disaster. Some moved on to settle elsewhere, while others
.started new lives right here in the Cedar Grove area and put down
new "roots" in our fertile soil.
While the early history of the Village of Cedar Grove is very
mteresting, land adjoining the village has a very interesting history of its own. Various written accounts suggest that at some
point while this area was being surveyed in the early 1830s, a
~mall natural salt lick was discovered. Since salt was considered
a very important commodity at that time, being used both to
attract wildlife and for the preservation of food items, the value
ofland with salt on it was significantly higher. With word of the
n.atura1 salt lick out, developers supposedly purchased nearby
Jand. with the hopes of making a fortune from this find. The
clt:::velopers' interest, which stretched from just east of the present
vlll;:w-f! limits to the shores of Lake Michigan, was called Salina,
clearly shown on an 1836 map available at the Sheboygan
Historical Research Center. Some written accounts sugthe developers strategically placed salt on the land to
the natural salt lick story, thus insuring increased value

20

21

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

for their property. Apparently the fact that there were no real salt
deposits was discovered very quickly and the land developers
never made their fortune.
While Salina, the area just east of the present village limits,
never did become a major settlement, the Village of Cedar Grove
grew quite rapidly. One of Cedar Grove's first settlers, Sweezy
Burr, lived in a typical log cabin on the south end of the village.
Sweezy and his home were instrumental in the early development of Cedar Grove. Very little is known about Mr. Burr's personal life, but his name appears often in accounts of early Cedar
Grove. Early settlers gathered at Mr. Burr's home to obtain provisions as well as to hear the latest news, swap stories, and pick
up their mail. As legend has it, Reverend Zonne is said to have
been standing in the doorway of Sweezy Burr's cabin, viewing a
nearby stand of cedar trees shortly after the settlement was established. This view prompted Reverend Zonne to suggest that the
new settlement be called Cedar Grove.
The little Dutch community had an auspicious beginning with
plenty of good land, a harmonious group of settlers, a dominie,
and very soon, its own church. Rev. Pieter Zonne began using his
log cabin as Cedar Grove's first church in 1848 and performed
Cedar Grove's first marriage ceremony there on November 16,
1848. On that date Phoenix survivors Derk Voskuil and Hendrika
Landeweerd were united in holy matrimony. Reverend Zonne
continued as pastor of that church until 1865. Today, three buildings later, the First Presbyterian Church still ministers to the citizens of the village. In 1853 a group of members !eft Reverend
Zonne's church to form the Dutch Reformed Church which is
now known as the First Reformed Church of Cedar Grove. This
congregation was formally organized in 1856 with the Reverend
VanLeeuwen as pastor.
According to several written accounts, the Village of Cedar
Grove was platted by Peter Huisheere at some point during its
early history. Mr. Huisheere, who was one of Cedar Grove's most
prominent citizens at the time, reportedly planned and platted
thirty-nine acres of a forty-acre tract. The remaining one acre was
purchased by Henry [Hendrik] Walvoord to be used as a cemetery.
As soon as crude homes were finished and families were
established within the young settlement, area residents' thoughts

22

turned to schools for their children. The first log school was built
in this area in 1847.
In 1861 the Civil War began, affecting villagers just as it did
the whole of our great nation. Many young men disrupted their
lives, some even sacrificing them, to stand up for freedom in their
adopted land. Just one year later another potential war captured
the imagination of area residents. The Indians were coming!
Rumors were circulating that Manitowoc had fallen and that the
conflict was headed southward. In preparation for the impending
conflict, weapons were gathered and guards were posted, but the
Indians never arrived. Thus ended the great Indian scare of 1862.
Apparently the entire incident grew out of exaggerations about a
few inebriated Indians roaming the countryside.
On a much more serious note, the years 1863 and 1864 saw
both great worry and great sorrow. During those years a terrible
smallpox epidemic spread throughout southeastern Sheboygan
County, and the Cedar Grove area was not spared. Many local
residents, both young and old, succumbed to the epidemic.
In 1872 the railroad arrived in Cedar Grove, thus securing the
young vill.age a permanent place on the map. The Milwaukee,
Lake Shore & Western Railroad reached the village in November
of 1872. Numerous written accounts suggest that there was a
heated debate between the village's north-siders and south-siders
as to where the railroad depot should be located. In actuality, it
probably only mattered where the railroad tracks crossed the vii~
lage's main thoroughfare, for this is where the depot was ce1iflin
to be placed. This occurred somewhat nearer the south end of the
original settlement, and businesses sprang up along the new railroad tracks nearly instantaneously. Quite predictably, the depot
ended up being right in the center of town as development shifted to take advantage of this new mode of transportation. At about
the same time railroad service reached Cedar Grove, Dutch
immigration, which had declined sharply during our nation's
Civil War, began to increase once again.
Twenty days of blizzards in February of 1881 buried Cedar
Grove and much of southeastem Wisconsin in fifteen feet of
S/J.Ow, As a result, the winter of 1880-81 was dubbed the "winter
_?{~he great storm." As legend has it, roads and trails still passed
9yerfences in April of 1881, and snow remained in gullies and

23

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

shaded areas until July of that year.
The first fifty years of Cedar Grove's existence saw the young
village thrive and prosper. Those years saw the development of
homes, schools, churches, and a post office. By the end of the
nineteenth century, the village had its own railroad station, a
physician, a newspaper, several blacksmith shops, hotels, a grist~
mill, a shoemaker, a tinsmith, a feed mill, and several stores. But
its pioneer days were now over and a new century dawned. Cedar
Grove's twentieth-century history is covered in great detail
throughout other chapters of this book.
The settling of the Cedar Grove area has been fllled with
human drama and emotion from the time of its first inhabitants,
the proud Sauk Indians, to the persevering Hollanders. Our brave
forefathers enjoyed the excitement of a new beginning as well as
suffering much disappointment and tragedy. The trials and tribulations of the early Dutch settlers brought strength, stability, and
determination (which outsiders see as stubbornness) to the area.
These were the growing pains of a healthy community, the litt!e
Dutch Village of Cedar Grove in the heart of our new !and.

Prior to 1899 aU of Cedar Grove's government services were
provided by the Town of Holland, Sheboygan County, and the
State of Wisconsin. Then in 1899 a group of area residents petitioned to incorporate Cedar Grove, thus allowing the village to
establish its own local government
At the time incorporation proceedings were being pursued, the
village had 317 residents, with ninety-one of the residents identified as eligible voters. A special meeting was held on December
19, 1899, to determine whether area residents wanted to proceed
with incorporation of the village. Of eighty votes cast forty-four
were in favor of incorporation with thhty-six opposed.
While the majority of voters favored incorporation, the
process did not occur without conflict According to early minutes of village board meetings, the Town of Holland contested the
incorporation proceedings with legal action and tried to have the
village's incorporation declared null and void. Their petition to
the Wisconsin State Supreme Court was reviewed by a justice
and was denied. The Town of Holland then dropped its Jaw suit

against the newly formed Cedar Grove Village Board. The exact
reason for the Town of Holland's actions throughout Cedar
Grove's incorporation proceedings was not clearly defined in any
available village records, but it is presumed that the township
wanted to maintain its status as the sole local governing body
within this area.
The first village election was held on January 16, 1900, with
forty-three votes cast. When the election was over, Mr. Garret
Lammers had the distinction of being the firs.t village president.
Garret Lammers was born in Aalten, the Netherlands, and imrni~
grated to the United States in 1854. By the time Mr. Lanuners
was elected village president, he had been an influential businessman within the village for nearly thirty years. Mr. Lammers
contracted with the railroad to provide grading for the new line
as it was constructed through Cedar Grove, built and operated the
first grain elevator in the village, and made several trips back to
the Netherlands, bringing hundreds of new settlers with him each
time he returned to this area. In later years Mr. Lammers served
on the Cedar Grove State Bank's Board of Directors and partici~
pated in several other business interests as well.
In addition to the election of a village president, the January
1900 vote resulted in the election of six village trustees including
William Brummels, William Meinen, J.L Ramaker, N.F. Potts, J.
Vande Wall, and John Mentink. At the same time J.M. VanderVen
was elected village clerk, J. Prinsen was elected village treasurer,
and A. Fonteine was elected supervisor, Peter Huisheere was
elected village assessor, and Herman Weavers was elected the
village's street commissioner. The first village board meeting was
held in an unoccupied Main Street house that was owned by the
new village president Garret Lammers.
Within a relatively short time the newly fom1ed village board
realized the need for an official village hall. In April of 1903, a
resolution was passed by the board to build a village hall for a
sum not to exceed $2,000. By the time the building was completed, nearly twice that amount had been spent, but the new
f~cility included features that allowed it to serve as a community
center as well as a village hall. This building, which stood just
_::;?uth of the present fire station along South Main Street, served the
vrl!age until March of 1947 when it was badly damaged by fire.

24

25

Village Government

Chaprer 3

Chapter 3

Ced~r

Grove's Main Street Village Hnll
(Photo Courtesy Her Museum)

In May of 1948, a resolution was passed to hold a special vote
on the financing and constmction of a new village hall not to
exceed $50,000 in cosL Following voter approval, this hall
constructed on Union Avenue west of !he Cedar Grove L",_ .._.·.'&\
School on property donated by the school system. This facilihdl
was used both by village residents and the school system as
gymnasium until the early 1960s when a new gymnasium
built specifically for the high school. At that time the village
became part of the high school and was remodeled to
additional classrooms and a new woodworking shop for
growing school district.
Over the years the village board has met in a variety of
tions ranging from an unoccupied house to a traditional
board room with a variety of other interesting locat
between. Some of the more interesting locations include a

26

hall, the library basement, a fire department truck bay, and the
village's water pump house. Of all the locations listed the village's pump house generated the most unusual operating procedures. Typically, the noise within the pump house was so great
that business could not be properly conducted unless the pumps
were manually shut off during the meeting. For meetings that
occurred from July through September of each year, when the
local canning company's demand for water was high, the pumps
would be restarted periodically to assure that the water tower
would not run dry. While the pumps were mnning, no official
business was conducted.
Since 1899 eighteen different rnen have been elected president
of the Village of Cedar Grove. Those eighteen men include
Garret Lammers, A. Stokdyk, G.E. Zimmerman, G.W. Soerens,
John Mentink, AJ. Schreurs, Joe Hesselink, J.C Dees, H.E.
Hannelink, H. Huenink, Dr. C. W. Meeusen, Elmer Olson, Edwin
Mentink, Henry Hannelink, George Ebbers, Harvcry VanEss,
David Heuver, and Erwin Claussen.
P2st records from the village clerk's office have revealed several interesting and sometimes humorous occurrences that tell a
lot about the people and their time. Until the late 1940s an official "Fall Clean-Up Day" was specified each year for the sole
purpose of tidying up the village, And in 1904 the village board
passed a motion to have a specific resident's name posted, with
notices given to local saloon keepers to probihit the sale of intox·icants to the person specified or to any member of his family.
While the village still cares very much about the welfare of its
residents, present-day board proceedings are far less personal.
Over the past several decades, the Village of Cedar Grove has
participated in the development of Amsterdam Park along the
shores of Lake Michigan as well as developing a softball field
just north of Union Avenue, Windmill Park along South Main
Street, and Independence Park, which is more commonly
referred to as "the new park," along Ramaker Avenue. The three
~ddttional parks supplement Veterans Memorial Park in providwg excellent recreational facilities for area residents. Memorial
P_grk, which was the village's first true park, was dedicated in July
of 1930 m honor of local veterans who served in World War I.
village has also played a role in the development of our
27

Chapter 3
local museum and recently acquired TeRonde House as well as
providing a new, much larger village library, expanded fire
department facilities, improved wastewater treatment facilities to
allow additional development within the village, and an office
addition to the village garage.

- Chapter Four Village Churches
Edited from Articles Provided by Each Congregation
t is to be regretted that so IIWTZ)' of the importam facts concerning the guidance of God, with the first settlers, vanished
n·ith them into the grave ... The histOI)' of those days, like the
giant forests, which once adorned God's beautiful earth, has vanished... We still have fragments of these histories, stored in the
memories of some ve1y aged people, but which have lost their
ji·eshness, and so miss the thread which nms through these histo·
ries ... But these things are now beyond recall, so we will concem
ourselves with dw things which still remain with us, lest in our
forgetfulness, our children H'i!l some day say, "Why didn't they
record those things for us?
Rev. Abram Klerk
June 30, 1905

I

It is obvious that Reverend Klerk, who served as pastor of
Cedar Grove's First Refonned Church during the early 1900s,
h;Jd a deep appreciation of history. He wou!d, no doubt, be very
grateful for the dozens of volunteers who have documented this
history of our village for generations to come. In reviewing and
compjling historical accounts of Cedar Grove's four churches,
one can clearly see "the thread which runs through these histo~
ries!' It is obvious that there is an interconnection, a lineage of
churches which in many ways parallels the strong Dutch heritage
of the community. The establishment and growth of each congregation reflects the courage and perseverance that brought the
early Dutch immigrants to this area in the mid-1800s.
While some local church records are quite detailed through
s_p-~_cific periods of time, the information regarding other time

28

29

Chapter4

Chapter 4

periods is more sketchy in nature, leaving room for speculation.
The following summaries are based on information provided by
each of the village's four churches, and are designed to provide
an overview of each church within the community.

On September 6. 1848, a small group of Dutch immigrants
by Rev. Pieter Zonne met and organized the first church of
Refotmed faith in whm soon became the Town of Holland_
Elders were elected, and a call was extended to Reverend
who had been ministering to the needs of the small but
Dutch community for nearly a year.
For the first several years of its existence, the church
tioned as an independent organization. A small log church
erected on a knoll on the east side of Green Bay Road,

known as State Highway 32, on land that Reverend Zonne had
purchased. For approximately twelve years, this building served
as the place of worship for the group.
The church was incorporated as a Presbyterian Church on
May 23, 1853, perhaps making it the oldest Dutch Presbyterian
church in the country. The congregation was thereafter known as
the First Presbyterian Church of Town of Holland. The five members of the congregation who accompanied Reverend Zonne in
signing the Certificate of Organization we~e_ G. Veldhorst, J.
Kiessel, J.D. Walvoort, B. Wissink, and T. Schuppert.
Immediately following the church's incorporation, Reverend
Zonne deeded the parcel of land on which the church stood for
the sum of "six pence." The land was legally described as being
"In the Northwest Qumier of Section 23, being eight rods long
and four rods wide on which the meeting house stands on the
East side of the Green Bay Road,''
Additional land was acquired in 1860 for the construction of a
Jurger church to accommodate the growing congregation.
Reverend Zonne remained pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church of Town of Holland until his death on August 8, 1865.
Reverend Zonne had once expressed that upon his passing he
de~ired to be buried on the spot where his first pulpit stood. When
he passed away in 1865 that wish was granted. Today, a simple
marble slab marks his grave, recording the fact that he organized
the first church in the Cedar Grove area,
Following Reverend Zonne's death, the church was without a
pastor for a period of about four years. During that time, another
i:>resbyterian group was worshipping in a schoolhouse just south
OJ the Village of Cedar Grove. The Holland Presbyterian Church
of Milwaukee, served by Rev. Comelius VanDer Yen, Rev. Frank
$hfoek, and Rev. John VanDeLuyster, held services and adminis~
te~·ect- sacraments in the schoolhouse for nearly eleven years.
Rec?rds indicate that the three pastors traveled by boat from
~;1\hyaukee to Port Washington and then traveled by ox team to
·-- \.~~---~edar Grove area.
: ···Efirlv_m 1869, the First Presbyterian Church extended a call to
VanDeLuyster to become pastor of the Town of
lgregation. He accepted the call and because his leadand acceptable to the group that had been

30

3t

First Presbyterian Church
The First Presbyterian Church of Cedar Grove is the oldest
congregation in the village, having its beginning in the Dutch
immigration of 1847 and 1848. Rev. Pieter Zonne, who had been
tutored by Dutch theologians H. P. Scholte and R. C. Van Raalte,
was the spiritual leader of a group of Dutch inm1igrants that settled in this area in 1847. An article about Dutch immigrants,
which was originally published in the Wisconsin M(/ga::Jne of
Historv, Vol. I. 1917-1918, states:
Unusual conditions, political, economic. and religious, hon',
from time to time, mused Hollanders to emigrate ro foreign
hinds, mul during rhe decade 1840-1850 I!Wny set sail for !he
United States .... Three Sf'j)(mlfe parties, eoch under(/ profilinent
ministe1; \rereformedfor the purpose t~ffmmding settlements in
the United States. Re1•_ R C VanRaulte led his people to the eastem shore of Lnke Michigan, where they j(mruled settlements
which later came to be among the prosperous cmwwmities of
Michigan. Under Rev. H P Sclwlte a party of Dutch immigrants ll'ent to southem Jml'(/ and settled o large troct of lund
purchasedfrorn the gm·emmcnt.. The parry led !1y Re\'. P Zonne
sec/fred by purchase .flmn the gm·ernment a section q!' country
hordering on Lake Michigan. some twenty miles soulh of the presellf city of Sheboygan

Chapter 4

meeting south of the village they soon united with the First
Presbyterian Church. Reverend VanDeLuyster initially resided
with members of the Zonne family. After the first few months of
his pastorate, two acres of land were purchased from the Zonne
heirs and a manse was erected on the property.
The church experienced steady growth and a prosperous
record for its first thirty years. Its greatest growth, however,
began in 1884 when Rev. John W. Roth stmied his pastorate of
more than three decades. Dr. Roth's education had begun in his
native South Africa and later continued in the Netherlands.
Eventually, he came to the United States and received a degree
from the McCon11ick Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Roth
believed in "indoctrinution from the cradle,,, and was reputed to
be an accomplished ariist and poet ns well ns a proficient transbtor of the ancient languages.
A number of notable events happened during Dr. Roth's long
pastorate at the First Presbyterian Church. Shortly after his installation on January 14, 1884, the comerstone was laid for u new
house of worship, The fony-by-eighty-foot structure was built at
a cost of $4,500 on the site of the previous church, adjacent to the
present Preshyterinn Cemetery on the north end of the village, A
new manse was built across the road from the church in 1893.
In 1898, a number of families in the church left to become
chnrter members of the First Presbyterian Church in nearby

First

Presbyteri~n Church Located Jus!
(Pho!o Courtesy Shebo)gan

North of Cetl~r Grove in the Eilfiy ! 900s

Cot~nty Historicn! Research Center}
32

Chapter 4

Sheboygan. In the century that has since passed, the two congre. _
gations have maintained a close relationship.
In 1910, the decision was made to deliver a sem1on in English
one Sunday afternoon each month. Within a year this was
increased to two English services per month, and within another
two years English services were conducted every Sunday afternoon. This shift from Dutch to English became necessary
because many young people in the congregation did not understand the language of their immigrant parents. Dr. Roth, who had
been educated in both languages, helped ense the transition.
In May of 1915, after thirty-one years of service to the congregation, Dr. Roth's pastorate ended suddenly when he was
stricken with paralysis on a Sunday morning. He died twelve
years later and, 1ike the first pastor of the congregntion, was
buried near the church he had served for so long.
In 1920, with Rev. John VerStraate as pastor, the decision was
made to move from the old churchyard just north of Cedar Grove
into the village itself. The congregation was canvassed for suh~criptions, and $50,000 was pledged for the new edifice. Land

Chapu:r.;

was purchased in Cedar Grove and a new church was built. On
Chaprer4
Sunday, November 13, 1921, the present building, with its three
Meyer, the church's educational facilities were expanded and the
large stained glass windows and Austin pipe organ, was dedicatbuilding was remodeled. In subsequent years, a handicapped
ed. The manse was completed about two years later. Construction
entrance was built, a youth center was created, and the sanctuary
costs for both the church and manse totaled $96,000. The former
was completely repaired and redecorated.
manse and propeny on the west side of the road were sold, while
A long and distinguished list of pastors has served the congregathe land on the east side of the roJd was retained us a cemetery.
tion of the First Presbyterian Church through the years, including:
The old countl}' manse still stands on the west side of the road. The
Rev. Pieter Zonne
church, however, was tom down to enlarge the cemetery which is
1853-1865
Rev. John VanDe.Lyster
now owned and managed by the Presbyte1ian Cemete1y Association.
1869-1870
Rev. John Arends
In 1936 the First Presbyterian Church lost over three hundred
1870-!873
Rev. John I. Fles
members when they lefr with the church's pastor to form a new
1873-1880
Rev. Evert Bos
congregation. The new congreg~Hion eventu:tlly becam12 CuJvary
!880-1883
Dr. John W Roth
Orthodox Presbyterian Church. According to the minutes of the
1884-1915
Rev. John Ver Straate
Presbyterian Church's General Assembly of 1937, the exodus left
1915-1925
Rev. John J. DeWaard
the First Presbyterian Church with a membership of only J06.
1925-1936
Dr.
Hany
B.
Foster
The suddenly small congregation was left with a huge physical
1936-1943
Dr, Jacob Bajema
plant and equally huge debt in the middle of the Great Depression.
1944-1945
Dr. Rev, Edward Huenemann
The First Presbyterian Church survived largely due to the ded1949-1952
Rev, Robert VanderHart
ication of renJaining church members and the leadership of Dr.
1954-1957
Dr,
Cedric
Jaggard
Harry R Foster and his wife Helen. Dr. Foster, who h<Jd been
1958-1965
Rev. Ernest Gutha
serving us pastor of rhe Presbyteriun Church, in Reedsburg,
1966-197!
Rev.
R.
Bruce
Meyer
Wisconsin came to Cedar Grove's First Presbyterian Church in
1971-1974
Rev. Arlest B. Hall, Jr.
J 936 and served as stated pulpit supply for two years before
1976-1980
Rev.
William
Stone
being formally installed as pastor. During that Ume Dr. Foster,
198! !983
Rev. Robert Woodyard
ever optimistic and hopeflll, worked to rebuild the morale of the
!984-!992
congregation and to reduce the congregation's debt. Dr. Foster's
Rev. Paul VanLoon (Interim)
1991-1994
Rev. Stephen Pike
acquaintance with denominational leaders and patience With the
!994-present
situation he!ped the congregation through a very difficult time.
Through the cooperation of the Presbyterian Church's Boa
First Reformed Church
of National Missions. the Administrative Council of the
According to denominational histmy, the First Reformed
and the support and donations of the congregants, the
Church of Cedar Grove, which was organized in 1853, was first
nearly $25,000 was eventually paid in full and the
called a "mission," Records of the First Presbyterian Church of
National Missions handed over the satisfied mortgages to
Town of Holland state that a group of its members, under the
trustees. Shortly thereafter, the local church's Articles
of Messrs B. Veldhorst, B. Wissink, and T. Schuppert,
Incorporation were amended and the name of the con_gre!ZariOJ
··withdrew to organize a Reformed Church in Cedar Grove at that
was changed to "The First Presbyterian Church of
The congregation's organizational meeting was held at the
Wisconsin."
of HJ. Boland on February 20, 1853. In the presence of
In the early 1970s during the pastorate of Rev.
of the Peace Vrede Regter, the First Refonned Church of
Grove was incorporated.
34

.'.~eadership

35

Chapter 4

A log home is believed to have served as the first meeting
place for this small group of worshippers. An early history of the
church, written in Dutch by Rev. Abram Klerk in 1905, described
the zea! of eurly church members as they gathered to worship:

The people H"Orshipped God in their homes. bw were not .mti4ied
until they also had a place for public 1vorship. What the people
had worked for and prayed for they had accomplished, but ll'irh
this new beginning they sri!/ did not hare a church to ll'orsh;p in,
nor a parsonage. But our forefathers were not easily discouruged, ond "hm•ing put their hom! to the plmt~ !lien: 11·m no !11!71ing hucki" Since rltere lvrts no church building, r1 home fwd to
toke the p!uce for sen·ices. Thus they gathered rogether in
home of John Kreunen, about a mile ond (/half southl!"e.st of the
present location of the church. It ~t·os sma!! bat the people came,
hung1y for the crumbs that fell from the table of the Lord,
they ll'ere fed.'

The church's first consistory' included Elders T. Schuppcn. G
Davel:::wr, D. Meeng.s. and J.W, Stapelbmp, and Deacons
Voskuil, G.J. Hilbelink, and HJ. Traas_ Under their leadership

Chapter 4
at the same occasion as the church's dedication.

The earliest membership records of the First Reformed
Church indicate that in 1860 the number of church families had
reached forty, with a total of 142 communicant members. In the
next thirty years the number of church families nearly tripled.
Minutes of a congregational meeting in 1887 stated that:

The church auditorium is filled to capacity on the Lord's Day.
The catechism classes and the Sunday School are grmving considerably. The Christian Sociery which meets Sunday e1·enings is
grcnving too large for the chapel and may be compelled to use the
chlii"Ch auditoriant
The passage of time has brought many changes that reflect
cultural changes within the Dutch community itself. During the
pastorate of Rev. Hem1an Borgers in 1875, families were requested "to sit together in the service," meaning that men and women
no longer had to sit in separate sections of the church~ Prior to

congreg;.uion purchased eight acres of lund from Gerrit KoJste
the sum of $200. Shortly thereafter, a call wus extended to
William VanLeeuwen who was then a pastor in Chicago.
<:mnual salary of $350 wns to be paid in qum1erly installments.~~
\Vith benefits including free rent, a gCJ.rden, and firewood CJ.S
ed. Reverend YunLeeuwen hegan his work as the first
ordained pastor of the Reformed Church in Cedar Grove i
Church records state that $445.48 was allotted to construct
church building in 1857. This stmcture was later used
church for other purposes and was eventually moved to a
currently owned by the Lloyd DeRuyter family. The congrega'
tion decided to construct a new, larger church building i
when its previous structure began to be used by the Dutch
The new church building had a sloping gravel walk to the
bordered by rows of stately poplar,s. A platform
"the stand" was positioned at the street for curbside drop-off
parishioners from horse-drawn buggies. Rev,
Stobbelaar was installed as the pastor of the congregatil
Fim Reformed Church of Cellar Grove
(Photo Counesy Firs! Reformetl Church)

36

37

Chapter 4
C1Iapter4

this, men sat on one side of a high partition between the rows of
DenOuden, who had previously served the First Reformed
seats, while the women and children sat on the opposite side.
Church,
and Rev. Raymond Meengs, a son Of 'the church. A
The congregation purchased a church bell in 1883. At the time
homecoming picnic and special communion service were other
of its purchase, it was decided that both quality and quantity must
highlights of the celebration.
be considered. The bell was to weigh no more that 550 pounds.
In July of 1955, the congregation purchased the J.D. Walvoord
That same bell is still used to call local parishioners to church
property just south of the present church parsonage. The seven~
each Sunday morning.
room house which was purchased for approximately $9,700
In 1893 an additional chapel was built to be used for Sunday
added much needed space for Sunday School and catechism. ·
School, Christian Society meetings, and the pastor's study. Years
After an educational wing was added to the church in the mid-·
later the building was sold to lW. Koiste, and todny it serves us
1960s, the house was sold to Harvey VanEss and was moved to
a home just \.Vest of the Union Station mini·· mart.
its present location on South Second Street.
The pioneer church took n firm srand against dancing and
On June 7, 1959, the First Reformed Church introduced a secliquor. During the church's early years, severJJ members were
ond
Sunday morning worship service to ease crowding in the
reportedly brought before the consisto1y for being intoxicated.
church's sanctuary. Prior to this, many parishioners were forced
Generally in these instances, the offending pa1iies were expected
to sit on chairs located in aisles, entrances, and exits. Under the
to provide a confession of guilt before the congregation during_~W
leadership of Rev. Louis Branning, other actions were taken to
the following Sunday service_ The church also petitioned the
deal with the ever-pressing need for space as well.
lage board not to allow dancing in villnge halls on ho.lidnys.
Groundbreaking for a new educutional wing occurred in May of
Work on the present church building was begun in the
1965 with concurrent remodeling of the sanctuary. The total cost
of 1905 under the direction of Jacob Leenhouts, an architect a
of this extensive building and remodeling project was approxi~
member of the Reformed Church of Milwaukee.
mate1y $150,000.
costs totaled $13,468.
By the mid-1960s, a committee was also being organized by
When the new church was completed, the old church
the
Refom1ed Church's Classis of Wisconsin to consider the forwas sold for the modest sum of $175 and was moved
mation of a second Reformed Church in the community. Shortly
between the current Union Sration mini-mart and DeZwam
thereafter, approximately forty families left the First Refonned
Restaurant. There the building was used a._<; a furniture store and
of Cedar Grove to become charter members of Faith
al parlor until its demolition in 1973. In 1912 the old brick parsonag1
\~~lonned Church.
was replaced by the present, more coJm11odious frame stmcture.
·,:[';;:~_·<__--Jhe First Reformed Church of Cedar Grove was led by one
All of the First Reformed Church's worship services
-;tnmJster at a time for over 125 years. That changed in 1986 when
conducted in Dutch until 1907. At that time, the morning
Moore joined Rev. Wayne Tripp in shepherding the conwas changed to English, but holiday services continued to
. A;, of 1994, the congregation included 266 families
delivered in the native language of the early immigrants. It
communicant members.
not untill919, over a decade later, that Christmas services
different pastors have served the First Reformed
to be presented in English. This modernization no doubt
·Cedar Grove during its 140~year history including:
voked some controversy among older congregants.
The congregation of the First Refonned Church celebrated
., __ WilJi,qm VanLeeuwen
1857-1861
1OOth anniversary in 1954 with 316 farnilies and 715
VanDerMeulen
1861-1863
cant members listed on the church rolls at that time.
'Herman Stobbelaar
1865-1873
commemorative services included addresses by Rev.
;~'tJ.'emian Borgers
1875-1881
38

39

Chapter4

Rev. Andrew Wom1ser
Rev. Evert William Stapelkamp
Rev. Henry Veldman
Rev. John Jacob VanZanten
Rev. Abram KJerk
Rev. Cornelius Kuyper
Rev. Gary DeJong
Rev. John DenOuden
Rev. John Euwema
Rev. Ray Olthof
Rev. Louis Nl. Branning
Rev. Corne!ius Hoekstra
Rev. Wayne Nellis Tripp
Rev. Joe Thomas Moore

Chapter 4

1882-1887
I 888-1894
1895-1898
I 899-1903
1903-1911
1911-1934
1934- I 939
19391946
1946-1950
1951-1968
1958-1968
1968~ 1976
1977-1995
1986-1997

Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church
The Village of Cedar Grove became the home of a third
gregation in 1936 with the establishment of the Cal
Onhodox Presbvterian Church. Thls church. which is one of
first Orthodox Presbyterian congregations in the United :-it<Jt";
was organized on June 9, !936, with Rev. John DeWuard
founding pastor.
Reverend DeWaard, a graduate of Princeton Seminary,
served for over a decade as pastor of the village's
Presbyterian Church< Then on June 7, 1936, the Presbyt;
Milwaukee sent a representative to the First Presbyterim
Church's morning worship service to read u resolution forbiddin
Reverend DeWaard from continuing his ministry there,·
matic action followed a protracted debate about church
between Reverend DeWaard and the synod and general assembl
of the Presbyterian Church. These events unquestionably
a very difficult situation for ull involved<
The situation soon revealed that Reverend DeWaard had
nificant following within his first congregation. According
several written histories, when Reverend DeWaard walked out
the First Presbyterian Church that summer morning in 1936
three hundred church members rose from their seats and joined
Within days of the Presbytery forcing Reverend
from the First Presbyterian Church, an organizational
40

Culvnry 011hodo.\ Pn::shyterinn Church of Cedar Grov~
(Photo Cnurt~>y C:ilvary Onhotlox Pre~bylnian Chun:hl

0~

was held in lhe village hall to consider tbe establishment of a new
congregation. In addition to formally calling Reverend DeWuard
as pa~tor, the congregants elected a number of former elders and
deacons from the First Presbyterian Church to serve the new con ..
gregatlon in the same capacity.
The first worship services of Calvmy 01ihodox Presbyterian
Church were held in the village halL A history of the church, writt~n by Rev. Henry Fikkert on the occasion of the congregation's
f.t£tieth anniversary celebration, describes how construction of the
Calvruy Orthodox Presbyterian Church building began.
-~everend Fikkert stated that "Pastor and people joined together in
d_·. . .uous lab.or to dig the excavation for the foundation and basement"
- _\·:f?n November 6, 1936, the cornerstone of the Calvary
-:· .,g!t~:h_ordox Presbyterian Church was laid at its present location on
J:)..)on Avenue. During the next four years, worship services were
the basement of the structure while the congregation
completion of the upper portion of the building. The offiof Cedar Grove's Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian
place on November 14, 1940.
;·
...·..•••.•.••.·.·.•.·.·.·.··•m·_::___

4t

Chapter 4

The church's pipe organ was installed in 1948. Six years later,
the present manse was built to house the pastor's family. An
educational wing, aptly named the John 1. DeWaard Memorial
Christian Education Wing, was constructed in 1969. This addi~
tion provided fifteen classrooms, a library, a church office, and a
pastor's study. More recent construction in 1985 included an
addition to the front of the building to accommodate the installation of an elevator.
Seven pastors have served Calvary Church during its first

sixty years including:

Rev. John J. DeWac\td
Rev. George J. Willis
Rev. Dean W. Adair
Rev. Robert K Churchill
Rev. Carl J. Reitsma
Rev. Henry H. Fikkert
Rev. Donald Rit<;man

1936~1940
1941~1944
1945~1947

1948~ 1959
1960~ 1966
1966~!991

1991-present

Faith Reformed Church
Like the Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church,
Grove's youngest congregation, Faith Reformed Church, had ·
roots in another church within the community. Growth within
congregation of the First Reformed Church during the late
and early 1960s had resulted in overcrowding at Sunday
worship services. Although the situation was alleviated
what by the introduction of a second Sunday morning
service, other options continued to be discussed. A
ry of First Reformed Church reports thm "for a number
there had been a few who hoped that our congregation
mother another Reformed Church in the community for the
pose of relieving the crowded conditions in the church."
To that end, a meeting was held on June 11, 1964, to
the formation of a new congregation. The initial
attended by Alfred DeRuyter, Oliver Davies,
Joseph Wisse, Earl Meinen, and Austin TenHaken.
dance was Rev. Jack Boerigter, pastor of the First
Church of Oostburg, who represented the Extension Comm.itt(
of the Reformed Church's Classis of Wisconsin.
42

Chapter4

The first order of business was the election of officers for the
start~up committee. Through these eJections Alfred DeRuyter
was chosen as chairman. The selection of a committee clerk was
not as easy. With four candidates norn.inmed for the clerk position. the initial vote was so spread out that there was no declared
winner. At that time Joe Wisse and Roland Debbink, who were
the two candidates with the most votes during the first balloting
were declared nominees for a second vote. Unfmiunately, the
second vote for the position resulted in a tie. Rather than cast the
deciding vote, Reverend Boerigter suggested a drawing of
straws. As the church minutes rend, "The one that drew the
longest straw would be declared elected. Roland Debbink drew
the shortest straw, so Joseph Wisse was declared elected as
clerk." At that same meeting, Earl Meinen was declared church
treasurer, n position he still holds within the church in 1997.
The new congregation's main advertising appears to have
been provided by announcements in the First Reformed Church's
hulletin. For t\vo consecutive Sundays, an announcemenl was
published inviting interested persons to an informational meeting
on June 30, 1964, in the basement of the First Reformed Church.
The first worship service of the f1edgling congregation was
held on July 12, 1964, in the gymnasium of the Cedar Grove
Elementary School on VanAJtena Avenue. Rev. August
Tellinghuisen, FieJd Secretary for the Board of North American
M1ssrons from the Reformed Church's Particular Synod of
Chicago, led the worship services two Sundays each month with
Reformed Church ministers filling the pulpit as appointed
Classis of Wisconsin.
January 12, 1965, the Cbssis of Wisconsin held a meeting
->-~~JSrmally organize Cedar Grove's newest congregation. Ninety
~_g1ble voter~ representing approximately fmiy families were in
~F~,9_dance. It was at that meeting that the name Faith Reformed
:-~_rch \vas chosen and that the first twelve~member consistory
§,,·,elected. The date to close charter membership was set as
Sunday. April IS, 1965~
February 22, 1965, a congregatio£1al meeting was held to
-~r :allmg a pastor for the young congregation. It was obvi~
::-.~·dJfficult task, as the group voted four times before reaching
tvn~thn·ds majority required. Mr. John VanMantgem, one of
43

Chaprer 4

the four Western Theological Seminary students on the ballot,
was finally selected. He was hired at an annual salary of $5,000
with an additional $500 per year allocated for utility expenses.
In April of 1965, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for a
church parsonage. This house on South Fourth Street remained
the parsonage until a larger home was built just south of the original parsonage in 1982. The approximate seven-acre tract of land
for the church and parsonage was purchased from Arthur
Meinen, a charter member of the new church, for one dollar.
The parsonage quickly became a significant meeting place for
groups within the young congregation. The house was built with
direct access to its basement through the building's attctched
garage, and the parsonage was located just two blocks from
village's elementary school gymnasium which was still
used for Sunday services. During the church's early
parsonage basement was used for everything from committee;~
meetings and choir practice to Sunday School and Bible Class. ·.t~·
By August of 1965, the congregation began formulating plans_·f~
for its first church building. A bouk entitled Chrisr and Architecturi~~m
provided inspiration for Faith Reformed Church's unusual
The book was written by Donald Bruggink, a theology profesSo1
at Weste1n Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, and
Droppers, an architect in Cleveland, Ohio. Unknown to many
read the book at that time, the authors were cousins who had
up in the Cedar Grove area years earlier. Both had immediate
extended family in the young congregation.

Chapter4

Faith Refonned Church's swooping roof line was designed to
draw worshippers' eyes upward to the heavens and. the glory of
God. The pulpit was centrally located, and was elevated to grant
parishioners visibility of the speaker and to communicate prominence over the sacraments. To give a sense of permanence, the
church's Communion Table and carved-granite baptismal font
were purposely constructed to be large and weighty. The
Communion Table, twelve-feet long and five-feet wide, is an
actual table where the pastor and elders sit as communion is
being served.
Four pastors have served the Faith Refonned Church of Cedar
Grove through its first thirty years including:
Rev.
Rev,
Rev.
Rev.

John VanMantgem
Philip Frens
Leon Dykstra
R "Van" Rathbun

1965-1971
1971-1974
1975-1988
1989-present

45

Chapter4

- Chapter Five Elementary Schools
By M;:ujorle Dirkse

High Schools
By Wi!ti·ed Oesch
Elementary Schools
s the early Dutch settlers UITived in Sheboygan County,
their first concern \Vac; building homes for their families,
Once the homes were established, churche:-; and schools
soun followed. Before public schools were available, children
were taught m home or in some settler's cabin. Public schools
came into existence as the population increased and the demand
for hetter educational opportunities grew,
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 established the government
of the Northwest Territory which included lands that later
Wisconsin and several other midwestern Slates. It
~eclared that "religion, morality and knowledge being necessary
government and happiness of mankind, schools and the
of education shall be forever encouraged."
,-W·isconsin territorial law of I 840 laid a plan for townships to
schools, including the examination and certification of
When Wisconsin became a state in 1848, its
l_1sytution provided for free education for everyone between
~~s- of four and twenty. It also provided for the election of a
sppermtendent of schools.

A

,

·

frequently reported that the first school in the Town
held in the home of a Mr. Ellsworth in 1848 and
, a Mr. VanKeuben. It is known, however, that a
landers had organized a school district east of
as 1847. This school was called Jefferson

47

Chapter 5
Chapter 5

School District No. 1 in honor of our nation's third president.
From the Book of Records of School District No. 2 in the
Town of Holland, much is known about the beginning of a school
which would Jater be known as South Ce-dar Grove SchooL This
school, as well as mJny smaller rural schools, eventually consol~
idated with the Cedar Grove School District All of the schools
that ended up consolidating with the Cedar Grove School District
in the early 1960s will be discussed briet1y in this chapter.
In 1849 a meeting notice was served Jccording to law by
William Berenschot to fort;Hwo qualified voters of what
became known as the South Cedar Grove School. Many, but not
all, of the forty··two qualified voters were Dutch. A meeting WJS
held on July 14, 1849, at two o'clock in the afternoon at the
of Sweezy Burr for the purpose of organizing the school~'-"""·"'
The meeting had been requested by William Mitchell
the town superintendent of schools. Excellent records were
by the school district thus providing us with accurate mlonllu-<jy
tion nhout a une--room school from lbe mid-l800s.
reports, teachns' names and 'v>i~:gcs, attendance
and supp!ies used. and details regarding the buildings arc i
ed in JVJilabJe records.
It is recorded that "Burr agreed to give u deed of l/2 acre
land on the Northwest corner of the Southwest quarter
25 a[ any time within three months of this date on receivino
dollars.'' Sweezy BmT was subsequently elected treasurer
School District No. 2, and James VanKeuben was chosen as
clerk. In a special report the school district clerk stated that
... the number of scholars betH·een !he age of 4 years and the
of20 )'ears on the 30th day ofiV!arch 1850 is 87.1 do further
tify that school has been taught by a qualified teacher
months in the year ending the first of April.

At a meeting held on May 14, 1850, district voters approved
tax to defray the necessary expenses for the teacher's wages
boarding and for repairs to the schoolhouse. Martha E. Lane
Abbot, later the Town of Sherman, signed a contract agreeing
teach the three-month summer term for the sum of one
twenty-tlve cents per week. The annual report dated

48

J, 1850, stated that Mr. Sylvester M. Higbe~ '?Vas paid seventeen
dollars per month when he taught. Male teachers always received
a higher wage than their female counterparts. The repo11 further
stuted that:
.. the schoolhouse H'as built of logs ll'ith a shingled roof and n·as
rulued at $80 witlwur entry and closets. Ir IW/s notfumis/ie(,/ with
owdoor conl'eniences. It H"asfumished with blackboards. Checks
roroling $132.85 had been 1-vritren Books used in the school were
.fiJ//ml's: Sander's Readers, Ray's Arithmetic, and Webster's
Hook. School fwd been 1-·isired by the ]'()l!'ll
S11peril1fendent two rimes and by the (d]icers (l the district board
jil'l: times.
ILl'

Spelling

At the school's annual meeting on October 15, 1850, a motion
wns made and supponed to have three months of winter school
commencing on or about the first day of December and three
months of summer school commencing on or about the first day
of May. The winter term \Vas to be taught by a qualif1ed man
teacher und the summer school was to be taught by a qualified
woman teacher, The winter class was usually taught by a man
because it was a generally accepted principle that a man could
keep order more effectively than a woman. The winter session
wa:-:. attended by older students because they were not needed as
much for farm work during the winter months. Younger children
,,usually attended the summer session, keeping them out of the
way of their busy parents.
Mmutes from the September 27, 1852, annual meeting of Joint
District No. 2 stated that it was
,motioned that S. Burr be the 'lybrarian 'of this district the ellSuCarried. The job of \vood for the schoolhouse was let to
Walvoonl, 12 cord to be de!hwc:d at the schoolhouse in
by the first da}' of December next at 75 cents per
wood is to be inspected and received by S. Bun; For
school year each family shall furnish stove -..vood on or
the 1st day of December next. The overseer of wood 1vill
-~emptfrom the wood tax.

4'

Chapter 5

At a special meeting in March of 1856, the district board was
authorized to build a new schoolhouse before the winter term. It
was to be thirty feet long and twenty-two feet wide, balloonframed, covered outside with one-inch boards, inside plaster and
lathed, and painted twice outside. Heat was provided by a stove
in the center of the room. Handmade benches seated four to
puplls per bench.
According to early records, at one time the building
120 pupils for the winter term. Because the enrollment was
large, it was decided to expand the facilities into a two-·room;;'J!
school. To provide this capability, u west wing was added to '
building in 1885 at a cost of $400. The district continued to
the building as a two-room school until the e::trly 1920s when
to decreased enrollment the building was once again operated
a one-room schooL In 1947, the school building was transformN
back into a two-room state-graded school and operated that
until it closed in 1960.
Approximately eight square, miles of land were included in
south side district when it wn;, first organized. To shorten the
uwce children had to vvalk to school and to relieve overcrowdir

Amsterdam and North Ced<:~r Grove School Districts were
nized in 1852 and 1857 respectively, With the addition of
two new schools, the size of Joint School District No. 2
reduced to approximately five square··miles.
The Sheboygan Coumy Centmnial School Direcr01y,
was published in 1948, reported a school term of nine
was begun at Amsterdam School in 1881. Ever alert to
trends in education, Amsterdam school installed blackboards
1912 and began to furnish free text books to students in
1948 the Amsterdam school hnd a piano, a radio, modern
books and an active PTA. Elvira Prinsen KJug hnd seven
the last year the school was open. When the school
district was annexed to Lakeview, South Cedar Grove and
Grove districts. The school building was moved and
and is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Eckwielen.
The North Cedar Grove School District No. 10 had the
tinction of serving as the first high school in the Town ofHol!
William C. Walvoord tells in his book Windmill Memories
the "upper room .. , The idea was to keep the older boys and

Chapter 5

in school for two or three years longer than they would normally
attend and to have them at school in the time of the year when
they could best be spared from the fann work. The text books
were the same as those used in the ninth and tenth grades at
Sheboygan Falls High SchooL In his book, Walvoord writes that
. .one ifl(eresting peculiarity ofthe Township Holland schools lWIS
the use of two languages. Our teachers rvanted us to talk American
on the school gmunds, bw the l'enwcular of our home folks was
not suonjf.ngotten or silenced. Frequem!y rhere resulted a comical
mix-up {;f'Dwch and Eng/i.<;h, '}{IJ!f.:.ee Dutch' Cis it H·us called
Nonh Cedar Grove School wns closed in 1961 and its district
became a part of the Cedar Grove School District.
Early meeting minutes of Fairview School District No. 6,
whJCh was located west of Cedar Grove along the present County
Higlm·Jy RR, were recorded in CJem1an script The Centum fa!
School Din:ctuJ~V describes in detail the nc\v schoolhouse of stone
tbat was to be built in J 869.
District members were to de!it'er one curd stone and a box of
each 80 'ackers' of land before May 1st. The schoolwas to have an entl)' and eight windows. In September the
wus polished and delivered \l'itfl fumiture into the nell'
'house and the old building was sold for $10.00.
schoolhouse was constmcted in the early 1900s and
untll 1944 when Elinore Gesch taught just six pupils
lOLW:h the district included a large number of schoolmany attended parochial schools. When Fairview
the land was annexed to the Random Lake and
:chool Districts. Like many mraJ school buildings,
~modeled into u house and is now occupied by the Jerome
used for many years by Maple Grove District

was located at the intersection of County Highways
\Vas erected in 1899 for the sum of $600. The necesto be raised in annual installments of $200. The
gratis by the men of the district Electric lights

50
51

Chapter 5

were installed in 1937. For some years the minutes of that
trict's meetings were written in Dutch, Maple Grove became
of the Cedar Grove School District in 1958.
Lake View School District No. 12, which is r
TV on Sauk Trail Road, improved its school building by installing
water system in 1945. When it closed in 1960, the distlict was
ed bet\.veen the Oostburg and Cedar Grove School Districts.
Greene School, which was located on County Highway
northwest of Cedar Grove, was named for Charles Greene,
first clerk None of the earliest mentioned voters had Dutch
names. Part of lhe origin3l school burned in the emly 1900s
was replaced by a building that wus used until 1962 when
dents began attending Oostburg and Cedar Grove schools.
remodeled building is now the home of the John Mentink
Beaver Creek School District No. 4 had a "modern
tile building erected in 1919." After it closed in the early 1
it began to be used by the Beaver Creek Saddle and Bridle
When the school closed. this district was divided between
Oo:;rburg nnd Cedar Grove School Districts.
Ho<.1rd School, which was located on County GW northwesL.1
Cedar Grove, closed in 1958. The 1948-49 Coumy
Directory states that

... although the school still has the cross lighting prevalent in
school buildings, it has the only classmom CO\'ered with
per in the county. An amique grand piano, co!OJful
well-arranged book cases help ro make the room homelik1
appearance.
Liberty School Joint District No. 11, which served
the Towns of Holland and Shermiln, was located on the
County CC and G northwest of Cedar Grove. A
school building, which served mral Cedar Grove from
its closing in 1961, was commissioned by Richard
was constructed by Mark A. Hesselink and Erin
school mode! is presently on display at the Cedar Grove
Library. When Libeny School closed in 1961, portions of its
were annexed to the Random Lake and Cedar Grove School Di.
Surprisingly, the Village of Cedar Grove did not Iwve

52

Chapter 5

.Scale·J\lodcl of Libelty School Bui!r in !995 to Help
the History of One-Room SchDols
(Pholo Counesy Oykstrn Engineeri11gJ

Preserl'~

School until 1906. At about that time a meeting was called to con~
changing the boundaries of the North Side and South Side
:.·'-~chools thut village students had been attending. Instead, it was
that the village would form a separate school district. At
meeting of the voters, held June 11. 1906, it was dec ida school on a lot purchased from Dr. VanAJtena. For
1906-1907 school term, classes were held in the viibecause the school building WilS not completed by the
of the school year.
tcJchers in the village's new two-room school were
incipal, who received forty-eight dollars per
Lubbers who received forty dollars per month.
teacher was hired. During the 1914-1915 school
manual training and domestic science classes
to the curriculum, and slate blackboards were
village's first elementary school building was used
a new, larger structure was built just to the west.
nentary school building was then used for many
Lodge and more recently as a storage buildGuild Gezelschap.
~:_Van_/\ltena Avenue School included four large class~a~:.ium, a large playground, and some of the most
53

Chaprer 5

Clwpta 5

Cedar Grov.:'s Flf$( Elemenlary Sehoul in Appro\immdy !907
(Photo Coull~>y H~t MuseDlll)

modern, up--to--date equipment nvaiL:lblc. The new brick
overwhelmingly displayed Cedar Grove's interest in u high
cationaJ standurd. With enrollment still rising, an addition
soon needed, The new addition provided more clas,rnnn
cafeteria, a lnrger gym, and shov,'er rooms in the
Finally, with increased enrollment due to the consolidation
rural schools, six new classrooms, including a large kindergar1
room, were added to the east end of the building in
In 1991 the school district's former Academy buil<iinorazed to make room for a new elementary schooL
January of 1992, the VanAltena Avenue elementary school
ing was closed and preschool through sixth-grade classes
into the new Union Avenue school. The new school ·
early-childhood-education classroom as well as a
media center and computer lab. The south entrance
elementary school building is framed with ornamental
that previously adorned the entrance of the Memorial
and several interior doors within the new school are
decorative woodwork from the second floor of
Academy building.
The new elementary school includes 57,000 square-fee
54

space at a total cost of $3,664,523. The school was formally dedicated on Wednesday, September 9, 1992, with. elementary
school principal Clay Acker serving as master of ceremonies and
teacher Carolyn VanDriest giving the invocation. The dedicatory
~1ddress was presented by then State Superintendent of Schools
Herbert Grover. Following the program, students and staff led
tours of the new facility.
Since elementary school students had witnessed the opening
of the Memorial Academy's cornerstone when that building was
razed. they were also invited to the ceremonial placement of the
new elementary school's datestone on September 10, 1992. On
!hat day Glenn Meerdink assisted Cur! Huenink in setting the
dtltestone in an interior wall between two doors that lead into the
school's theater on the east end of the school cafeteria. The
Memorial Academy's 1924 cornerstone was set in the same walL
The contents of the new dates tone include a variety of materials
representative of the time the stone was placed but also include a
Bible and some photographs th<lt were previously in the
Academy's 1924 corner~tone. Other items from the 192·4
Academy cornerstone were donated to the local museum.
In 1964 portion.~ of the Port Washington School Districr, pri~
.• t. m and around the Village of Belgium, joined the Ced<J.r
School District For many years the new district's fourth··
fifth-grade students were tuught at Belgium's Lincoln
until the btlilding was closed in 1980 due to budget cuts.
very early days of public education, especially in rural
was not uncommon for a few students to be older than
While some teachers were high school graduates,
. In some cases rural instructors simply attended a
class in Plymouth or were graduates of a ninth
_
t the Hingham School. Most beginning teachers
le--preparation for teaching a classroom full of children.
new legislation created a system of state normal
the training of teachers. Because state normal schools
the demand for teachers in Wisconsin, 1923 legany county without a state nonnal school within
its own county normal school. Although a
" _ _ school had been operating in Plymouth since
~hehrwo-:m County Board approved the building of a
55

Chapter 5

new county normal school by the mid-1920s. The county soon
spent $80,000 for such a facility in Sheboygan Falls. The
Sheboygan County Normal School opened in 1925, and in 1929
the Madison School west of Sheboygan Falls was added as a
demonstration school where students training to be teacher~
could observe classes and could practice teach in grades
through eight
Though the state legislature had recommended two-year normal schools for teacher training, Sheboygan County NormaJ:~f:
School did not become a tWO·· year school until 1935. That
primarily due to the depression, some students who had not
able to get a teaching position returned to school for one
year of training.
It was possible for some children in a one-room school to
the same teacher for eight years. This did not happen ve1y
however, because the young women who taught in the
schools often married after o. few years and did not return to
clnssroom. Actually there was a time when school boards
not even hire married womerL This practice changed signi ...
ly during World War H when a teacher shortage forced
former teachers bach: into the classroom.
Much was expected of the one-room school teacher.
preparing mnny lessons, the teacher was expected to keep
school clean and wam1. On cold days a teacher had to arrive e<.JJ
so rhe room would be warm by the time students arrived.
schools had janitors, students had the responsibilities of
the chalkboards, cleaning the erasers, sweeping the
up the flag, shoveling the walks, bringing in the mail,
in the furnace, and sometimes carrying in water. The
stayed after and swept the floor were usually paid a
dime by the teacher.
Many rural schools had the same daily schedule because
were operated under the direct supervision of a county su
tendent of schools. By the mid-1900s school usually
approximately 9:00 o'clock with opening exercises
ed reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Following
singing, small groups of pupils were called to the ti
room for short reading classes of ten or fifteen minutes.
had a fifteen-minute recess, but many times the younger

Chapter 5

were dismissed early for recess and would play outside unsupervised. After recess arithmetic classes were· be"ld·. After eating
lunches that were brought from home, there was an outdoor playtime. The afternoon schedule usually included first-grade and
second-grade reading classes and social studies for the older children. Following the mid-afternoon recess, most schools had language arts which included English, penmanship, and spelling. An
appreciation was taught to all grades using the Picture Study
Guide from the State Depamnent of Public Instmction, There
was also a teo.cher's handbook of Poems and Stories.
When pupils were not in class, they \\'Orked quietly at their
de<;ks on assignments handed out by the teacher. They could also
listen to the other classes and in this way the little ones learned
from the older children. In a like manner, listening to the younger
pupils provided a review for the older children.
In the 1940s many schools began listening to the Wisconsin
SchlJO! of the Air on WHA radio from Madison. A favorite of
many \Va:; "Let's Sing" with Professor Edgar Gordon. Regional
gntherings \vere held throughom the stale and students would get
together to meet and sing with Professor Gordon. Though radio
reception was often poor, "Let's Sing" introduced many children
a music teacher. "Afield with Ranger Mac" was a popular
radio program taught by Wakelin McNeeL
SnmP things never change. If you asked children of years gone
best part of school was, they would probably answer
Today's young students would probably answer the
Games like "Kick-the-Can," "Pom-Pom-Pull-Away,"
and Seek," and "Duck, Duck, Goose" were favorites on
playgrounds. Building snowmen and snow forts, having
fights, and playing "Fox and Goose" were favorites on
When it was rainy or extremely cold, "Hang the
''Tic Tac Toe" were played on the chalkboard. Jacks
~-:popular floor game.
Christmas, and Valentine parties, and
dinners were important celebrations at the school.
program usually ended with a visit from Santa
~n end-of-the-year picnic was generally attended by many
residents. It was this sense of community that
_difficult for some to give up their mral schools

56
57

Chapter 5

at the time of consolidation.
To assist the county superintendent in visiting and
schools, the position of county supervising teacher was establishedi:~'
in 1915. Many teachers and students remember visits from SL
vising teachers Miss Leona Fischer, Miss Violet Littlefield,
Miss Doris Phipps. It was their job to encourage good teaching~'
habits and to assist teachers in any way they could. They also
with the circulating libn:uy, a box of twenty to thiny books,
was brought to the school and exchanged about every six
The County Superintendent of Schools was elected every
yeJrs in the spring elecliort Mr. Raymond B. Lightfoot
Sheboygan County in that capacity from 1939 until 1964.
Doris Phipps, who had been a supervising teacher in the
from 1942 until 1965, was appointed to take Mr. Lightfoot
place for six months until July l, 1965, when the
Superintendent of Schools position was discontinued.
Some memories of school include going to the neighbors
sell Christmas Seals, and taking chocobte-fbvorcd goiter
(Whlch hnve since become unnecessnry because iodized
now commonly used), Eighth gmde exnms and graduntion
also vivid memories of some. Lurge pictures of Lincoln
Washington and u beautifully framed copy of the Constitution
remembrances of time spent in the classroom. Many can
recite poems such ::Js "The Village Blacksm.ith'' and 'The
Snowfall" which students had to memorize while in
Some older residents undoubtedly remember outdoor
which were sometimes tipped over as a Halloween prank.
older teachers are grateful for today's copy machines when
recall using the messy purple pencils to make masters for
Hectograph machines.
Many people associate the one-room school with
buggy days. Yet as recently as 1960 many boys and girls ·
Wisconsin were attending the I ,200 one-room schools
existed at that time. In 1947 the Wisconsin State
directed each county board in the state to form a committe~
the purpose of consolidating its local school districts.
mittee, which was selected by the county board, was to
lie hearings in the districts to be reorganized. Each committee
the power to combine, alter, dissolve, or create school

Chapter 5

which sounded good but turned out to be a very difficult task.
The one-room school was a very important part of the mral
community, and most parents were not eager to put their children
on busses to be transponed to village or city schools. The mraJ
school system represented the most personal unit of local government, and people teared that in a larger school system they
would have no voice in the education of their children. Some
were not convinced that a bigger school would provide a better
education for their children.
Evcmually the school consoliJation Jaw was modified, requiring
that all schooLs had to be pan of u high scbool di\trict by the mid1960s. Prior to this, three. four, or even five different rural school
dJ':>tricts could be sending their eighth-grade graduares to u single
high school. After many meetings, which included many heated
debates, school consolidation occuned during the early 1960s. As
a duect result of this, the total number of school districts in the
State of Wisconsin dropped from over 7,000 in 1940 to just 418
b_y l99T The greatest chunge in the number of school districts
occurred Juring the emlv 1060s when most rurul distric1s conSolidated with l:trger higl; school systems.
High Schools
lived in Cedar Grove prior to I 900, where would you
~chooJ? Since there was no high .school in the village
tune, you would probably have to rethink your educationIs. But in April of 1900, Dr. G.J. Kallen, President of Hope
Holland, Michigun, presented the leaders of his school
to establish an Academy in eastern Wisconsin. The
Academy would be to provide secondary education,
'a.Christian emphasis, to interested farnilies. Hope College,
affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, subroposed the plan to the General Synod of the Refo1med
the plan was enthusiastically received.
whose eff011s were instrumental in bringing the
CedurGrove was the Rev. J.J. VanZanten who at the
of the Reformed Church of Cedar Grove. Soon
Hope College, four area pastors, and twenty conrepresented a Cedar Grove delegation at a conp:Gibbsville. Cedar Grove was selected as the site of the

58

59

Chapter 5

new Academy because its delegation presented the most attrac~J
tive offer. Instruction of students began before the first Academy I
building was completed. Initially instruction took place
chapel of the Reformed Church of Cedar Grove under the
supervision of Reverend VanZanten. Miss Cornelia Waive
graduate of Oshkosh Nonnal School, served as an assistant
During this time, the Classis of Wisconsin of the RefOJmec
Church in America proceeded with steps to incorporate
school as well as to select a suitable building site for the
Academy. The cornerstone of the first Academy buildin£
laid on June 26, l90L The building, which was valued at
was completed by June of 1902 and was dedicated without
In July nf 1901, Egbe11 Winter, who was a Hope College
uate, was appointed principal of the new school. He
ing in that capacity in September of the same year with
students enrolled. In 1902 Rev. J. Sietsema,
Reformed Church in Oostburg, was appointed by the
Trustees to give instruction in English. Tbe school's first
graduates received their diplomas on June 22, 1904.
In September of 1905, Mr. Arend Lubbers donated a
piece of land, one-acre in size with a dwelling on it, for the
pose of supplying a residence for the principaL A more
modious dwelling was soon built at a cost of $2500.
Within a decade of its construction, the upstairs of
Academy building was remodeled to provide more
space. At about that same time a Mr. J.S. Mundy of Newark,
Jersey, donated a steam heating plant for the Academy. A
ication and public inspection day was celebrated at
school on November 19, 1909, and the Academy was
debt free by June of 1914. In that same year the
Constitution was revised so that it could be included in a
of accredited schools in the State of Wisconsin.
By 1922 the Academy's enrollment had grown to such an
that the school could no longer operate in its existing fac ·
the following spring session of the Academy's Board of
a building plan was discussed. An official building • _
soon established and five committees were commission
secure pledges of $500 each. The community was canvasst
Academy Principal AJ. Visser visited area churches for
60

Chapter 5

Original and Second Academy Building Shown Before the First
Building wns Moved to the Comer of Main Street and Vnn Altenn
(PhotD Courte~y Het Mu,eum)

as well. Response was favorable and a building commitisting of John VanDe Wall, Principal AJ. Visser, Dr. A
Soerens, and John Renskers was formed.
the new Academy building began just east of the
structure in the fall of J 923. The cornerstone of
W'building was laid on July 4, 1924, The building project
a March, 1925 dedication service at the new,
first Academy building, which had been utiuntil 1925, was eventually moved to the northof Main Street and VanAltena Avenue where it
s day.
entitled Windmill Memories, author William C.
ribes how the Academy affected his education.
Walvoord graduated from the eighth grade at a local
the Academy was just being organized in the
Grove. Mr. Walvoord, who had no specific
education until then, entered the Academy as a
tduated in June of 1904. Mr. Walvoord then conHope College in Holland, Michigan. Thus
:Academy was initially a Christian institution that
stone to Christian colleges. Because the
sponsored by the Reformed Church in
61

Chaprer 5

Mcmori~l

Academy !928 -19:29 Girls Baok~lball Team
(Photo Courtesy Her Museum)
Top Row L-R · Coach Kollen. Edidt Mentmk, Jean Duenk. Roland D~Masler
Lower Row L-R: Edith Holle. Alice Hilbdink. Gerenc Van,kr hgl. June Let11ink

America, many pupils who attended the school were members
local Reformed Church congregations.
Four years of instruction at the Academy did not consist
ly of academics. In addition to an annual class pby and
girls glee dub performances, there were also boys and
ketball teams. Because the school's enrollment was rather
team substitutes were hard to come by especially on the
team. The Academy's school colors were orange and black,
the school song was "On Wisconsin."
If you look closely at the accompanying photograph,
see that the girls' basketball team wore bloomers (thJtl<:d-ou
pant-skirts) instead of now--traditional basketball shorts.
Hilbelink DeMaster recalls that the bloomers were held up
buttons with no elastic and ce1tainly no zippers to help. She
recalled that in one pmticular game a girl's buttons popped
the bloomers left the place for which they were intended,
creating a rather embarrassing situation. We don't know
won that game, but we certainly do know what the highlight,
should we say the "downfall," of the event was.
On September4, 1982, seventeen members of the Acaa,emJ
Class of 1932, along with their spouses, took a sentimental ·
62

ney through the Academy building as a pa11 of their fifty-year
reunion. Kenneth Glewen, who was Superintendent of the Cedm
Grove-Belgium School System in 1982, met the group on the
front lawn of the Academy and then gave them a guided tour of
the building. Mrs. Augusta Risseeuw recalled that during a devotional service at the school the song "His Eye Is On the Sparrow··
was requested. She almost lost her poise when a li\'e sparrow
flew out of the piano when she opened it. Kenneth Hyink, a former teacher at the Academy, joined the reunion group for dinner
at DeSmidt's Restaurant. Mr. Hyink was re111~mbered as a
teacher who maintained an orderly study hall. Even though he
seemed to be looking at papers, he was in reality observing even
the slightest distraction among the students.
Former classmates traveled from as far away as Florida and
California for this very special reunion. The Class of 1932
included three married couples who were classmates while in
school. Those couples were Augusta DeMaster and Lewis
R1sseeuw, Hazel DeMaster and Willard Grotenhuis, and Dorothy
Droppers and Julio DeSmith.
The Academy's affiliation with the Reformed Church in
America ended in th~ mid··l930s, At that time an agreement was
reached whereby the Academy building could be used for Cedar
Grove's first public high school. A new Cedar Grove Village
Hall, which also served as a high school gymnasium, was dedion November 25, 1949. The new village hall, which
,, ,:rep~acea a fire-damaged Main Street hall, was built just west of
'Kdi(i;~;;;~;school on land donated by the school system. Giving the
>\
address was former principal KJ. Hyink who was
pnnc1:pu1 at Kohler Schools. The new building which measixty feet by one-hundred-twenty feet housed a basketball
stage, bnlcony, two shower rooms, washrooms, cloak
ticket booth, and kitchen.
a 21,928 square-foot addition to the high school comcompleted at a cost of $262,000. The new facilities
oec!Jco:ted on September 27, 1963. Present for the cereRay B. Lightfoot, Sheboygan County
of Schools: Charles Bingner, Supervising
the Cedar Grove Schools; Edgar Stubenrauch, archiBruggink, village clerk; Tom Hawe, member of the
63

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

building committee, and Robert Huibregtse, school board director. Other program participants were Rev. Carl Reitsma, pastor of
Calvary 01ihodox Presbyterian Church who gave the invocation
and benediction; Dr. James Jensen, school board treasurer; Carl
Voskuil, clerk of the school board, and the high school band
under the direction of Steven Speidel.
The high school addition, which included administrative
offices, a teacher's lounge, classrooms, and a study hal!, connected the Academy building to the former village hall. A new
gymnasium was added to the north of the new offices, and the
school's industrial arts area was moved from the lower level

the Academy building to a portion of the former village hall.

'

'i

wall divided the former village hall in two with the nol1h
being used for industrial a11s and the south end for band
and rehearsaL The school district also put several portable
rooms into use between 1963 and 1970 to accommodate the high
school's growing enrollment.
By 1970 additional space was needed once again so the
district, which by this time included the Village of Be,Jgium
its surrounding area, embarked on another ambitious 1
program to provide a new high schooL An open house for
new Cedar Grove High School was held on Saturday, c>Jn•>Prnhr
21, 1970. Those participating in the schoors dedic<Hion
included the Cedar Grove High School Band under the
of Tom Paulson; Rev. Ernest Gutha, pastor of First Pr,e<frvi<,·irr
Church; school board members Henry Dykstra
DeRuyter; high school principal Patrick Baggot; Superint<onder
of Schools Charles Bingner; architect Jack W_
council represemative Tom Huenink. Following
service, student council members hosted tours of the ou:llc:m;r
The new high school provided a total of 87,036 sqrwn:-teet
space Jt a cost of $1,675,580. The building, which was
to accommodate four hundred students, included a large
sium with an adjoining swimming pooL When the new 1
school opened, the former Academy building as well as a
ch:tssroom over the district office began to be used as a
School for grades six through eight. The former village
continued to be used for high school industrial
classes until the mid-1980s when it was razed to make
64

for a new driveway and other facilities.
In the mid-1980s seventh-grade and eighth-grade classes were
moved to the west side of the high school building and several
elementary school classes were moved into the Academy building. In 1991 the old brick Academy building was razed to make
room for the district's new elementary school.
The following reminiscences are included to give readers an
indication of how educntion changed from the time the high
school was operated as a Reformed Church Academy until a
point during the mid- l 980s. While the first point in time is noted
\Vith a poem rather than a story, readers will clearly see what high
!'>chool was like in the early 1900s. The poem was taken from the
composition book of Jennie Meengs (Academy Class of 1904)
who is the mother of Alice Hilbelink DeMaster:

Ofe!low swdents, do you knmv
(!hardly dare express if)
Tlwt our Pn~j"essor hus o srrup?
He did hililscjfcU!~fess it.
There in his desk-the bottom drml't'l;
We kn(JI\' tfwr it is hidden
And t!wusmul >roes to t'\'Cfl" one
Who does not 1riwr l1c 's bidden.

Or if you try to TIIO\'e obolt!
And sometimes act quite silf.\;
Sometime or other he might nwke
Ycmr back feel jCn'jimn chi!fy.
And 1/0ll' hot H"eather's coming on,
And lllllll)"feellike napping
But OH/ be~mre, he\!"(1/"C. bell"un:.'
:XJU '11 surely get u sfmpping
Now pupils you must surely stop
That endless noise and c!atte1;
For 1j"he'd get u-going once
It would not be o l'ery smallmatta
Jennie Lubbers
(Mrs. Anton Haverkamp)
65

Chaprer 5
Choprcr 5

The following thoughts, as expressed by a member of the Class
of 1942, provide a second reference point:

There >vere thirty-tiVO members in the C/a,<;s of 1942. AI that time,
the high school stqff' consisted of u principal, ·who olso taught history, as \\'ell us four or jive other teochers. There were no physical educotion classes, 110 drivers education cl(ISS, no busses, and
110 hot lunches. Athletics included only bosketlmfl and tmck for
boys. Chorus rvos (1!1 extrocurricular activity held after school.
Band beg(l/1 with (I part-time teacher during the 1938school yem: The principal fwd no secrewry, and did all the
keeping by himself Occasionally a senior helped out with
.,
ing, This work was paid j(H by Presidenr Roosewlt 's Nationol Yowh
Administration program at o wuge of approxi111ately nvent)•:fiw'::
cents per how: At this rime, the school fwd no yet!rbook, lmt
have a neH'Spapa Since the school fwd 110 gymnasium, the
loge hall along South Main Street was used.f()r basketbull
The high school curriculum consisted (~f'j(mr yeors of En
rhree yeurs c:f"nwrh, three yeurs r.~lscience. undfouryenrs
wry. Business classes wul industrial nrts were eventwlfly
duced ns options. With the limited number of classes U"
each class period wos about ninety minutes in length.
When this former student returned to the high school in
as an employee, she noticed many changes. By this
school system had bu~ses, u hot lunch program, mandatory
ical education clo.sses, and many electives, The school :
also had separate elementary school and high school ~-·;"'"',...;
full-time school superintendent, and secretaries in
mental)' and high schools. There was also a fullAime
tor, a librarian, and a wide range of athletic activitil
football and wrestling for boys, and the Girls Athletic

program, utilization of computers and television equipment, more
semester class offerings, computerized scheduling, computerized
grading, and computerized inventories. Also, beco use of dec! in·
ing enrollments, some subjects were pared do-wn.
As a point of reference, the following is a listing of the principals and district administrators who served the Cedar GroveBelgium School District over the years:

Memorial Academy
Principal

Principal
Pnncipal
Principal
Princioal

Egbert Winter
Rev. G. H. Hospers
P. Henkamp
W. E Van Der Laan
Theodore Zweemer
John Meengs
Arthur Visser

Herbe11 G. Mentink
Cedar Grove High School
Kenneth Hyink
Leslie Stovall
Earl Witte
Oliver Berge
CharLes Bingner
Patrick Baggot
Ronald Sternard
John Hocking
Charles Bingner
Kenneth Glewen
Mary Bowden
Ken Ripple
Roger Klumb

(GAA) for girls.
One additional reference in time has been provided
Kenneth Glewen who served as Superintendent of the
Grove-Belgium Area School District from 1971 until 1984.
of the changes he witnessed during his tenure in office

.. expansion of the media ce11tel; implemellfation of a
66

67

19CJI-1905
1905-1908
1908-1911
1911-1917
1917-1920
1920-1922
1922-1929
1929-1937

1937-1943
1943-1945
1945-1955
1955-1963
1963-1965
1965-1985
1985-1996
1996- Present
1965-1971
1971-1984
1984-1990
1990
1990-Present

Chapter 5

- Chapter Six Postal Service
By David Arthur Neese, Postmaster

O

ne of the great joys in life is receiving a. personal card or

Jetter from family or friends. Even in 1997 with technol-

ogy such as e-Mail and fax machines. a personal note
marking a birthday, graduation, marriage or anniversary is met
with eager anticipation. I am continually reminded of the caring
nature of Cedar Grove area residents whenever a great volume of
aJTives for a patron who has eithef suffered a loss or ceJea life-changing event.
joy we experience in receiving a card or letter today was
magnified ten-fold in 1849 when Cedar Grove received
. ttrst post office. Here were settlers in a new countJy, thousands
·..~_:miles from their places ofbiJih ttying to start a new life in the
~Jlderness. No telephone or telegraph existed to connect them to
of their family far away, and no airplone could return
in a day. In fact, the onlv contact our Dutch ancestors
Grove and Amsterdam had with the outside world was
muil service or an occasional newspaper. For these reaimportance of having a post office in or near Cedar
not be overstated.
mid-1800s the United States Post Office Department
to establish postal service wherever it was requested.
individuals were reconunended for the local postby their senator or congressman with an official
nomination and Senate confitmation following. It
in the best interest of a representative to recommend
, :al for the position, someone who knew the commul_:::perhups even ran a small business there. This type of
::generally reflected well upon the representative which
69

Clwpta 6

Chapter 6

is what he desired for his next election. The main drawback to
this selection process was that any time a new political party won
power in Washington, D.C., massive changes in postal service
employment occurred. This basic system is why so many differM
ent postmasters served Cedar Grove in its eurly years. While
some changes in the selection process occurred over the years
(eventually the Postmaster General made appointments to smaller post offices), it \Vas still very political in nature until 1970
when the Postal Reform Act made the postal service less dependent on tax dollars and government control.

Cedar Grove's First Post Office
In 1825 before there was a settlement in Cedur Grove, mail
was carried by foot between Green Bay and Chicago on the old
Green Bay Trail. The distance was over 200 miles between these
two locations, and it took a month to complete the round trip. The
pay was approximately .sixty dollars for this delivery service.
the official load was limited to sixty pounds. The new Green
Milltary Road which is no\v State High1,.vny 32, was complell
1839, and by 1840 the trip from Green Bay to Chicago was
made on horseback.
When Reverend Pieter Zonne reached this area in the fall
1847 with his group of settlers from the Netherlands, he
log home on the no11h end of what is now Cedar
Conversely, the first designated "mail repository" was
the south end of the settlement in a log cabin ovmed by
Burc Even before the offici~ll establishment of a pos! office
conummity, it was necessary to have a central location
to pick up whmever letters or packages had arrived for
practice apparently dated as far back as 1639 when the
Comi of Massachusetts designated Richard Fairbanks'
Boston as the official repository for mail arriving from or
sent overseas. Sweezy Burr's log house served as this
repository as early as 1848, and on January 27, 1849, it was
cially established as Cedar Grove's first post office.
Sweezy Burr's simple log cabin is a well-known relic
Grove folklore. In 1902, a picture of the cabin was submitte
the Milwaukee Sentinel for inclusion in the newspaper's
photo contest The photo featured then-CUlTent occupants
70

( cdnr CiroH',I Firol P<lSI Off1<:~ Bu11Jll1~

1\

irh Th.:n"Rto1Utn1s PdcJ ~nJ AdrJ;mna Huiolw~r<'

!Photo G>uneoy Het 1\!uscuml

arid Adrianna Huisheere, though many insist erroneously that the
~-~ople on the photo are Me and Mrs. Sweezy Burr. In later years
:now-famous photo began to appear on postcurds and in postal
histories.
Burr's log house was located on what is now County
on the southern edge of the village. The reason the
was !OG!led on the south side of town is because
settlement was beginning a!ong the shores of Lake
m about the time Cedar Grove's first post office was
established. That settlement which went on ro become the
of Amsterdam was approximately one mile due east of
Burr's log home. By situating the Cedar Grove Post
its south-side location, it could serve both communities
:iently.
tther important events are believed to have occurred at
cabin, one before the building officially became a post
one after. In the first instance, the Rev. Pieter Zonnc is
been standing in the doorway of the Burr residence
the settlement was established. Impressed with the
of cedar trees growing nearby, he suggested that the
71

Chaprer 6
C/lnprer 6

settlement be called Cedar Grove. The second event occurred
shortly after the Town of Holland was established in 1849. The post
office became the township\ first polling place, dutifully recording
a total of 65 votes cast in the election of town board members.
Sometime during the late 1800s the Burr residence, which had
served as the first post office in Cedar Grove, was placed on skids
and moved by oxen onto Peter Huisheere's land on the east side of
Main Street just south of the Walvoord Cemetery. During the early
1900s, the building was moved to the Abram Ramaker farm. The
log cabin was torn down shortly after the end of World War I.

Early Days in the Cedar Grove Post Office
In the last half of the nineteenth cent my, the Cedar Grove Post
Office was a bustling hub of activity. lt served as a meeting place
for friends and neighbors to exchange information received
through \etters and newspapers. lt gave business people a place
to discuss their trades and seal agreements. It was also a place fm
political leaders to share ideas on how the township and vi
could best be served, and it gave b.umers a chance to socialize
and swap stories. Our Dutch ancestor:::. worked hard on thei
80 acre farms and a trip to the post office was something
looked forward to.
Because of the many hours people worked and the
involved, a trip to the post office was usually limited to
three times a week. In 1947, Cedar Grove's then-oldest res
Mrs. Delia (John W.) Schreurs stated that a trip to Sheboygan
the 18 70s fron> their horne south of Oostburg·.

,.wus a day's journey through the tvomls \\'ith o yoke oj
·IVhile rhe only merms of gerting nwilwas to go to the neurest
office at Cedar Grove seven miles crwuy.

The First "Dutch" Postmaster
When Abraham Lincoln, who was a Republican, was
president in 1860, it represented a change in political p
Washington, D.C. With the patronage system that controlled
postal service at that time, it also meant that Cedar
get a new postmaster. In 1861, after Lincoln's inaugurat
Gerrit H. Kolste became Cedar Grove's third postmaster, ..

ing John R. Muller who had served in the position while
Democrats controlled the White House from t 853-1861.
Gerrit Koiste was a prominent settler and promoter in the
Town of Holland. His accomplishments include purchase of the
present site of the Village of Cedar Grove ti'Om the United States
Government in 1846. He had arrived in this area approximately
one year ahead of the Pieter Zonne contingent and kept prospective settlers informed of everything from weather conditions to
the price of land in the area.
Like most early postmasters, Koiste held down additional jobs
il'i well as working for the postal service. In addition to running a
farm, he operated a general store in the post office building which
bv the late 1860s was no longer the Burr cabin. In a move that
H~d.icated his shrewdness, Koiste purchased Lot One of Block
Two of the original plat of Cedar Grove and built a structure
there. This post office site was on the west side of Main Street,
slightly south of the present intersection of Main Street and
Wisconsin Avenue. Koiste figured, quite correctly, that this propert\· would increase in value because the Milwuukee, Lakeshore &
\\1estern Railroad was planning on laying truck':i in that vicinity.
At the new location, Koiste not only ran the post office but
collected rent from the government since he owned the
,buJ!ding. This was apparently not at all unusual. Villagers would
husiastically volunteer to house the post off1ce in their
or business. If after a few years a building's owner received
lucrative oiler for the use of his structure, the post otlice
evtcted. In these instances both u new post office and a new
master usually had to be found_ H a new location could nol
· -nmvidcd, a village could lose Its post office. Cedar Grove
ntly never had this problem since a new locution always
to be available. Overt he years the local post office has occuleast seven different buildings at seven different locations.

The Railroad Comes to Town
United States Post Office Department was always looking
"'~ways to move the mail. The postal service found a great
in the iron horse compared to the former use of steam,tagecoaches to transport maiL From 1845 to 1875 the
system grew to include over 70,000 miles of mail
7)

72

Chapter 6
Chapter 6

routes. The Milwaukee, Lakeshore & Western Railroad began
service through Cedar Grove in late 1872 bringing rapid growth
to the village. With Gerrit Kolste's foresight, Cedar Grove's new
post office was ideally located to take advantage of this new
mode of transportation. After a spirited battle between the north
and south sides of the village, the new railroad depot was built in
approximately the center of town, very near the post office.
The railroad dramatically improved mail service from one part
of the country to another. To get away from the risky exchange of
mail by hand from a slow-moving train, special pouch catchers
and track-side mail cranes were tried during the early years of rail
service. By the time the Cedar Grove railroad depot opened, the
perfected Ward Catcher System allowed ''on the fly" 1nail
exchange between the railroad station and speeding trains.
Similar systems were used fm many years to come. Earl Meinen
and Al Risseeuw both remember times vvhen a Inai1 bag
<-l not-so-perfect catcher system and fell under the wheels
train, sending Cedar Grove\ mail and papers tlying thrmq
the village. Luckily, the:-.e incidents were few and far between.
The mail was taken to und from the railroad station catchPr r
a "Special Mail Messenger." The messenger's job was to
outgoing mail pouch on the catcher system so that it
caught on the fly by a passing train and to retrieve the n1ail
was left by the same train.

Rural Free Oelivt'ry Arrives
The Post Office Depmiment\ Rural Free Delivery (RfD)
vice began on October 1, 1896 when Postmaster General Wil
L Wilson introduced the service on three roules in his home
nf West Virginia. He then selected an additional forty-one
including Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, to begin on December i,
By 1900 there were !,21'2 routes serving over 879,000
throughuui the nation. With this new service, people Uv
rural areas no longer had to pick up their mail at a village or
post office.
To apply for rural delivery in the early 1900s, at least 100
ilies along the proposed route had to sign a petition. This
was then forwarded to the district's congressional repres
in Washington, D.C. lf the request was thought to have

74

H~nt Huibregtse with the Horse nnrl Buggy UsnJ for His Rural Mnil Roltle

(Photu Cow1~sy M:1rgu~rit~ N~~rlwf unci Ethel De~1uz)

Office Department sent out a special representative to map
route, Cedar Grove's petition for rural free delivery service
submitted by Postmaster Adrian Fonteine in approximately
but it was not approved until after William DeSmidt
Y>6eciune postmaster in early 1915. Rural free delivery service to
)Ve area patrons began in the spring of 1915. A total of
boxes served 126 rural Cedar Grove families in 1916
<a,~~promg to postal currier Henry Huibregtse's route directory for
In 1917 a postal clerk was hired by the Cedar Grove
to help son mail for the new rural route
the time rural free delivery service had reached the Cedar
area, the Post Office Department had approved parcel post
for rural patrons as welL This meant that area farm famiorder from Sears & Roebuck or any other mail order
and have the order delivered directly to them through the
rural free delivery service started throughout the nation,
paid a salary of fifty dollars per month. Out of that
postal carrier had to pay for his horse-drawn cart as
food, shoes, and veterinary service for his horse. Some
75

Chapter 6

Clwprer 6

rural carriers would supplement their postal service income by
running other businesses from their horse-drawn co:uts. As James
Bruns pointed out in his book Mail OJ/ the Move, one enterprising mail carrier in New Hampshire gave out cards boasting of
"Laundry collected Monday, returned Saturday."
Rural mail carriers were subject to the same system of political spoils as their postmaster counterparts. Recently-retired
Lamont Lukens, who handled Cedar Grove's Rural Route l fronl
1968-1996, had to meet with a leading Sheboygan County
Democrat before receiving the carrier position. The Sheboygan
County official then submitted Lamont's name to some leading
Democrats in Mil\vaukee who agreed that Lamont was a satisfactory candidate for the job.
Another service that was cwa!lable to both village and rural
patrons in the early 1900s was "special delivery." For many
yeurs, a messenger was hired to transport special delivery letter~
directly to the doors of patrons. The Cedar Grove Post Office
handled fifteen to twenty.· five such deliveries per postal quarter
in 1918, and the messenger was paid eight cents per letrer
ered. P1iority Mail and improvements in first-class delivery s
have made the original special deliveq service a thing of the
The Cedar Grove Post Office's rural deliveries increased
just 119 when the service started in 1916 to nearly 800 by
The volume of mail per deli very had also skyrocketed,
same time period. As a result, a top priority after becoming
Grove's new po<;tmaster in 1993 w;)s to provide a second
route for this urea. The second route wus quickly apprnve
officially began on July 9, J 993. Since deliveries no l
to be made by a single rurul carrier, patrons on both
receive their mail earlier in the day,

Postal Rates
I know from personal experience that the price
stamps is an item of great concern to the citizens of
especially when there is a rate increase. It may interest
know that before 1845 it cost six cents to mail a single
paper just thirty miles, and it cost twenty-five cents to
same item over 400 miles, In 1845 a new law reduced the
of postage to tive cents for all distances under 300 miles

76

cents for greater distances based on a half-ounce weight. In 1847 the
first postage stamps were issued in five-cent and ten-cent denominations, and the modern system of postal administration began.
In 1851 the price of postage for letters was reduced again, this
time to a uniform price of three cents per half-ounce regardless
of destination, By 1885 postal rates had dropped to just two cents
per first-ounce mailed. Postal rates remained somewhat constant
from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. This can probably be
attributed to continued improvements in methods of transporting
maiL Continuous improvements in rail service, air. travel, and
highway travel helped offset factors that would have otherwise
resulted in increased operating costs during that period of time.
While postal rates have increased more during the last half of the
twentieth century, one must realize that the United States Postal
Service is now an independent agency that no longer receives tax
dollnrs to help fund its operations. Also, changes in postal rates
over the last twenty years basically retlect changes in the nation's
consumer price index which increased dramatically during the
late 1970s and early l980s.
A summary of postal rates over the past century is as follows:
Year
1885
1917

Cost/First Ounce
two cents
three cents
two cents
three cents
four cents
five cents
six cents
eight cents
ten cents
thitteen cents
fifteen cents
twenty cents
twenty-two cents
twenty-five cents
twenty-nine cents
thiny-two cents

77

Chapter 6

Zip Codes
Over the years the postal service has seen a dramatic change
in the type and volume of mail being delivered. In its early years,
most of the mail handled by a local post office was correspon~
dence between family and friends. Since that time, however,
business mail has increased dramatically to the point where it
now represents over eighty percent of all correspondence han~
dled by the postal service. By 1963 the great volume of items
being handled by the postal service was resulting in backlogs at
a number of post offices. To help improve mail service, the now~
familiar five-digit zip-code system v.··as introduced on July L
1963.
The ultimate value of the new zip~code system was thal clerks
no longer had to read poorly written, often undecipherable name~
of cities on addressed envelopes. The new system also
automated mail sorting a possibility.

Post Oflice Locations
The first ofiicial post office in Cedar Grove was the log
of Sweezy Burr along the present County Road LLL. The
office was apparently located on the south end of the
that it could serve both the Cedar Grove area and
young settlement which later became the Village of Amsterdarr
The second known post office was on Lot One of Block
of the original plat of Cedar Grove. The post office, which
built in the lme 1860s, appears to have been lncated on the
north end of the present Co-operative ExchJ.nge parking \oL <
cent to the railroad right-of way. This post office, next door
hotel operated by John VanA\tena, was originally owned
Gerrit Kolste who served as postmaster from 1861 until1872.
photographs of this post office are available.
In !895 then-postmaster August Schiereck apparently
the post office to another location near the railroad
fact was documented in a letter informing patrons of the ·
ing move, but no photographs of this post office have been
to date.
In approximately 1905, the post office moved from
near the railroad depot to the north end of town. That
was in a building just south of a general store which later
78

Cedm GitJVc"s North-Side Post O!"f1c~, Adjacent to Huenink Broth<.'I":S Store in !h~ Early 1900's
(Phow Counesy Shehoygan County HisroncJI Re>cnrdl C~ntcrl

Corner Store on the southeast comer of Main Street and
Avenue.
1916 the Cedar Grove Post Office moved back near the

Clzopter 6

Chapur 6

intersection of Main Street and Wisconsin Avenue on the west
side of the street just south of the present Claerbout Furniture
Store (which at that time served as the Cedar Grove State Bank).
By 1924 a new Cedar Grove State Bank building was constructed on the site of the present National Exchange Bank, and a larger post office was built two lots nonh of the bank. John Potts' dry
goods store, which later became VandeWall's Grocery, stood
between the new bank and post office. This post office building
stood until the mid-l980s when it was razed along with several
other old buildings to make room for the Cedar Grove Clinic.
By 1960 it became obvious that Cedar Grove needed a larger,
more modern post office. Construction bids were requested in
October of t 960 shortly after the project was approved, and
began on the new post office in April of 1961. Although much of
the interior work was done by local craftsmen, the general contractor for the project was E. T Schreiber of Minneapolis,
became the lease-holder as welL The Cedar Grove post
the: corner of Fin>t Street and Wisconsin Avenue has been in
same building for over thirty-five years, At the time it
opened for business in December of 1961, the post off1ce
360 box holders and 300 rural route patrons. As of 1997 the ..

building serves 435 box holders and nearly 800 mral route customers.

Cedar Grove's Postmasters
Over twenty different postmasters have served this area since
Cedar Grove received its first post office in 1849. A chronological listing of those \Vho served in the position includes:
Name
Sweezy Burr
John R. Muller
GeiTit H. Koiste
Abraham L Monteba
Cornelius Prinsen
Edward Stronks
Gen·ett Lammers
Getrett Stronks
August H. Schiereck
John DeMaster

B. Huenink
Fonteine
<···'·Willi;lm A DeSmidt
W. Lemmenes
K. Hesselink
B. Hesselink
B. Hessel ink
J Meylink
J. Meylink
' l Voskuil
l Voskuil
Bauer

Title
Postmaster
Postmaster
Postmaster
Postmaster
Postmaster
Postmaster
Postmaster
Postmaster
Postmaster
Postmaster
Acting PostmJster
Postmaster
Postmaster
Postmaster
Postmaster
Acting Postmaster
Postmaster
Acting Postmaster
Postmas[er
Officer-In-Charge
Postmaster
Officer-In-Charge
Postmaster
Officer-In-Charge
Postmaster

Appointed

. 1849
1853
1861
1872
1874
1882
1886
1889
1893
1897
1904

1904
1915
1921
1935
1951
!952
1963

1965
1977
1977
1978
1979
1992
1993

Present Post Office Staff
ially became Cedar Grove's postmaster on January 23,
a way, I continue the Dutch tradition that characterized
81

Chapter 6

so many of Cedar Grove's previous postmasters. My great-greatgrandfather on my mother's side, Theodorickus Heines Koning,
settled in Amsterdam, Wisconsin in 1854 and married Jenny
Oosterhouse there in 1856. For many years they lived on State
Highway 32 across from the Presbyterian Cemetery. At one time
a school was located on their land and a Presbyterian Church was
located just across the road from their farm house.
My great-grandfather, August Neese, worked for the German
Postal Service before inunigrating to the United States in 1890.
My father, Harold Henry Neese, was a mail carrier in the City of
Sheboygan for f01ty years. He spent the last thi1ty-two years of
his postal service on the same route and got to know everyone as
if they were family, including their cats and dogs.
1 began my postal career as a clerk in the Sheboygan,
Wisconsin Post Office in April of 1985, but I also worked as a
distribution, dispatch and finance clerk, and as an acting supervisor, during my years there. My first postmaster assignment came
in December of 1991 when 1 was named postmaster of Genoa
City, Wisconsin. When Bill Soerens retired as postmuster in
Cedar Grove, 1 requested a iateral transfer back to this area to be
closer to my family, friends, church, and band activities.
Our post office staff includes postal clerks Linda Huibregtse
and Bonnie TenHaken, rural route mail carriers Eugene Damkot
and David Schmitt, and rural route substitute Noreen Hoak.
not exaggerating when I say that these are the fmest co-we
l have ever had the pleasure of Knowing. They are. knowledgeable, concerned, cmd caring, plus they all have a great s
humor. And where else does the rural mail carrier bring
thing from breakfast to pies and pizza for the postmaster and
staff?

-Chapter SevenRailroad and Streetcar Service
Excerpts from a Book Being Written By Peter Fetterer

Railroad Service
he railroad has been an integral part of the Village of Cedar
Grove for over 125 years. With its tracks running through
the center of town, and its trains slicing across Main Street
at all hours of the day and night, how could it be anything less.
The first steam locomotive reached Cedar Grove in May of 1872.
It was most likely part of a construction train delivering ties,
spikes, and rails to section crews as they worked their wny southward building n ne\\' railroad from Manitowoc to Milwaukee.
Work on the line hnd started in Sheboygan just eight months earlier.
By December of 1872, the track work was completed, and on
January 2, 1873, the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad
began regular service between Sheboygan and Milwaukee. Cedar
Grove was a scheduled stop on the new line. Other stations along
the route included Oosthurg, Wilson, and Weedens to the nmih,
Belgium, Deckers, Port Washington, Vilas, Mequon,
Dillmans, and Whitefish Bay to the south. The run from
..~:·sheboygan to Milwaukee took over three hours, and the fare was
···two dollars.
Cedar Grove had a railroad, it needed a depot. In
Buchen's Historic Sheboygan County, he writes that
lively controversy sprang up between the north and south
[of the village] as to where the depot would be located,"
then went on to say ... "The south-enders won out." In
the depot was built in the approximate center of the vil, exactly where the railroad wanted it.
detailed history of Cedar Grove's several depots is lacking.

T

83

82

Chapter 7

not elaborate or further discuss the village's previous two depots.
William Sweemer might have been Cedar Grove's most enter~
prising station agent. Back in 1879 he served as depot master,
telegraph operator, and express agent for the railroad while also
operating a grain elevator just across the tracks where he could
keep an eye on business. Long-time village residents might still
recall Chicago & North Western station agents Philo Johnson,
Richard Ramaker, and Paul Wilke. Wilke served from 1936 until
early 1959 when the Chicago & No11h Western Railroad closed
many of its depots including Cedar Grove's. The depot building
was eventually torn down, and De Visch windmill now stands on
that site.

Railroad Depot and Village Hall in the Emly !900s
(Photo Courtesy Sheboygan County Historical Research Center)

It is known, however, that the railroad purchased property
of the Main Street crossing when it originally bought land
right-of-way. It is very likely that the first depot was built
By the summer of 1874, other structures located along the
near the depot included a 35-foot by 45-foot grain elevator
by Garret Lammers, a warehouse for fish, produce, plaster,
and feed owned by Gilbert Smith and a boarding house
saloon constructed by a Me VanAltena and leased to a Mr
The Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad purcb
additional two acres of land to expand its station grounds in
To accommodate several early grain elevators and
es within the village, the railroad track included a long
began behind the Walvoord Cemetery, paralleled the
and then joined the main track again at a point north of the
When the Wisconsin Foundry and Steel Works opened in
Grove in about 1900, the railroad extended a siding to its
well. Another siding was eventually constructed north
depot to reach the Dutch Canning and Pickling Company
started in 1907.
In June of 1924, an explosion at the depot did consideni
damage to the building, By 1927 Cedar Grove "was on its
depot," according to a Sheboygan Press article, but the
84

Crime affected the local railroad depot on two separate occa!iions. In the first incident, which took place in the autunm of
1902, the perpetrators were never caught, but we do know that
none of them was nicknamed "Stealth." The thieves first broke
into a tool house near the depot and stole a sledge hammer. They
then hammered their way through the front \vindows of the depot
llnd placed a charge of dynamite on the safe to blow it open. An
October 4, l902 article in the Sltebo.vgan Telegram stated:

is supposed that the ti;truders expected to be handsomely
rewarded on account of its being the .first of the month, but they
h:ceived the trifling sum of $1.50 for their troubles. Not being
J~alisfied with this they opened e.\press packages but nothing of
\'alue was gotten
second recorded incident took place in approximately
when a lone bandit entered the depot through a window and
off with sixteen cents and a revolver. One or two days later,
constable in Sheboygan spotted "a suspicious character"
_ north along the railroad tracks. Questioning produced
frevolver and a confession, and the thief was sentenced to
days on the rockpile in lieu of a fifty dollar fine plus costs.
train service through Cedar Grove, which began
in each direction daily, expanded to two trains each
Lake Shore line opened to Manitowoc in
1873. Passenger service increased to three trains in
drrection by the end of 1874.

85

Chapter 7

Chuprer 7

The Chicago & North Western Railroad took control of the
Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western line in 1893. By the early
1900s rail service had expanded to the point where as many as
twelve passenger trains and passenger-carrying freight trains
traveled through Cedar Grove each day. Some trains, like the
Ashland Limited, did not stop. Others stopped brietly if passen~
gers wanted to either board or exit the train.
According to a September 24, 1955, Chicago & North
Western timetable, eight passenger trains still ran through the
Village of Cedar Grove daily (except Sunday) at that time. Only
two of these trains stopped at the Cedar Grove depot. The two
passenger trains that stopped were the No. 3 17 northbound at
5:26a.m. and the No. 306 southbound at 8:15a.m. A steam locomotive was generally on the lead of No. 306 between Green Bay
and Milwaukee. The northbound Flambeau 400 and Shoreland
400 streamliners stopped only to discharge passengers
Milwaukee and beyond. The No. 120, another steamer,
stop southbound only if necessary. On Sundays Cedar Grove
n flagstop for the southbound Shoreland 400.
Daily passenger service on the line ended in June of
After that, passenger trains ran only on Sundays. The last
larly scheduled passenger train ran south through Cedar Grove
Sunday evening, April 25, 1971.
Large fires devastated parts of Cedar Grove's business distrl
in 1929 and 1957, and the railroad played a major role in ·~·
incident On Feb. i, 1929, fire spread from the Eagle Grorf':l
Shoe Company's basement to the Co~op Exchange
VanderLaan's Hardware Store, and an adjoining tinsmith
along the west side of Main Street south of the railroad cro.,.
Hundreds of firefighters rushed to the scene, but Cedar
had no water tower or municipal water system at the ti1
was little the firefighters could do except form a bucket b"
to transport water from nearby wells. As the fire progres
urgent call was made to Sheboygan requesting a locomoti
move boxcars away from the flames. The switch engine
that responded not only moved the cars but also supplied
fighters with water from its tender, an action that proved ·
mental in stemming the fire's further advance.
The railroad was much more involved in the 1957
86

tion. In that incident a northbound freight train collided with a
fuel oil truck at the Blank Avenue crossing just west of Main
Street. This touched off a spectacular fire that damaged the Coop, the Cedar Grove Meat Market, and numerous train cars.
Fortunately no one was seriously injured.
The series of events that led to the 1957 fire started when a
tank truck loaded with 6,000 gallons of fuel oil backed westward
across the railroad tracks to enter the Co-op's fuel-storage "tank
farm." Before the tank truck could completely clear the track, a
nl1rthbound freight train slammed into the truck:s .trailer and
tossed it off the tracks to the west right next to the tank farm. The
freight train's locomotive then pushed the cab of the truck anoth~r 100 feet up the line before dumping it on the east side of the
tracks behind the meat market. The truck's cab and trailer both
exploded, spewing flames in all directions.
When the train finally came to a stop, its locomotive had
reached the depot north of the Main Street crossing. That left severJl train cars and the caboose right next to the burning tank
_truck. Firemen prevented flames from reaching the tank farm and
down another tank car near rhe end of the train, thus savthe village from what rnigbt have been catastrophic explo. In addition to the damage to several Main Street buildings,
fire destroyed the train's caboose and a boxcar on the Co-op's
"side-track. Several additional train cars were scorched as well.
Over the years local railroad crossings have been the scenes of
other serious accidents as welL One of the fin.;t recordcrossing accidents took placr in 1878 when a ballast
• farmer's milk wagon. fortunately no one was serious··
in that mishap. On a far more serious note, three area
t>inessmen were fatally injured when w northbound train
- mto their horse-drawn carriage as it crossed the railroad
the Cedwr Grove depot in early September of 1899.
accrdent's victims included August Schlereck, 48, who was
several local business ventures; Nicholas Fox, 30, a
and William Holle, 60, a tinsmith. AlbeJi Eiche, 40,
r~onmaker, was also seriously injured in the accident, but he
d recover. The men that passed away left behind two
14 children.
Februarv 20, 1978, village residents along the east side of
87

Chapter 7

Main Street awoke to find railroad cars scattered across their
back yards. Fifteen cars of a northbound freight train jumped the
tracks in the early morning darkness and tore up 300 feet of rightof-way as well as trees, shrubs, and lawns on adjacent private
property. Railroad officials blamed the wreck on a train car th<lt
apparently derailed south of town and then bounced along the
railroad ties until it hit a track-switchjust nm1h of the Main Street
crossing. As a result of the derailment, a portion of Main Street
was closed until mid-morning, and the rail line was closed until
the damaged cars were moved and new ties and rails were set in
place.

Interurban Streetcar Service
A new form of inter-city passenger service came to Ced;:u·
Grove in 1908 with the arrival of the Milwaukee Northern
Electric Railway. Fast, comfortable cars and frequent service
made the Milwaukee Not1hern's interurban line a formidable
competitor to the Chicago & North Western passenger trains
Ced:.~r Grove residents were quick to take advantage of the new
electric line.
The Milwaukee Northern's line paralleled the Chicago
North Western's tracks for much of the distance between
Washington and Sheboygan. Town of Holland officials were
tially reluctant to grant the interurban line perm.ission to
town roads and buy property for a right-of-way. Eventually,
ever, with assurance~ that crossings would be properly
Wined and that propu1y owner:-. would be fairly enmnensated.
tmvn officials withdrevv· their prote:-.t.
To build the new line, the Milwaukee Northern borrowed
small steam engines and a steam shovel from the Chicago;
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and recruited hundreds of
ers and teams of draft horses from farms and communities ·
the proposed line. Swamps no11h and south of Cedar
slowed construction considerably. Sinkholes kept swa!lowin
large sections of the new right-of~way, a condition that
motonnen on alert and section crews on overtime for many
after the line opened.
The Milwaukee Northern's tracks swung away
Chicago & North Western line at a point south of the uJ., h,nr.r:
88

Cerlnr Grove's Milwaukee Northern S1rce1cur De pol Dunng the Eurly J 900s
(Photo C01111~sy Hel Museum)

Cemetery and headed nm1heast through the village. The line
crossed Main Street between Maple and Cherry Avenues. The
depot for interurban passengers, which was already under construction by the end of May in 1908, was located just north of the
Main Street crossing on the east side of the street. The original depot
building still exists and is presently used as a private residence.
A 1916 plat map of Cedar Grove shows a "Y" in the tmck plan
at a point south of the Walvoord Cemetery. This "Y" allowed cars
to be turned around und made it easier to spot cars for freight
·shipments. The Milw,mkee Northern also had a siding just south
Avenue to serve a creamery (which eventually became
Foundry), according to the 1916 plat map.
first Milwaukee Northern cars arrived in Cedar Grove on
31, 1908. According to an article in the September 5,
edition of the Plymouth Reporter:

.··was a gala day for this village, as the orrival of the first
Interurban car HYIS ovitnessed between 1 and 2 p.m. It carried
150 merchants from Port Washington including
·mmernum 's band from that place. They then paraded the streets
aftenvards to the viltage hall, where they were addressed by
village president, A. Stokdyk S1:, which was followed by an
89

Chapter 7

Clwpler 7

address by Moyor Bofens of Port Washington. F.W Wolke1; president of the Milwaukee Narthern, then thonked the citizens .fin·
their help wul also spoke on the benefits this \Vilf mean for the
people. Judge Bole11.~ of Port Washington also guve o brief
m/dn:ss, H"hich was fo!lmred by J. Jungers of this ploce. On the
woy obout $150.00 H'ilS collected from the "Port" people, which
H'as spel!t in the l'illage, making a happy duy to uti, at feast some
were exceedingly happy. They !ejf j(;r their respectil•e homes
about 4 o'clock. Regulur se/"\'ices ll't'H' begun the following duy.
C(ll·s hoH'e\•er only nm 1!\'el)' 2 hours for ojl:w weeks, on account
of the grawf cars hiking rheir rood.
By the time interurban service reached Cedar Grove.
like Riverside (Kohler), Sheboygan Falls, and Plymouth.,,,.
had their own streetcar line, and service to Elkhart Lake
few months ::t\vay. The intemrban line that passed tlu·ough
Grove included service north to Sheboygan by September 23, l
Even before interurban service reached Cedar Grove,
farmers were enticed to investigate use of the line by an artil
the Sheboygon Press. That article discussed a new interurb<.
milk car that could be used to transport milk from rural farms
dairies in neighboring cities. The new milk car, which
invented by a Milwaukee Northern engineer, was designed
cool milk and keep it at a low temperature without the use of
or chernicals. The car \VLb fifly-tbn:'c feet !ong and had act
ly of255 milk cans. Tbe t<!einhesselink Brother:-. \\'ere app<
ly the first to ship milk from Cedur Grove on the interurban
but their shipment of cans w·ent by conventionul car~ rnthcl
on the Milwaukee Northern's new milk car.
In addition to the early shipment of milk on the
line, there were many other firsts of significant interest as
l. Some of the first passengers to ride on the interurban
baseball fans from Cedar Grove who were on their w
Belgium to root for their team. Their unofficial excursion ·
place a month before the line actually opened, so
to Belgium on loaded ballast cars. At that time the Mi
Northern was hauling ballast from a gravel pit owned by
Lammers and Peter Huisheere, Jr.

90

2. One of the first excursions after the line officially opened was
made by the Chicago & North Western section crew from Cedar
Grove. They "enjoyed themselves by taking a trip to Milwaukee
on the interurban car Sunday," according to a newspaper article.
Today we would call their trip "checking out the competition."

3. The first electric substation that was built in Cedar Grove was
destroyed by fire before the'electric line ever reached Sheboygan.
Vital to the Milwaukee Northern's business, the substation was
quickly rebuilt.
.t_ A track added to the line in front of the intemrban depot before
the end of 1908 was the first passing track in the village. The
passing track allowed other northbound or southbound interurban
cars to pass a car that was stopped at the depot.

5. The first area resident lobe hit by an intenwban car might have
been Victor Weinrich. He and an interurban car collided in
Oostburg on Thanksgiving Day in 1908.
The Northern Grain Elevator was one of the first area busito buy eJectricity from the Milwaukee Nm1hern. Wynveen
Meeng's Blacksmith Shop also electrified in early 1909.
In 1910 "Limited" ~ruins on the interurban line completed lhe
from Sheboygan to Milwaukee in two hours and five nUnThese trains, which provided shoner travel times for cornhad a limited number of stops along their routes. The first
. ar left the station at the corner of 8th Street and
Clhsvlvania Avenue in Sheboygan at 7:12 a.m. Other cars foltwo-hour intervals with the last car leaving at 7: J 2 p.m. It
:'thirty-two minutes for the interurban to travel from Sheboygan
and then took another ninety-three minutes to
station on the corner of 5th and Wells in l\1ilwaukee.
" trains, which stopped at crossroads and loading platforms
the route, typically made the trip from Sheboygan to
in two hours and thirty-five minutes. These interurbans
h'eboygan every two hours between 7:42a.m. and 9:42p.m.
Milwaukee Northern's last train out of Milwaukee each
91

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

night was affectionately known as the "Owl" car. It was especially popular on weekends when area residents traveled south to
partake of big city entertainment. The car came through Cedar
Grove shortly before 1:00 a.m. and arrived in Sheboygan at I :29
a.m. The Chicago & North Western Railroad offered its own version of the Owl car. Its Saturday night freight train that left
Milwaukee at 1:30 a.m. allowed passengers to ride in the caboose
as they traveled back to Cedar Grove and other communities
along the route.
More than 883,000 passengers rode the interurban line in
1910. The Milwaukee Northern also transported Gutsch Brewery
beer, produce grown by area farmers, and other freight between
Milwaukee and Sheboygan.
The interurban line made history when in June of 1910 two
cars from Chicago passed through Cedar Grove on their way to
Elkhart Lake to demonstrate the possibility of long-distance travel via interconnected electric lines. There was a time in Cedar
Grove's history when residents could board an interurban car at
the vilbge depot and travel almost all the way to New York City
by tnmsfening from one interurban line to another.
The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co. bought
Milwaukee Northern interurban line for six-million dollars
1922. One of the changes Cedar Grove residents noticed
immediately was that the Limited trains on the interurban h
longer stopped at their depoL Port Washington was the LimJtea ~
only scheduled stop between Sheboygan and Milwaukee.
other stations were flag S[Ops only.
As had occurred with railroad service over the years,
interurban line was involved in several tragic accidents as
In one such incident village resident John Cole was f,
injured by an interurban freighter in December of 1925.
who was a member of the interurban's section crew worki _
of Cedar Grove, was clearing snow from crossings and platfonri
near Stop No. 47 about one mile south of Weeden
A passing Chicago & North Western freight train, on
paralleled the interurban line, is believed to have distracted
and he failed to hear the interurban approaching. At the
time, smoke from the train's steam locomotive obscur1
vision of the interurban's motorman, and he failed to see
92

standing on the tracks.
One interesting historical note relating to the interurban line
had to do with a strike against The Milwaukee Electric Railway
in 1934. During that strike the Cedar Grove substation, which
had been modernized in 1929 and was very important to the
interurban line, received special protection from the Sheboygan
County Sheriffs Department. While the interurban line curtailed
passenger service during the strike, it kept freight trains running.
On April 4, 1940, the Sheboygan Press reported that The
Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co. had petitioned the
Wisconsin Public Service Commission for approval to close the
Pm1 Washington-to-Sheboygan portion of its electric line and
replace that pm1ion of its service with busses. The company told
the Public Service Commission that it had lost $65,000 in 1939,
and that the intemrban line needed more than $125,000 wo11h of
repairs. The state quickly approved the abandonment request. On
Sunday, September 22, 1940, the last Milwaukee-bound interurban car left Sheboygan at ll :00 p.m. About thil1y minutes later
the intemrban rolled through Cedar Grove and disappeared forever into the night.
As promised, bus service began the very next day. Eight buses
initially served patrons of the old intemrban line, but that number
was soon reduced as more and more people relied on private
transportation for their travel needs.
The last known interurban car in Sheboygan County did not
the area until 1992. That year Car Nz\ 26 of the Sheboygan
Power & J(ailway Company was moved from Jakefront
property east of Cedar Grove to the East Troy Electric Railroad
Museum. The car, which had served as a summer cottage for the
Poedens family until the late 1980s, was in excellent condition at
t.~e time it was moved. It still had its original arched stained glass
wmdows, electric lights, leather grab straps, rolling destination
and fare box.

93

Chapter 7

- Chapter Eight Commercial Fishing
By Shirley Stokdyk Sager

O

ne rare, warm April afternoon while putting together the
weekly Villager in our Cedar Grove office, I was pleasantly surprised by a visit from Eli Koiste, a former Cedar
Grove resident who then lived in Milwaukee. Eli often stopped
by to drop off an old picture or some other interesting bit of history, but on this particular day he simply wanted to talk about the
1920s when he worked for my great-uncle, Adolph Stokdyk, Sr.
Mr. Stokdyk was part owner of a local foundi)' but was aJso
involved in boat building and fishing at Amsterdam with his sons
who was also known as ''Boyd," and Adolph, Jr.
started his remembrances with fishing tales from years
by. As he recalled, this was the time of year when local fishwould be in the midst of preparations for the upcoming fishseason. During the 1920s a line of fisheries stretched from the
Terry Andrae State Park smlth to Amsterdam. One of the
orders of business eJch spring was to prepare the nets for the
;:;Jpproaching season_ Anchor Jines and tie lines were made so that
nets could be attached to pilings set in the Jake.
next order of business was to drive the pilings that were
to set the fishing nets at depths ranging from forty to nine~
. The fishermen typically drove twenty-five to thirty piJfor each net that was set. Pilings for the deeper nets were
spliced and could measure up to one hundred feet in length.
pile driver, which was used to pound the pihngs into
needed a building of its own for storage because of
height at one end. This type of building was only
the shores of Lake Michigan and was a favorite subarea artists and photographers for many years.
95

Chapter8

The fishermen had to wait for calm waters, with no violent pitch~
ing or rolling waves. Eli recalled that the time of setting nets at the
forty-foot depth was usually after the May Blow from the northeast.
These shallower nets caught small fish like chubs which were
excellent for smoking and hening which if they were plentiful sold
for as little as pennies per pound. Nets set as deep as seventy feet
began to catch the lake's larger fish like trout and whitefish.
The fishermen usually left at dawn and got back to shore from
a lift within a couple of hours. Their wives had breakfast waiting
for them by the time they finished cleaning and packing the fish.
Occasionally the man who stayed behind to chip ice and handle
a few other chores might suggest a fish boil outside with bread
and butter and maybe a few potatoes thrown into the pot, much
like the fish boils that are so popular in Door County today.
By the time the nets were lifted and the fish were brought
ashore area residents started arriving to buy some of the wonderful fresh fish. My father, "Duffy" (his nickname because he was
one of several Adolph Stokdyks), would buy fish for a route he
established out in the countryside. Area fanners, who tired of eating

Chapter 8

meat every day, were often eager to buy the fresh fish. In those
days my father often sold herring or chubs at a price of three
pounds for a dollar. During the Great Depression, when money
was scarce, he would take eggs, ham, or anything the farmer had
in exchange for fish.
During the Depression my father also worked nights at the
Schwab Furnace Co. in Cedar Grove, thus allowing him only
three or four hours of sleep per day. In the summertime he would
take either myself or my brother Glenn along on his fish route to
help keep him awake especially during the difficult hours of
11:00 AM. to mid-aftemoon. Each day he would sell anywhere
from fCn1y to fifty pounds of fish, and if there were any left in the
chopped ice when we aiTived home, guess who had fish for supper!
In spite of the fact that I ate a lot of fish as a child, I never tired
of it, and to this day I frequently get a craving for fresh fish. My
mother would also occasionally buy a coffee can full of trout livers which she would then fry lightly in butter. They were delicious but were very rich so we ate them sparingly. A one·-pound
coffee can of the delicacy cost only ten to twenty-five cents
those days, a real bargain and a real treat.
During some years local fishermen made a very good
During others, however, when frequent storms tore the nets
when the fish were less plentiful, the fishermen depended OJ
farming, or later on mink ranching, to supplement their
The local fishennen survived even through the lean years
most Dutch families were used to being fmgaL wasting
having a wonderful abiliry to make do and help each other.
fishennen never raised Lheir nets on Sunday. That day was
for going to church and spending time with family and frie1
The winter season was used for many extra duties. One
most important of these dnties was the cutting of ice,
from a nearby creek, pond or river. Area men sawed large
of ice weighing fifty to one hundred pounds each. The
blocks were then brought back to an ice house by horse and"
After pulling the ice up the river into the the special shed,
dust was layered over it to help preserve the ice until it was
ed. Local butchers, grocers, and many individual families
used ice throughout the year, so a wide variety of local
helped cut and haul ice during the winter. Those of us
98

Chapter 8

ice boxes in our homes could put a card in the window indicating
our needs from twenty~ five to one-hundred pounds. On hot summer days, children lined up next to the ice delivery wagon to
catch a few delicious slivers of ice. The making of ice cream was,
of course, one of our favorite uses of available ice in the sununer,
and since thick, heavy cream was plentiful, our homemade batches
were so delicious. We hardly knew what a calorie was in those days.
Fishing along the shores of Lake Michigan has undoubtedly
been going on for hundreds of years. The earliest fishermen were
probably native Americans who traveled from other areas to the
shores of Lake Michigan. In those days the fish were so plentiful
that they were dried right on the shores and packed in birch bark
and other baskets that were made by the Indians. For many years
children who lived and played along the shores of Lake Michigan
found colored beads, pottery shards, and arrowheads left behind
by the native Americans.
As recently as the early 1900s, a huge fish called the sturgeon
was plentiful in Lake Michigan. Records of the Gilbert Smith
family, who sta1ied a fishery along Lake Michigan and went on
to found the Vi11age of Amsterdam, Slate that many sturgeon
weighed over one-hundred pounds with some approaching 200
pounds. The sturgeon is a rather ugly, prehistoric-looking fish
that was fairly easy to catch, especially in the spawning period
when they were sluggish. The sturgeon would sometimes swim
upstream into shallow creeks that fed Lake Michigan and get
there as the waters receded. My grandfather Pete1
, Theunc often told me how he and some of his friends would go
to the creek, lasso the big sturgeons, and then climb aboard
backs. I loved picturing the fun they had, but part of me
questioned whether this was just u big fish story. In later
had a chance to visit with Oliver Smith, one of Gilbert
descendents, at the Smith Brothers Restaurant in P011
rashington. Oliver agreed that the story was true and claimed to
the same thing on several Sunday afternoons when he
were looking for a bit of excitement.
residents who were at one time or another involved in
Oiilmerriod fishing include names that many will recognize. The
established their fish shanty and homes just a counorth of Amsterdam. Dan Smies, Sr. had many sons
99

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

who eventually joined him in the fishing business. Some of those
involved were Peter, Abram, Andrew, Edgar, Jannes, Lester, Louis,
Don, and Dan, Jr. who later fished at Amsterdam with Jim Wieskmnp.
Just north of the Smies establishment was that of the DeWitt
brothers, Ike, Dick, and Peter. My father grew up on a farm at
East Oostburg and for many years took me along to visit Ike and
Sarah DeWitt. They never had any children, but Sarah made the
best cookies and hot chocolate around, and Ike told the best stories, usually about cutting wood in the winter or about weathering some um1sual storms while fishing. Sarah told me a story
about the time that "it was so foggy you couldn't see the person
next to you." The men were out lifting nets and the fog rolled in
very suddenly. The wives were so worried about their mates that
they got their old metal wash tubs and copper boilers and rushed
down to the water's edge. Sound carries very well over water.
especially on a foggy day, so the women started beating on
metal tubs. Ike said if their wives hadn't done that he hated
think where they might have gone, for it is the easiest thing in
world to become completely disoriented when out on the wa·
Perhaps the men were not carrying compasses with them at
time. I never thought to ask Ike, but as far as I know there
no fishermen lost in all those years.
Just nonh of the DeWitt establishment was that of
and lnge\se. Harvey Stokdyk and Adrian Ingelse fished there
many years until Harvey's sons Kenneth and Leland took
the business. There is still::~ small building at the end of
lnge\se Road that was at. one time used by these fishermen.
Other names that might be remembered with
mercial fishing in this area are Elmer and Harvey
Peter Westerbeke, Han-y and "Shorty" Roerdink, Joe
DeZoute, and Henry Kobes. Other local fishermen
John Jr., Winfred and Han-y Wieskamp, Peter Zurmc
and George VanDriest, Bart Grotenhuis and, of course, Eli
who so often dropped by to refresh my memory. He also
me realize how fortunate we were to have lived through

in one week in September. Daily catches declined somewhat over
the next several decades and then declined very dramatically when
the lamprey, an eel-like fish that attached itself to the belly of larger lake fish, invaded the waters of Lake Michigan. By the mid! 950s it hardly paid for local fishennen to lift their nets, and within
a few years all of the local fishing establishments had closed.
While many local beaches were at one time used for commercial fishing, others, like the TeRonde Beach, were popular spots
for vacations and church picnics. Children often played ga_mes on
the "singing sands," so called because the sand's high silica content caused squeaking sounds to occur as bare-footed children ran
across it. After high waves had washed the lower beach, a good
game of baseball could be played, and on most summer days you
could count on being cooled by an east breeze.
My brother Glenn has often remarked that when one is raised
near water, there always is a need to either live near it or visit it
often. Our Great Lakes should always be treasured. for they give
us opportunity for recreation and provide ever chnnging scenes to
help nourish the mind J.nd body.

memorable times.
As the years rolled by, the amount of fish caught locally
to decrease dramatically. In 1916 D. Smies and Sons
had catches of 5,500 pounds in a single day and 18,000
100

101

- Chapter Nine Retail Businesses
Introduction
id you know that Cedar Grove once had a broom handle
factory? Are you aware that Cedar Grove had several
saloons and dance halls in its early years? Did you know
that ladies could once purchase a made-to-order hat from a local
milliner's shop? Does it surprise you that at one time the meat
market would deliver your order to your door with an ox-drawn
c;:ui? These and other questions will be answered as we take a
look ut the stores ~:md businesses of Cedar Grove.
Even before the first steam locomotive reached Cedar Grove,
village was an active trading center for early settlers in this
. Small stores were opened carrying a stock of provisions
were generally patronized by the resident fanners. While
insist that HJ. Traas operated the first store in Cedar
others proclaim thar it WC\.S l Caljouw, Cornelius Cook,
Prinsen. The confusion hinges upon dates of not more
two years.
Wil!i:'nn DeSmidl built and operated the first blacksmith shop
although prior to that Mr, VanKeuben, who
So- ::;erved as one of the area's first school masters, repor1edly
similar shop between Amsterdam and Cedar Grove.
Van Altena operated the first hotel. The first tin smith
Holle, and it is thought that D. Meengs was the first
Other early businesses include W.M. Stronks and
who operated a steam grist mill that ground an average
bushels per day. In 1875 Garret Lammers built the
Elevator on the site of what later became Pantzer Lumber
and William Sweemer built a warehouse in 1878.
,IK' Mather is said to have operated the first cheese factory in

D

103

Chapter 9

the village sometime during the 1870s. George Knowles built a
mill on the Green Bay Road directly south of what later became
the interurban or streetcar station. It was catTied on by George Tyler
as a flouring-mill and later by a ti1m manufacturing broom handles.
An article by Gus Schiereck in the February 10, 1900
Sheboygan Herald discussed many local businesses in detail and
included the following business summary;
Briefly told the business of Cedar Grove is embmced in these
i11tere.sts: four general stores, four saloons, two meat markets,
two hotels, two blacksmith shops, fH"O wagon repair shops, .flour
and feed store, tailoring store, hardware store, one lumber deale~; two grain elel'(ltors, one harness-nwking establisfuuent. shoe
repair shop, miflinery store, two dressmakers, etc.

The above quotation gives some indication as to the types of
local business establishments that nourished in 1900. In 1947
Cedar Grove's official centennial booklet provided another point
on the village's business time line. While little detail was provided about each local establishment at that time, most businesses
advenised in the bookleL As a result one can get a pretty good
picture of the types of businesses that were most common at
time. Copies of the 1900 Cedar Grove Business Directory and
194 7 centennial booklet are available for review at
Sheboygan County Historical Research Center in
Falls, Wisconsin, and at the Cedar Grove Public Lihrary.
With the previou~ two points on Cedar Grove\ tirne
established, it seems appropriate to provide some inform<
about rhe village's present business and industly for compari
to the past. This chapter will deal primarily with retail establi
ments, while the following chapter will deal primarily
retail business and industJy. Because some businesses are di
to define, there may be some overlap between categories.
Please understand that it is impossible to discuss every
ness venture that existed within the Village of Cedar Grove
the past 150 years. While many past businesses having u
historical significance are included in this chapter and the
is not the intention of this book to cover every business that
operated within the village. Most discussions relating to ,.,.

Chaprer 9

businesses are included to help readers understand how Cedar
Grove's business and industry have changed over the years.
Please also note that dhcussions relating to present-day businesses will be limited primarily to full-time businesses that
advertise.
For the purposes of this book, the businesses discussed will be
those located within the Village of Cedar Grove and those within one-half mile, by car, of the nearest village limit.

Grocery Stores
A few words must be said about the differences in services and
perks from our grocers over the years. In the early 1900s a mother could send a ten-year-old girl to the store to buy twenty-five
cents worth of pork steak, five pounds of sugar and a loaf of
bread, and the child would say to the grocer, "charge it, please."
Most stores went along with charge customers. However, in an ad
in an old Cedar Grove Messenger, the Eagle Groce1)' was listed
as a "CASH STORE." The stores thnt did charge expected that
the bill would be paid monthly, but during the depression that
dH.ln't always happen. When you paid your bill, a bag of candy
was often the reward. At least twice-weekly delive1y was a real
convenience. If your order was placed by 9:00a.m., the groceries
would be on the table in your kitchen by noon. Now that was a
'real service, one that senior citizens would love to have today.
Chlistnws gifts were often given to good and regular customers
JS ma.Jy of you reading this text cca1 attest to. Many older readers might have an antique bmvJ with the words BJoemers and
WJlfoort printed on tbe bowl or a calendar or some kitchen utensiL
While most groceries come from a central warehouse today, in
early 1900s much of the summer produce came from small
plots. Carrots (washed and bunched with greens), radishpotatoes, tomatoes, beans, cabbage, and many other
items were grown right in the area and brought to the
This gave the growers a few extra dollars to get them
the Jean years. Eggs were also brought in and candled
the store, and the farmer got a credit slip to buy groceries.
eggs, when sold, were put into brown PAPER bags for the
The customers carried them home ve1y carefully!
came in longhorns, and very, very long ago butter could

~:-Stomers.

104

105

Chapter 9

Clwpler 9

be bought in bulk. An ad in the Cedar Grore Messenger o[
November, 1930 listed bulk peanut butter for fifteen cents a
pound. Today's customers demand much more variety, and in the
present Piggly Wiggly store as many as two-hundred different
kinds and sizes of cereal are offered.
The first Eagle Grocery and Shoe Company in Cedar Grove
was located on the west side of Main Street near the railroad
tracks. Pal1 of the history of that store was covered in the
Shehoygun Press, in the February 1, 1919, issue where it said:
The Eagle Grocery mul Shoe Compony of Cedor Grow was
started in 1921 by John Smies and Anrhony Huibregtse 14' Cedar
Grove and H.A. Verhulst ~~f' Shehoygun. The company commenced business in an old jiwne building l!'hich \1'i/S erected
abollf 50 years ago locoted on the \.rt'sf side of the moin srreet ..

In November of l SJ28 the :,tore \Vas :-;old 10 <..J. William
Soerens. On Februarv 1, l92CJ, J fire destroved most of the buildings on that side of the street including tht Eagle Grocery. The
fire was believed to have started in the basement of the Engle
Grocery store, but no cause could be found. In a most neighborly gesture, Oscar Vande Wall, owner of a men·s clothing store one
block no11h, allowed the Eagle Grocery to occupy one-half of his
clothing store until Soerens could rebuild.
Eventually a new Eagle Grocery store Wlh huili on tllc ca:-.t
side of Main Street auoss fnJll\ the one thd was destroyed by
fire. This store later became ;lffiliated with the LG.A. chain. G.
William Soerens was owner-operator of the store until his death
on Labor Day in 1940. At that time, Soerens' son Norbert took
over the store and for a short time George Dickens managed the
new meat counter when the store was remodeled. After Norbert
passed away, his widow Josephine and his younger brother
William operuted the store until the early l970s. Eventually the
store was sold to Cliff and Shirley Sager who in 1975 started publishing a local weekly newspaper called the Vi !luger. This entertaining little paper was published for approximately ten years.
Today this same building, now with a lovely Dutch front, house~
the workshop ofTerMaat and TeBeest Carpenters.
106

Just north of the present Main Street bank building was
VandeWall's Grocery. Oscar VandeWall bought a small frame
building where John Potts once had a men's clothing and dry
goods store. For a short while Oscar continued selling men's
clothing in the store. Then he began to sell men's clothing in onehalf of the store and groceries in the other half. Soon groceries
took over the entire store. In 1947 Oscar's son Phillip bought the
business and operated it in the same location unti11975. At that
time Phil sold the business to the Ron Oras family who changed
the name of the store to the Cedar Grove Market. The business
was first operated as a grocery store and then as a mini-mart and
meeting place for young people. The time for small neighborhood grocery stores was past, though, so the store was eventually closed and the building was sold. In the mid-l980s the
building was razed along with several other old buildings to
make room for the Cedar Grove Clinic
Another grocery store, the Center Store, was once operated in
the building that presently houses Dutch Crust Bake1y. In the
early t900s, G. Grotenhuis purchased the store from Garret
Stronks, The store was later operated by Grotenhuis' son Ulysses
after he returned home from serving in World War I. Clerks who
worked with him were Chester Walvoord, Lou Walvoord, and
Miss Gertrude Graaskamp. In the mid-1930s the building was
sold to Herman and Gus Grabowski (Gus later changed his last
name to Garson) who moved their bakery business there from the
Schipper building ju~t to the north. The Schipper (pronounced
"skipper'') building was so named because a family by that name
once lived there_
At some point after the Center Store closed, the building was
divided into two sepnrate store fronts. The south half of the building then housed the Cedar Grove Bakery. The north half of the
building was eventually operated as another grocery store. That
-;tore was run by Cap and Mary Voskuil for about two years and
by Curtis Kreunen for a few additional years.
Approximately one block nonh on the southeast corner of
Main Street and Union Avenue stands a building with a rich history in retail business. The Sheboygan Herald of February 10,
1900, notes that in 1895 J.D. Vreman purchased a general store
business from Henry Meengs. It appears that Vreman then
107

Chap!!! I" 9

operated the general store in the building on the corner, and operated a clothing and tailoring business in an adjacent building. The
February 10, 1900 Sheboygan Herold, which included a Cedar
Grove Business Directory, went on to say:
The stock of groceries, d1:\' goods, crockel)', shrH!S und lwnfii'W'e
m/1/{S r:f't/re people are \l'eff-fookn/ qf(er by
this concern.

is r<{t!Je best, (I lid the

Sometime before 1923 two gentlemen with the last names of
Lensink and DeMaster joined to operate the general store and
grocery at the corner of Main and Union. Next. Matt DeMastcr
and Ben Huenink owned it for a few years until the business was
sold to John Bloemers and his brother-in-law Bart Walfo0!1. Bart
continued as a partner for approximately twelve years and then
left to pursue other interests. John Bloemers was the sole owner
untill946 when Harry and Dorothea Harmelink became the next
grocers. When Mr. Bloemers had the store it was indeed general
merchandise and sold paint, shoes, boots, small tools, household

Chapter 9

gadgets, and more. As soon as most of the general store merchandise was sold out, Harry Harmelink remodeled the store
inside and out and concentrated on the grocery part of the business. In 1967 Herbert Dirkse, who had briefly operated a store in
Gibbsville, purchased the Corner Store where he operated the
grocery business until 1980.
By 1980 Herb wanted bigger and better things for his customers, so he joined the Piggly Wiggly chain and built a supermarket at 240 No11h Commerce Street. In 1991 the Piggly
Wiggly store was enlarged to nearly twice its original size.
Dirkse's Piggly Wiggly, which employs approximately forty fulltime and part-time workers, has a large produce department,
fresh meat, frozen foods of all kinds, and a delicatessen. One can
now buy a complete meal at the delicatessen, add a bouquet of
fresh flowers for a centerpiece, and have a special meal with
very little work.
Since the early grocery stores were usually general merchandise stores, they didn't sell meat. If you didn't knmv someone
who could sell you half a pig or a qunrter of beef, you went to the
meat market. The Sheboygan Herald of February 10, 1900 lists
Neerhof and Meinen as early proprietors of the Cedar Grove
Meat Market which was located south of the present co-op office.
The article says that the proprietors were "Wholesale and Retail
Dealers in Fresh Salt Meats and All Kinds of Sausages," and goes
on to say:

..!he ahol'e named finn a!'e the proprietors of the Cedar Gro1•e
Meat Market ond 1':'\'er since the seaso11 C!/1893, they hare been
established on the south side IFhere Ihere Ihe l\"Wifs of the public
in the meat and sausage line werr promptly attended to. Besides
the l'illage trade they run a wagon and supply the country customers in season.
Later, M. J. Jacoby and John Birenbaum were the owners and
_delivered orders to homes with an ox-drawn wagon. John Dees
for Jacoby and Birenbaum for a time and then purchased
business from them. A Sheboygan County Village and
Directory, which was published while John Dees ran the
Grove Meat Market, shows a display advertisement for
109

Tht: Cedar G10ve IVkat Markd·s O.,.Or;twn Can U;;ed !"or Local Dcliwnn
(Photo Courteo.y H<:t )\·lu'>t:\tm)

John Dees 111 DocH"way. Mthc ht:uby

til

\\oagon. John B"'~nbaunl m fi\>Bl

the business with the caption "Mail Orders Solicited."
Leland Meylink operated the Cedar Grove Meat Market for a
short while during the mid-l950s before Paul Dolfin and Lloyd
Janisse acquired the business. Eventually Lloyd Janisse pursued
other employment, and Paul Dolfin ran the business alone. By
then the business included small freezer compartment rentals t
could be used by people who didn't have a freezer Jt home.
the time of its dosing in about 1970, the business also included
mini-matt where customers could purchase bread, milk, and
limited assortment of canned goods.
In the 1920s John Dees established the John C. Dees
which was operated in connection with the Cedar Grove
Market. Initially milk was delivered by horse-drawn V"
Eugene (Smitty) DeSmidt delivered milk for Dees when a
drawn wagon was used. In later years an engine-powered
ery van was used on the route. In either case housewives
indicate how much milk they needed by writing their or
slip of paper and then placing it partway into an empty
110

The empty bottles were then set on the front step and the
exchange was made for filled bottles. Daily delivery was important because many people did not have ice boxes and could only
order as much as could be kept cool in the basement for a short
while. In winter the milk had to be taken in immediately or it
would freeze. Les Nyenhuis worked in the milk delivety part of
the business at one time. Eventually he purchased that portion of
the business and built a bottling and pasteurization plant across
the street.
At least two other dairies are known to have been operated in
the Cedar Grove area as well. The Shady Lane Dairy was begun
in 1931 by Bill Schreurs, well before Les Nyenhuis operated his
business. At that time horses were used exclusively to pull the
delivery wagon that carried the milk. The horses were so well
trained that they knew exactly which houses to stop at, giving the
route man time to deliver the order and come back to find the
horse-drawn wagon still in its place. Lloyd Baden also operated
the Shady Lane Dairy at some point during the 1940s. At that
time the business was located in wh<H is now a gurJge at the Phil
VanEss residence. Eventt.wlly Lloyd Baden went into other work,
and his father Robert took over the dairy.
Bill TenPas operated the TenPas Dairy from approximately
1963 until its closing in 1974. Bill delivered Verifine products to
area homes throughout that time. Initia!ly he traveled to
Sheboygan each day for the products he distributed, but later
veri fine brought the orders directly to him.
Bakery

In the mid-1930s Hermun und Gus Grabowski, who were
already operating a bakery in the village, moved the business to
its present location from the Schipper building just to the north.
Apparently they then divided the building into two separute store
fronts and used tbe south half of the building's lower level to
operate the bakery. The Grobowsk..is eventually sold the bakery
to Harold Schultz, who in May of 1950 began to feed
Middlesy-Marshall oil-burning ovens with breads, rolls,
and other delicacies.
Schultzes operated the Cedar Grove Bakery until 1963
Carl and Ann Kettleson moved here from Watertown to run
Ill

Chop!er 9

the business. Carl soon converted the oven to gas for faster
wann-up (forty-five minutes) and better control. An article in the
Plymouth Review once stated "Its shelves revolve slowly like a
huge ferris whee\ and can bake 48 dozen Danish or 192 full-size
loaves of bread at one time."
The Kettlesons continued operating the bakery until 1972,
when Peter Campione bought the business. At one point, while
the Campiones owned the bakery, they ran a small pizza parlor
in the north half of the same building. Unfortunately Mr.
Campione was injured in an accident in 1978 and was unable to
continue with the bakery, so the Kettlesons came back to run the
business once again.
Carl and Ann Kettle son sold the bakery in 1985 to their daughter and son-in-law Marion and Harland Hopeman. The
Hope mans eventually changed the business name to Dutch Crust
Bakery and expanded the business to include n coffee shop in the
north half of the building. The coffee shop is a popular meeting
place, for who can resist the delicious smells coining from that
store'' Light noon lunches :1re presently uvai\able as \VelL
the early i 980s the Dutch Crust Bakery bas been providing
t08-foot-long Woorstebrodje for the Holland Festival on
annual basis.
An article in the August '20, 199\ Plymouth Re1•ieor :::.tates:

Tt_;dny, Dutch Crust's who/esule owl rewil businesses ure
ing, Wfwies(l[e makes UfJ u!Jout lw!f of rhe businPsS. 7/w
de/iPers on u daily busis to occounrs iJI S'heboygon
Washington, not to mention to the Shehoyp,on Folts
where only the sondwiches ore lllllde on site. ]'(;keep
i11g smoothly, Dutch Crust Bakery operotes t\1'0 shij!s:
crew und evening crew. Lmrj(ll products hove "wke/1 off"
·with croissonts and muffins.
Restaurants
Cedar Grove residents obviously had a few spare nickels
dimes for sweets and eats because at various times and places
were many sweet shops and burger shops within the village.
Grove still has several of those places where friends meet and
news gets passed around as coffee cups are filled and refilled,
i 12

Swttt Shop on Nnnh End oJ' fl:J.k~ry BuJid1ng During the Llle !940:.
(Phmo Comtesy Leona Th~l"l~l

During the late 1930s Hnrold Stokdyk operated u sweet shop
in the present Marquita Benuty Shop just north of Dutch Crust
Bakery. Elmer Claerbout also ran a sweet shop for a time in the
horth half of the building that presently houses the bakery. Elmer
continued in business there until the late 1940s or enrly 1950s.
Eugene and Trudy Pax operated a sweet shop at the same location m 1955 but stayed for only a short time. Gerald Soerens \Vas
next proprietor until November 1, 1958, \Vhen Ralph
DeSmidt began his career as a restJurant owner in the short order
[~Stamant and sweet shop.
Tn >~hout 1970 Rnlph DeSmidt closed the sweet shop and
one block north to begin DeSmidt's [DeZwaan]
.,.au1ant and Good 'N Plenty Coffee Shop. The building that
the new restaurant had once been nn auto dealership and
station, so a complete remodeling was necessary. When
the new restaurant's dining room was circled with
tiles, and large pictures of former Holland Festival queens
displayed along with many other Dutch pictures. The decor
Dutch and items on the menu were Americnn and Dutch. The
!13

Chopra Y

DeSmidts sold Dutch lace, Delft pottery and other Dutch imports
in the coffee shop, and the clientele came from a large surround~
ing area. Ralph and Shirley, with the help of their children Peter
and Gretchen, continued in business until DeZwaan (the building
as named by the DeSmidts) was purchased by Larry and Debbi~
Lenz and Mike und Wendy Heinen in 1987. Since then. the Dutch
decor and good menu have helped keep DeZwaan a popular
place to dine.
Other village restaurants which preceded DeZwaan by many
years were located in what is now Claerbout Interiors. This building was a bank before it was u restaurant, and John Lammers
likely operated the first resumrant there. Fritz and Hibhy Mueller
continued YVith a restaurant in that building and they were followed by John Mossholder, Lloyd Baden, ::md Elmer Claerbout
All had eating establishments there until Elmer Claerbout went
into the furniture business.
Lloyd's Drive-In, built by Lloyd Tenpas in the mid-l950s, wa..,
one of the early true drive·" ins where car bops came to take
order and the-n brought the order out to you. One new menu

Lloylh Drive-In During lhc J\·l!U-J950s
(Pholo Cou,'k.l)' H\"larcl ~ncl NBiic') Ru,him11

mtroduced to area residents was the frozen custard made right at
drive-in_ As built, the drive-in only had ten stools for eating
·mdoors. Later, however, Lloyd enlarged the building to meet the
fncreased need for full menus and to improve business throughmonths. The restuurant's car hop service was disabout that time. Locutcd on the former U.S
l, the rcstaun_mt was often a stop for truckers
the restaurant was purchused by Gerald and Ed1e
and was known as Jer and Edie's. Later it became
as Edie's, and in 1991 the business nnme was changed to
Grove Restaurant when Ann Scott started her four years
In 1995 Bruce and Barb Lukens began operatbusiness and redecorated the building to its present decor.
_ coffee time finds many people congregating there, and
?'-"estaurant is a pleasant place for dining while others purchase
meals to eat at home

Hotels and Taverns
the horse and buggy days hotels and saloons were of great
115

Chapter 9

Tht Cedar Grove Ho1cL Which is Pr~senrly Sporlsnwn\ Bar, During !he Early 1900s
IPholo Coun.-~y Het !Vhi>tlllll)

Cedar Grovt's tvlam Strcd. S0u1h ur th~ R~1lro~<.l Cro>oing in Appt0SilllJt~l) I 90..\
(Phuw Coun~sy Het Museum)

importance even in small villages. Long trips were intersperse~
with rest stops for people as well as for horses. By the late
John VanAltena was operating a hotel on the west side of
Street, just south of the railroad crossing.
Another s:1loon and hotel called the American House was
business for many years. HJ. Brecht wus the proprietor at
time and his credentials of cordiality and ''having a
ductcd house and good accommodations" probably accountect11
the good name he had. The American House, which was
south of the present Co-op Exchange, was sold at
February 2, 1897, because of illness in the family. Peter ...... ,.
was the auctioneer (Sheboygun Herald, Februmy 10, 1900).
In 1899 George J. Braun became the proprietor of a
and meat market in a large two-story building at the
corner of Main Street and Union Avenue. Mr. Braun was
cian, playing both violin and piano. The upper floor of the
ing was a large dance hall, but whether Mr. Braun
part of the business is uncertain. At some point Gus
116

apparently owned that property. It is not presently known
whether Mr. Schiereck owned the building when Mr. Braun was
funning the business. In 1914 this building became a print shop,
which was the starr of Standard Printing.
John Jungers. who was another multl-fo.ceted businessman, at
time operated a saloon as one of his business interests. The
February lO, 1900 Sheboygan Herald said about this business:

saloon is com•eniently located and is near and finely decoM!: Jungers lws u plwno[?roph ~~·hich ({l}imls p/e(JSullt

J!n,tertaimnent for his custon1ers

rbe hoteLs and tavems lhat have operated in the
of Cedar Grove, the present Spo11sman's Bar appears to
best documented history. While Wisconsin was still a
nnd Indians were coming to the shores of Lake Michigan
·r annual fishing run, a parcel of land was sold by the
States Government at their Green Bay land office to
N. Miner. The transaction was dated February 14, 1837.
abstract it must be noted that each time a change of
took place it was stated thnt a strip of land one rod
provided to Garret! Stronks for a road. This would be the
south of the present Sportsman's Bar and Grill or
117

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

as we know it, Cedar Avenue.
In 1837 a part of the entire parcel was sold to David Giddings.
Others who owned parcels of that land over the years include
Samuel L McComus, John Alden and his wife Jane, Hendrik
Walvoord, Anna Marie Walvoord, Mary and Henry Sweemer,
Johannes Sweemer, John Sweemer Jr., Frank and Maggie Hirn,
and John A. Ramaker who made his purchase in 1890. The propcity was transferred from John A. Ramaker to John Henry
Ramaker in 1891. John Henry Ramaker is the first one listed as
using the premises for a hotel and saloon.
By 1900, the subject building was being operated as the Cedar
Grove Hotel. The Cedar Grove Hotel, which had its own livery
stable, was an active stop-over for weary travelers. The February
\0, 1900, edition of the Slleboygon Herahl said about Peter
Stokdyk the hotel proprietor: "He is a thorough gentleman and all
who stop with him are assured of good treatment" The article
went on to say:

His stock of li<jiWI".\", 1rines and cigMs· ure r~f" the !Jest wul he thoroughly wulerstonds the art of.f(lllcy drinks. Dunces ore held
our younger people find onwsemen! in tripping the jimtostic.
When John Henry Ramaker passed away, the land that he
purchased went to his widow Hannah and to his children
Hamaker. Clara Ramaker, Harvey Ramaker, and WinfreJl
Ramaker who vvas ju~t fifteen yems old at !hat tink.
Winfred (Winnie) Ramaker began his business c:..~reer not
the saloon owned by his father but in a sweet shop on rhe
side of Main Street across from the saloon. After the fire of
Winnie apparently went into the saloon business and conti
there until he sold the business to Leo and Selma Preisler in 1'
The Preislers had previously operated a tavern in a building
was located where Bruce Foundry now has a parking lot ,
storage building.
In 1948 the tavern was sold to Sylvester and Evelyn
The Lansers owned the building until 1971 but leased
ness to their daughter Mary Jane and her husband
Lukens from 1966 to 1968. In 1971 Evelyn, now widowed,
the business to Richard and Michelle Uselding who operated
118

The' Form~J Pre~>b T;!\tm Bulldntg on th~ West StJ~ of South t\latn St. eel
{Phnw C'n1111e<.v Sheho:-gJn County Hi,toiic;ll Re":;trch Ccm~r)

tavern until Larry and Shwron Anderson bought it in 1973. The
Andersons continned in the business until 1976.
John and Reginu Steffen took over the business in 1976 and
with their five sons, Jeff, John, Joel, Jim, and Jay. operated the
only tavern in Cedar Grove. They sold the business in 1983 to
Phillip and Lori Verville. The Vervilles, then Bruce and Barb
Lukens. Rod and Shelley Kir::.b and present owner Steve
Stockero bring the cycle of mvnership up-to-doue.
From 1837 to 1997 this plot of land had many owners. From
\vhat can be determined, it was only the Ramaker family that
the building as a hotel, saloon, and dance hall.

Funeral Parlor/Furniture Store
A building that is now gone but which was on the scene for
years began as the First Reformed Church. When a new
lnd larger edifice was planned, the old building was moved about
north to a site between the present DeZwaan
and Union Station, There the building became a furstore and funeral parlor. The building, with hand-hewn
· and wooden pegs, was solid. When it was torn down in
119

Clwpter Y

Chapter 9

the mid-1970s, some of the rafters were found to still be covered
with bark.
The first funeral directors in the village were Ed Sonke and
Hem)' Harmelink who were also in th~ painting and wallpapering business. Apparently neither was a fully-licensed undertaker
but carried on nevertheless. In the early 1900s, Edward TeRonde
bought the funeral parlor building and moved in with his family.
The family lived in the rear of the building while TeRonde carried on tbe undertaking business, provided painting and wallpa
pering services, and sold furniture. Besides all that, Ed framed
pictures and sold go-carts (devices used to help carry luggage
during travel), and b1by carriages. Combined business was the
practice in many cases. It might be noted that behind the building
horses could be kept in the horse barns. At one time the hearse
was drawn by horses. Austin Voskuil remembers that his mother\
casket wns taken to the cemetery in 1916 by a horse-drawn hearse
Ed TeRondc's sons. both Irwin and Ellsworth, took training to
become funerul directors and were so licensed. lrwin eventual!
buug:h! the business and continued to sell furniture H:, wei
becoming the sole funeral director. In 1964 Mr. Roben Ha1
moved here from Michigan to become the nex.t funeral
Unfortunately. failing health caused him to discontinue the
ness by the early 1970s. Shortly thereafter the funeral parlor
razed and the land that it stood on was parceled bet\veen the
adjacent landowners.

Hardware Stores, Implement Dea!ers 1 Etc.
Hardware stores \Vere to tlle funncrs what the variety
were to housewives. A wide variety of items from naib to
dow panes were available. In the present store you can
cveJ)'thing from birdseed to riding lawn mowers.
Throughout much of its history, Cedar (trove bad n.vo
ware stores. The first store was originally located on the we~
of South Main Street and was operated by Andrevv Vander
This store was a victim of a disastrous fire in 1929.
went on, this time across the street in the hardware
sent location just south of Cedar Avenue. Henry Obbink
Rue sink eventually joined to tuke over the business. They
work, plumbing and managed the store.
!20

In 1939, the store was purchased by the Ebbers family, headed by Garret Ebbers. The Ebbers family owned ho.rdware stores
in Sheboygan, Gibbsville, Oostburg, and now Cedar Grove.
George Ebbers and his wife Alyce moved to Cedar Grove to
operate the Cedar Grove store. This could be considered an early
example of n chain store. The upper floor was made into a residence at that time. George Ebbers purdmsed the business from
G.H. Ebbers & Sons in 1950 and continued in the store until
1968. Since that time three other owners have supplied the viiluge with hardware goods. Virgil Nonhof and his wi"i'e: Delores,
owned the store from 1968 until 1978 when Thomas Zachman
bought the business. The Zachman l~lmily sold the store to the
present owners, Glen TenDolle and Paul Huenink, in 1983. The
present owners sell and install carpeting and other floor covermgs in addition to selling the usual hardware store goods.
The site of <mother hardware store, \Vhose building was a landmark in Cedar Grove for many years, cnn be traced back to the
time the Village of Cedar Grove began. A chronologicul listing of
landowners begins with the United States Gov~rnment selling the
in parcels to Martin Owen in 1846, 1848, nnd 1849. Manin
Owen and Thankful, his wife, sold to Gerrit H. Koiste and his
wife Jocominn in 1851 at a price of $400 for the approximately
Others who have been listed as owners of the sub~
property over the years include Peter and Maria Liefbroer,
Liefbroer, Jenny Lidbroer, and Acli·iao Theune. who pur~
the property iu ! 909. Adrinn Theunc and his vvife
Jo:.ephine sold the propcny to Elmer J. TeRonde and his wife
in 1932.
TeRondes sold the property to Ben Huenink, Sr. in 1940,
he sold it to the Cedar Grove Hardware Company in 1946.
Hilbclink, who had worked for Ben Huenink in the store nt
became owner of the combination plumbing business
hardware store when he and his wife Lona purchased the
in 1959. For a time Erwin Claerbaut managed the hardwhile Ernie Wieberdink joined Ray in the plumbing
business. The plumbing business, which became E&R
operated from the basement of the store for many
Claerbout eventually left the hardware store to pursue
121

Chop/a 9

other work. The firs\ lloor of the building was later used by Harry
Neustal for an appliance store. and for a short time during the
mid~l960s George VanSluys sold radios and televisions there.
E&R Plumbing bought the building from Ray and Lona
Hilbelink in 1971 and sold it to Robert and Maxine Witt in 1977.
The Witts sold appliances there for a time. The building that had
started as a hardware store and had served so many different people was razed in i 985 along with several other stores to make
room for the present Cedar Grove Clinic.
Afler selling the old hardware store building, E&R Plumbing
moved to a concrete block building on Commerce Street where
Jim Waech had previously manufactured concrete tile. Roger
Jentink, who had worked for E&R Plumbing for many years, now
owns and operates the business at that Commerce Street location,
Many years ago Peter DeMaster had the agency to sell
International Harveslor machines in and around the Village
Cedar Grove. An early newspaper advenisement proclaimed '

Choprer 9

I can't satisfy you on a plow in style and price, nobody can. I grind
plowshares and do it right." Peter had farm machinery for sale,
sharpened scissors, did tin work, and a little of eveiything else.
At one time DeMaster sold corn drills for thirty-two dollars
and cultivators for twenty-eight dollars. This jack-of-all-trades
business, which was of great importance to area fanners, was
located just north of the old village hall about where the fire station now stands. According to Augusta Risseeuw, who is Peter's
daughter, her grandfather told Peter that he could help iri the business if he could put together a reaper and have it work. At that
time machinery parts came by rail in gunny sacks and a local
delive1y man hauled them to the proper location on a dray
wagon. Well, Peter put the parts together, hitched the horses to
the reaper, and went to a nearby field. The reaper worked and at
the tender age of founeen Peter DeMaster went into business
with his father John. Peter then worked at that same job until his
retirement. Peter later sold his property to Dr. James Jensen who
removed the old building from the lot and built his first medical
there.
being the rural carrier for the postal system, Henry
Huibregtse had an electric shop that included electrical
and the selling of electrical appliances. Hank helped bring
convenience of electricity to many area fanns. By about 1942
and his son Robert (Rob) were in business together. Rob
the business alone for many yeurs until J978 when his
Larry VVJeherdink started working with him. After
passing, Larry ran the electrical business alone
yenrs.

·f'J..r.~nl--\

Het Museum, which is located directly across from
Restaurant, displays artifacts that were used by Dutch
tm1grants during Cedar Grove's early history. Before becoming
however, that building housed a variety of businesswas built as a cheese factory in the 1870s and was first used
Mather brothers for that purpose. William Stronks began
and shipping cheese in 1879. By 1882 Stronks and John
were in partnership and Vande Wall added a 16 x 26
room. The back room of the museum exactly matchchange of ownership brought John Huenink and
t23

Chapter Y

Anthony VandeWall to the business in 1886. In I 889 the building
was sold again, this time to John Huenink and John Vande WalL
VandeWall next sold his one-half share in 1895 to Henry
Huenink, and for the next fifteen years it was known as Huenink
Brothers Cheese Company.
G.W. Soerens, a blacksmith, bought the building in 1911 and
John Ruesinkjoined him in 1917. These men continued in the
smithy business until John Roelse and Albert Rusch became the
next owners and carried on with the blacksmithing until World
War II started. From then on we no longer had a blacksmith in
Cedar Grove. After the war the building was used by Rues inks
for their plumbing and heating business until the building was
converted into Het Museum in 1976, the year of our nation\
bicentennial.

Standard Printing
In 19!4 a printing shop was opened by Louis Posekany and
Charles Holesovsky in a large gray building with Victorian trim
at the southwest corner of Main Street and Union Avenue. The
printers, who also published the eight-page weekly Cedar
Tribune for a time. immediately called the business The Stand:.:mi
Printing Company.
Henry Grotenhuis purchased the printing business in 1922 ·
operated it until 1948 when be sold it to Marvin Duenk.
continued to operate- the business in the same location until
when he rnoved to a new building on North Main Street.
Standard Printing Contpany continues to operate at '!he
Main Street address 10 this day. During the time Marv
owned the business. be added new offset presses to use
with continued letterpress printing. In i975 the business
expanded to include a Christian bookstore called The
Room. The bookstore was ably managed by Marv's wife
This combination print shop and bookstore was sold in
Jim and Laura Brazel. The Brazels lived there and operated
business until 1992 when Mr. Brazel became a sales
tive for Christian bookstores.
Standard Printing, the company that published this book.
next purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Greg Nmus. Both Greg
Chris are experienced printers, and they continue to
124

Staodanl Printing in 195..J.
{Photo Coune;;y Man· and R\lse Dutnk)

pnnting plant, adding and updJ.ting equipment as needed to stay
competilive.

General Merchandise, Specialty Stores, Etc.
John Potts' D1y Goods Store and Variety Store both deserve
Even though cars became the mode of travel rather
an horses in the early 1900s, no one traveled all the way to
~·5hebov£an for household e:oods and small articles. In fact, in
·
- c~ses a trip to Sheboy'gan was a well--planned trip. Because
,, fact, a general merchandise store was a necessity in most
villages. The first frame building used for John Potts' dry
store was on the west side of South Main Street, across
the railroad depot. By the mid-1920s this building was too
for all of the merchandise he sold, so in 1927 he started
became a new and larger store, almost a mini department
at the site of the present Cedar Grove Variety. There he sold
,, suits, shoes, boots, potte1y, and a large selection of yard
s and notions to accompany them. Mothers made most of
_ for their children in the early 1900s, and they found
:-,materials for those projects at Potts' store. In addition to the
of merchandise on the first level, the second floor was
125

Clwp1er 9

Chop1er 9

filled with pottery of all kinds as well as fine china.
A little-remembered item of interest is that John Potts once
bought a number of books which he loaned or rented out, thus
providing an early library of sorts for Cedar Grove. And all this
time we thought the Cedar Grove Book Club was the precursor
of our modern public library. Diana Nett, our present public
librarian, has a well-worn book with an inse11 stating that the
book belongs to the John Potts Lending Library. The fee for use
of the book was shown as five cents per week.
After John Potts died, his wife Matilda kept the store going for
a short while and then began renting the business to Chris
Evanoff in 1941. Chris operated the local store for a few years
and then started vvorking with other Evanoff family members in
their Sheboygan Falls business. At that point Carl Jetzer took
over the Cedar Grove Variety Store. By the late l940s Chri~
returned to Cedar Grove and purchased the Variety Store which
he then managed until 1976.
Although Chris Evanoff was not a Dutchman by name,
\NUS no one who worked harder to promole Cedar Grove, e.
cially during the later years when our Holland Festival became

lnlcriDI of Ced;u Gron-: Variety Store During: the Mid-19..\0s
(Photo Co\111esy Carl & Gluri3 ktl~l")
L-R: Laverne RawerJink S~hr~urs. Carl kuer

126

annual affair. In fact, in an ethnic slide presentation in the lower
!eve! of the Statue of Liberty, the Dutch Village of Cedar Grove
is (or at least once was) represented by a close-up of Chris in full
Dutch costume. Chris left the business in 1976, and Russell
Roethel owned the Variety Store, as it was known by that time,
until he sold it to Terry and Jennifer DeHaai in 1993. The
DeHaais also began a photography studio in the f01mer public
library building southeast of the railroad crossing.
The building that presently houses Claerbout Interiors served
both as a bank and restaurant before it became -a furniture store.
Elmer Claerbout started the furniture business after previously
operating both a restaurant and sweet shop. After adding to the
original building twice, Cl::J.erbout Furniture carried a large inventory of all kinds of furniture and floor coverings and later added
wallpaper as well. This store ~tlso brought many people into the
village from out of town. When Elmer's son Warren and his wife
Judy took over the business it was flourishing. In 1993 Wnrren
and Judy retired. and Dennis and Sheila Kuppers presently operate the business. From bank to restaurant to furniture store, this
building has sc>rved the community well for many years.
Like most small communities the Village of Cedar Grove had
numerous specialty stores in its early days. Many of these spestores were started by women entrepreneurs who, as widhad to make a living to suppon themselves and perhaps
children. One such shop was operated by Ruth
'Grotenhuls from her horne located where the Chiropructic Clinic
nds. Ruth, who web wldowed_ suppmtt'd herself and her
by selling women's garments, especially lingerie.
At one time Leono. Lemke operated a women's apparel shop
the north end of the former Academy building at the corner of
Street and VanAltenaAvenue. A 1930 advertisement listed
wool hose! On the south end of the lower flat she also
a restaurant Though often called a tea shop, she did
meals there. According to Dorothy Theune, who
there, one of the villnge bakers (He1111an) often came in
his meals and many times ordered sliced onions and sliced
s! How's that for a gourmet side dish?
_Another lady entrepreneur was Hannah Walvoord who had a
'- shop. It was located in the building just south of the
!27

Chupter 9

Clwpler Y

present State Farm Insurance office. ln an ad dated November 5.
1907, she advenised her fall millinery opening. She advertised
·'the most complete line of fashionable millinery in all the latest
shapes and trimmings.'" Sometimes little girls would stop by on
the way home from school and watch us Hannah would take a
pre-made form and decon1te it with feathers. bows, lace. and
whatever the customer would fancy. The business was still open
in the early 1920s, and there are women today who remember
when their mother took in an old hat to have it altered with new
ribbons and bows.
At two different times jewelry stores were operated in the
Village of Cedar Grove. The name and date of operation for the
first store could not be verified. The ~econd jewelry store was
affiliated with Wilbert's Je'A-'elry Store in Sheboygan. The store
\vas located in the former Leo Preisler tavern building on the
west side of South Main Street. Delores Meinen confirms that
this store existed because she worked there for a time. The jewelry :-;lore was not operated in Cedar ()rove for very long. though,
and while here it was only open a fe\V days a week.
After being vacant for some time, the old Corner Store at~_..,.
Street and Union Avenue was revived during the m.id~1980s.
Mitzie Janey was one person who wanted to try her hand
ning a business, so she leased the front of the former Corner
and for five years ran Windmill Hobbies which featured a
variety of hand-crafted items.
The buikling was sold in i 988 to Ralph t\lkn :md Jad:
who purchased it for usc a:--. c\ vvhole'<tk shoe business. It wa:-, ·'
the Kettle Moraine Shoe Company. Since they worked in
part of the btJilding not many J:."!eople k.nev·,; the business ex,.
In t99l the former Corner Store took on an entirely new
when a Dutch store called Winkel van de Achterhoek, w
translation appropriately means "first store on the corner,"
opened by Ralph and Shirley DeSmidt. The DeSmidts
this unique specialty store with really special rnerchand:
including imported Dutch lace, Delft pottery, Dutch food~'
ing cards, books, antiques, crafts nnd many more items.
an advantageous location, people coming into the village
stopped to browse and shop. The little Dutch boy in front
store served as an invitation to stop in and enjoy shopping
!28

little bit of Holland. The DeSmidts operated Winkel van de
Achterhoek at its Main Street location until March of 1997.
One little-known fact about the Village of Cedar Grove is that
it was the site of one of the first coin-operated laundromats in the
area. When Les Nyenhuis discontinued the milk route that he
had nm for many years, he converted his building into a laundromat. In 1978 he also began the first self-service dry-cleaning
business in the area,
A second laundromat was started in Cedar Grove by Jim and
Connie Grotenhuis in 1974. Jim served as the genera-l contractor
for the combination laundromat and residence on East Union
Avenue. After twenty years the business <.tnd proper1y were sold
to Bruce and Barb Lukens who presently operate the laundromat.
The Dutch Cleaners dry-cleaning business was star1ed by Ed
and Betty Harmeling in 1949. In 1953 Owen Meinen and Carl
Voskuil formed a par1nership and began to operate the business.
Fire damaged the interior of the building in 1962, but thanks to
the assistance ofbmily and friends, the business \vas up and nmning again in less than two weeks. In 1964 a large addition was
constructed to the west of the original bujJding and the business'
entrance was moved from the northeast corner of the building
near the railroad tracks) to the nonh side. In 1976 Owen
Meinen purchased Car! Voskuil's share of the original partnership, and in 1988 present owner Jere Ebbers purchused the business from Owen Meinen.
One of Cedar Grove's ne\ve:-,t bus.incssc.~ ic. Windmill Gardens
Floral Shop vv·hich offici:llly opened during Memorial Day
weekend in 1992. Owned and operated by Gury Winkeihlxst, it
complete garden center selling not only flowers and vegbut trees and shrubs as well. The business is
on North Commerce Street.

Insurance Agencies
Mutual is the second oldest insurance company in the
of Wisconsin. It was chartered in June of 1870 by a group
lHam1ers who initially only sold fire insurance. During the com~
years the premium for insurnnce on a house was
~,t,ennined primarily by how many chimneys the house had
}_t:member, this was fire insurance, and most people used wood
1:19

Chapter

Chupter 9

f)

burning stoves or furnaces). In time available coverage was
expanded to include many other types of insurance as well. At
that time a most unusual practice was for a customer to buy term
insurance, pay the fee for five years, and have a paid-up policy.
All a customer had to do to keep the policy in force was to pay
::m annual fee of two dollars.
Ernest Onnink and Harry TerMaat were early officer/::tgents
for the firm. Les Draayers joined the business in about 1964 and
soon wind-storm, liability, inland marine, theft, and home and
farm owners insurance were added. Jerry Grotenhuis bec.1me
secretary of Hoiland Mutual in 1984, and the finn's offices were
moved to the former Dr. James h:nsen medical building on
South Main Street.
''Like a Good Neighbor," the State Farm Insurance agency b
located just two doors north of Holland Mutual. Brian Gesch is
the agent and is a Chanered Life Underwriter and also a
Chartered Financial Counselor. State Farm Insurance sells home,
life, auto, and health insurance. The company was actually
by Le::. Kruis in lhe mid- I 950s when his office was in his '"-·
on Elm Street. In the mid-l970s Les bought a home owned _
Leon Walvoord and remodeled the building for his new offi
Brian Oesch later purchased lhe business and began serving a'"
agent for the State Farm Insurance group in 1986. In 1994
office was enlarged to include additional office space for rent.

Barber Shops and BemJ.ty Salons

A Cedar Grove Busine~s Dirccmry, published with
February 10, 1900, edition of the 5Jiwhoygon Hem/d. stateJ:
Cerwinly no \'t"l!uge oftm)' si:::e C(ln get along \l'irfumt a /Jw
in this fine the H"mlfS of the public haw been looked qfler by
Konuners, who lws followed this \'Ocmion for O\'f:'t ten yeors.
Another barber active in the trade during the 1930s and
was Peter DePagter. Peter also was a wholesale florist, rL
prize-winning gladiola which he sold to t1ower shops in
rounding cities.
And then Cedar Grove had Ray and Jay. Ray VanderJagt
first, in the mid-1930s, and had a barber shop in the basement
130

Citizens Bank on South Main Street. When Ray started his business in Cedar Grove, he moyed into both the former residence
and the former shop of the previous barber, Henry Idsinga. An
interesting side note is that Ray VanderJagt's barber shop had
showers available which men could use, for a fee of course.
Jay Schaap started barbering in the Leo Preisler building on
the west side of South Main Street and then worked for over thirty-five years in a shop he built in 1947. The little barber shop is
located on the east side of South Main Street just north of the present TerMaat and TeBeest Carpenters' building. In ·November of
1983, Jim Bowe moved into the Jay Scharrp building, calling his
business J.B. Comb and Shears. He continues there to the pre,.
sent, clipping and snipping to make the men who come to him
look great.
Other barbers who served the village at one time or another
include A11 VanderWaal, John Lubach, Owen Russelink, and
Johnny Kappers. In the errrly days no one made an appointment
with a village barber. The men just vvent to the barber shop at
their convenience and sat on long benches awaiting their turn.
But they didn't sit silently, simply listening to the buzz of the
dippers and the snip of the scissors. There were magazines to
read and people to talk to. And the news passed around in the barber shops was perhaps as good as that disseminated in the local
beauty salons.
Regarding beauty salons, pictures from long ago ott en showed
unsmiling ladies with their ll<lir paned nearly in the m1ddle. If one
of these women were to turn armmd, you would see a bun at the
of her neck. Or perhaps she would h<1ve her hair long and
with the braid wound around her head like a coronet.
women even "teased" their hair in those days long ago.
a woman's hair was the least bit curly, she would wind it
cloth strips, with vertical curls being the result. Women did
have the time nor money in the early part of the 1900s to do
else.
was at least one somewhat do~ it-yourself alternative to
hair in those days. A Marcel curling iron, heated in a
lamp, would give the impression of row after row of
. Needless to say, it was a time-consuming task and the
were not permanent. To help keep the waves or curls last
13!

C/wp1er Y

Chapter 9

a longer time, a waving lotion was used after shampoo. Early
lotions were often made by boiling tlax seeds until they turned
thick and gel-like.
In the early 1940s the permunent wave machine (a tmiuous
thing) came into the beauty shops. With all of the hair bound up
in rollers and attached with electric wires to the source of hem,
one could become quite frizzled (and frazzled). When a roller
was too close to the scalp, the beauty shop operator would simply use a fan to cool the spot.
The machineless permanent wave was a wonderful improvement. After the depression was over, more and more women went
to a beauty shop once or twice a year. The more affluent may
have had their hair "done" every week! Today a trip to the beauty shop is a much more conunon occurrence, and many men even
frequent the shops for a perm or style.
In the Village of Cedar Grove, Bernice Ramaker's Marquita
Beauty Shop wins the honor of being in business longer than anyone else. Bernice started her shop in !945. and was one of the
businesses that advertised in Cedar Grove's official centennial
booklet in 1947. for many yeur~, Bernice's beauty shop and her
husband Kelly's electronics shop shared the lower levd of
building just north of the present Dutch Crust Bakery.
has been arranging the hair of the fairer sex for fifty-two
and she is not finished yet. What a record!
Another beauty shop which is still in operation was started
1961 by Ven\ Lammers. It was called Mi Lady. and this salon·
located on the corner of Center Avenue and Third Street. ll
tinned under Vera's management until !970. ln 1970 the
changed hands when Maria Meke began Fashion Flair wllere
continues to the present.
Another hair stylist and owner-operator who has a beJuty.
in Cedar Grove is Mary Smithers. Having worked in
Washington previously, she added a room to the rear
Smithers' home on First Street and began operating the
Smithers Salon in 1972.
The newest hair salon in Cedar Grove is Shear Imaginati1
Started on December 12, 1985, this family operated business l
Lynnette Johnson and Luann Ebbers-Bruggink as its
Eleven years after it opened Shear Imagination was
\32

and doubled in size with skylights and a beautiful new decor. It
continues under the management of Randy and Lynnette Johnson
and LuAnn Ebbers-Bruggink. To keep up with the current trends,
the full-service salon at 35 East Cedar Avenue has added manicures and a completely new tanning facility.

133

- Chapter Ten Business and Industry
Edited from Information Provided

A

Stud, f:1k Whtch Later

\kctllll~ Kno,ut a,: tlw Pig fait. Dming.tbe
I Photo Com1~>l H~t t\·lll-;¢ttllll

brly I'Jtl(h

s with the previous chapter, the information presented here
can help provide insight into the changing face of business
and industry in the Cedar Grove area_ By comparing pre:,ent-day business and industry to that of the past, as documented
in a 1900 Cedar Grove Business Directory and in Cedar Grove's
1947 centennial booklet, one will be able to see how local businesses have changed over the past one-hundred years.
Please understJ.nd that it is impossible to discuss every business that existed in the Village of Cednr Grove over the past 150
years. While many past businesses having unique historical significance are included in this chapter, it is not the intention of this
book to cover every business that ever existed within the village.
Most discussions relating to past businesses are included to help
readers understand how Cedar Grove's business and industry
have changed over the years. Please note thnt discussions relating
present-day businesses will be limited primarily to full-time
businesses that advertise. Pleuse also note that the businesses
discussed in this chapter will be those located within the Village
Cedar Grove and those within one-half mile, by car, of the
villnge limit.
Village Banks
The Cedar Grove Stnte Bank, which was organized in October
1901, was the first mral bank in Sheboygan County. During its
year in business, while a building was being constmcted, the
operated in a portion of what later became the Cedar Grove
Company. The first bank building was completed in
on land that had been purchased from Garret Lammers.

!34

!35

Cl!oprer 10

lntnin' uf Cni~~n-' !hnk in Appro:<-IJll:ttdy l9SO

iPholo Coun~oy Cun

Popp~l

!:ian~ Tclkr' L_.\{ i\lllrilyn \\bicTbt~~. \\'illi:, Rcn<.~tls & Con Pnrp~

That building, which presently houses Claerbout Furniture. served
as the bank's headquarters for approximately eighteen years
At the bank's annual meeting in 1919, it was noted that the
first building could no longer meet the bank's needs, and it was·
decided to proceed with the construction of a new bank building:
'fhe new building wa:. constructed just nonb of the original
and \Na:, a very impressiYe strucwre. The new racility first
for business in February of 1921. The exterior of the buildwe
finished with pressed brick und Bedford stone. The bar
was faced with marble, and the iloor was inlaid with
marble, The bank's two-story vault is believed to be the only
of its kind in the state. Bank officials went out of theiJ
impress upon lhe public that the new building was more
a bank~it was a "public institution." The bank provided
small meeting rooms for the public on its main Boor, <bank's mezzanine area could be used by the public free of
for gatherings of up to 100 people.
According to a pamphlet describing the building at the time
its opening, the new bank included several other unique
136

as well. The basement included a barber shop, two shower stnlls,
a ladies' hair dressing room, nnd two bowling nlleys. The shower stalls were available for a fee to those who had no such facilities at home, and the bowling alleys were there "not as much for
profit as for amusement.'' A small fee was charged to cover the
bowling alleys' operating expenses. The upstairs of the building,
which had its own entrance from the street, included a "modern
and up-to-date dental pnrlor." operated by Dr. Arnie Duenk.
Cedar Grove State Bank merged with Citizens Bank on April
6, 1933, and operated under lh<H name for over fifty years, nearly all of those years at the bank's Main Street location. In 1982
the bank moved to its present facilities on East Union Avenue to
improve access as well as to provide off-street parking, drive-in
banking, and a ground-level entrance.
On August 14, 1984, Citizens Bank entered into a franchise
agreement with First Interstate Bancorp of California and
changed its name to First Interstate Bank of Wisconsin. In J 990
the bank was acquired by Norwest Bunk, Minnesota and officially chauged its name to Norwest Bank Wisconsin N.A.
Over the last half-century the local bank has been managed by
JUst three different individuals. Con Poppe, who st!l!ted working at
the local bank us a cashier in 1928, retired as a branch manager in
1965. From 1965 until his retirement in January of 1989. the bank
was managed by LeRoy Winkelhorsl. Wayne Bruggink has been
managing the bank at its East Union Avenue location since 1989.
On November 12, 1990, rhe old brich: bank building on South
Mum Stree1 came back ro lift ae' the Cedar Clrove Branch of Adell
Bank. The bank's name was changed to the Cedar Grove
of the National Exchange Bank in November of 1995 when
' me Adell State B<:mk and its branches \Vere purchased by that group.
· DeSmidt was hired as a branch manager when the branch bank
opened in 1990 and continues in that position to this dny.

Auto Dealerships and Service Stations
As soon as cars replaced horses on the streets of Cedar Grove,
stations and auto repair shops began to t1ourish. One of the
stations in the village was the Wynveen & TeLindert
on the southwest corner of Main Street and Blank
The business, which started in approximately 1925, was
137

Chapler 10

Gem~\ Wynl-~¢n ami G~mgc TtLinJ'n a1 tlic11 Snuth ~l~w Sil<'d Sen·1c~ SiMinn llunng tk L:it,· 1':1~1),
!Photo Cou•1t'Y [on & N~m·y Ontl

operated ln a wood frame building that had previously served
a blacksmith shop for Garret Wynveen and Ferdinand Meen""·'·
At that site Garret Wynveen and George TeLinde11 sold
Pontiac, Oakland, and Dodge automobiles, serviced all
makes of cars, and operated a blacksmith shop. The first au
mobile sold at that service station wus purchased by Antoi
Lewis. Her new automobile soon became 11 m<~ior attrJction to·
of her neighbors.
1n the late 1930s the service station became known as
George TeLindel1 Garage when Garret Wynveen left the bu~
to run a small blacksmith shop behind his house on South
Street The bnsiness continued as the TeLindert Garage
George went to work for Optenberg Iron Works in Sheba)
the mid-1940s. Shmily thereafter the old frame building V'"
down and a concrete-block building was constructed by
Meerdink and Harold Meinen to start Cedar Grove B
Construction Co. That same block building is presently
used by J. M. Bruce Foundry.
The building on the nmiheast corner of South Main Street
138

County Highway RR was built by Harry Huenink in the early
1920s and was opermed as a service station for the next several
decades. Hank Mertel is known to have managed the service station for a time during the 1930s, and Les Cole is known to have
worked there during the 1930s as well. Since the 1950s, the same
building has served as business headquaners for Service Welding
Co. and Great Lakes Plastics.
The no11hwest corner of Main Street and Wisconsin Avenue
was the site of another early repair shop, filling station <1:114 outlet
for Buick cars. The business was owned by Henry Houmes during its early years. Later Lester DuMez purchased the business
and operated it alone for a short time before Les Lemke joined
him in partnership. Thereafter the service station was referred to
as "Les and Les." They became authorized dealers for Chevrolet
automobiles and sold Wadhams gasoline (which eventually
became Mobil), with the flying horse logo. Later Allan Dirkse
bought the business and operated it for a short time. He then rented the building out, first to Howard 1eStroete from l968 to 1969
and then to Walter Frazier for a brief time after that. Paul
DeMaster rented the facility from 1971 until 1973 before starting

"

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Double-A Auto Body in Oostburg. Allan then sold the building
for a modest sum to the Sheboygan County Christian High
School Parents Club who sold gas and operated the Good As
New Shop, a resale store, with all profits going to the Christian
High School. The Good As New Shop is still in business and is
open several days a week.
DeZwaan Restaurant was not always a place to go dining. The
building, which was constructed in the early 1920s, was used as
a service station and automobile de~\lership for many years before
it became a restaurant. Throughout much of its history it was
known simply as the Ford Garage. The first owners of the business are believed to have been Joe Hesse!ink and a Mr. Lemke.
The next owner was Harry Huenink who ran it for a short time.
Harold Holle then sold gasoline there frmn about 1933 to 1935.
While Harold sold gas from the rear of the building, the front part
of that building was a Gambles Store run by Herb Molter, Many
years later, from 1967 to 1989, a different Gcnnbles Store wa~
operated by Mr. nnd lvlrs. Ed Rydz in the former Hank Boehm
Harness Shop building ju~t north of the Marquita Beauty Shop.
After Harold Holle discontinued the gas station busine'i~
Henry (Heinie) Harmeling bought the building for use as a
station, repair shop, and outlet for Ford cars. When
Harmelings moved to Florida, a new owner took over briefly,
he soon sold the business back to Henry Harmeling who
returned from Florida. Harmeling continued in the business
Keith Bruggink replaced him. Keith carried on sell\ng
u...,ed cars a~ well as seUing gas <llld doing repairs until the
ness was discontinued in about 1970.
A Standard Gas and Oil Station was started in the mid··
by Harold DeMaster. The business was located where
building now stunds. Both Harold and his wife Hattie war
the station, and one would often see Hattie at her ironing
or sewing machine waiting for customers to arrive. She
help the customers as there were no self-service pumps in
days. Ed Mentink became the next owner in 1946 and he vv·as
lowed by his son Ron Mentink. The filling station was later
a ted by Keith Bruggink, then Keith and Dale Bruggink, then
Bmggink alone and finally by David Mentink before the ··
closed in the late 1960s.
140

During the 1950s two new service stations were built in the
Cedar Grove area. The idea for one of these businesses, M&R
Motors, was actually conceived at a bowling alley in Random
Lake in 1952. Marvin Kaland and Roger Grotenhuis, who each
had experience in the automotive field and had a desire to own <-1
business, agreed between frames that the time was right to begin
the joint venture. Initially Marv and Roger intended to build their
new service station on the west side of the soon to be rebuilt U.S.
Highway 141 where Navis & DeBlaey storage units presently
stand. The two soon realized, however, that the highway would
split at that point and they would probably only get business from
southbound traffic. Because of this fact, they decided to move
their service station slightly southward to capitalize on both lanes
of traffic. M&R Motors opened for business in October of 1953.
Within a year Glen Prinsen joined the duo on a part time basis,
and in 1959 Norman Glander began working there as well. All
four of these men worked together until Marvin and Roger sold
the business to Jeff Kritz in September of 1985. At thut tinw the
~ervice station was renamed M&R Super Service.
A large, imposing building on the comer of Main Street and
Union Avenue, which had over the years housed businesses
including a hotel, dance hall, saloon, meat market, and print shop,
was razed in 1955 to make way for a new Shell Service Station.
The business was staned by Ralph Voskuil and Carl Huibregtse,
both of whom previously worked for Bolens Manufacturing Co.
in Port Wnshington, Ralph and C:.ul ran Shell Service continuously for over thiny~nine years, For approximately t\venty of
<those years, Carl's son Dean worked in the Shell Station as well.
In 1995 the corner location was sold to Scott Krizek, Bill Bowles,
Mike Schueller who transfom1ed the business into a self-sergas station and mini-matt called Union Station. At that same
Dean Huibregtse built a new service station and used-car
'dealership on Commerce Street and presently operates it as Cedar
Auto Center.
Hy-Way Transit, Inc. is a family-owned business that has been
_~rating in the Cedar Grove area for many years. The business
:,:,v;·-a..:; mcorporated in 1974. The company's main business is the
\~Janspcmation of food products. On July 1, 1986, the business
from its original location west of Cedar Grove to its present
141

Chnpter 10

Chnpter 10

site at N905 Sauk Trail Road. It was dt this time that Hy-Way
Service Center became a branch of Hy-Way Transit. Hy-Wuy
Service Center is a self-service gas station and convenience store
that prides itself on friendly service and convenient hours.
DeRuyter Auto Body was built in 1968 by Norman DeRuyter.
Norman owned and operated the business for twenty-one years,
specializing in major collision repair. Some of the men who
worked for Norm over the years include Jim Neerhof, Mark
TeGrotenbuis, Dale and Mark VanEss. and Norman's son Jon
DeRuyter. From 1968-1972 Norm also sold and serviced snowmobiles. Throughout the 1980s DeRuyter Auto Body did the
body work, pc1inting, and aerodynamics on a Winston Cup car for
Mueller Brothers Racing Team. In 1989, because of a career
change into sales, Norm began to rent the shop out. Today the
same building serves as an auto body repair shop under the name
Cedar Grove Collision.

Otte Bus Service
ln April of 1968. Cornelius and Nancy One, and R<~y and Ruth
Otte, purchased twenty-seven school busses from Mrs. Wiiiiam
Vanderbilt of Van's Bus Service in Adell, Wisconsin.
Immediately after that, school bus routes were operated for
Cedar Grove School District, Oostburg School District, and
Adell portion of the Random Lake School District. By 1970
Ottes limited their bus lines to the Cedar Grove ami Oostburg
School Districts with Corndiu:, operating the Cedar Grove
trict and Ray operating the Oo:-,tburg district
Many aspects of the transportation business were familiar
Nancy Otte right from the st:.ut since her father, George Tc
had operated a service station in Cedar Grove and was
first businesses in the area to sell new cars. George sold Pontiac;-:'
Oaklands, and Dodges, and usually had to teach the buyers
to drive them. George was very helpful to Cornelius and Ray
they learned how to maintain their fleet of busses.
In 1974 Otte Bus purchased a ten-year-old, forty-one
ger "Greyhound" motor coach with one-million miles on i
the acquisition of this coach, church groups and other organiz~::
tions suddenly had a far more comfortable ride for their outingS
This first coach initiated the tour division of Otte Bus Service)
142

second used Greyhound coach was purchased in 1976 and tours
were expanded with Nashville being a favorite destination. Since
then Otte's motor coach line has been updated and modernized to
include some of the industry's latest innovations. Present tour
destinations include Florida, Nova Scotia, the Canadian Rockies,
Arizona and, of course, Branson, Missouri. Over the years Otte
Bus Service has provided a significant amount of free advenising
for the Village of Cedar Grove because the village's name and a
painting of "De Visch" windmill uppear on all of Otte's coaches.
In 1978 Cornelius and Nancy bought out Ray and Ruth to
became sole owners ofOtte Bus Service. In 1993, which was the
25th anniversary of the company. "the little yellmv school bus.''
which charms so many spectators, was introduced into the
Holtand Festival parade. David Otte and his \Vife Carol presently operate the school bus division of Otte Bus Service. Their son
Rick recently joined the staff as a mechanic, so u third generation is now involved in the business. Otte Bus Service sees its
school bus drivers, who have been loyal for so mnny years and
who drive in al! kinds of inclement weather. <lS the company's
greatest assets.

Canning Factory
For much of the twentieth century. the local canning company
provided area youth with their first real jobs. Whether working in
the fields or in the factory. area teens could earn extra money for
college or to buy rheir first G!L The canning factory actually
hegan us the Dutch Canning and Pickling Company in !908. The
business became known as the Calumet Dutch Packing Company
in 1930, the Larsen Company in 1967, and Dean Foods in 1986.
And while the business name changed over the years, its product
~wyed relatively constant. For nearly a century the company harvested, processed, and packed locally~grown vegetables for distribution throughout the country. While most available jobs there
Were seasonal in nature, labeling and shipping continued on a
year-round basis.
Sadly, Dean Foods announced its plans to close the Cedar
plant following the 1996 growing season. So a local induswith nearly a century of service closed its doors, presumably
·. The plant closing was the last piece of a comprehensive
1-1-3

Chapter 10

"Pea Pi~kc!~" at the Dutch Cannint": •1nd Pickling Co. D111H1g th~ Eody 1<;!00>
(Photo Coune,y Hct MltWUIH)
BJck-Row. Fn~da Wiebcrdink. (jm.:~ HwninL Jn~tc P.in><'ll. \lnknown, Alie~ Dana
l\-1iddk-Ro"; florc·n~.e ;"\'v~nhHto, Un~mJ\1 n. Anna D~Zo111~. C\kn Prtn>~n. tvir>. Hulk·
hont·Row. Unkno;;,n, HtiWidi<J TcStitl<'IC. Sac.ltc Dd)nHn~. Ell'ic· lv1unell

plan to consolidate Dean Food~' eight vegetable processmg
plants into four. The closing not only Hffected the local plant's
twenty-two full-time and hundreds of seasonal employees, but
many local growers as well.

Foundries

A group of local investor.'> establish~J the Wiscon;;in E•undry
& Steel Works in 1899. According to Wilmer Holle~ who~e h
i!y worked in tbe local foundry prJcticatly from the start, one
the company's original products was an automobile jack to
used in the i1edgling transportation industry. Apparently the j·
did not work very well, though, and that portion of the busi
did not last long. It has also been reported in the past that
foundry built engine-powered buggies at one time, but this a:
tion could not be confirmed by Mr. Holle.
Within a few years the foundry started producing
ing kitchen ranges with three different styles of bases and a
siderable amount of chrome surface area. Apparently this
was also fairly shmt-lived because housewives tired of poli
and buffing their ranges. The company's name was changed
144

Wi,l'\lll<in Foundry & Skei Wc"h Dunn:: 1iw Ear!.\ I 90th

(Plhlto Com1csy Hnrvey V~nb_,J

L . f\ L~wrtn<:~ !lr;~>,cr. William t\ytnhuis. Willi;nn PotLI.l·km.l SdH'~\tr>.
D~n Holk, l:kn Schr~ur>. H<:nt'}' Wt"anr_,_ Jolln f'ltkenpol. NK~Y Junger>

the Cedar Grove Stove Co. when a Mr. Putnam moved here from
Canada to produce an entirely different kind of cook stove. Very
few were produced, however, and once again the business bilcd.
Both the Putnam stove and one of the previously produced r~1nges
are on display a1 the local museum.
At one time during the very early 1900~. ihe fou!ldry is suiU lo
have supplied portions of the village with direct-current electricity.
The energy was stored in hundreds of batteries wh!Je the foundry
in operation and was available for use between the hours of
a.m. and 11:00 p.m. At 10:55 p.m. electric lamps would be
to flicker, thus aler1ing villagers who were still Jwctke that
light their kerosene lantems because the electricity
soon be shut off. Even the street lights used this power.
During the 1920s a coaster wagon company was purchased by
owners of the local foundry, and many wagons were produced
promotional items. The Louisville Gazette awarded these wag<lS prizes in a subscription contest for their newspaper, and a
145

C!wpter JIJ
Chapter}{)

local grocer gave them to customers who purchased a certuin
amount of groceries.
The next owner of the local foundry was the Schwab Furnace
Co. This company built a large addition to the plant where they
made cast iron and sheet metal parts for their furnaces. The furnace company's dealers then purchased parts directly from the
foundry and assembled the furnaces for their customers.
In 1941 the business was purchased by Edward M. State und
was renamed State Foundry. Mr, State discontinued production
of the furnace castings at that time. As a result, several employees left State Foundry to start Gilt Edge Foundry where the
Schwab Furnace parts began to be manufactured.
During the 1940s and 1950s all the pig iron, coke, and sand
required to make castings at State Foundry were delivered to the
plant by train, nnd employees or high school boys would unloud
the railroad cars. Workers \vere paid approximately fifteen dollars for emptying these cnrs which involved shoveling the sand
into wheelbarrows or tossing: fifty-pound pigs (ingots) of iron
into storage sheds. Pig iron is no longer used today, and the scrap
irou and sand lhat are u~ed are dclivo;;red by truck on a dai!y basis"
Stnte Foundry continued as a producer of grey iron casting~
until 1949 when it vvas the first Wisconsin foundry to produce
ductile iron. Until the mid- 1960s the melting process was done
with a cupola. Then with the purchase of electric induction furnaces the foundry achieved a melt capacity of more than fifty
tons a d~ty and ~,;oulJ provide castings with weights mnging
just ounces to ovt'T 30,000 pounds. Durfng the 1960s. the
Nash Co. purchased the foundry and then resold it to Medt.di~t:-:,:
Industries. In 1987 Clay Willman, who had been with the
pany for several years, purchased the business, and todcty it
known as Willman Industries, Inc.
J.M. Bruce Foundry was established in 1919 by
Maxweli Bruce who emigrated from Scotland in 1900.
father bad operated a found1y in Scotland while the fami!
there. Mark Q. and Glenn Bruce became partners in their
business in 1946. The found1y produces grey iron, semi-steel
and alloyed castings. During World War II the foundry manufaC
tured winches for naval boats. The foundry bad also contractec
with the government to make hnnd grenades, but the war
146

before thnt project got under way.
Following Mark's passing in 1982, Glenn Bruce became sole
owner of the foundry. The business was eventually sold but
presently retains the name of J.M. Bruce Foundry.
Gilt Edge Foundry was started in the mid-1940s by a group of
areJ men including Allen and Roland DeMaster. Harold
Harmelink, Audley Holle nml Tres Jentink. The foundry operated on East Union Avenue in a building that had formerly housed
the Gridley Dairy Company. Financial backing for the foundry
was obtained from the Mills family of Milwaukee \\·hO also
owned the Schwab Furnace Co. Schwab Furnace was looking for
<l new foundry to nwke the cast iron doors and grates that State
Found1y discontinued. The Mills family purchased the property
nod building and remained the major stockholder until the business closed. Gilt Edge Found1y was known as a "jobber" foundry
for grey iron castings. The company specialized in small production runs and unique castings which lmger foundries were no!
interested in producing.
Gilt Edge Foundry c/o<.;cd in 198J. The bui.lding w~ts wrn

down and the propeny i.':i currently the home of L~1keshore
Cabinetry Gilt Edge is gone but nor forgotten. The found1y is
remembered by many area residents as a place they worked part
lime, nights, or summers ··shaking out" to eurn a little extra
money for their family or for a college education.
Cooper~tiw Exchange

The (\'dm Gruve Cooperative Exchange was e:-,tiJbJished in
1915 and still serves many of the same family names i!.~erved
over eighty years ago. While the number of local dairy farms
'";decreased over the years, present day farms are much !argin size. And while the number Jnd size of nrea farms has
nwf'rl over the years, the products and services provided by
has remained relatively constant. Those products and
include animal feed, agronomy products, petroleum,
drying, and hnrdware.
February 1, 1929, fire destroyed the Co-op's feed mill as
as an adjacent groce1y store and hardware store along the
side of South Main Street. A concrete feed mill was then
. In 1957 fire struck again, the result of a collision between
147

C/wp1cr JO

CJwp1er 10

a freight train and a tank truck filled with 6,000 gallons of fuel
oiL Once again the Co-op made the necessary repairs.
When the Cedar Grove Meat Market, which was located just
south of the present Co-op office, closed in approximately 1970,
the Co-op bought the property and tore down the building that
stood on it. The Co-op then used that site for its warehouse.
Kettle Lakes Cooperative was established on August 1, 1994,
when four area Cooperative Exchanges consolidated. Kettle
Lukes now has approximately fifty employees in its Cedar
Grove, Belgium, Boltonville, Plymouth, Random Lake, and
Sheboygan Falls branches. The company serves people in
Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Washington, and Manitowoc counties.
Kettle Lakes Cooperative continues Lhe trudition established by
the early Cedar Grove Cooperative Exchange as a business org~\­
nized by individtwls to help themselves. The Cooperative
Exchange is member-owned and controlled to supply its customers with the goods and services they need.

employees were Ervin TenHaken, Marilyn Westerbeke, and Don
Schreurs. After Alfred Eernisse passed away in the emly 1970s,
Don Schreurs became a pminer with Marvin VanderJagt, and
when Marvin passed away in 1987 Don Schreurs became the sole
owner of Cedar Grove Lumber.
As the company grew over the years so did its staff. By the late
1970s Todd Kruis and Mark Hesselink helped form a door and
window sash division within the company. For many years this
shop furnished the majority of the doors and window sashes
installed in this area. In 1988 a lumber reloading center was
established. This part of the business received lumber by rail and
then loaded the lumber onto trucks for local distribution.
In 1993 Cedar Grove Lumber Company. including its door
and sash department and its lumber reloading division, was purchased by Oostburg Lumber Company, Inc. While the business
name chnngeJ at that time. it is still operated <.lt the same
Commerce Street location.

Grove Charcoal

Shoe Factory

Grove Charcoal began as a hobby for Milford and Wayne
Grotenhuis. It otl started in I 957 when Milf tried to figure out
some use for all of the hardwood going to waste on their '200 acre
farm. He built a small kiln out of a discarded hot water heater and
started making charconl for his bratwurst-loving family,
Following this introduction. neighbors, relatives, and friends
began requesting charcoal so Milf and Wayne decided to build
larger kilns on their properLy just south\ves\ of the village. Ahe1
yeo.rs of having their product ··go up in smoke," Milf cmd Wayne
sold Grove Charcoal to Phil and Mary Fox in 1.98-1-

In late 1923 construction of a brand new, state-of-the-art shoe
factory began on the northeast corner of Second Street and
Wi.'>COnsin Avenue. Apparently the building was for expansion of
a business that had been taken over by new investors earlier that
same year. According 10 information available at the Sheboygan
County Historical Research Center in Sheboygan Falls, the shoe
manufacturing company thrived under new managemenL
Pruduction incfeasecl from jus( fifty pairs of shues per clay imme·
d!alcly afTer acquiring the bu:,iness to 600 pairs per day by the
end of the year, At that time the business moved from a small
manufacturing facility at some unspecified location to the site of
the old post office which is believed to have been a building just
of the present Claerbout Fumiture Store. Production apparently continued there until the new facility was completed.
According to information available at the Historical Research
:, the new shoe factory was expecled to employ more than
125 people with a production capacity of 1200 pairs of shoes daily.
It appears that the new shoe factory's initial success was relashort-lived, however, and by the early 1930s the disastrous
of the Great Depression forced the Cedar Grove Shoe

Lumber Companies
For many years Pantzer Lumber Company, which was
qua11ered in Sheboygan, operated a branch office in
Grove. For much of that time the business was located at
Main Street railroad crossing and used an old grain elevator as
primary warehouse, In the mid-1960s, Pantzer Lumber closed,
Cedar Grove operations and a new lumber company was c_ ..
Cedar Grove Lumber Company was founded in October
by Marvin VanderJagt and Alfred Eernisse. The company's
1-1-B

149

C/wpter 10

Museh~ck Shoe Company During tlw 197(b
(Photo Courtesy Shehoyg_~n County Htswnca! R~se.1rch Center)

Manufacturing Co. to dose its doors. In 1936, after the relatively new shoe factmy building had been vacant for several years, a
group of five local businessmen formed the Community
Corporation and set out to revive the local shoe manufacturing
business. Through this group's initiative the Huth and James
Shoe Manufacturing Co. of Milwaukee soon moved its operations to the Cedar Grove plant. In 1944 the Huth and James Co.
returned to Milwaukee and the Musebeck Shoe Co. moved
Cedar Grove from Danville, Illinois. The Musebeck Shoe
continued production in the Cedar Grove plant until closing
facility in the late 1980s. Following plant closure, the shoe
tory building was razed, and several apartment buildings were
constructed on the site.

Carpentry and Construction
Huenink Brothers Construction was established in August
1985 by Phillip and David Huenink following the retirement
their father LeRoy from the family-owned business. Phillip
David brought approximately forty-three years of constrLl(
experience with them into the partnership and became the
generation of Hueninks to own a construction company. Phil
Dave's grandfather Dirk Huenink started a carpentry busine:
1936. When LeRoy, the oldest of Dirk's three sons,
business in 1950, the business name was changed
Huenink, Carpenter to Dirk Huenink and Son. After Dirk's
ISO

in 1958, LeRoy became sole proprietor and renamed the business
LeRoy Huenink, Carpenter Contractor. Phillip and David worked
for LeRoy until his retirement in the early 1980s.
Presently Huenink Brothers Construction concentrates on
single-family and multi-family residential construction as welt
as light commercial. The brothers have developed a residential
subdivision on the southwest side of Cedar Grove. The subdivision's main thoroughfare is appropriately named Huenink
Avenue in honor of their grandfather, father, and other prominent Hueninks who have been instrumental in the growth and
development of Cedar Grove.
Navis Custom Builders, Inc. is mvned and operated by John
Navis of Cedar Grove. The business actually had its roots in
Duane Building Service which was run by John's father-in-law
Harold Daane. John started working for Harold upon graduation
from high school in 1964. After a stint in the army John returned
to Daane Building Service, whose office and shop were located
along South Main Street. When Harold retired ln !975, John
purchased the business and asked Lloyd TerMaat to become a
partner. The joint venture became Navis & TerMaat Builders,
Inc., a partnership that continued untii !990. During that time
Navis and TerMaat purchased twenty-six acres of farm land
west of Main Street on the southern end of the village, with
plans to develop it some day.
In 1990 Navis and TerMaat Builders, Inc. was dissolved and
John started Navis Cu~tom Builders. One yeo.r later .John bought
out Hilbeiink and TenHaken Builders <tnd moved his operations
to 2JO N01ih Commerce Street. At that time Elwood TenHaken
started working with John and his other employees. In 1992 John
built sixteen storage units which he rents out on a monthly basis.
1993 Navis Custom Builders incorporated, and in 1995 John
Thased the Cedar Grove Block and Construction Company
Meerdink and Earl Meinen, who had previously purWarren Heinen's share of the business. At that time the
and Construction Company's name was changed to Cedar
Construction LLC.
1996 John began developing the twenty-six acres of farm
hat had been purchased earlier. Navis' Rolling Meadows
'Si.Jhrlivi<:irm is being completed in two phases with the first phase
151

Chapter 10

Clwpter 10

ready for occupancy. Streets within the subdivision are named for
previous owners of the farm land, dating back to the 1800s. Navis
Custom Builders, Inc. is a family run business with John's son
Dan also working in the trade.
Lammers Drywall and Construction was founded by Chuck
Lammers in 1989. By the time he started his own business,
Chuck had sixteen years experience in the drywall industry. The
business provides complete drywall service with different types
of textures, and specializes in round-nose corners and base trim.
TerMaat and TeBeest Builders, Inc. was established in June of
1990 by company owners Lloyd TerMaat and Dennis TeBeest.
The company purchased their present shop on South Main Street
from Cliff and Shirley Sager who had previously published the
weekly Villager there. The building has since been remodeled to
include a beautiful Dutch gable. The comp~my presently build~
new houses as well doing major remodeling projects and roofing
and siding jobs.
Richard Navis and Wayne DeB!aey su.uted Navis & DeBlaey:
Mason Contractors on April !9. 199L The business is located m
784 Highway LLL in Cedar Grove. The business includes nin~
teen storage units attached to the north end of the building.]\"
and DeBlaey install concrete driveways, sidewalks, patios
basements, as well as building fireplaces and doing other
mental brick and stone work.
Lakeshore Cabinetry, at 119 East Union Avenue, was
ed in a basement, in a garnge, and eventually in a brger l<Kl
behind the garage before it moved 10 ib present locdtion in
mid-1990s. Prior to going into business, Jeff Broetzmcmn ·
Terry Prinsen moonlighted for several years doing jobs
neighbors and friends. When they saw how well their work ·
received, they decided to make it a full-time business. Their
pany's 86-foot by 110-foot structure on the site of the former
Edge Foundry includes a production area, a finishing area,
spacious, attractive showroom.

Plumbing and Heating
Wayne Ruesink stat1ed his plumbing apprenticeship on
1945. He initially worked for his father in the plumbing and
ing business known as John Ruesink & Son. Wayne took
!52

business in March of 1957 after his father passed away. When
Wayne took over the business, Ruesink Plumbing and Heating
was located on Main Street in the present museum building. He
built a new shop on Commerce Street in March of 1976 and operated the business there until July of 1996. Wayne is now senDretired, operating the business from his home.
In 1950 George Ebbers purchased the present hardware store,
as well as the sheet metal business that was run in the basement
of the store, hom G.H. Ebbers and Sons, Inc. At that time separate accounts were established for the two businesses; with the
second pm1 of the business being named Grove Heating and
Sheet Metal Co. In 1952 a partnership was formed between
Harvey VanEss, who had worked in the hardware store's sheet
metal business since 1948, and Curl Winkelhorst. At that time
they purchased the sheet metal business from George Ebbers and
continued to operate it in the bnsement of the hardware store.
In 1955 Harvey VanEss purchased Carl Winkelhorst's share of
the business, and in 1961 Grove Heating moved to a new buildmg east of the hardware store on Cedar Avenue. In 1977 tile busi"' expanded once again to provide a separate building for
inventory and storage, Harvey VanEss operated the heating and
·conditioning business until December 31, 1979, when it was
For many years Ernie Wieberdink and Ray Hilbelink worked
in partnership as E&R Plumbing. Originally the plumbing busiwas oper~tted from the basement of the Cedar Grove
Hctrchvare Company on the west side of South Main Street. Then
in 1977 E&R Plumbing moved to a concrete block building on
(:::ommerce Street where Jim Waech had previously manufacconcrete tile. Roger Jentink, who worked for E&R
for many years, presently owns and operates the busifrom the Commerce Street location.
1995 Mark Wieberdink, who had worked for E&R
for many years, started a sole proprietorship known as
Plumbing.

Local Newspapers
the first half of the twentieth century, at least two local
newspapers were published for a time in the Cedar Grove
15::1

Chapter 10
Clwpla 10

area. In about 1916, Louis Posekany and Charles Hoiesovsky
published the Cednr Grm·e Tribune from their print shop on the
southwest corner of Main Street and Union Avenue. By approximately 1918 publication of the weekly was discontinued. presumably to allow time for more profitable printing work. Another
weekly, the Cedor GnJ\'e Messenger, was printed briefly as well,
but very little background information has been found regarding
this publication.
The Villager, a local weekly that was published by Cliff and
Shirley Sager from the mid-1970s until the rni.d-1980s, appears to
have been the most successful Cedar Grove publication to date.
The Viffager was tabbed as the ''official historian" of this area,
and such it has proved to be. The newspaper used old photographs as well as coverage of local schooL business, and family
functions to win the hearts of area readers. The paper \Vas published in an office along the east side of South Main Street, which
presently serves ns the shop for TerMaat and TeBeest Builder~.
While published in Oostburg, the Lttkcslwre Weekly has been
faithfully appearing in Cedar Gro\'e post office boxe~ fur over
forty years. The Lakeshore Weekly is a free weo;:kly shopper lhat
was first published by Warren Meyer in 1951. This publication
the first mail read by many area residents each Thursday
ing as they look to see what bargains are available. The business,
which was purchased by Ron Huibregtse in 1967 and then
Dan LeMahieu in 1983, presently has a circulation of approXImately 3.700 throughout the ure<L

Telephone and Telegraph
One of Cedar Grove's fir;;t real links to the outside world
probably the telegraph station at the local railroad depot.
clickety-clack of Morse code aUowed area residents to cot
nicate with others who were hundreds of miles away. The
rnilroad depot is known to have had a telegraph office as
ly as the 1940s, but no official record could be found
that last date this form of communication was available in
Grove. Two of the last known operators of the local telegraph
Richard Ramaker and Paul Wilke,
The advent of the telephone brought a much more
touch to conu11Unication in the Cedar Grove area. Unlike the
154

business atmosphere of present telephone companies, early telephone exchanges began on a much smaller scale. Local telephone
exchanges were often owned by individuals who ran the operation from their home or business. The exact date of Cedar
Grove's first telephone exchange has not been determined, but
the service is known to have been available to area residents by
the late 1800s. An 1889 Sheboygan County Plat Book lists A.H.
Schiereck as "manager of [the] Cedar Grove Telephone
Exchange."
In later years the local exchange was owned and operated by
Henry Huibregtse. At that time the telephone office was located
in the front of his house south of the railroad tracks where the
Larry Wieberdink family presently resides. Operator:.; for the
local telephone exchange at that time were Cena Jentink,
Antoinette Lewis, Florence TenDollen, and a Mrs. Dingledein.
Can you think of a better name for a telephone operator?
Eventually the switchboard was moved to a residence on the
south side of Center Avenue just two houses west of Main Street.
Telephone operators at that location included Mrs. Florence
Lammers, Mrs. Dingledein, Plina Theune, Ruby DuMez, Agnes

Chap/tr 10

Winkelhorst Prange, Mary Soerens Ebbers, Shirley Caljouw
TenHaken, and Maryann Wisse Lamrners. Since telephone service had to be available around the clock, Mrs. Lammers slept in
a bedroom adjacent to the switchboard.
One can envision an early local telephone operator equipped
with a headset sitting at a panel full of wires as she connects and
disconnects all those who wished to communicate with family,
friends and business associates. On a slow day the operator could
listen in on some very interesting conversations with perfectly
good intentions to never repeat a word she heard.
Many older readers probably remember the large wooden
box-like telephones that were usually secured to kitchen walls. In
the early days most telephone subscribers were on "party line.-,"
with each party along the line having its own unique ring. When
the telephone rang with "two longs and one short" everyone
knew whom the call was for. And while only the person with the
designated ring was supposed to answer the cedi, many other~
along the line often lifted their receivers to hear wh::~t wns going
on. It is this mode of conummication thclt probably gave birth to
the now famous ''Hollander Hotline," allowing area news to travel through the village with amazing speed.
In the late 1950s the area's old crank-style wall phones were
replaced by dial telephones and electromechanical switching,
These two modern advances mude local telephone oper<
unneces:-.my. Within the last several decades party lines h<""
become oh~o\cte as \velL But even though pany lines and de'
natcd rings are relics of tbt:' distant past, news stiil travels
swiftly through lhe village.

156

- Chapter Eleven Public Library
A little library growing larger every year. .. is not
a luxury, but one of the necessaries of lik

H. W. Beecher

T

he Cedar Grove Public Library was founded in 1944 by
members of the Cedar Grove Book Club. The local book
club was organized by thirteen area women \Vho were
interested in reading best sellers and exchanging the book.s that
each had purchased. Initially, the book club met monthly. Charter
members included Mrs. John Dees, Miss Sara Garside, Mrs.
Lester Lemke, Mrs. Clara MacCaughey, Mrs. Edwin Mentink,
Mrs. Con Poppe, Mrs. Harold Rolseth, Mrs. Mary Soerens, Mrs.
Norbert Soerens, Mrs. William Theune, Mrs. Hannah
VanderJagt, Mrs. B.J. Walfoort, and Mrs. Paul Wilke.
The Cedar Grove Book Club was formally organized on
February 20, 1944, with Mrs.Pau! Wilke, president; Mrs. f-.Iarold
Rolseth, secretary; and Sara Garside, treasurer. Shortly thereafter,
a comminee was appointed to visit Mead Public Library in
Sheboygan to seek advice on the acquisition and cataloging of
books as well as on other librmy operations. On April 15, 1944,
an agreement was signed whereby Me<Jd Public Library would
provide assistance in these areas for a fee of $500. The first
librarian appointed was Mrs, William Theune, a retired elemental)' school teacher. A committee was established to assist Mrs.
Theune in purchasing books for the new libra!)'.
Book club members, wishing to ensure the establishment of
public library, began a fund-raising campaign. A complete
~anvassing of the village showed overwhelming support for the
. Some of the larger donations included $200 from
157

Chapter 11

Cedar Grol'e IIW)' justifiably hm'e pride in its most recent ch,ic
development. The c/ain'o)mrce, the enthusiasm and perse\'erance of the thirteen women ll'ith whom the iden originated might
well be an example to other literary isolated commwzities in the
county Est(/blishment of the branch library in the village is a
milestone in the progress of the community and gives indication
of even greater adl'{mcement in the jlmtre.

Co.>dar Grovo.> Boo~ Cluh Chri>!ma> Pony
iPhow Coum;y Ct•t\a! Ci~<w<' Publ1c Library I
Fwni-Rclw L-R· G1"n' Dec,. Clnr<l MocCaughc:. Cynthia IV;\Ifoml J~on~ll~ Ltmh•. Mr>. Paul 1\'ilhc
Back-Row L-R.: So1r~ Ga<>id~. Jo S1x:r<'lh. ~1:11) Sucr~n-'. !>hri\'lt Poppe. V~,-,1 !>killlllk

the Coop~rative Excha11ge, $250 from the village board, furniture
fi·om Calumet Dutch Canning Company, and $25 from the Ladies
Aid of the First Reformed Church. An additional $75 was raised
through a card pcuty, and many village residents donated their own
books to the new library. Local bank officials offered a suitable
room in the basement of the bunk rent--free for c;ix months
On May !8. 1944, a ''silver ten and inspection tour" was
to acquaint villagers with the Cednr Grove Public Library
branch library officially opened just two days later with
books on its shelves. Of this total, 352 were donated by
residents while the rest were either purchased by Mead
for Cedar Grove or were on six-month loan from the Wiscon~ii
Traveling Library in Madison. The library had been set up
accommodate at least 2500 volumes. On that first day, 120
ple registered for library cards,
Miss Barkman, Mead Public Library's Director, was
cooperative and anxious to help as Cedar Grove became
community in Sheboygan County to join with Mead in
public library services. In 1944, Miss Barkman stated:
158

To keep the library financially sound, members of the local
book club had to work very hard. Public programs were given for
the benefit of the library. Two outstanding programs were the
Mission House chorus program and a play, ''Dear Daffodil," presented by the Oostburg Dramatic Club. Other fund-raising
endeavors included several talent shows, paper drives, card parties, bake sales, and individual requests for monetary support
Through the latter means, a gift of $1000 was received h-om the
Kohler Company.
First-year statistics revealed 362 library card holders and an
average weekly circulmion of two-hundred volumes. By 1951
circulation reached 13,821 volumes and there were 867 card
holders. Of those card holders, 150 were from the Town of
Holland which by that time had entered into an agreement to help
supp011 the library. Since 1966 the Town of Belgium has also
provided some supp011 to the library.
A silver tea was held in 195---~ to mark the temh <1nnlver.sury of
the library. By this time the- library had been expunded to include
two rooms, one for the adult collection and one for the children's
collection. Mrs. Con Poppe served as librarian from 1951 until
and Mrs. Ed Mentink served in the same capacity from 1958
1961. Librarian certification was granted Josephine (Mrs.
'"Norbert) Soerens in 1961, and she became the next librarian.
Growing pains in 1966 found the village coming to the rescue
purchase of the former Pantzer Lumber Company office
;;~building just south of the railroad tracks on the east side of Main
. Shortly thereafter, the library's collection of 6,113 books
moved by coaster wagon from the basement of the bank to
new location. On February 14, 1967, an open house was held
the library's new home.
159

Chaprer 11

C!wpter /1

For the first twenty-five years of the library's existence, local
book club members served as members of the library board and
controlled its operations. On October 14, 1969, however, book
club members sent a letter to the village board stating that they
could no longer serve in that capacity. The letler read as follows:

After sponsoring t!Je Librory and Clcfing as the o.flicial Librury
Board for the past 25 yec1rs. \1'e the members of the Cedar Grow
Book Club 110 longer feel oble to act in this capacity. Our menlbership has been cllf to only seven members, n\'0 of which ure
Ol'er 80 years of age. Therefore, we are tending this our resignution as the Librar:,· Board beginning January 1, 1970. During the
post yew; H'e haw: heenj(Jrced to coif on others to help us in our
;rork. Mrs. LeRO)' Bruggink, Mrs. James Jensen and Mrs.
Josephine £!larson lw1'e serl'ed on our book buying cmnmiuee.
Without the JOOo/o cooperation (~(our ver_v efficienr !ibmrion,
Mrs, Jo Soerens, we could not hare carried on as long os 1.re did.
We recommend that she continue in this capacity (/S she lw.v rhe
necesst/1) cert{ficotions. We lWl'e enjoyed SCil'ing our commwlity in this very worthwhile cuuse mul hope thut you uppoint jl('O·
pie interesred enough in this project to keep up the high library
swndords we have tried to nwinwin.
1

The letter was signed by Grace Dees, president; Jeanette
vice-president; Mabel Theune, treasurer; Vera Mentink, secretary
and historian~ Mary Soercns and Cynthia Walfoort, hoard
bers: and Jo Soercns, librarian. The village board accepted
resigna[ion of the book dub members and then appointed n 1
bonrd to supervise the activities of the public library. Member
the board included Mrs. Grace Dees, president; Mrs.
Mentink, secretary; Mr. Bernard Huenink, Village Board
sentative; ML Charles Blngner, school district administrat1
Mrs. Margaret VoskuiL Meetings were held every other
Jo Soerens was to serve as librarian and Nola Bruggink as
assistant to the libnu·ian. The village board established a pay
of $1.70 per hour for the librarian and any helper in 1970.
1972, the pay was increased to $2.50 per hour. At Mrs.
1
request, a telephone was installed in the library in 1/ , v.
request was made so that interlibrary loan transactions with
160

Library could be expedited.
With the establishment of the Sheboygan County Federated
Library System in 1979, the county finally reached the level of
service Miss Barkman had hoped for in her 1944 speech. Now
Cedar Grove residents could use any library in Sheboygan
County without paying a user's fee. One of the biggest advantages of the new system was that the local library could have its
cataloging done by staff at the Mead Public Library, thus saving
both time and money. A formula was devised by the system so
that individual libraries would be reimbursed for service to users
residing outside of their area. The system was gov.err1ed by an
independent board, with directors of the individual libraries comprising a Technical Advisory Committee.
Cedar Grove's library circulation increased from 10,633 volumes in 1970 to 21,579 in 1982. By this time, the library was
open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
and on Fridays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Also by this time,
Diana Nett was serving as the library director (since 1978), and
Harriet Debbink and Betty Glewen were stnff members.
As emiy as l98J, the village's library hoard began searching
for a suitable new home for the library. Overflowing book
shelves, narrow aisles, lack of a reading area, and no access for
the handicapped were only a few of the reasons a new home
needed to be researched. A professional study of the Main Street
bank building, whose basement had served as the library's first
home, showed that this location would not be feasible. Other site
studies were done on the Masonic Lodge building and the former
Comer Store, but neither of the~e buildings proved acceptable,
In lnte 1984 the village board approved the establishrnent of
a Community Needs Study Committee to evaluate the present
library and to determine its future needs. Members of that group
included Richard Dykstra, chairperson: Larry Wieberdink,
vice-chairperson; Elaine Scholl, secretary; and committee
members Bev Randall, Dan Molter, Marge Ramaker, Nelda
Peter DeSmidt, Roger Sandee, and Diana Nett. The
committee prepared a questionnaire that was randomly distribto 250 village residents through the mail. An amazing fifty~
percent of the questionnaires were completed and returned.
results of the questionnaire showed that fifty-seven percent
161

Choprer II

Chaprer 11

of all respondents rated the then-current library facility "good"
or "excellent,'' but stated that further improvements could be
made. Major areas requiring improvement as perceived by the
public included the need for a better reading and study area, more
parking space, more or different hours of service, a listening :..~rea
for audio/visual materials, a computer for use by the public, and
greater book selection. The Community Needs Study
Committee's final report was presented to the village board on
April 8, 1985. At that time, the village board thanked the committee for its work and promised that the survey and its result~
would be kept for future reference.
In 1987 Sheboygan County and Ozaukee County libraries
joined to create the Eastern Shores Library System. The establishment of this system enhanced the offerings of all participating
libraries. Locally, programs were expanded to include Family
Friday Flicks and a Grandparent Storytime. Interlibrary Joa;1
nctivities also increased. By 1990. library hours expanded to
tw~nty-six hours per week. The library 1.vas then open each
Mondny, Wednesday. and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to noon and 2:00
p.m. to 8:00p.m., and each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
A twenty-eight-inch-tall stuffed mouse became the l:h ...
official spokesperson in 1988. A contest to name her
the selection of Mrs. Rita Story. To this day, Mrs.
announces upcoming events and keeps a watchful eye
dny-to-Jay operations of the library. She resides with her
dog, Paige. al the circulation desk of Uw library. App<.nd for
Story and Paige are the crcmion of L.1thy NoeL
Also in 1988, the Friends of the Cedar Grove Public
organized, with twenty-four charter members. Josephine
assistant director of Mead Public Library in SheboygaQ
addressed the newly formed group at an early meeting
the importance and benefits of being a library "friend."
inception, the Friends of the Cedar Grove Public
newsletter, Friend to Friend has kept the group's mem
of library and Friends happenings. Pat Premo has
newsletter from its beginning. Copies are sent to each
member and are also available at the circulation desk for ·
estedlibrary patrons and prospective library Friends.
At about the same time that the Friends of the Cedar
1

162

Public Library organized, the village board established a building
fund for a new library. For each dollar placed into the building
fund annually by the new Friends organization, the village board
agreed to provide up to $2,500 in matching funds. To meet their
end of the bargain, the local Friends group began the annual Pie
in the Park social and a host of other fund-raising events. In a
manner reminiscent of the original Cedar Grove Book Club,
Library Friends members work very hard to ensure the best possible library service for our community. In addition to pr~viding
money for the building fund, the Friends continue to provide
suppmi for programming and purchasing materials.
In 1993 the village purchased the former elementary school
complex on VanAltena Avenue. At that time, a decision was
mnde to tear down the cafeteria, gymnasium, and older two-story
structure of the complex and remodel the newer, east wing of the
school for a new public library. Onen Wakefield was hired as
architect and Jos Schmitt & Sons were named general contractors. Work on the new library project began in the fall of 1993
and was completed by the summer of l 994.
A headline in the July 14, 1994, Shebo_vgan Press proclaimed
"Books Make Tracks; Children's Wagon Train Moves Library
Into New Horne Across Town.·· In just thirty minutes, the eightyfour-wagon train moved the children's collection to its spacious
new home. Dedication of the new facility took place on Saturday,
August 27, 1994,
The new library includes ll ,000 square-feet of usable spuce,
quite an improvement from tht 875 squure·feet of space on the
'first tloor of the South Main Street location, Features of the
include a comfonable reading area. a display area for periand newspapers, video racks, a public access computer, a
circulation and returns area, an inside book drop, adequate
'Jng space, handicapped accessibility, and shelves and shelves
books. Connie Acker and Annette TenDolle have joined
Nett and Harriet Debbink on the library staff, and Debbie
continues to serve as a regular volunteer.
_
made by Mark Hesselink in J 988 was kept as his
~andcrafted model of the ship the Phoenix was put on display in
he library foyer. The library building also includes a large
;ommunity Room which was provided by a generous donation
163

- Chapter Twelve Fire Department
By Richard Lewis

First Responders
By Bill May

lnitriOI c>f the> CcJar Gww Pubil~ Uhr:nv. 10'!5
( Photu Courtesy ('C\br Grove Public· Lil11!\l::. 1

from the Cedar Grove Community Corpmation. The li
.
activities are directed by a library board which rneets monthlY:
Present library board members include Dr. Roger Klumb, s
··
district administrator; Roger Sandee, village board rcoresenta:
tive; Linda Dykstra. Kathy May, Bev Randall, Pat
librarian Diana NetL The library is presently open
from 10:00 a.m. until noon uml 2:00"8:00 run., and Salmela\

from tO:OO a.m. until noon.

164

Fire Department
he Village of Cedar Grove has had a dedicated volunteer
fire department since February 15, 1911. when nine men
signed on at the department's organizational meeting.
Those fir;.;t nine llrcmen included Ed TeRonde, W. Neerho[
Jacob Lensink, W. Huenink. JvU. DeMaster, B. Mentink, H_
Koeppe, G.W. Meinen. and W.A DeSmidr. At that meeting G.W.
Meinen was elected fire chief, Ed TeRonde was elected assistant
chief. and W.A. DeSmidt was elected association secretary.
Within two weeks of the organizational meeting, fire depart~
ment bylmvs were written, amended, and then presented to the
village board. At that specii.ll meeting of the vill:1ge board. the
fire department ordirwnces and byluws were unaniJy approved. At that same meeting it was recommended that
village purchase a fire bell to be placed in the village hall
provided the committee could purchase a suitable bell at a
not to exceed twenty~five dollars.
According to the original bylaws, the president of the village
and the village treasurer were to be president and treasurer
'"
newly formed fire department. The officers of the fire
·~':demHtnlf'ot association were to serve as fire chief, assistant fire
secretary, and they were to be elected from the associgeneral membership on the first Monday in March each
. The bylaws also spelled out the duties of fire department
and members.
placement of equipment and how a fire alarm would be

T

!65

C/iaprer 12

C/wpter 12

~mmded were also determined very quickly. Fire department
equipment was placed at three different locations within the village: on the north side of Wynveen and Meengs' blacksmith
shop, on the south side of the viUage hall, and on the north side
of William Soerens' blacksmith shop. The equipment at each station consisted of two hooks, one ladder, one axe, and twelve
pails. The equipment was marked "CG.ED.'' and ''For Fire
Only," and was not available for private use. Offenders were subject to a fine of five dollars for a first offense and ten dollars for
each offense thereafter.
Every member of the new fire department pledged to sound
the alarm as soon as possible in the event of a fire. First. one long
alarm would be sounded to indicate that there was a fire somewhere. This was to be followed by two sharp rings with shon
stops for a fire south of the railroad tracks. three sharp rings with
short stops for a fire from the railroad tracks to VanAltenas, and
four sharp rings with short stops for a fire north of Van.Aitenas. False
abm1s were not treated lightly as u fmc of five doll:.u·s was impu~cd
for a first offense and ten dollars for any subsequent offenses.
By March of 1911, just one month after the group Connally
organized, the local ftre department had over thirty members,
Captains, lieutenants, and assistants were appointed for each ot
the three stations where department equipment was placed. A
committee appointed to seek funds for the fire department Wi.l-"
apparently very successful because a chemical truck was paid for
very quickly, and additional funds were availahle to purchase .1
hand pumper, hoses, ladders" buckets. and any other equipment
deemed necessary. Orders were given that buckets and h
were to be in place by April 25tb. The bell wa-" supposed to
place in the village hall tower by May l, 1911, but this still
not been accomplished as of February 1912.
The officers of the deptirtment were instructed to have a
der truck made as they saw fit. The reference to this pi..:cc
equipment as a truck was probably a misnomer since it was
tioned in later meeting minutes that the department was to
a place to build a shed for the hook and ladder wagon.
Money seemed to play a very important role in the
of the early fire department. Initially a twenty-ftve cent fine v·
assessed to anyone who missed a regular meeting. In April
166

1912, the department offered a two-dollar reward to whoever got
his horse to the h;:md pumper and pulled it to the fire. It was also
noted that a village resident by the name of Jack Weiler had to
pay a fine of five dolhrs for sounding a false nl<m11. In August of
1913, the dcpnrtment voted on the purchase of three-hundred feet
of hose m a price not to exceed sixteen-and-one-half cents per foot
By 1914 fire inspections were required by law, and if a fire
dep~u1ment made these inspections, it wus entitled to share in the
two percent dues paid by insurance companies to a fund distributed
by the state. Inspections are carried out today for the same reason.
In 19! 7 the flre department deemed it necessary t"o l·eorganize,
and the secretary published a notice in the Cedar Grove Tribune
to all members of the local fire ckpclrtment. In January or 1918,
the reorganization continued with ne\V bylaws being presented to
the membership. Ne\v officers were selected for the dep<..u1ment 's
three chemical engines, the hand pumper, and the ladder wagon.
At the same meeting the depa!1ment voted to hold a benefit oyster supper for the fire dep~lrtment. This wws done until 1932 when
the menu was changed \(l ro~e:.,t beef. In bter ye:.trs pork wws also
u menu item. In 19-J.:] tlli;-, bcntfit supper \VClS discontinued
because of the war.
The village's annual Labor Day picnic st,u1ed as a farnily picnic for fire dep;.l.rtment members in 1927. The next year it was
opened to the public as u fund raiser. In 1933 hig name entertainment was brought in for the picnic. That year the music wns
provided b_y the Cumberland Ridge Runners_ [n subsequent years
en1e11ainment wns provided hy the WLS radio barn dance pmgl"um and included the .Prairie Ramblers, Patsy Montana, Gmce
\Vilson, Rusty Gill and his band, and Texas Tommy and his pony.
An agreement was reached \vith the vil!age bocu·d to finance the
operation of the fire depanment beginning in 1960. V\Thile the annual Labor Day picnic continued for two decades beyond thut point,
event wns no longer sponsored solely by the fire depnrtment.
The fire department was always open to suggestions to help it
function better. In 1912 a request was made to change the chemical engine so that it could be pulled instead of pushed. This was
followed by a request in 1918 to have hooks pbced on the han"·rll,.,s of the chemical engines, the ladder wagon, and the pumper
they could be pul!ed by automobiles. ln 1920 a question was
167

Chuprer 12

Ch(/pfer 12

raised about getting a new chemical tmck. Coinciding with this,
the fire department sent cards to local farmers for their input on
expanding the fire depatiment protection area. This area was to
extend two miles south, one-and-one-half miles north, two miles
west, and east to the lake. These distances were probably measured from the fire house.
In October of 1921, the specifications for a new chemical
truck were finalized. The fire truck was to have two forty-gallon
tanks which were to be purchased from Peter Pirch of Kenosha.
The two tanks were to be mounted on a one-and-one-quarter-ton
REO Speedwagon with the total purchase price for the assembled
unit listed as$ L325. The new truck was to be puid for with subscriptions from village residents and local funners. With the new
truck ordered and subscription funds coming in, the Community
Fire Truck Company was formed.
In preparation for the arrival of the ne\v truck, fire department
members H. Homnes, H. Lemke and G.W. Soerens were appoint~
eel to be drivers. The selection process was probably simplified
somewhat by the b.lct that very fe'l-v people knew how to drive a
car or truck at that time. The new truck arrived in January
1922, and by September of that same yeur it was determined
a siren was needed for the truck. The siren cost $35.72, and u
spotlight purchased at the same time cost $6.25.
By August of 1923, a siren was purchased for the fire house at
a cost of $325 with an additional $100 spent for two switches,
one at the fire house and one at telephone central. The switch'
telephone central allmved the operator w sound the- siren for
as well as at t\velve noon each day. The siren was paid
donations from the Town Wilson Fire Insurance Co.
Town Holland Insurance Co. At abom that s<1me time a telephonl.':,,
was installed in the fire house.
In 1925 rhe fire depa.t1ment was asked about putting a
its tmck for the purpose of pumping water. This was not done,
ever, until a later date. 111 1926 a second chemical tmck was
chased and the No. Two Chemical Truck Company was
In February of 1929, the first multiple-alarm fire was fuced
the Cedar Grove Fire Department. That fire damaged
destroyed numerous business establishments along the west : ·
of Main Street, south of the railroad tracks. Cedar Grove did
]68

have a municipal water system until the early 1930s, so the 1929
fire was fought primarily with chemicals and with bucket
brigades that obtained water from nearby wells. Units from
Random Lake, Belgium, Oostburg, Kohler, and Sheboygan Falls
assisted Cedar Grove at this fire. In March of 1929, a water pump
was ordered for the REO fire truck, and by May the pump had
arrived. Shortly thereafter the village also had a municipal water
system which helped the local fire depa11ment immensely.
There \Vas little additional change in the operation of the fire
depanment until 1937 when a fire depanment committee met
with Town of Holland officials to arrange a satisfactory agreement for furnishing fire protection to the township. This agreement was apparently completed sometime during 1940, but fire
department records do not say exactly when. Also, in 1940 the
local fire department removed the chemical tanks from the fire
truck and replaced them with a water tank.
In 1945 the local fire department's name was changed from
the Community Fire Truck Company to the Cedar Grove Fire
Depurtment which was to be an unincorporated association. The
fire depanmenl then agreed to participate in the purchase of two
new fire tmcks with the fire department paying half. The balance
was covered by the Community Fire Protection Association which
was composed of subscribing members in the Town of Holland

Choptcr 12
Clwp1a 12

and Town of Belgium immediately surrounding Cedar Grove.
In 1947 the Cedar Grove Fire Department suffered a setback
that every fire department fears. There was a fire in the village
hall building which also housed the fire department. The building
was damaged beyond repair, so in October of 194 7, the village
board hired the Walter Schuman Construction Company of
Kohler to build a new fire station :.11 a cost of $17,700. Upon completion of the new fire station, the fire department was requested
to store an additional tanker for the Town of Holland. The fire
depat1ment paid rent of $500 per year to the village for use of the
fire station until 1960 \Vhen the vill:Jge offered to assume the cost
of operJting the fire department.
Over the years the Village ol" Cedar Grove and the Tovm of
Holland have attempted to provide a modern, efficient fire
depanment with up-to-date equipment and technology. The addition of new, larger equipment has occasionally resulted in the
need to expand the fire station. In 1967 a committee was formed
to determine l.he fire department's space needs. The end result of
thi:-; committee's recon1menclations was an addition tlnt provided
space for two more fire trucks a;, well a~ space for meetings and
training sessions.
By the late 1980s the additions of a fm.IHVheel-drive grass-fire
truck that had heen purchased by the Town of Holland. a 750-gallon-per-minute pumper that was purchased by the Village of
Cedar Grove, and two new tankers purchased by the Town
Holl:.md (some ol· which replaced older. smaller equipme
meant that more space was needed once again. ln 199!
newest addition to the station was completed, thus providins:space for two more trucks, u larger meeting room, a new k.itcht
area. new restrooms, an offKe for the fire chief, and additional<
storage space.
The fire depm1ment's newest truck was purchased jointly ·
the Village of Cedar Grove and the Town of Holland in 1'
This engine, which repiaced a 1965 vintage truck, is equipped
with a 1500-gallon-per-minute-pump, can hold 1000 gallo1
water and has a fully-enclosed top-mount pump panel. With
agreement to split the cost of this engine, it was also decided
split the operating expenses of the fire depm1ment.
Over the years the local fire depat1ment has

The C..:<l;u· Gro\·c F11"C Depa11m~nt\ N<'II"C'! Tru~k. Pmdtas~J II\ ! 994
1Phntn Coun<::>y C~dar Grew·: F11·~ D~r~rtmcnl l

expand the services it provides. This has Jed to advanced training
m first-aid and rescue and brought about the start of the First
Responders and the 10~50 squad which answers calls for auto
nccidents and other situations where rescue tools ure needed.
Since tile Cedar ()rove Fire Department \V<lS first org~mized in
i 911, it has been served by 231 members. eleven of whom have
~~erved as chief. Those \vho have served as fire chief include G.W.
Meinen, Ferdinand Meengs, J.P. Holle, G.W. Soerens, lA.
Huibregtse, William Huibregtse, Ray VanderJagt. Dale
Deivlaster, Richard Lewis, Gary TenHaken, and Greg Navis.
During that same time period fifteen members h;we served as
assistant chieL including Eel TeRollde. CJ.W. Soerens, William
Huibregtse, Ray VctnderJagt. Ray Hilbdink, Lester DuMez,
Clarence TenHaken, Harvey VanEss, Dale DeMaster, Melvin
Phillip DuMez, Larry TeStroete, Richard Lewis, Gary
TenHaken and Allan Holle.
The local fire department has always been concerned about
well-being of the Cedar Grove area and has trained its mem. to operate efficiently in the suppression of fires and the conof emergency situations. The present members of the Cedar
Fire Department look to the futme and to new technolothat can be used to better serve the community.

171
170

Chapter 12

ClwpltT 12

First Responders
The history of the Cedar Grove Rescue Squad must reflect the
decade-long efforts of Larry TeStroete to bring this service to
fruition. In 1973 Larry TeStroete, who had been an Emergency
Medical Technician (EMT) since 1970, started working with
what was then called the Oostburg Rescue Squad. Then by 1975
Larry TeStroele and Phil DuMez staned responding to calls in the
Cedar Grove area using their cars for transportation as they
answered requests for emergency medical assistance. The two
provided emergency care until additional assistance could reach
the scene. If deemed necessary, an ambulance would be called to
the scene for transporting those in need.
It is probably no secret that while Larry TeStroete und Phi!
DuMez were trying to organize a First-Responders group for
emergency medical care, the leadership of the fire department
was initially in a "we only fight fires" mind sel. The local fire
department's membership was ulso divided over the issue, which
made things even more scnsitivc.lt has lobe recognized that for
Larry TeStroete und Phil DuMez, (whose father \vas c\:-,sistant f!rc
chief at the time), it was no \Valk in the park.
In May of 1978, the Cedar Grove Fire Depanment voted not to
involve itself with the transponing of putients, but efforts to fonn a
First-Responders group continued. Fire depm1ment meeting minutes from July of that same year indicate that a Lieutenant Ashley
would be invited to speak about the First-Responders program.
By September 27. 1979. the Shcboyg:m County Emergency
Medical Services (El\·'15) Council officially recognized the Cedar
Grove Rescue Squad's Fir.c,d{cspomiers group, and by October
of 1980, the Cedar Grove Village Board agreed to pay for training courses relating to the program. By 1981 the Sheboygan
County EMS Council had set standards for all First-Responde!
units in the area.
In July of i 981, the Cedar Grove Fire Depanment
approached by Bob DeRuyter, a member of the Village's
Law and Safety Committee, requesting that the First Responders
be allowed to use the fire department van when answering '
for emergency medical assistance. Permission to use the van
granted by the local fire department in January of 1982 with
stipulation that it be driven by a fire department member.
172

By January of 1987, the Cedar Grove Fire Department began
providing space for a rescue vehicle, and all members of the
Cedar Grove Rescue Squad became eligible, through proper
insurance coverage, to drive either a rescue vehicle or the fire
department van. In July of 1987, using a memorial gift from the
family of Mr. and Mrs. Walter DeRuyter, a new rescue vehicle
was purchased.
In 1994 members of the Cedar Grove Rescue Squad became
authorized to provide emergency heart-defibrillation services
after completing state-approved defibrillation training qm.rses. In
1997 the Cedar Grove First Responders continue to provide a
very valuable community service, emergency medical assistance
for those in need.

Cu.b1 CJruve hno Stauon
(Photn Cou11c,y Cedar Grove Fire Dep:u11nen(j

173

C/wpter 12

- Chapter Thi1teen Medical Professionals
Doctors
great deal has been said and written about our nation's
health care system. Amazing ndvances have been made
over the years. But in spite of limited resources, a lack of
laboratory facilities, and a limited supply of nvailable medications, "horse-and-buggy'' doctors in the very early yenrs of our
village performed a most necessnry and welcomed service.
Over a span of approximately ninety years, three genermions
of the VanAltem.J family served the Cedar Grove areD as general
practitioners. The first of the three Dr. VanAltenas was Cornelius
who was born and educated in the Netherlands. Dr. Cornelius
VanAltena inu11igrated to the United States in 1849 when he was
forty-seven years old. Dr. VanAltena lived and worked in
Cleveland, Ohio, for three years before hearing about a young
Dutch settlement in Wisconsin that had a pressing need for a
physician. Following an initial solo journey to this area, Dr.
VanAlkna moved here \vith his family in ,lpproximately 1852. He
served as u general practitioner in this urea for about five years
before moving to Milwaukee to establish J practice there.
The second Dr. VanAltena was Cornelius' oldest son Louis
was one of seven VanAltena children. Louis was born in the
Netherlands in approximately 1829 and received his primary
'.·.:education in the province of Zeeland. He then studied medicine
in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and then in Cleveland, Ohio,
his family first settled after immigrating to the United
. After moving to the Cedar Grove area with his family in
early 1850s, Dr. Louis VanAltena worked with his father for
years and then estnblished his own pmctice here when his
moved to Milwaukee. One interesting side note is the fact

A

175

Chaprer 13

Dr. Van Aliena in h1s 1912 Mudd T Fnrd
IPhl>W COllllcoy Het 1\.h!~<:um)

that Dr. Louis VanAltenn operated a farm for a lime until !1JS
medical practice developed to the point \vhere he no longer hud
time for farming. Dr. Louis VanAltena served as a general practitioner in the Cedar Grove area until the late 1890s.
The third Dr. VanAltena was Louis A. VanAltena, Jr. who wJS
born in the Cedar Grove area in 1870. Dr. Louis VanAltena,
first attended Rush Medica! College in Chicago but received hi
degree frorn Marquette Medical College in J 895. lmmedi
after graduating from medical schooL he took over hi.~. fat
practice in this area. After initially using horses tu mak,;
rounds, Dr. VanAl!ena began to use an uutomobilc for thar
pose in o.pproximntely 191L Reportedly. Dr. VunA!rena·s
T Ford" was one of the first automobiles in Cedar Grove.
Louis VanAlrena, Jr. served as a physician in this area until
early 1940s.
The Cedar Grove area appears to have had two or more
tieing physicians from the late 1800s through the early 1940:·
mticle in the February 10, 1900 Sheboygan Herald stated tl"
James VanDerVen established a practice in Cedar Grove in
Dr. VanDer Yen reportedly received his preliminary educa·
the Netherlands and then inunigrated to the United States
176

he was twenty years old. He first studied medicine at the
University of Michigan and then moved to New York where he
graduated from Long Islund College Hospital in 1891. Dr.
VanDerVen served as a county physiciun at the Kent County
Hospital in Michigan before moving to Cedar Grove in 1896. It
is not known exactly how long Dr. VanDerVen operated a medicul practice in Cedar Grove.
By the early 1900s Dr. Anthony Voskuil was serving the Cedar
Grove area as a practicing physician as well. Dr. Voskuil grew up
in Cedar Grove, spent a few years JS a teacher, and t·hen began
his medical training at Marquette University in Milwaukee. He
graduated from Marquette Medical College in 1907. He initially
established a practice in Sheboygan Falls but soon came home to
Cedar Grove. Dr. Voskuil also bad an early automobile, a 1913
model which he reportedly only used during the summer months.
An interesting side note is that in later years after he had suffered
a stroke Dr. Voskuil continued practicing medicine but had a
chauffeur, Kathryn TeKulve. Dr. Voskuil practiced medicine in
this area for over thirty-five years, but his service to the community did not stop there. He served on the Cedar Grove Public
Schools' Board of Education for m<:my years.
Dr. G.H. Stannard, representing the Sheboygan County
Medical Association, made the following remarks at a 1942

YanAhena. Duenk, nnd YoskuiJ at a Pi,·nie Honoring th~Jr Combined 127-Years of St'rvice
(Photo Counesy Hct l\·1uscum)
L-R: Dr. L. VunAilenn. Dr. A. Duenk, Dr. A. Voskuil

177

C!wpler 13

Clwprer 13

picnic where Doctors VanAltena and Voskuil were honored for
their many years of service to the community:
They did more than look after the physical ills and discomj(Jrts (if
people. Theirs was an intimacy, a confidential relationship which
enabled them to know the mental and spiritual troubles of their
clientele, as well us their diseases. Frequently it ll'US {I most
potent influence in treating such disTressing conditions. .. . This
community has been exceedingly .fbrtunote in that the doctors
whn hove pmcticed medicine here lwve been not only H'e/ltrained, well-disciplined scholars, but orith a sense of responsibilill-' towards their patients, ·which made the/JI keep up \l'ith the
adr~mce of medicine--which is no small nwtra I say that you
have been exceedingly fortunate that you ha1·e fwd as your physicians for these many decades these 111en lvlw represent a \'ery
high type of Christian manhood, men with the highest integrity,
with rhe jine.';f spirit of tolerance, and a great hunwn understanding and unbounded sympathy.

By the mid-1940s both Dr. VanAltena and Dr. Voskuil had
retired, so area residents traveled to Adell, Random Lake. or
Sheboygan for medical treatment. Then in August of I 948 De
James S. Jensen came to Cedar Grove. He was a native
Sheboygan and a 1945 graduate of the Wisconsin Medical
SchooL He served his internship at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati.
Ohio, and then served two years in the \JS. Army
Dr. Jensen hui!t his first office adjacent to what ls nmv the fire
station on Main StreeL He typically tro.veJed to Sheboyg;m
morning to see patients who were hospitalized, as well as
ing patients in his Cedar Grove office four afternoons and
evenings each week.ln the early 1950s. Dr. Jensen hired
Tempas Leynse as his first receptionist and n1edical assistant
continued to serve in that capacity for over thirty years.
Dr. Jensen's practice had grown to the point where a registere_?
nurse was needed to assist him. Muriel Meinen was subsequent\
ly hired on a part-time basis.
Dr. Jensen made many house calls during the early years
medical practice here. One day during an epidemic he renortedJi
made seventeen house calls in addition to his trip to the
178

and his regular office hours. Dr. Jensen performed minor surgery
and some Jaborato1y tests in his Cedar Grove office and over the
years treated many injuries that occurred at the foundries and
other factories within the village. He also delivered about five
hundred babies over the years, including several sets of twins.
During the mid-1960s Dr. Jensen hired another registered
nurse to assist in the office as his practice continued to grow. He
dispensed all of his prescribed medications, thus sparing patients
a trip to the "big city" to have their prescriptions filled. Muriel
Meinen, Josephine Ellarson, and Delores Dees served as Dr.
Jensen's nurses during the years he practiced medlcine here.
In 1966 Dr_ Jensen moved into a new, larger building just
across the street from his first office. Dr. Jensen could always be
reached by telephone and was "on call" twenty-four hours a day
until he retired on November 1, 1986. As with previous doctors
that served this area, Dr. Jensen contributed to this community in
a variety of ways including service on the Cedar Grove Public
Schools' Board of Education_
When he retifcd in the mid-1980s, Dr, Jensen sold his office
building and practice to the Mursho Clinic of Sheboygan. The
Marsha Clinic had a practicing physician Jt their Cedar Grove
office briefly and then sold the office building to the Holland
Mutual Insurance Co. in 1988. The Holland Mutual Insurance
Co. soon shared the building with Loving Hands Chiropractic
Clinic which was opened in June of 1990 by Dr. Rebecca
Ashworth, Dr. Ashworth wns a graduate of Palmer College of
Chiropractics as well as being a registered nur:-;e, a massage therapist, and a physical education instructor. She operated D parttime chiropractic clinic here for four years before moving to the
rural Oostburg area in 1994.
Shortly after Dr. Ashworth moved her practice, Cedar Grove
welcomed Dr. John Schmitt ro the same office location. A Kiet
native, Dr. Schmitt received his undergraduate degree from the
University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. After studying dentistry for a
years, he switched majors and returned to school for a chiro~
degree. Dr. Schmitt graduated from the National College
Chiropractic at Lombard, Illinois. Following an internship at
Salvation Army Clinic in downtown Chicago, Dr. Schmitt
bli.shed his own practice here in 1995. Hls special interest is
179

Chupra !3

Chapter 13

picnic where Doctors VanAltenn rmd Voskuil were honored for
their many years of service to the community:
They did more than look ajter the physical if!s and di.R'On!f'orts of
people. Theirs was m1 intimacy, a confidential relationship which
enabled them to know the mental and spiritual troubles of their
clientele, (IS >wll as their disedses. Frequenr!y it lt·as a most
potent injl11ence in treming such distressing conditions. ... This
community has been exceedingly fortunate in thut the doctors
who have pnrcticed medicine here haw: been not only \\'elltrained, well-disciplined scholars, hw with (/ sense of respmrsibi!ity tmvords their patients, which made them keep up with the
(1{/vance of medicine-·>l'hiclr is no small matte~: I say thor you
have been exceedinglyfortunate that youlw\'e fwd as yourphysf.
cians for these man\-' decades these men who represent {t \'Cil'
high f)pe of Chri.stic./11 nwnlwod, men ll'ith the highest integri~~
\l'ith the finest spirit of tolerance, and o great lwmun unde;._
stonding and unbounded syn1pathy.

By the mid··l940s bmh Dr. VunAltenu and Dr. Voskui! had
retired, so area residents traveled to Adell, Randum Lake, or
Sheboygan for medical treatment. Then in August of 1948
James S. Jensen came to Cedar Grove. He was a nativ
Sheboygan and a 1945 graduate of the Wisconsin Medical
SchooL He served his internship at Christ Hospital in Cinci
Ohio, and then served two year~ in the U.S. Army.
Dr. Jensen built his first office adjacent to what is no\.v the
station on Main Street. He rypic:.~lly traveled tu Sheboygan
morning to see patients who were hospitalized, as we\! as
ing patients in his Cedar Grove office four afternoons and
evenings each week. In tbe early 1950s, Dr. Jensen hired
Tern pas Leynse as his f1rst receptionist and medical assiY
continued to serve in that capacity for over thirty years.
Dr. Jensen's practice had grown to the point where a _
nurse was needed to assist him. Muriel Meinen was subsequeJ
ly hired on a part-time basis.
Dr. Jensen made many house calls during the early years
medical practice here. One day during an epidemic he
made seventeen house calls in addition to his trip to the
178

and his regultlr office hours. Dr. Jensen pelfonned minor surgery
and some laboratory tests in his Cedar Grove office and over the
years treated muny injuries that occurred at the foundries and
other factories within the village. He also delivered about five
hundred babies over the years, including several sets of twins.
During the mid-1960s Dr. Jensen hired another registered
nurse to assist in the office ns his practice continued to grow. He
dispensed all of his prescribed medications, thus sparing patients
a trip to the "big city" to have their prescriptions filled. Muriel
Meinen, Josephine Ellarson, and Delores Dees served as Dr.
Jensen's nurses during the yeurs he practiced medicine here.
In 1966 Dr. Jensen moved into a new, larger building just
across the street from his first office. Dr. Jensen could always be
reached by telephone and was '"on call'' twenty-four hours a day
until he retired on November 1, 1986. As with previous doctors
that served this area, Dr. Jensen contributed to this community in
a variety of ways including service on the Cedar Grove Public
Schools' BoC~rd of Education.
When he retired in the mid- J 980s, DL Jensen sold his office
building cmd practice to rbe .1\.brsho Clinic of Sheboygan. The
Marsbo Clinic hnd a pr<:~cticing physician ~lt their Cedar Grove
office briefly and then sold the office building to the Holland
Mutual Insurance Co. in 1988. The Holland Mutual Insurance
Co. soon shared the building with Loving Hands Chiropractic
Clinic which was opened in June of 1990 by Dr. Rebecca
Ashworth. Dr. Asll\vorth was a graduate of P~1lmer College of
Chiropractics as well as being a registered nurse, n rnassuge therapist, and a phy'>ical education inslructor She operated a parttime chiropractic clinic here for four years before moving to the
rural Oostburg area in 1994.
Shortly after Dr, Ashworth moved her practice, Cedar Grove
welcomed Dr_ John Schmitt to the same office location. A Klel
, Dr. Schrnitt received his undergraduate degree from the
TlnivPn:itv of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. After studying dentistry for a
he switched majors and returned to school for a chirodegree. Dr. Schmitt graduated from lhe National College
Chiropractic at Lombard, lllinois. Following an internship at
Salvation Army Clinic in downtown Chicago, Dr. Schmitt
blished his own practice here in 1995. His special interest is
170

Clwph-r 13

Chuprer 13

as a therapist for sports-related injuries.
Many residents watched as three downtown buildings on
South Main Street were razed during the mid-1980s to make
room for the Cedar Grove Clinic, which is a branch of the
Sheboygan Clinic. The branch office is headed by family practitioner Dr. Lee Duncklee, a 1983 graduate of the Medical School
of the University of Florida. Dr. Duncklee served his internship
and residency in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before coming to
Cedar GroYe. Dr. John Reiskytl joined Dr. Duncklee at the Cedur
Grove office in 1991 and eventually moved on to establish a
practice at the Sheboygan Clinic's Random Lake office.
At the present time the Cedar Grove Clinic includes a laboratory, an x-ray room, a room for performing minor surgery and
other procedures, and numerous patient examining rooms. The
Cedar Grove Clinic bas a courier service that links the satellite
office to the Sheboygan Clinic. In addition to Dr. Duncklee. the
Cedar Grove Clinic is staffed by two full-time nurses and one
nurse/receptionist. Aurora Pharmacy, formerly Roenitz
Pharmacy, is housed in the same building.

Dentists
It has been reported that in the early clays of dentistry no
license was needed to practice. All a would-be dentist needed to
do was put up a sign and wait for patients to appear. It is not
presently known whether Cedar Grove ever had such a dentist. It
i:-; likely. however, thar during its early years Cecbr Grove was
served by a city dentist who made occJsional visits to rural areas
The first dentist that present-day Cedar Grove n~sicknt." arc
likely to remernber is Dr. Arnie Duenk, a licensed dentist
impressive credentials. Dr. Arnie Duenk. who was the first
three generations of the Duenk family to practice dentistry Jll
Cedar Grove, went to the Marquette Dental School for three
years, graduating in 1909. In addition to his Cedar Grove
Dr. Duenk had office hours in Port Washington and Oostburg
time, taking the streetcar to work in those two locations.
Oostburg office was located in the bank building. Amie 's wife
and later his daughter Jean served as bookkeeper for the nnw
By 1914 Dr. Duenk's Cedar Grove practice was
small building on South Main Street where the
180

Exchange Bank and Trust now stands, When Cedar Grove State
Bank wanted to buy the land on which his office stood, Dr.
Duenk agreed to sell the properly if they would proYide him with
office space within the new bank building. An agreement was
reached, and in 1922 Dr. Duenk opened a brand new office on the
second floor of the Cedar Grove State Bank.
Dr. Arnie Duenk frequently related stories of early dentistry
where drills were operated by a foot pednJ and there was no
novocaine to relieve pnin. Dr. Arnie Duenk retired in 1955 after
fony-six years of service to this community.
By the 1950s Cedur Grove had a new Dr. Duenk practicing
dentist!)'. Dr. Homer Duenk, the son of Arnie and Leta, graduated from Marquette Dental School in 1950 and returned to Cedar
Grove, Uncle Sam called him one year later, and he served in the
U.S. armed forces for two years before returning home in 1953.
Dr. Homer Duenk then worked with his father for t\.vo years
before taking over the practice in 1955.
In 1968 De Homer Duenk moved his office from the upst<.lirs
of the bank building to a new, larger building at the corner of Elm
Street and Cedar Avenue. He continued to practice dentislly there
until his retirement in 1986. By the time Dr. Homer Duenk
retired, a third generation Dr. Duenk was participating in the
practice. Dr. Jeffrey Duenk, who is the son of Homer and grandson of Arnie, also graduated from the Marquette School of
Dentistry, He, too, co.me buck to the Cedar Grove area and
worked with his fa(]JIC'-1" for a year before lahing over the pnlt:tice
in 1986, Dr. Jeff Duenk cominu~::s in !hi.\ family tradition using
many modern techniqub that would be quite foreign to his
grandfather Arnie.

Veterinarians
Very little is known about early veterinary services in the
Cedar Grove area, but such services were apparently available to
area furmers by the late 1800s. An article in the February 10,
1900 Sheboygan Herald briefly discusses the services of
Veterinary Surgeon C.J. Huenink stating:

eleven years D1: Huenink lws administered to the physical
of the dumb brutes in this section am/ has prOl'en him-

!(Wlmems

I~

I

Clwpter /3

se(j'j(uniliur 1rith the diseuses common to the uninwl kingdom
and his succe,'>·.\· fws \\'011 fi1r him u good pr({c/ice his stT\'lces
hcing called j(>r in 1/WII)' parts of the county.
The first Yeterinarian likely to be remen1bered by most present-day' Cedar Grove residents is Dr. Clarence Meeusen. Dr.
Meeusen started his veterinary practice here in \946 after returning home from overseas duty during World War II. Initially he
operated his veterinary clinic in a barn on the south end or Cedar
Grove. Then in 1948 he built a garage with a veterinary office
attached at what is still his personal residence on South Mctin
Street. Dr. Meeusen has relnted how during his early years in
practice he made use of a rather primitive forrn of call·for\\arJ·
ing through the local telephone company. Dr. Meeusen would let
the local telephone operator know where he would be working, and
if there was a telephone call for him during that time, the operator
would ring the h1.rm be was working at instead of ringing his off1ce.
Dr. Meeuscn operated his Main Street pr~lcl!ce alone for over
twenty-five years before building \Nhat is now Cedar Grove
Veterinary Services along County Highw:.ty RK At about t!k'
time the nev·/ veterinary office was builL Dr. Meeu~cn hired an
associate, Ron Hinze. who later became his son-in-law.
Additional staff joined the veterinary practice over the next scv~
eral years as well.
Dr. Clarence Meeusen sold his practice in the early 1980s and
retired at til~\\ limt'. C\:d~lf (jwve Vetcrllnry S('rYices rn;s\~nt\y
employs fi·ve fuil-timc vcterin~lri~ul:"i as well a:-. a "upp(_lrt suJf

- Chapter Fourteen Service Organizations
Service Clubs

T

he people of Cedar Grove have a great appreciation for this
community and take great pride in it. Local residents continually seek to preserve the special qualities that exist
here. That sense of community is clearly demonstrated by the
rich history of the service clubs and organizations that have contributed to the village over the years. There is a real concern for
the wel!-being and development of area citizens, especially
youth, in this little Dutch town.
Cedar Grove's first Boy Scout Troop was established a very long
time ago. A newspaper dipping dated May 25, 1920, stated that:

Last evening the scour executive attended a second meeting at
Cedar Grove and completed the organization of a scout troop
there. Cedar Gro11e fws heen anxious for some time to get organi:;,ed_ The whole community is buck (?f' The scour /IW\'ement in a
l\'Ondnji!l way, off are WI)' t'!ifhrrsiastic . . The troop committee
selected as scour moster Wiilimn Theune.
A second publication, Cedar Grove's Centennial Booklet from
1947 stoted:

Cedar Grove's Boy Scour 11-oop No. 41 HYtS organized in 1925
with Arthur Schreurs as Troop Mastel: The Troop has fumed out
many First Class Scouts, some of whom have gone on to eam
Suo; L{le and Eagle mmrds.
Whichever repm1 is right, the results are the same. Cedar
Grove's Boy Scout Troop is alive and well. The troop is now
!82

183

Cliupter 13

se/ffomifiw 1rith the diseases common to thl! onimu/ kingdo111
awl his success hos H'Oll for him a good ;mrcrice his senices
bting w11ed j(;r in nwny purrs td- rlre county.
The fir~t veterinarian likely to be remembered by most present-day Cedar Grove re~idents is Dr. Clarence Meeusen. Dr.
Meeusen st::~rted his veterinary practice here in 1946 after returning home from overseas duty during World War II. Initially he
operated his veterinary clinic in a barn on the ;-.outh end of Cedar
Grove. Then in 19..:1.8 he built a g<lrage \Vitb a veterin~try office
attached at what is still his personal residence on South Main
Street. Dr. Meeuscn has related how during his early years in
practice he made use of a rather primitive form of clll-forwarding through the local telephone company. Dr. Meeusen would let
rhe local telephone operZ~tor know where he \VOJ..dd be working. and
if there \vas a telephone call for him during that time, the operator
would ring the farm he was working at instead of ringing his office.
Dr. Meeusen operated his Main Street practice alone for 0\'cr
twenty-five years before building whut is nO\V Cedar Grme
Veterinctry Service:; along County High\V:.lY RR. At about the
tirne the new veterinary office was built. Dr. Meeusen hired an
associate, Ron Hinze, who later became his son-in-law.
Additional staff joined the veterinary practice over the next :--.e\-eral years as well.
Dr. Clarence Meeusen sold his practice in the early !9[:)()" anJ
retired at th;!t time. C\~;Lr Gnwc Vctcrin:1ry Sct·\-lCC"\ prt:S\-:lltl)
employs fi\·c fu!i-tnue \'tterinari:.ms a:--. well as a '>lipport :-.tali

- Chapter Fourteen Service Organizations

T

Service Clubs

he people of Cedar Grove have a great appreciation for this
community and take great pride in it. Local residents continually seek to preserve the special qualities that exist
here. That sense of community is clearly demonstrated by the
rich history of the service clubs and organizations that have contributed to the village over the years, There is a real concern for
the well-being and development of areJ citizens, especially
youth, in this little Dutch town.
Cedar Grove's first Boy Scout Troop was established a very long
time ago. A newspaper clipping dated May 25, 1920, stated that:

Last el'ening the scow e),:ecutive al!ended a second meeting at
Cedar Grove and completed rhe Ol:r?anization of a scout troop
there. Cedar Grove hos been cmxiousfor some rime to get organi::ed. The H"hole conuJwni!_r is bock of the scout mrJI'ement in a
H"Oiide!jii/ way. uil ore \'Cry enrhusia.<;tic. ]he troop COJ!llnirtee

selected as scout nruster Wifliam 711eunf!.
A second publication, Cedar Gro1•e 's Ce!llennial Boo/.: let from
1947 stated:

Cedar Grove's Boy Scow Troop No. 41 JVas organized in 1925
with Arthur Schreurs as Troop MasteJ; The Troop has turned out
mony First Class Scouts, some of whom have gone on to eam
Stm; L(fe and Eagle awards.
Whichever report is right, the results are the sJme. Cedar
Grove's Boy Scout Troop is alive and well. The troop is now
132

183

Clwplt'r 13

se(ffumiliar 1rith the diseases common to rile animal kingdom
owl his success has \\'Oil fi;r him o good pmctice his seJTiccs
being called for in muny purts of the co1nHy.

The first veterinarian likely to be remembered by lllO."l rreGrove re:-;idents is Dr. Clarence Meeusen. Dr.
Meeusen started his veterinary prJctice here in 1946 after returning home from overseas duty during World War II. Initially he
operated his veterinary clinic in <J barn on the \OUth end of Cedar
Grove. Then in 1948 he built a garage with a Yeterinary nffice
attached at what is still his personal residence on South Main
Street. Dr. Meeusen has related how during his early ycc1r:> in
practice be macle use of a rather primitive form of c.tll-fonvarding thwugh the local telephone company. Or, Meeusen would let
the local telephone operator know where he would be working. and
if the1·e was a telephone call for him during th<H time, the operator
would ring the farm he was working at instend of ringing his uifice.
Dr. Meeusen oper'-Hed his Main Street pr~tctice nlone for over
twenty-five years before building what is now Cedar Gr,ll\~
Veterinoxy Services along County Highw~l.Y RR. i\t abuul the
time the new veterinary office \Vas built, Dr. Meeusen hired an
associate, Ron Hinze. who later became his son-in-law.
~ent-day Cedar

Additional staff joined the veterinary pn.Ktice over the next sev-

eral years as well.
Dr. Clarence Meeusen soid his practice in the e::1rly 1980_.., and
retired :.\! tktT rime_ C'ecbr Grnw Veterin~1ry Ser\'it:t:s pre...;endy
emplo;is five full-tim.;:: vderinariun:, a:-. wdl as a suppt>ft :,li\ll

- Chapter Fourteen Service Organizations

T

Service Clubs

he people of Cedar Grove have a great appreciation for this
community and take great pride in it. Local residents continually seek to preserve the special qualities that exist
here. That sense of community is clearly demonstrated by the
rich history of the service clubs and organizations that have contributed to the village over the years. There is a real concern for
the well-being and development of area citizens, especially
youth, in this little Dutch town.
Cedar Grove's first Boy Scout Troop was established a very long
time ago. A newspaper clipping dated May 25, 1920, stated that:

Last evening the scout e~recutil'e attended a second meeting at
Cedar GraFe and completed the organi::.ation of a scout troop
there. Cedar Gro1'e has been antiousfor some time to get organi::.ed. The \\'hole comm1mity is hock r__!f !hi! scow 1/W\'CIIIent in u
wonde;.ful way, ul! ure \'eJ"Y e!ltliusiostic_,_.Tfu.! troop committee
se!l!cted as scour master \Vil!iam Tl!eune.
A second publication, Cedar Grove's Centennial Booklet from

1947 stated:

Cedar Grove's Boy Scout Troop No. 41 was orga11ized in 1925
with Arthur Schreurs as Troop Mastel: The Troop has fllmed out
many First Class Scouts, some of whom have gone on to eam
Stat; Life and Eagle awards.
Whichever repo11 is right, the results are the same. Cedar
Grove's Boy Scout Troop is alive and welL The troop is now
!B2

183

Clwprcr J.l

known as Troop No. 841 under the leadership of scoutmaster Jeff
Duenk. The Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Eugle
Scouts of Cedar Grove have grown and will continue to grow
into responsible, mature, and capable men serving their community. Those who have moved to other cities and towns have t<:Jken
with them the skills and character learned here in the Boy Scout
Troop of Cedar Grove.
One of the first 4-H clubs in this area appears to have been the
Happy Hea11y Holland Hustlers 4-H Club which met c1s early a.~
the 1930s. Wilfred Huenink, \vho went on to become u ..J.-H
leader, was a member of this early club. Mrs. Walter Hesse link
was general leader of the club during the 1930s. It is not knnwn
exactly hmv long this early club existed, but it is kno\vn thc1t
some 4-H club activities were suspended brietly during World
War II. At some point after the war ended. another 4-H club
began meeting in a one-room school within view of Lake
Michigan. This appears to be the reason \ovhy the local4-H club"s
name is presently the Lakeview Badgers. Hennnn and Mercedc:,
Roerclink served as general leaders of the LJkevic\\· Badger.~ during the 1950s and 1960s and promoted the club\ ~KtiYities during that time. The local club continued to prosper over the next
several decJ.des. As of J 997 the Lakeview Badgers' membership
includes thirty-three boys and twenty-eight girls ranging froni
eight to eighteen years old. The locai4-H club presently has sixteen adult leaders wirh Mary Huenink serving as general leade1
The Sauk Trail Conservation Club began in the earl)-' l9..J.Os
and hus provided more than one generation of sporlsmen and
women tile opportunity to improve their conservdion educa
llone theil" outdoor skills, and contribute to the wmmunity'
many additional ways. Tbe conservation club oJfers hunter
boating safety courses, supplies conservation literature and
dren's publications to the library, and provides
training to interested individuals. In cooperation with other
and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the
TruiJ Conservation Club manages ::md restocks pheJsantA
throughout the area. They are paniculmly involved with the -··
breed of pheasant which can become self-sufficient in this
Two high school students huve the privilege of attending tl
Trees for Tomorrow Camp in Eagle River each year because

Chapter 14

the local conservation club. Sauk Trail Conservation Club was
honored
1995. as Sheboygan County's Conservation Club of the year in
The purpose of the Cedar Grove Booster Club, \Vhkh was
organized in the mid-1950s, WJs to assist and suppon the development of the community. Shortly after the locnl Booster Club
was formed, the group began to sponsor "Bonus Night" where
local businesses contributed toward a prize drawing every Friday
night. The location of the prize drawing varied from week to
week. If the person whose name was drawn was in the appropriate establishment at the time of the drawing, the lucky citizen
received a cash prize. This drawing packed Cedar Grove's businesses every Friday night.
The local Booster Club sponsored the Holland Festival from
1965 until 1971 when several other service orgnnizations took on
that responsibility. In a most ambitious and appreciated project,

DeVm:h Windmill Along South

!84

M~in Street io C~dar Grove

(Pho!O CotJJksy Het Must'um)

185

Clwprer J.-1

Chapter 14

the Booster Club coordinated the design and construction of
DeVisch, the stately \Vindmill in downtown CedJr Grove. Thi.s
replica of a South-Holland grain mill was completed in the late
1960s and stands as a reminder of our proud Dutch heritage.
Though the original Cedar Grove Booster Club eventually di:-.banded, most of its members wenl on to p<.uticipate in other locol
service organizutions. As a result, its purpose and goals live on
within the Village of Cedar Grove.
The Girl Swut Promise states that "On my honor l \Vill try to
do my duty to God and my country. To help other people nt all
times and to obey the Girl Scout laws.'' The ten Girl Scout laws
that follow this promise instill a sense of friendship, kindness,
joyfulness, and morality in the young ladies that have solemnly
spoken these words. The first Cedar Grove troop was formed in
1958 under the leadership of Dorothy Veldhorst Jensema. The
local Girl Scouts disbanded for a short time in 1963 and then
reorganizeJ in 1968. Presently the community has ten Girl Scout
troops. Leading the local (Jirl Scouts are Service Unit Chair
Ronnie Morgzm, Troop Organizer Teresa Grossheim, Twop
Consultant Kris Riley. and of course the numerous 1n>op kciders.
Cedar Grove is surely a better community for having the Clirl
Scout organization active here.
The Pioneer Girls organized in the fall of 1961 with fifty gids
in third grade through eighth grade participating. The motto of
the Pioneer Girls was "Christ in every phase of a girl's life" and
their clll'JSC11 Bibk \·t:rsc was. "Thy VA>rd is :1 lamp unto my fct'L
and ~l light untu my p;.1tll' Evct·y Pione-er C.Jirl lud a Pr~tye!
Partner who took a speci<d interest in her and prayed for her. The
young ladi,~s vv·orked very bard to earn badges in Citizenship,
Missions, Nature, Cooking. Safety, Bible, and Outdoors
girls enjoyed highlight events throughout the year includmg
numerous special outmgs, a Budge Banquet
Father/Daughter Banquet. The Pioneer Girls disbanded m
A garden club was formed in Cedar Grove on April 4
and adopted the name "Whispering Cedars Gurden Club"
February 6, 1968. The group's purpose was stated as follows

Article!: The ohjec/ of this gonlen club shalf be tv bring into
bership anyone interested in gun!ening, for a socioble get-/0,
I g6

pwpose and to coopemte H'ith the abot•c club.
Whispering Cedars Garden Club members enjoyed guest
speakers, slide programs, and outings to botanical gardens and
parks. They worked in cooperation with the Booster Club to landscape, beautify, and maintain Windmill Park in downtown Cedar
Grove. The club planted hundreds of tulips, flats of flowers, and
shrubbery in the village's three parks. Cedar Grove High School
received a gift of trees in front of the school and the Klompen
Dancers were given a gift of money for their 1976 trip to
Washington D.C. In October of 1990 Whispering Cedars Garden
Club disbanded. As a local publication once indicated this area's
"beautiful, well-kept yards and gardens are in part a tribute to the
efforts of this group."
The Cedar Grove Kiwanis Club originated in January of 19T2
and was incorporated as a Wisconsin Corporation "without stock
and not for profit" in August of 1974. Among the A1ticle III
Corpomtion Purpose Points is the statement that the Kiwanis
Club is there "to render ultruistic service and to build better com·
munities." From the time of its origin in the early 1970s until its
dissolution in 1995, the local Kiwanis Club did just that! Using
funds obtained from Holland Festival concession stands and
other fund raisers, the local Kiwanis club sponsored annual
scholarships, youth basketball tournaments, and a summer out~
door activity day for the elderly. They also contributed to the summer !ibmr,y reading progr~nn, donated time e.tnd money to the
blood drive, and contributed to the Children's Broadcast Network.
The loca! chapter of the Jaycees was orgunized in June of 197-~
with twenty-six charter members. The local Jaycee chapter was a
service orgunization that stressed the importance of helping a
conmmnity solve its problems, especially through the sponsorship of programs for youth. The local Jaycee chapter sponsored a
bicycle safety course, started the locul Halloween Watch, and
guaranteed that Santa was on hand to meet local boys and girls
each Christmas season. The local Jaycees sponsored several
Festival projects as well. The hardworking men of the
Jaycee chapter have moved on to other organizations now,
the community continues to reap the benefits of having the
'· Javcef'., active in our village at one time.
187

C!Joprer 14

The Jaycettes followed their gentlemen counterparts by char~
tering in October of 1974. The Jaycettes' purpose was also to help
the community by supporting the Jaycees in their work and orga~
nizing projects of their own. Cedar Grove boys and girls can
thank the Jaycettes for the infant swings and "springy" playground equipment in Memoria! Park. These industrious women
also worked to further beautify Memorial Park by maintaining
tlower gardens there. Jaycees and Jaycettes served our village for
some time, and we are grateful for them.
The Amsterdam Lions Club was formed in October of 1978
and accepted its charter with a celebration dinner on January 20,
1979. The motto of the nation-wide Lions Club organization is
"Love, Compassion and Spirit in Action." The Cedar Grove
chapter has more than lived up to that standard through it:> contributions to the community. Over the years the local Lions Club
has sponsored a Pine Haven seniors fall outing to the Kettle
Moraine State Forest; provided the shelter at Amsterdam Park:
provided Christmas food baskets for the needy; participated in
lhe I·-43 Adopt-a-Highway program~ collected toys for needy
children; provided scholar;.,hips for area youth; helped sponsor
Cedar Grove's National Honor Society; supported local fire,
cue and first-responder squads; contributed to the local
youth football program and Boy Scouts; provided
donations; and more. Cedar Grove can take pride
Amsterdam Lions Club.
The Optimist Club is relatively new to Cedar Grove
chartered in September of 1995 with an initial membcr-;bip
thirty~two. This energetic neV•/ dub bs sponsored a
events here including an eighHo-thirteen . yem-old Tri-Slar
program; a seventh-grade basketball tournament; the
Halloween Watch; and an essay contest. The club has
funds to various projects including a high school scholarshit
local Reading Is Fundamental program, the local youth
program, and the library's Summer Reading Prn2:ram
Optimists have clearly demonstraled that they take
"Friend Of Youth" very seriously.
The citizens of the Village of Cedar Grove are a
conscientious people who are not afraid to get invol
a difference, The ideas, man~hours of time, and funds
1

188

Chnprer J.l

gone into service for this community over the past 150 years
should be an inspiration to us all.

Cedar Grove Community Corporation
The period of the Great Depression during the 1930s brought
hard financial times to our nation. The hardships brought on by
the depression were just us real in and around the Village of
Cedar Grove. Businesses such us the Cedar Grove Shoe
Manufacturjng Company were forced to dose their doors as they
could no longer bear the financial stresses placed L1pon·them
By 1936 the local economy was beginning to improve somewhat and the vacant shoe fact01y building became a matter of
concern to many within the village. It seemed a shame that the
building stood vacnnt when it could be used to provide gainful
employment for so many aren residents. One significant obstacle
in returning the building to a useful place of employment was
that any new business would have to ussume a rather heavy 111011~
gage against the property.
They say that necessity is the mother of JllVention ;:mel perhaps
is, becJu.se the need to provide employment for viJJnge resi~
dents resulted in the creation of a very unique business arrangent. Early in 1936 five Cedar Grove area men were
orporated into a group that they named the Cedm Grove
.ommunity Corporation. The first five members of the corporawere Con Poppe, John Dees, Leland Meylink. BJ Walfoort,
Harold StokdyL Their intent was to serve as a negotiating
;;·_sommittee to secme industry J(x tile ViJJage of Cedar Grove
Community Corporation allowed these five men to
:;Jgrufic;.mt financial dealings, there was no financial gain
· for any of them.
It

short time the Huth and James Shoe Manuf~Jcturing
of Milwaukee showed some interest in moving its
nufacturin,g operations to the vacant Cedar Grove shoe factory
the problem of the property mortgage arose.
to the company to move its manufacturing
to Cedar Grove, the Community C01poration agreed to
the responsibility of making the required mongage payThe Community Corporation then outlined a unique
involving the shoe facto1y employees themselves to
!89

Chapter 14

Chopter 1-t

make those m011gage payments. Through a special written agreement with the employees, three percent of their wages were
deducted from their paychecks. These payroll deductions were
then used to cover the mortgage payments and certain other
expenses. In return for the three percent deduction from their
wages, the employees were given a five percent discount on
every purchase they made from Cedar Grove merchants who
participated in the plan.
This unique financial arrangement continued until 1944 when
the Huth and James Com puny returned to Milwaukee and the
Musebeck Shoe Company moved to Cedar Grove from Danville,
Illinois. By this time the mortgage halance was quite low and the
Musebeck Shoe Company showed no interest in continuing the
wage deduction plan. Instead, payment of the mortgage bahtnce
was included with other special financial arrangements made
with the comp;:tny at the time of their arrivaL From that point
until Musebeck ceased operations at the Cedar Grove plant in
the late 1980s, Musebeck leased the building from the

Cornmunity Corporation.

Over the years, funds oblained from the lease of tbe building in
combination with the interest eamed on those lease payments have
been used to suppm1 cmd promote a variety oflocal causes including:

.a donation toward a heating system for the new village hall
111

1949.

.. an annual gift of $500 totllc Cedar Gwvc Public Library,
.cmnuul schobrc;hips awarded to high school seniors ami

Holland Festival queens.
, .a $1000 donation toward the building of DcVisch Wrndnu!l
along Main Street.
, . purchase and resale of the f01111er Gilt Edge Foundry propetty.
When the Musebeck Shoe Company closed its Cedar Ur'
plant in the late 1980s, the Community Corporation razed the ·
mer shoe factory building and sold the land to an apartment
plex developer. Sale of the former shoe factot)' propet1y
the corporation to make even greater contributions to the
munity as follows.

190

~A donation of $30,000 was made to the Cedar Grove Public

Library for a community room to be used for public meetings and
library stmy hours.
-A donation of $60,000 was made to Het Museum for the purchase and remodeling of the TeRonde House at the corner of
Main Street and l 1nion Avenue.
On August 16, 1996 the Community Corporution, which had
always been made up of five area men who declared their interest in the commercial, industrial and general welfa.re.of the village, was dissolved. At the time of its dissolution, Con Poppe was
the only remaining original member of the corporation. Other
corporation members at the time of its closing were Dr. C.YV.
Meeusen, LeRoy Winke!horsr, Marvin Meerdink, and George
Ebbers. At that time the, corporation's remaining funds were disbursed with J $10,000 donation to the Cedar Grove Public
Library and a $3,740.55 donation to Het Museum.

American Legion
VanDerJagt-DeBrulne Post No. 338
An organizational meeting was held on May 21, ! 92!, to
establish an American Legion Post in Cedar Grove. The group's
cha11er members included Anthony Huibregtse, Henry ldsinga,
John Duenk, Dan Theune, William Westerbeke, Ulysses
Grotenhuis, Mathew Reis, Willimn Berenschot. Peter DePagter,
Harold DeMaster, Peter Dl~es, Cun VanDrie'»l, William Pous,
Henry Lemmencs, R John Lammers. William Thctme, John
Konings, Harry Wieberdink, William B.uibregtse, John Dees,
Harvey Mentink, Alvey Mentink and Victor Weinrich. Post officers elected at thut meeting \/;'ere: John Dees, Commander;
Ulysses Grotenhuis, Vice-Commander: William Theune, Adjutant;
Peter Decs, Historian; William Westerbeke, Master-at-Anns; John
Lammers, Chaplain; 11nd Henry Idsinga, Finance Officer. A committee appointed to select a name for the post included Henry
Lenm1enes, Ulysses Grotenhuis, and Alvey Mentink.
At the group's May 26, 1921, meeting the committee recommended that Morris C. VanDerJagt be recognized in the name of
the local Legion post. He was a native of the Town of Holland
and entered the army as a private, Company C, 340th Inf11ntry,
191

Chapter 14

Ch(lpfer 14

THE AUTOCRACY OF BOTH THE CLASSES AND THE MASSES; TO
MAKE RIGHT THE MASTER OF MIGHT: TO PROMOTE PEACE
AND GOODWILL ON EARTH; TO SAFEGUARD AND TRANSMIT
TO POSTERITY THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE. FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRACY: TO CONSECRATE AND SANCTIFY OUR COMRADESHIP BY OUR DEVOTION TO MUTUAL HELPFULNESS.

1\1oni> \"anDcrJngl and Elbwonh DeBruin~.
Whose Nmnc' are H11noreJ m American L~gion Post No 338
(PbOill> Counesy Ailltl"ican L~gion Pm1 No._<.l:!J

4th Division. His outfit sailed for Europe aboard the transport
ship Laui.\'l'ille on May 18, 1918, and arrived in France on May
26, 1918. He \VUS on uctive duty there until his death on August
15, 1918. He was the first local resident to die in action in France
and his body was returned to Cedar Grove where he was interred
at the Walvoorcl Cemetery. The local Legion post was named in
his honor. Others \vho joined the local Legion post at this, the
group's second meeting, tncl\Jlkd Harvey Ramaker, Elmer
Olson, Edward Voskuil, and Herbert Molter,
The October 27, 1921, meeting was devoted to adopting the
Preamble and Constitution of the American Legion. The Preamble
states the purposes and aims of the organization as follows:

FOR GOD AND COUNTR~ WE ASSOCIATE OURSELVES
TOGETHER FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES.- TO UPHOLD
AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA; TO MAINTAIN LA WAND ORDER: TO PRESERVE THE
MEMORIES AND INCIDENTS OF OUR ASSOCIATION IN THE
GREAT WARS: TO INCULCATE A SENSE OF INDIVIDUAL OBLIGATION TO THE COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATION; TO COMBAT
192

Initially, the local Legion post's dues were set at three dollars
per year. The group's membership raised additional funds for
projects by sponsoring plays at the Main Street village hall as
well as sponsoring a Fourth of July picnic and nunierOus other
events in the village. During the group's early years, regular
meetings were held in an upstairs room at the Cedar Grove State
Bank while larger events took place at the village hall.
In April of 1922 plans were made in conjunction with the Sons
of Union Veterans for the first Memorial Day observance in
Cedar Grove. At that time the sum of five dollars was appropriated for the decoration of overseas graves. A community picnic
was held and net profit from the concessions totaled nearly twenty-four dollars. At about this same time a Care Committee was ~et
up to look after the needs of the families of Civil Wnr veterans,
Spanish-American Wm veterans, and World War veterans.
On May 30, 1923, the first Memorial Day parade was held
with a color guard, rifle salute, and school children marching in
the parade with little flngs, Cedar wreaths were placed on the
graves of veterans in communi tv cemeteries. These wreaths were
handmade by the Auxiliary using boughs from nearby woods.
In May of 192<4 the Auxiliary took charge of the Poppy Drive
to raise funds for disabled veterans at the Milwaukee Soldiers
Home. In 1924 the local Legion post provided the color guard,
rifle salute, and pallbearers for the funeral of John Lammers who
was a Civil War veteran.
On November 2, 1925. the first Legion hall was purchased for
$2,000. The building was located on the west side of First Street
between the present Wisconsin Avenue and Ramaker Avenue.
Equipment to furnish the hall included thirty~one chairs at a total
cost of $42.50, an oil stove for $15.00, and a wood~buming
heater for $51.00. Legion post members did janitorial work on a
volunteer basis.
193

Chapter l.J

Clwpter 14

D~di~~twn

or tvlemorinl Park. July 31.! 930
(Photo Coun~~y Anndte TeRomle}

In 1930 VanA!tena Avenue's Memorial Park was dedicated in
honor of World War veterans thus beginning the tradition of
Memorial Day observances in the parL The Great Depression of
the 1930s provided another opportunity for service by the locul
Legion and Auxiliary. A '·Poor Committee" was set up to work
with other village organizations in helping families who suffered
severe economic problems.
In the 1940s the world was swept by unrest, and many local
men were called to duty to serve their country as a defense force.
During this time the local Legion and Auxiliary bought defense
bonds to help shore up the rnilit<try. They abo bcpn to keep a
record of Joe<:~! men who \vere serving in the armed forces. This
record was later used to establish an Honor Roll of those who
served during World War II. ln 1944 the local Legion Auxiliary
supervised the dedication of a large, billboard-sized Honor RolL
If anyone in the community knows where this item is, the local
Legion post would appreciate knowing so that the Honor Roll
can be restored and preserved.
In February of 1946 the Legion Hall on First Street was sold
and regular meetings were held in the village hall. In 1946 the
Legion's membership rose to ninety with the influx of returning
World War II veterans.
In January of 1947 local Legion post members discussed the

The LocJI Amen~an L~gJOn Post\ /lhiitary Honor Rl>ll

as Shown m the Conchi>IOII of World War ll
tPhoto Coune,y Het Mus<:llrn)
U\- lilirn lkrcn~dl\lt, Jay Sch:1ap. Garr<'t{ TtnHJkn !vlro. Henry Krt;'!Jnen, 1\'i!IT~II Necrll\>1: Hcrl<:n Swp:lbmp

possibility of adding the name of the first local veteran who died
in action during World Wur II to the post name. 1t was decided
thnt the matter should be researched and brought up for discussion and action at a future meeting. In April of 1947 the membership approved adding the name of Ellsworth DeBruinc. the
first local man to give his life for his country during World V/ar
II, to the Legmn post's nume. Private-First-·Cbss Ellswonh
DeBruine, u combat infantryman, served with Compuny I, 39th
Regiment, 9th Division, in the U.S. Army. He had taken part in
four campaigns serving in North Africa, Sicily, and Normandy
and was awarded four Battle Stars for pnrticipotion in major battles. PFC DeBruine was killed in action in Normandy, France on
July 16, 1944. His parents received the Purple Heart Medal
posthumously from the United States Government. His body was
returned to Cedar Grove where he was interred at the
Presbyterian Cemetery. In the mid-1990s his dog tags were found
on the beach at Normandy and were presented to his family.
ln October of 1948 the village's original Academy building,

194
195

Ch{/pra /.J

C!Japra 14

which had been moved to the northwest corner of Main Street
and VanAitena Avenue, was purchased for Legion post meetings.
During the ensuing years the Legion continued to serve the community. particularly youth, by sponsoring a Boy Scout troop,
choosing a high school junior to attend Badger Boy.s State at
Ripon College each year, and joining with other po.sts to sponsor
Youth Government Day at the county courthouse each spring.
This special day gives students an opportunity to learn firsthand
about the operation
county government. In October of 1963
the Main Street Legion Hall was sold and regular meetings were
held in the meeting room at the bank and on the second tloor of
the old elementary school building on VanA!tena Avenue.
At one point the local Legion post purchased a lot on the west
side of South Main Street next to Hannah Walvoord's Millinery
Shop. The Legion post eventually sold the lot to Dr. James Jensen
who wanted to build a larger office there. Subsequently, the local
Legion post bought a lot l)ll Wisconsin Avenue near SeconJ
Street and built ;1 new meeting hal! there. The first meeting \VJS
held at the new illl'atiun in J<.muary uf l ()6 7.
Through the l960s cmd beyuntL the Legion continued to pur··
sw.: its aims and puqx;ses. As c1 vital force in the community the
Legion post supported }tolland Festival activities with a color
guard, floats, commitlee people. and concession stands to provide income for local projects. High school scholarships were
donated annually and continue to this clay. The Legion also '>ponSOlL'd a
to :.,eT\'C the L'Ommuni1y with meclicd cquipnwnt
which haJ either heen purchasnl by til\.' lucal Legion poc,t or
donated by Dthers_ The Legion ~usl provided hospital bed:.,
wheelchairs, canes, walkers. and crutches which were ln;_tned to
local peop!e nn a ne,;cl basis at no cust.
Every March the Legion's birthday is celebnlted with a dinnet
for Legion and Auxiliary members. In May. Memorial Day continues to be a community event with a parade including Boy
Scouts, Girl Scouts, and many small children c<mying little flags
which are identical to those used to decorate the graves of veterans in all of the cemeteries under the local Legion post's jurisdiction. The high school band provides stirring music and the
service in Memorial Park includes a speaker, more band music,
and the traditional ritle salute and playing of taps.

or

!96

Veterans Day, which was fonnerly called Armistice Day in
remembrance of the end of hostilities in World War I, is observed
annually with a ceremony in the high school auditorium. This is
truly a fitting observance with the advancing of the colors, band
music, and vocal numbers by the high school choir. In ::tddition,
a speaker is present to give a fitting address to the audience which
consists of village residents and high school students who help
observe the day
Each February the local Legion post has a Back-to-God observance at which a local pastor provides a message. hrecent years
a ±1ag was placed in every room at the new school. In 1991 the
local Legion post dedicated a Prisoner-Of-War (POW) t1ag in
honor of those forgotten people who have served our country.
Each year the local Legion post, as well as all others in the county, hold a ceremony to properly dispose of U.S. flags that are no
longer usable_ The post invites people in the community to take
advantage of this program_ In the early 1990s the local post and
all other veterans organizations in the county vigorously supported a drive to build a memorial for all Sheboygan County veterans_ It is a beautiful memorial and is visible from Kohler
Memorinl Drive as travelers enter Sheboygan from the west.
In 1991 the Legion post's sole surviving World War I veteran,
Arthur Voskuil, was presented a pin recognizing his seventy
years of continuous American Legion membership. In 1995 the
post meeting was held at Pine Haven Christian Home in
Sheboygan Falls to help Arthur celebrate his iOOth birthday. He
\Vas also presented with a scventy~fivc year pin in 1996.
ln 1995 the Wisconsin Avenue Legion Hall was sold with very
mixed feelings. During the hall's twenty-eight years of service,
many families held Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other family
gatherings there. Over the years many community organizations
heid meetings there as well.
In June of 1995 the local Legion post held its first meeting in
the Community Room of the new public library building on
VanAltena Avenue. It is a superb facility in an excellent location,
and the Legion post is vety grateful for its use. In 1996 the local
Legion post honored sixteen members of Post No. 338 for fifty
or more years of continuous membership, The local Legion post
has moved around a bit within the connnunity, but through it aU
197

Chapter I-I

Chapter 14

has remained dedicated to its original aims and purposes which

begin "FOR GOD AND COUNTRY, WE ASSOCIATE OURSELVES TOGETHER ... "
The following is a listing of Cedar Grove area veterans who
have served their country through various eras. The names of
area veterans from the Civil War through World War II have been
obtained primarily from Cedar Grove's Centennial Booklet,
while the names of Post-World War II veterans were provided by
area residents in response to the local Legion post's requests for
information as published in the Lakeshore Weekly. The names of
area veterans who died in service to their country are indicated
with an asterisk.
1847

MILITARY ROLL OF HONOR

1997

CIVIL WAR ERA
John H. Abbink
Jnhu Brumm.:ls
Corneliu~ C\1k
Abraham Conwli~
John De Bruine
Matt De Master
Cornelius De Schmith
Every Johann Duenk
Garn;t J. Duenk
Mariml' Fl1p~e
John Folltame
Ti1UflM;, Furgeson

Wilkun C' Hulk
Curneiius Joo~l
Morwns Ketman
John W. Koiste
Henry Krcuncn
Garret Lammers
John H. L1mmers
G W. Len~in\..
Pct<:r LH.'J1lnlCI
LaclC Ma;~idjl'
B<:nj•lmin Nonhul

Gmdes Henwn

Bern H. Obrink
G. J. Uunk
Hulxq;t Ri:;siuew
lmand Serier
John Shaver
H. W. SU!plekamp
G. J. Te Linderl
Jan W. T!!r Maat
John VanDer J~li!l
Leonard Van D<:r J:it!l
Pl'l~r V,m Ouwcrku'k
Christian Voskuil
Arent J. Vruwink

WORLD WAR I ERA
John Arentsen
William Bcrenschot
William Boland
Alger Bruggink
Levi A. Dnna
John C. Dees
Peter J. Dees

Hurold De Master
Peter De Pagter
Cyrus Dropp.;:rs
John Duenk
Ray Oulmes
Earl C. Fonteine
La Mont Fonteine
!9~

Ulysses Grotenhuis
Henry Heinen
Harvey Huenink
Henry L Huenink
Kmhryn E Huenink
Anthony A. Huibregtse
William Huibregtse

Oliver Huisheere
William Hyink
Henry Idsinga
John Konings
Henry Kruis
William Kurath
Henry Lammers
John Lammers
Henry Lemmenes
Elmer Lubbers
Harold Lubbers
Im. in Lubbers
''Willium Lubbers
John Mcengs
Alvey Mentink
Harvey J. Mentink
Herbert Molter
Elmer Olson
''Eugene Potts

William Potts
Willis Potts
Chris Prnnge
Harvey J. Ramaker
Lester Ramaker
Mmhcw J. Reis
John Roelse
Henry Roth
"Peter Schipper
Chas. Semmelack
William Simme!ink
Garret Ten Haken
William H. Ten Haken
Elmer Ter Maat
Irwin Te Ronde
Daniel Theune
John Theune
William Theune
''Mmris Van Der Jagt

Cornelius Van Driest
John Vnn Driest
William Van Driest
Arthur J. Voskuil
Clnrcncc Voskui!
Edward Voskui!
Harmon Voskuil
Lester Voskuil
Louis Voskuil
Walter Voskuil
Clarence Vmwink
Alvin Wa!voord
''Arthtlr Walford
Victor Weinrich
August Wentzel
William Westerbeke
Harry Wieberdink
*W:1!ter Wissink

WORLD WAR II ERA
R:llph Amberg
Edward Anderson
Gordon Anderson
RaJ ph F. Anderson
Orville Arendt
Vernon Arendt
How:ml An:ntsen
lrwin Arcntsen
Reuben Arcntsen
Leonard Bares
Glenn Beernink
Ivan Bcernink
Leland Berenschot
Orlan Berenschot
Edwnrd Block
Harold Block
Gordon Bloemers
Dr. Harms Bloemers

Mark Q. Bruce
Dale Bruggink
*Wendell Bruggink
Lawrence Brummels
Erwin Claerhout
Frnncis ClaeJ-bout
Swnley Cole
Warren Conner
Harold Daane
Car! Dana
Gordon Dana
Wilmer Dana
Donald De B laey
Stnnley De Blaey
*Ellsworth De Bruine
Carl Dees
Delmar De Master
*Ellsworth De Master

199

Howard De Master
Howard De Pagter
Arthur De Smith
Edwin De Smith

Elmo De Smith
LeRoy De Smith
Rodney De Smith
Ernest Dietrich
Leslie Druayers
Edith Duenk
Homer Duenk
Carl Du Mcz
Gilbert Dunn
Vincent Dunn
Mar!ice Eernis.>e
Roger Ecrnissc
Elmer Engelbert
Harold Foster

Clwpter 14

Chapter 14

Wil!"red Gcsch
De James Good lad
Elwood Grnven

Clnrence Lnmmcrs
Ernest Lammers
Norman Lanuners

Winson Graven
Eugene Grotenhuis
Dr. Willard Gro!cnhuis

Walter Lmnmcr~
Clan: nee Ledebocr
Norman Lc Mahieu
Eugene Lcmmo:nes

Dean H:ltklcn
Ben Harmeling
Erwin Harmdink
Earl Heinen
Clayton Hcssl'link
Lebnd Hilhdink
Wallace Hofliet-er
Harry Hoitink
He~rold Holle
Arvin Huenink
Carroll Huenink
Delbert Huenink
!-broiJ Huenink
Kcnn~th Huenink
LeRoy Huenink
Myrle Huenink
Orville Huenink
Roger Huibregtse
Roland Huibrcgt~c
Lloyd Ln-:t'n
.!allies J. J~.·nsu\
Geurgc Jcntink
Marvin KalanU
lVlarvin Kempink
Carl Kettleson
Robert Klein
Glenn K!einhes~dink
Dr. Fred Ko!b
Rev. John Koning
''Jerome Kreunen
Hcnnan Kruis
Jacob Kruis
Lester Kruis

Robnd Lcmmencs
Donzdd Lohuis
~Dwight Lohuis
Gknn Lohuis
Willard Lohui:.
How<u-d Luhach
Leon Mazur
Marvin Meerdink
Dr. Clarence Meeu~w
Owen Meinen
Ellswunh Mentink
Lluyd Mcnunk
Robert Mcrnink
Kenneth Meyer
Russell Meye1
!van Molter
St~mlcy Mo!tt:r
"Amhony Mom.by
Stanky Morris
LeRll)' Mudlu
Rob~cn 1Vlu;,cbeck
Roland Navis
Donald Neerhof
Henry Neerhol"
Jerome Nct:rhol·
Warren Neerhof
Willis Neerhor
Arthur Nienhuis
Virgil Nonhor
Lloyd C. Nysse
Earl Obrink
Rodney Olson

200

Al"lhur Peterson
Loyal Plckcnpol
Gerald Plopper
Herbert Prange
Clay!on Ramaker
Ells\vonh Ramaker
Eme~t

Ramaker
Hilda Ram<.1ker
lda Ramuker
Roland Ranwker
*Lawrence Ra~~c!
Raymond Rassd
Marvin Roclse
Melvin Roelse
Audky RoerJink
Howard Rondink
Owen Ruslink
Jay Scha;_tp
Wilmer Schipper
Henry Schneider
Harvey Schreurs
Harold Schulz
Albert Sigward
*Gordon Simmelink
Harvey Simmclink
Daniel Smie~
Donald Smics
M~lr\'111 Soerens
Roben Socrcns
Herbert Stapelkilmp
Glenn Stokdyk
Norlief Storheim
Burton Tempa.s
Donald Ten Haken
Irwin Ten Hakcn
Ivan Ten Haken
Wesley Ten Haken
Warren Ten Pns
Harvey Tcr Maat

Dule Tc Stroete
Doris Theunc
Rodney Thcune
Rolnml Theune
Stuart Theune
Willis Theune
Fmnk Valubs

Phillip Vnnde Wall
Harvey Van Ess
Earl Ve!Uboom
Gordon Veldhoom
Carl Voskuil
Ellis Voskuil
Glenn Voskuil
Homer Voskuil

Cleon Walfoort
Clarence Wassink
Harry Wcnvers
William Weavers
Gertrude Wemze!
Gilben Wentzel
Carl Westcrbcke
Gordon Wieberdink
Rev. George Willis
Douglas Wissink

Joseph Valukas
Lloyd Vnn Ocr Jag!
Henry V;:mderwnlker

Mark W VoskuiJ
Paul Voskuil

Elmer Van Der Wal

Rohen Voskuil

Clarence R. Dana
Dale P. De Mns!er

Robert Meinl'n
Paull\1entink

Hownrd L. Ru.<.hton
Junior Schreurs

Wayne G. Ebbers
Richard L. Hnnnelink
Ellsworth H_ Hilbelink
GunJon Hilbdmk

We::dey Meylrnk
Wesley Obbink
Ronald O~borne
Cornelius Otte. Jr.
Richard H. Otte
Ernest Prinsen

Lloyd Schreurs
Lester Schultz
William Socren~
Car! Ten Pas

Glenn Prinsen
Warren Prinsen
Roger Ruih

Wesley E. Vcldhorst
Rnlph H. Voskuil
Leslie Wieberdink

Dudley Ramaker
Allen Ri~~u:uw
l_an!nnt Ris~l'CU\\

Wnyne Wieberdink
Carl Winktlho1·~1

KOREAN WAR ERA

C1ri Huibreg;~c

Herbert lnsclnwn
Lamont KalanJ
Lowell Kappers
Gilnit Ledeboer
Audley G. Lcmmcnes
Norbert Lohuis
Lam(ln\ W. Luf.cn"

Kenneth Rusch

Wayne Vun Dnest
Philip L. Van Ess

L.t'Ruy WinkcJhor.'t
Jcmld R. \Vi~th

VIETNAM WAR ERA
Gary Beernink
Wayne Beernink
Tho!lias Brasscr
lilmes M. Bruce II
Robert Caljouw
James Claussen
Robert Claussen
James W. Crisl, Fr.
Jose Davila

Wayne De Blaey
Paul De Master
Norman Dt: Ruyter
Robert De Smidt
James Dykstra
Gnry Hilbelink
Gerald Hilbelink
Willard Hoitink
Carl Huenink

201

Dale Huenink
Philip L. Huenink
Duane Jensema
Douglas Kleinhans
Willard K. Kons
David Kruis
Larry D- Lukens
Joel Martin
Denn Mecusen

Chrtpter 14
Dale Mentink
David Mentink
Richard Mentink
LeRoy Meyer
Roger 1\·kyer
John G. Nnvis
Gilbert J. Nock, Jr.
Holle Ramaker
Don Schreurs

Myle~

Schreurs

Hal Seider
L:my G. Sohre

Harlcn Te Beest
Richard Te Linden
Gary W. Ten Haken
Leslie Ten Haken
Larry Ten Pas
Daniel K. Theune

Henry Thill
Dnrrel Ve!dboom
Denn Voskuil
Kenneth Walvoord
David Wiebcrdink

La.n-y L. Wieberdink
Mark Wicberdink

POST VIETNAM WAR ERAS
Matthew DeBJney
Michad J. Heinen
Douglas Heuver

Susan Hilbclink
Sarah Huil:>reglse

Shan on Jon Lukens
Richard J. Oll<e
William J. Schoeder

Amerinm Legion Auxiliary

VanDerJagt-DeBruine Unit No. 338
[By Caroline Kruis, Delores Nonhof.
Margaret Meerdink. and Marguerite Neerho1l
On October 27, 1921. Legion Commander John Dees presided
over a meeting that was called to organize an Auxiliary unit for
the local Legion post. The twenty-seven ladies who signed the
Charter Roll included Mrs. Henry Idsinga, Mrs. Harry
Wieberdink, Mrs. Peter Dees, Mrs. Anthony Huibregtse, Mrs.
William Huihregtse, Mrs. Peler Theune, Mrs. Clarence Voskuil,
Mrs. Lester R:Jmaker, Mabd Ten Hnken, Mrs. William Theunc,
Mrs. Lena Stokdyk. Mrs. Henry Lemrnenes. Mrs. Garret
Grorenhuis, Mrs. Antoinette Lewis, Mrs. Abram Rnmnker, Mrs.
Ulysses Grotenhuis, Mrs. Peter DePogter, Mrs. G. Wissink, Mrs.
H. DuMez, Mrs. A. Fonteine, Mrs. H.l Mentink, Mrs. Elmer
Olson, Evelyn Ramaker, Elizabeth Fonteine, Esther Huibregtse,
Mrs. Sadie Stokdyk, and Mrs. A. Huibregtse.
The Preamble to the Legion Auxiliary's Constitution is the
same as the Legion Preamble and concludes with the pledge:

... to participate in mul contribure to the accomplishment of
aims and purposes of the American Legion; to consecrate
sanctify our association by our devotion to mutual helpji.dness.
202

Chupter f.-1

Michael J. Theune

Over the years the Legion Auxiliary has been involved in a
vnriety of projects to help the needy including the provision of
food baskets, monetary gifts, conl for heating, credit at gas stations und grocery stores, assistance in paying for a child's
surge1y, and clothing for children after their parents passed away.
Other projects that the local Legion Auxiliary participated in
included sponsorship of home nursing courses for women in the
community, sewing bandages for the Red Cross, sponsoring Red
Cross first-aid cbsses, donating bleachers to the village hall, purchasing o. band unifom1, conducting paper and clothing drives,
providing a backdrop for the village hall, participating in awards
night at the high school, and donating funds to the village library,
to the KJompen Dansers' 1976 trip to Washington D.C. and for a
scoreboard at school.
Each year since 1950 the locul Auxiliary has sponsored u high
school junior to attend Badger Girls State at Madison. A poppy
poster contest is held in Mny for elementary school children. In
earlier years the locuJ Auxiliary also bud an ''Americanism''
essay contest.
Since 1975 Legion Auxiliary members have been in charge of
the blood drive canteen twice yearly. Every Christmas the
Auxiliary gives a donation to the Sheboygan County
Comprehensive HcaJth Center so gifts can be purchased for residents. The Auxiliary also participate in bingo games for residents
at Rockv Knoll.
Over- the ye3r::. the local Legion Auxiliary unir has also
respunded to mcmy char(tabk orgcmiz~llion appeals ~uch ilS the
Cancer Society, Heart Associntion, Easter Seo.ls, Red Cross,
Salvation Anny, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, March of Dimes,
Children's Service Society, Sheboygan County Literacy Council,
Crusade for Freedom, U.S.O., Kettle Moraine Boys School,
Holland Relief Fund, Honduras Project, clothing for children in
Europe and Asia, flood and tornado relief, garments for Russian
War Relief, homemade guilts and clothes for the Netherlands,
clothing to Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, and knitted
sweaters for Korean children .
But with all the assistance the local Legion Auxiliary has provided to a wide variety of causes, its primary focus is still on veterans, especially those in the several veterans hospitals in
203

Clwpru 14

southern Wisconsin. The local unit of the Auxiliary has sewed
many, many pounds of carpet rags for the veterans to weave into
rugs. Many ladies from the community helped with this cause by
donating sewed rags for the project. The Auxiliary has also made
tray favors for the hospito.ls to put on patients' mea! trays. During
the Christmas season, the Auxiliary purchases many items for the
Christmas Gift Shop at the Veterans Hospital in Milwaukee so
that patients can send gifts to their families. The local unir also
sends monetary gifts to veterans hospitals in Tomwh, King, and
Madison for Christmas treats. Each year before Memorial Day
the Legion Auxiliary sells poppies that have been made by hospitalized veterans. The Auxili<:~ry also places n poppy arrangement in each of the four churches in the village. For many years
the local Auxiliary decorated a poppy window at a lonll business
place and later at the library where the group also displayed
poppy posters.
During World War II the local Legion Auxiliary purchased
Victory Bonds and sent magcnine subscription~ to those in the
service. The Legion Auxiiiary \Vas responsible for coordin:Jting
the program \Vhen the Jrea\ Military Honor Roll \.vas dedicated
on Memorial Day 1944. The group also remembered the Gold
Star Mothers, those who lost sons in the service, with a plant on
Mother's Day. The Auxiliary also maintains the Gold Star flower
bed in Memorial Park in honor of the following Gold Star
Mothers: Mrs. Garret Wissink (Walter), Mrs. Willis DeBruine
(Ellsworth), Mrs. Alger Bruggink !Wendell), Mrs_ William
Simmelink (Gordon). Mrs. William Lobuis (Dwight), Mrs.
Henry Kreunen (Jerome), Mrs. John DeMaster (Ellsw~rth_), Mrs.
Anthony Lubbers (William), Mrs. John Rassel (Lawrence), Mrs.
Leonard VnnDerJagt (Morris), Mrs. Monday (Anthony), Mrs.
Susan Schipper {Peter), Mrs. Horace Potts {Eugene and Everett),
and Mrs. Joseph Walfort (A11hur).
In 1971 the local Legion Auxiliary began the Community
Birthday Calendar project which the group continued to coordinate for twenty years. Other fund raising projects over the years
included talent shows, amateur programs, a home show at the village hall, Cudworth Men's Chorus from Milwaukee, card parties
with as many as thirty-seven tables, plays with people from the
community taking part, and a griddle cake supper.
204

Chopra l.f

The local Auxiliary unit has also served innumerable suppers
and lunches for family groups, the local Booster Club, the
Farmer's Institute, firemen's meetings, :Jt band concerts in the
park, and after basketball games. Beginning in 1968 the
Auxiliary assisted the Legion members with a mid-winter fry. but
tbat event met its demise when tbe Wisconsin Avenue Legion
Hall was sold. The Auxiliary also served several different menus
m Park Days and Holland Festivals and also assisted the Legion
in sponsoring the annu~tl Labor Day celebration for several years
after the firemen discontinued doing so.
As the local Legion post moved from one building to another,
Auxiliary members were kept busy furnishing the rooms. The
group purchased draperies, kitchen equipment, chairs, tables,
roasters, dishes, and more. The Auxiliary also regularly provided
the local Legion post with monetary gifts to belp pay insurance
premiums, electric bills, and mortgage payments. It was a happy
day on November 26, 1977, when the Legion and Auxiliary gath··
ered at Riverdale Supper Club for il mortgage-burning ceremony.
Nmv as we meet in the Community Room at the pub!ic library.
we look back over the years and are thankful that we Jre still able
to continue our nssocimion with the dedicated ladies who have
been so faithful to our organization.

205

Chapter 14

- Chapter Fifteen Preserving Our Heritage
Holland Festival
t's a hot, sunny, Saturday afternoon in late July. Area residents
and guests line the streets of Cedar Grove. Yokes span the
broad shoulders of men in Dutch costume as they dip buckets
into water baiTels spaced evenly along the street. Women and
children in Dutch costumes scrub the village's Main Street. At
last the Burgemeester and Town Crier declare the streets clean
and announce, "The Holland Festival has now begunf" This
scene sets the stage for Cedar Grove's Holland Festival each year.
A quote from an early 1900s publication stated that " ... in July,
1897, a group of Hollanders gathered to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of their stay in Sheboygan County. There were 48
people present." We don't know exactly where this gathering
took place, but we do understand why. Step back in time and
imagine some of the conversations at this reunion of friends with
a common heritage. Perhaps they spoke of the hardships of the
perilous ocean voyage, Some perhaps sadly recalled the loss of
friends m relatives during the Phoenix disaster. Surely they
remembered the crude little cabin they hurried to build before the
harsh Wisconsin winter set in_ They were certain to discuss how
fortunate they were to settle in this area blessed with plentiful
wildlife, forests and fertile soil. They surely compared any news
they had from the homeland and probably discussed the
Amsterdam settlement which had dwindled since the railroad
passed through Cedar Grove. Above all, the early settlers certainly thanked God for His care, Jove, and guidance during the
past fifty years. As children politely listened, they were sure to be
impressed by the settlers' courage and values and by the deep
love these people had for their homeland, the Netherlands.

I

206

207

Chapter 15

C!Ja{Jfcr

Geoi&'-' Ebhero H~lrJ\,~re Slore Float in the 19-17 Cenlenni3l Parade
1Pholn Cot111esy Hct ;o..1useum)

On August 14 -17, 1947, Cedar Grove celebrated its ! OOth
birthday. This energetic lillie villuge thre\V a huge birthday party!
Those four days were filled with band concerts, ceremonies and,
of course, street scrubbing and a parade, An elaborate, outdoor
Centennial Pageant was the grand finale on each of the first three
days of the event: Opening Day, Holland Day, and Homecoming
Day. The fitting conclusion to the entire celebration was a community service on Sunday, Worship Day.
Publicity from that time lists the Centennial Pageant as having
600 local pcopk involved in its production. If one considers I he
number of people involved in tbe parade, pageant, conce1is,
meals, and other 1:vents and comp<:~res those figures to Cedar
Grove's population of nbout 1,000 at the time, one can understand the tremendous effort put forth for the celebration.
The 1947 centennial celebration marked the first of what went
on to become the Holland Festival. Over the next f1ve years, twoday festivals were presented with street scrubbing, klompen
dancing, parades, musical programs, and operettas including
"The Wedding Shoes" and "Tulip Time." Another historical
pageant, "Song of America," was presented in 1952.
There was a brief lull for a few yeru·s presumably because of the
immense amount of work and manpower involved in presenting
208

I5

such a festival. In J 965 the Cedar Grove Booster Club rekindled
the fire and took on sponsorship of the Holland Festival. reviving
the event with street scrubbing. klompen dancing, a pnrade, a
queen pageant, musical programs. and tours of local industries.
Memorial Park was once again alive with the sights and sounds
of the Holland Festival, and '<-Ve haven't missed a yenr since.
During the 1967 festival "A Cenrury And Twenty." another
impressive outdoor pageant was presented. That year also suw
the first art show, now a very popular annual event called the "Art
Fuir on the Green". A pageant entitled "Our Rich Herit~1ge" was
presented in 1968. By this time the festival wus u well-known,
not-to-be-missed event drawing visitors from near and fnr on the
last Friday and Saturday in July. By 1971 the Cedar Grove
Booster Club discontinued its participation in the Holland
Festival and the annual event was being sponsored by the
American Legion and other local service organizations.
In February of 1975 the Holland Guild Gezelschap was formally organized. The purpose of the Guild i:. to promote. foster-,
and preserve the herituge of Dutch ancestry within the Village of
Cedar Grove in the Town of HolL:md, Sheboygan County,

Holbnd Fcslil',il During the Late 1970:>
(Photo Courtesy Cliff and Shirley Sagn)

209

Clwptl.:'r 15

Clwp1n 15

\\'isconsin. Since its fonm1tion, the Holland Guild Gezelschap has
sponsored the annual Holland Festival.
In 1975 the first scenic bus tours were run in conjunction with
the festival. The Holland Festival Run was added in 1980 and has
proven to be an extremely popular event. This event includes both
a 6.2-mile and two-mile run, as well as a noncompetitive two-mile
walk. A total of !96 runners pruiicipated in this event in 1980.
During the 1996 festival there were 585 p<u"ticipants. Ribbons,
medals, and trophies are awarded in a variety of divisions, and each
pm"ticipant receives a Holland Fest Run T-shi11.
A Holland Guild Gezelschap scholarship was first awarded in
\981, and that program continues to the present. Encouraging the
continuing education of area youth is of prime importance to
event organizers.
The Holland Festival is held the last Friday and Saturday in
July with continuous entertainment throughout both days,
typically including:
Official Opening
Street Scrubbing
Klompen Dnncing
Souvenir Stand
The Klompenhouwer
Fashions of Holland
Prize Stand
Reflections of Holland
Art Fair on the Green
Children's Rides
Holland Festival Run

Parade
Visits ro Fl.et Museum
Scenic Bus Tours
World's Largest Worstebroodje
Ethnic & Traditional Foods
Wooden Shoe Races
Musical Entertainment
Flea Market
Musical Comedy Presentation
Local Crafts
Sunday Worship Service

All proceeds from the annual Holland Festival are returned to
the community through a variety of means. The celebration has
remained a family festival to be enjoyed by all.
We are proud of our courageous forefathers who settled here
in Cedar Grove in search of a better life. We are proud of the
prosperous, God-fearing little community they founded and
entrusted to us. And we are especially proud of their deep devotion
to their homeland, the Netherlands. This is made exceedingly clear
210

during one special weekend each year.

Klompen Dansers
When Cedar Grove celebrated its centennial in 1947, Dutch
dancers were needed for the historical pageant that was presented in an open-air theater near Memorial Park. Twenty-four young
married ladies and high school girls were enlisted to perform in
the pageant, The dancers performed as couples with some wearing girls' costumes and others dressed as boys. All, of course,
learned to perform in "klompen, '' or \Vooden shoes.
Harriet Voskuil was the first director of the Klompen Dansers
and found the music and directions for the first dance. Mrs. Con
Poppe accompanied them on the piano. As a result of their
appearance in the pagennt, invitations came from other Wisconsin
communities for the dancers to pe1form at various celebrations, so
trips were made to Horicon, Chilton, and Beaver Dam
When Wisconsin celebrated its centennial in 1948, the
Klompen Dansers were invited to perform at the Field House in
Mudison along with other ethnic dance groups. An addition:::d
opportunity was afforded the Klompen Danse.rs when strolling
accordionists were used to provide music along freshly~scrubbed
streets during the Holland Festival.
In 1951 a group of younger girls called the ''Kleine Yolks" was
organized to perform their own special dance under the direction
of Jeanne Olson and Carolyn Meerdink. They performed for a
couple of years and then disbanded.
When the Hoiland Festival was revived in 1965, a brger group
of dancers, mostly of high school age, performed along !he street.
Soon new dances were developed with help from dance instructor Diane Remy of Sheboygan. A group of more experienced
dancers became lhe "Stage Dansers, '' which worked on more
intricate steps than those used by the street dancers.
During the mid-1960s Mrs. Con Poppe was selected to represent the Dutch nationality at a conference in Madison to plan "The
Pageant of Our People." The Klompen Dansers subsequently
joined other dance groups in performing at the "All Wisconsin
Folk Festival" at Camp Randall Stadium on July 12, 1966. They
also appeared at festivals at the Brown County Fairgrounds in
Green Bay and at the Wilhelm Tell Festival in New Glarus.
211

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

In the early 1970s, a group of girls in grades four through six
was organized into the "Kleine Dansers'' or little dancers to prepare them for the steps that the older girls used. The "Kinder
Klossers," girls and boys from five to eight years old, began
dancing in 1975. The antics of these young children and their
attempts to dance with wooden shoes always delight those who
watch. Betsy Theune and Jean Schreurs have led this group faithfully for many years.
Throughout the years, various dance groups have represented
"The Little Dutch Town in the Heart of America's Dairyland" at
programs and activities for the elderly. Many nursing home residents have been entertained by the dancers, and sometimes Dutch
hats made from paper were provided for the residents.
Bec.:mse of the widespread appearances of the Stage Dansers,
another step was taken in 1973 when special costumes were
made for the sixteen girls who danced at festivals throughout the
state. The street and stnge dancers appeared for several years at
Sheboygan's Memorial Mall, at the John Michael Kohler Ans
Center in Sheboygan, on the Summerfest Stage in Milwaukee,
and at rhe Wisconsin Stale Fair. They also danced at a celebration
in Green Bay when the Freedom Train rolled thmugh in 1975.
As the number of dancers continued to grow, the group not
only had roving accordionists but also a decorated trailer with a
microphone and amplifier to carry the music to all of the dancers.
At one time over 200 dancers lined the streets during the Holland
Festival to entertaiu \'isilors from throughout the state and nation,
Then in 1976 vvhen om nation ce\ebralecl its bicentenniaL the
Klompcn Dansers were selected as the official ethnic group representing the state of Wisconsin in the American Bicentennial
Grand Parade in ·washington D.C. This came about through the
efforts of Diana Nett corresponding with Jim Dykstra at
Representative William Steiger's office in Washington, D.C. A
new marching step was worked up especially for the parade
which was nationally televised as the main event during
Independence Weekend activities. Otte Bus Service took twentysix klompen dancers, five accordionists, flag bearers, and numerous chaperones to our nation's capital where the group joined
bands, choruses, and other dance groups from throughout the
United States performing music and dance from various periods

~!

212

('ell~r Grm~ Klompen Dano~r.l

111 tilt

I ~76 Bic~ntenni~l

J'Ji'<ltk

{ Pho1o Coune!:)' Het /vluseumJ

throughout American history Support from the people of Cedar
Grove enabled the group to raise the $4,000 needed for the trip.
While in the Washington D.C. area, the dancers also participated
in Alexandria, Virginia's bicentennial parade where they were
awarded a trophy for second place in the special units division.
This group also marched for many years in the Fourth of July
parade in Sheboygan and in the Fish Day parade in Port
Washington. Various leaders have worked with the dancers over
the years and many local accordionists have contributed their
213

Chapte1 15

time and talents along with hours of practice so that the dancers
could perform in the Holland Festival as well as at many other
places. In recent years the KJompen Dansers have appeared in
festivals at Mud Island near Memphis, Tennessee with a side tour
of the Graceland Mansion; at Lhe Harmel Festival in Austin,
Minnesota; at the Yester Festival in Tomahawk, Wisconsin where
the dancers received a fmt place trophy; and at an international
event for the Girl Scouts at the American Club in Kohler,
Wisconsin. They have also helped teach dance steps to some girls
in Waupun, Wisconsin when that city began its own Dutch FestivaL
In 1977 some former street and stage dancers began a new
group called the "Dutch Maidens," and they pmticipated in the
Holland Festival for several years. We can be proud of all of our
Klompen Dansers and encourage them to continue in their efforts
as they still are an important part of the Holland Festival. They
are much apprecinted as they add their colorful "klomp~klomp"
to our celebration.
Holland Guild Geze!schap
Gezclschap, a Dutch word meaning a group of people with a
common interest, aptly describes Cedar Grove's Holland Guild.
On July 11, 1974, a meeting was .held to present ideas and voice
opinions about forming a guild that would oversee and conduct
the nnnual Holland Festival. Methods of getting help and how the
guild would handle finances were discussed. It was decided that
in order to have a guild there \vould have to be a governing board.
It was also determined that to continue the Holland Festival the
guild would have to involve people from many local service
organizations who \vould be \villing to have booths and stands for
the purpose of making money for their organization while providing a percentage of their proceeds to the guild,
A second meeting concerning the formation of a guild was
held on November 13, 1974, in the basement of the village
libnuy It was determined by that time that both the American
Legion and the Kiwanis Club had decided to give up their part in
Planning the Holland Festival. Before those two organizations
took over, the local Booster Club had planned the Holland
Festival for many years.
Within a relatively shmt time, mticles of incorporation were
214

submitted for consideration, and on Febma1y 28, 1975, the
Holland Guild Gezelschap, Inc. was officially formed. Its purpose as stated on the membership card is:

... to promote, foster and presen·e the heritage of Durch ancestry
and Dutch culture by holding festivals, and by other means, within the Village qf"CedarGroJ'C in the Tmrn of Holland, Sheboygan
County, Wisconsin, and to cooperate wirh and assist other OJ~f{a­
ni::.mions with similar purposes il'hereJ'er they are located.
Milwaukee artist Hans Krommenhoek, who was born in the
Netherlands, presented ideas for guild activities and helped
design a suitable emblem to be part of a flag, lapel pin, and membership card. The first guild officers elected were Robert
Huibregtse, president; Ralph DeSmiclt, vice~president; Margaret
Voskuil, secretary; and Marion Hilbelink, treasureL Shirley Sager
was in charge of public relations for the group and LeRoy
Winke!horst and Audley Roerdink also served on the initial home!
of directors. Charter membership was available for a fee of one~
dollar from February 28, 1975, until midnight on the Saturday of
the 1975 Holland FestivaL

Het Museum
The local museum was born out of the Holland Guild
Gezelschap when plans were being made to help celebrate the
nation's bicentenniaL In a letter read by Mrs. Shirley Sager at I he
December 2, 1974, Holland Guild Gezelschap meeting it was
stated that funds would be available for some bicentennio.! projects. At a special Holland Guild meeting on January 4, 1975,
which was open to all interested persons, Mrs. Sager explained
the bicentennial funding program in more detail. If local funds
were present, matching funds would be available from the federal government. If local funds were lacking, an evaluation would
be made to detem1ine whether federal funds would be appropriated for the project. A motion was made by Robett Soerens and
suppmted by Mrs. Ethel DuMez to Jet the Holland Guild Board
decide which way to proceed with bicentennial participation.
At the next HolJand Guild meeting, on Febmary 10, 1975, a
lengthy discussion occurred. The hope was that interest in a local
215

C!wp1er 15

C!rnpter 15

museum could be generated among various organizations and
that contributions would be forthcoming to purchase property, do
the renoYations necessary, and begin collecting artifacts. The village board was approached and they initially agreed to contribute
$2,000 toward the l11Useum project The minutes from this meeting also suggested that Wayne Ruesink ofRuesink Plumbing and
Heating be approached about the availability and price of his
building on Main Street.
At about this time, a special bicentennial committee was
appointed including chairperson Shirley Sagec, Kiwanis representative Ken Glewen; village board representative Leslie
Wieberdink; Jaycee representative Dave Heuver; American
Legion representative Virgil NonhoL Jaycette representative
Donna Smies; Legion Auxiliary representative Grace Dees; Sauk
Trail Conservation Club representative George VanSluys; 4-H
representative Richard Otte; garden club representative Jeanette
Otre; Calvary Church representative Curolyn Neerhof; Faith
Reformed Church representative Rev. Leon Dykstra; First
Presbyterian Church representative Nola Bruggink; and First
Reformed Church representative Rev. Cornelius Hoekstra.
At the Holland Guild's February 17, 1975, meeting president
Robert Huibregtse repo11ed that the Ruesink building on Main
Street was available at a cost of $5,000. At the Holland Guild's
April 21, 1975, meeting discussion centered on the proposed
museum property v.rith meeting minutes stating:

The proe£-'rf.Y is ro he m\'1/ed wulnwinroined hy the l'iffuge. !r \\'ill
he run /;y u board of elecled membcrs si111iior to the way r!w \'ifloge library is run. The building has been seen by the state
inspector and that only minor changes are necessary to meer
state appruml j(J!' use us a public building. Purchase price:
$5000. 7/u: l'i!lnge will asslmle this entire amount of the presmt
time \l'ith $2500 qfthis mnuunt to be retlmu:d either from bicentennio! funding or from donotions from organizations, businesses
or individuals. Atf)'. Anderson \VOS instructed to complete thi.<.,·
tronsc1ction as soon os possible even though the building is not
yet mcated.
At the May 15, 1975, Holland Guild meeting Shirley Sager
2!6

announced that a $500 down payment was made by the village
for the museum building. There was still no report on government funding. She urged that the general public be made aware
of the need for old pictures, artifacts, and information that could
be used in the museum.
On September 8, 1975, Audley Roerdink, Marion Hilbelink,
Shirley Sager, and Margaret Voskuil went before the village
board to discuss financial and operational aspects of the museum.
It was decided that the village board and the Holland Guild Board
would together select a museum board. Until a museum board
was selected and working, the bicentennial commit-tee Would continue to raise funds to renovate the building for museum purposes. It was also suggested that the Holland Guild president attend
the bicentennial conu-rllttee meetings and report back to the guild.
By November 6, 1975, the selections for the first museum
board had been made. The initial museum board included Leslie
Wieberdink, Village Board member; Al Holle, Holland Guild
member; Vera Mentink, three-year term; LeRoy Winkelhor:,t,
three-year tenn~ Bob Sass, two-year term, Mar'rlyn Westerbeke,
two··year term; nnd Donna Smies, om> year ternt At rhat meeting,
Bob Sass became the first president of the Museum Board.
Suddenly, thousands of details had to be attended to. Moneyraising was a priority to which the community responded very
we!l. As funds began to come in, donations of artifacts and other
memorabilia began to arrive as well. A printed form for handling
museum donations and loans was approved and put into use. To
keep the community informed, all donations from different
sources were published in The Villagt.'r.
On December 19, 1975, the Museum Board 'learned that their
request for a grant had been denied. Thus, the very reason all of
the museum plans were started became a moot point. However,
this news proved to be no deterrent because by this time the plans
had developed a life of their own and were progressing very welL
On January 6, 1976, Bob Sass presented plans to draftsman
Bernard Wynveen for the outside of the building. The same pictme was published in the Villager asking area residents to help
select a name for the museum. In Febmary the plans for renovation of the museum building were giYen to all of the carpenters in
the village and the lowest bid was to be accepted, LeRoy
217

Chupter 15

Huenink was chosen for the job and renovation work began in
April of 1976.
It is interesting to note that equipment from Lewis Smies'
blacksmith shop was moved into the museum building before renovation ever began thus indicating that the project was moving
forward on many fronts. That first museum board apparently had
faith aplenty because at the June 7, 1976, board meeting it was
decided to have the museum open for Holland Festival that year.
Volunteers from the "Golden Agers" were requested to help with
registration of museum guests, and their response was heattening.
Great progress was made over the next several months. A sign
by Hans Krommenhoek, brick for the front, new front doors,
painting, paneling, a new roof, electrical upgrades, additional
lighting, window repairs, and shutters were just a few of the
changes that had to be made. The move was also on to provide
display cases, filing cabinets, and other office equipment in a
timely manner. Display areas had to be provided for the wide
variety of donated artifacts that were beginning to appear. Flags

Chapter 15

were di!)pJayed outside the building and plantings were done by
the local garden club, all to welcome the museum's first visitors
during the 1976 Holland Festival.
Throughout 1977 and 1978 additional improvements were
made to the museum. Renovating the building, gathering memorubilia, and arranging gathered items kept museum board members and other volunteers occupied. The early 1980s saw
decisions made on light fixtures, cabinets, flooring, and fans.
Minures from the museum board's April 4, 1983 meeting show
that thi1teen Dutch province flags had been pur~h~sed. In June of
that same year Karen Ringlein announced that dolls in costumes
sewn by many women of the community were ready for display.
The museum hosted its first Christmas Open House on
November 28, 1990. Carl DuMez donated a tree which was then
trimmed by museum board representatives Gladys Wisse, Lenore
Meinen, and Margaret Voskuil. Approximately seventy-five visitors attended the open house.
By 1986 the problem of limited museum space had already
begun to Grise. Minutes of the October 20, 1986, museum board
meeting stated thut "._.the house north of the museum is no longer
available." The museum board apparently then talked briefly
about expanding into the second floor of the present museum.
The problem arose again in September of 1989 when the possibility of buying additional footage to the east of the present museum building was discussed. The Holland Guild was ulso
approached about using a portion of rheir building along
VanAJten:J. Avenue, and when a new elementary school was built
in the early 1990s there was tnJk of perhaps using a part of the
previous elementary school building as a museum.
The problem of overcrowding did not go away. From 1986
through the early 1990s the topic came up time and again.
Minutes from a 1993 board meeting stuted ihJt "the Village
Bourd would be willing to purchase another building for museum expansion providing that the house had been well kept so it
would not need a lot of additional expense." Efforts were again
made to purchase more property to the east of the present museum, but little progress was made.

Het Museum During the Late 1970s
(Photo Courtesy Het Museum)

On July 13, 1995, a special meeting was called to consider the
offer of Annette TeRonde to sell her house on the corner of Main

218

2!9

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Street and Union Avenue to the museum, The Museum Board
was told that the Community Corporation might help with funding. At that meeting Winson Graven made a motion which
Lenore Meinen supported that the museum board move ahead
toward purchase of the subject property. The motion was
unanimously approved.
At its August 8, 1995, meeting the museum board was told
that the Community Corporation would purchase the house plus
provide additional funds for any furnishings that might be needed. A closing date of September 15, 1995, was set and the local
museum entered a new era.
"TeRonde House" became the immediate focus of the museum board. Guidelines regarding care and use of the facility were
drawn up by the museum board and village board. The building's
immediate needs were addressed and attention then turned to
long-range plans for the facility, The year 1996 was a very busy
one but one during which great strides were made. Work progressed in all nreas to the point \\. here the museum board felt
secure in scheduling an open bouse for January 4, 1997.
Hurried changes of furni::.bings plus some new acquisitions
and refurbishing gave TeRonde House a beautiful look for its
unveiling. Approximately eighty visitors attended the open house
to see the efforts of countless volunteers \Vho stepped forward
when needed. Heartfelt thanks go out to the community for their
support in the past, present, and future endeavors of the local
rnuseurn. The Mission Statement of rbe museum board is as fitting for the future a.c. it was when it \Y'as first writtGn:
Our mission is the disUJl't-ry, coi!ection ond presermrion ufil(/(>rmotion, records, ond ol~jects relating to the history of the Vilictge
of Cedar Grove und surrounding tmmslujJs cmd to make said
nwreriuls umi!oh!e for l'inring ond study by interested people.

report has been found, though, and land records have been somewhat inconclusive.
William Stronks was shipping cheese in 1879 and is listed as
an early owner of the property to the north of Het Museum. By
1882 Stronks and John Vande Wall were in partnership, and a
news item mentioned that John Vande Wall added a 16-foot x 16~
foot curing room to the factmy. The rear room of the museum,
which is definitely an add-on, exactly matches those dimensions.
By 1883 the factory was reportedly receiving 3,800 pounds of
milk per day.
Anthony Vande Wall, who already owned the lot lo the south,
bought the business in 1886. John Huenink and John Vande Wall
bought the business as well as lots to the north ami south of the
building in 1889. Vande Wall sold his share of the business to
Henry Huenink in !895, and for the next fifteen years it was
referred to as the Huenink Brothers Cheese Factory.
Cheesemaking was probably discontinued at this location in
about 1910 because at tha[ time the Hueninks established the
Cedar Grove Creamery along the present Union Avenue, east of
the ruilroad trad:s. From tbm point on, milk from their former
cheese factory patrons was probably handled by the creamery.
The Huenink Brothers Cheese Factory building was sold in
1911 to G. W. Soerens, a blacksmith. John Ruesink joined him as
a partner in 1917. John Roelse and Albert Rusch used the building for a time after that. By the mid-1900s the building was used
by John Ruesink and his son Wayne for their plumbing and heating business. Wayne Rue sink was the lasr mvner of the building
before it was transformed into u museum in the mid··l970s,

Sesquicentennial Celebration

The building that houses Het Museum on Main Street was
originally built as a cheese factory during the 1870s. It may have
been there as early as 1875 when the Mather Brothers, pioneer
cheesemakers from Sheboygan Falls, were reported to be proprietors of a Cedar Grove Cheese Factory. No confirmation of that

In the context of the celebration of the founding of the Village of
Cedar Grove, we have the privilege of using the word "sesquicentennial" only once. This is ce11ainly a notable milestone that should
not be ignored. The village board, the Holland Guild Gezelschap,
and a specially-appointed sesquicentennial committee all worked
on ways to help Cedar Grove celebrate its I 50th bi11hday.
At the village's centennial celebration in 1947, this little town
began the tradition of recognizing and promoting its Dutch heritage with a spectacular Holland Festival. The highlight of that

220

221

Het :Museum Building

Chapter /5

Chaprer 15

in 1976.
The same goes for past Holland Festival Queens and queen
contestants. They, too, have been invited back to make an appearance and be honored at the ''Scenes of the Past" program during
the 1997 Holland FestivaL This special feature offers an opportunity to see elaborate costumes representing the Netherlands'
various provinces and to learn about the origins and significance

of the details involved.
Over the years the Holland Festival Players have presented a
variety of traditional musicals and musical comedies. This
sesquicentennial year "The Red Mill," a charming Dutch musical-comedy, is being presented. This wonderful production was
last presented in 1976. The Holland Festival Players never disappoint us and always offer a beautiful, \Vell-done production that
is a treat to attend. "The Red Mill" is no exception.
For the first time ever, our festival includes a colorful fireworks
display. As everyone knows, kids of all ages love firewo~ks. What
better way to put an exclamation point on a celebration!
Several commemorative items are available to enjoy and display, perhaps even to become treasured keepsakes. A blanket in
shades of Delft blue on a cream background is available for purchase. It attractively displays a variety of prominent buildings
representing different era~ of Cedar Grove's history. Featured as
the centerpiece is De Visch windmilL Other buildings include
past and present schools, the Memorial Park bandstand, the old
village ball, the last railroad depot, Het Museum, the or"1glnal
Citizens State Bank, and the village churches in o.pproprime
placement as the village's four cornerstones.
A Delft candy or trinket dish which was specially designed
and impm1ed from Holland is also available. The covered dish
shows De Visch windmill and has sesquicentennial information
printed on it. Locally-designed T-shirts and sweatshirts commemorating the village's 150th anniversary ure also availahle for
young cmd old to vvcnr and enjoy.
And finally, you bold in your hands a book representing over
l ,200 hours of research, wriring, and editing by local citizens.
Every attempt has heen made to accurately portray Cedar
Grove's history and people, their aspirations, values, and heritage. We sincerely hope that Cedur Grm'e, Wisconsin--150 Yeors
of Dutch-American Tradition holds a place of honor on your
bookshelf for many generations.
The Village of Cedar Grove surrounded by the Township of
Holland in Sheboygan County has reached another milestone. It
has attained a landmark year, its sesquicentennial! The village
has prospered and grown over the years but also struggled
through the Great Depression and numerous wars with the rest of

222

223

event was a historical pageant involving more than 600 people.
Presenting a revised version of that pageant seemed an appropriate way to observe the village's sesquicentennial. The pageant's
original scripts were read, admired, and marveled at. After much
consideration it was determined that such an ambitious project
was almost an impossibility in today's much-too-hectic world
with so many responsibilities and demands on people's time. The
pageant will remain a wonderful memory in the hearts and minds
of those fortunate enough to have witnessed it or even participate
in it A delightful memory book of the pageant is available at the
village library for everyone to enjoy.
But our sesquicentennial wil\ not go unobserved. As of this
vvriting, several projects big and sma\1 are in the works :..md there
might even be some surprises. To highlight our community during its JSOtb year, a new welcome sign greets friends and guests
as they enter the village. Nevv, festive banners adorn Main Street,
and in what is surely a trademark of our Dutch heritage, vi !lagers
have been encouraged to deck out their yards and gardens with
even more tlowers. Area resident:. hctve been asked to dust off
their costumes and \vooden shoes for the 1997 Holland FestivaL
Churches, businesses, and service organizations have been urged
to enter tloats in the Holland Festival parade.
Our school children wrapped up the 1996-1997 school ye;_u· with
an oppm1unity to hear cultural speakers, complete special art projects, and sample traditional Dutch foods. They even did a little
klornpcn d~tncing during ;1 special heritage day at the school. Our
local ~choul children also enjoyed springtime visits to Het Museum.
As a special flasllbacK. all Klompcn Dansns from the origi··
nals in 1947 to the present have been invited to appear at the
Sesquicentennial Holland Festival. We particularly acknowledge
the dancers that so wonderfully represented Cedar Grove in
Washington, D.C. during our nation's great bicentennial parade

Chopter 15

the nation. Cedar Grove has weathered winter blizzards and summer storms. Some of Cedar Grove's sons and daughters have
taken their gifts and talents to become blessings in other communities. Others have either stayed in or returned to this community helping keep the area's heritage, beliefs, and values alive.
Still others hJve arrived as newcomers, putting down their roots
to join the network that forms this community's foundation.
,.,e,vl

a
~

~,,

.;;ii,nMJ,..~!·•

f,t<IM

!nOM<£~ ¢M>~~ ~

. ::

'

~~~-;;.FM tAU··~~~
Sesquicentennial T-Silirt
{Photo coune~y Leona Thcune)

Sesquicentennial Afghan {Blanket)
{Photo courtesy of Leona Theune)

224

Sesquicentennial Candy Dish
(Photo courtesy Leona Theune)

225

- Chapter Sixteen Heroes and Legends
By Ralph DeSmidt
ditors Note: Ralph DeSmidt is a lifelong resident of the
Village of Cedar Grove. He !ws sacces:-,ji!l!y operated tl
1ariety of businesses within the l'illdge over the past forty
years. Throughout that time he participated in a number of service organizations, playing imporwnt roles in the revival of the
Holland Festival and construction ofDeVisch windmill. Whether
at Smitty's Sweet Shop during the 1950s oJI(/ 1960s, at DeSmidt's
[DeZwoan] Restuurant during the 1970s und 1980s, or at
DeSmitlt's Winkel ran de Acliterlwek during the 1990s, one could
not do business \\'ith M1: DeSmidt witho11t hearing reco!lections
of this village and its people. Every resident of this l'illage can
undoubtedly name individuals who hcll'e lwd a significcmt impact
on them. Thefollmving represent some of the heroes and legends
of this area as perceived b)' M1: DeSmidt.

E

* *
When I was asked to do these short stories regarding so culled
"legends in their time," 1 first wondered who these people might
be. But as I thought, many names came to mind quickly. I believe
that these people exemplify the tme spirit of this community.
While some worthy people may hnve been overlooked, these are
the individuals that I recall most vividly.

Henry Teunissen

(Photo Cuuntoy Sheboygan County Hiswricnl Re>e:Jr~h Ctnl~r)

Henry was an immigrant who farmed quite successfully in this
area for many years. He was a smaller man with bright eyes and
a good strong build. Henry also did field tiling, and generally succeeded at whatever he tried. To say he came to America penniless

226

227

Bill Sm:IUlS and Henry Harm~] ink
al" Pomnit Studio in appro~i1na1dy I'JOJ

C/rup!er 16

would of course be incorrect. His pockets did reportedly hold less
than a dollar when he reached the Town of Holland, but things
did get better. He recalled "running" a wheelbarrow filled with
concrete on a building site for about fifty cents a day, but this was
just the start of this young Dutch entrepreneur's rise to the top.
Henry raised a large family and many of his descendents still
live in the Cedar Grove area. His sharing of tall tales over a cup
of coffee allowed me the pleasure of knowing this kind and imaginative gentleman. He knew he was tough and the Joss of both
thumbs attested to that fact, but he was savvy enough to rise from
adversity and humble enough to he a likable, interesting legend
in his own time.

Henry Harmelink
"Painter Hank" was a puckish sort with a ready wit, marvelous
recall, great personality, and engaging smile. Over the years he
provided a wide variety of services for this community including
positions as an undet1aker's assistant, a house pGinter, a procurer
of antiques. and an assistant mover of lnrge structures such as the
Reformed Church building that became the local funeral home in
the early 1900s.
His !rump cards were many. He was charming, happy, a good
joke teller, and he had a disarming wit that \Vi]! always allow his
memory to be enjoyed. When he and his buddy, Con Kummers,
stopped in for coffee, Hank's stories were enjoyed by young and
old alike. This plucky gentleman and his old "Model A" Ford will
long be remembered.
Dr. Clarence Meeusen
Dr. Meeusen was the Village of Cedar Grove's first true veterinarian. He is the oldest of four sons born to Mr. and Mrs.
Martin Meeusen. He was a member of the a1med forces, served
in Indiu., graduated from Iowa State University, and set up his
first practice here in Cedar Grove in the "heart of America's
dairy land." At that time, most farms in the Town of Holland and
surrounding townships were the eighty-acre, twenty-cow,
six-pig, one-hundred-leghorn, ten-pigeon size. Dr. Meeusen
solved the problem of most farmers trying to doctor their own
animals and certainly helped many farmers increase th..:

Chupter 16

efficiency of their herds.
Dr. Meeusen also served as village president and was an active
Gideon and church officer setting him ap<1rt as a Jegend in his
time, rising up and achieving success.
Dr. Anthony Voskuil

Dr. Voskuil was a local boy who rose to become one of the top
medical doctors in this community's history. Not only did he
afford the community a rare "country doctor" who made house
calls, but he brought over ninety-nine percent of .the local Dutch
kids into the world from the 1920s through the mid-1940s. Some
of the new arrivals undoubtedly received a free ride because
when Dr. Voskuil retired, his accounts receivable book was
burned. Dr. Voskuil continued practicing medicine in the area
even after a stroke prevented him from driving. I'll never forget
Kathryn TeKulve chauffeuring Dr. Voskuil around in that new
gray 1946 Ford.

Lamont Lammers
Lamont's name used in this context might raise a few eyebrows, but that's alright. I've known this guy longer than most,
and I have to admit he's a legend if only to those who knew him
as a youngster. Lamont was a childhood friend and neighbor for
a long time. He was a prankster like many of us were in those
days. He played marbles on the railroad depot platform and could
throw a rock over the o!d grain elevator when must of us were
lucky to reach the rooL He was also interested in chemistry, and
we experimented with cu.lcium carbide on a vacant Jot behind the
Ebbers Hardware Store. Those loud explosions eventually made
us move our laboratory to Lamont's backyard on Center Avenue.
Pitching a baseball was his genuine fane. He had a fastball
that humped when he was only fourteen years old, had a great
high school career, and a stint in professional ball. In a high
school doubleheader he won the first game as pitcher and then as
center-fielder threw a perfect strike, no bounces, to get a nmner
at home plate. His coach Eurl Witte called him "Flash" and that
nickname stuck. A family man, antiquer, hard worker, fine craftsman and friend, Flash is a "legend in his own time."

228
229

Chapter 16

William Potts
If Bill Potts were to be overlooked in picking the outstanding
people of the past, it would be an oversight of great proportion.
Everyone in Cedar Grove knew BilL I feel I knew him welL He
was a World War I veteran, a customer, a neighbor, and one of the
most gentle men I was gifted to know. He faulted no one. His life
was composed of hard work followed by more very hard work.
He worked in our local foundries for many years but also dug by
hand most of the cemetery graves and sewer and water laterals
within the village through the 1930s and 1940s.
I related well to Bill as he also ran an early sweet shop just
north of the bakery. To his dying day, Bill carried a small
Cwferry spiral notebook with his accounts due from Memorial
Academy students. Bill and his landlady Hattie Veldhorst are
long gone to a reward ce11ainly wm1hy of these fine Christian
people whom everyone knew and loved. Not bad for a violinplaying, Bible-believing, gentle man with epilepsy.
Delia Voskuil
Del was a happy, chatty, vivacious lady of the finest kind. She
was our local Sheboygcm Press reporter and a post office employee. She was a neighbor and a friend and always had time for the
kids in our neighborhood. Her husband Ed was a partner with his
brother Lou in the housepainting business. I'll always remember
Del's ability to chat with every neighbor as she walked to work
as happy as a lark. It was obvious where she found all those inter~
~:-.ling ncvvs items. The entire vill<1ge wnited each and every
Thursday for her column of happenings from Cedar Grove to
::~ppear in the Sheboygan Press. Without that, bow would we have
knov..·'n what was going on? Delia was one of our village's ve1y
special ladies.

Mariett Poppe
Mariett was one of the most impressive ladies I have ever met.
Her style, class, and intellect were all evident, yet she never
allowed anyone to feel inferior. She was open-minded yet con~
servative. She was always helpful and never disruptive. At the
time of Mrs. Poppe's tragic and untimely passing, I told my ..vife
"our village structure has been terribly wounded." Others would
2)0

C!wpler 16

have to step into her place. That place would be large and would
require a special person.
Mrs. Poppe was instrumentul in our original centennial celebration. She wrote, supported, and made suggestions at eve1y
level. She helped me greatly in organizing the first two Holland
Festival Queen Pageants and also helped me organize our first
Holland Festival Art Show. If you asked, she knew; if she didn't
know, she found out! I still miss her as a friend and I suspect
many others do as well. Her husband Con, our fonner bank president, still resides in the village.

Alvin DeBruine
"Bruno" will always be remembered as one of the original bus
drivers for the Cedar Grove School District. Back in the days of
bag lunches and great basketball teams Bn.mo got you there, in
and om of snow banks, back to the sweet shop and all of that jazz
(or rock and roll) of the 1960s,
Bruno was u happy guy who didn't know anyone except
friends. He ulways had o. big smile and wave for alL He was a
trucker with an attitude and it was always positive. He respected
students and adults and left a genuine emptiness after his untimely passing. His wife Bernice S[ilJ resides in Cedar Grove.

Arthur Voskuif
To have known this kind, intelligent, ordina1y man is a privilege. His intellect and experience are without hounds. Mr
Voskuil\ uge is beyond uvernge, but so are his qualities. A" u
World War I veten:m, his military experience included along \Vitl1
severo.] other doughboys an incursion into northern Russia to
fight the Bolsheviks in 1919 along with the British, Czechs,
French, and Jupanese. His stories and recall of this period were
vivid and highly interesting. I feel privileged to know this
Christian gentleman and his fine fo.mily. Surely be deserves to be
called a "legend in his time."

Herbert Molter
My earliest recollections of Herb Molter are of his yard and
garden in the spring. His blooming fruit trees, magnolia, and bulb
flowers made his Main Street residence most inviting. In conver~
231

Ch(lpter 16

sations with him I learned much about pruning, grafting, and
propagating. His knowledge seemed unending. Herb sold agricultural periodicals throughout Wisconsin and did well m it during the depression and lateL He would take almost :mything in
payment for subscriptions, and it kept him supplied with unusual varieties of poultry and plant life.
Herb's wife Phoebe was a fine lady--neat, attractive and a
credit to her family. Herb's grandsons ran his fruit and vegetable
stand each year, and people from all around came to purchase his
fine, organic, fresh produce. His skills will long be remembered
by all who knew him.

Frieda Wieberdink
Frieda was one of my Sunday School teuchers. She was also
my childrens' Sunday School teacher. That in itself characterizes
her long-term Christian commitment. Frieda lost her husband
early in life which left this diminutive lady with a large family to
suppor1 during what were called the "hard times." However she
was always there to volunteer, willing to give ofwhut she had and
showing a spirit all could admire.
I worked with Frieda at the Ca!umet Dutch Canning Compc:my
during World War II when the work force consisted primarily of
women, boys fourteen to eighteen years old, and German prisoners of war. Everyone enjoyed Frieda's good spirits and ready
smile. To call her a ''legend in her time" is in fact the case. This
lady was known and admired by our entire community and will
long be remembered and spoken of positively.

Austin VoskuH
I have knmvn Austin my entire life and have been imprcsscJ
with him often. I have known him as a fellow church member,
teacher, self-taught philosophical patron of God's word. as well
as a parent, and one who always thought of others first. If your
question involved local history, he could find the answer. If you
needed help regarding any church-related question, Austin knew
and could explain it clearly and humbly. Austin lost his wife early
and had to raise his fine family and provide for them. His family
grew well and straight, were ambitious, intelligent, and success~
ful, using the social skills they had been gifted with.

Chapter /6

I was privileged to visit our native roots in Aalten, Netherlands
with Austin, and we visited the cemeter} where his family who
had stayed behind were inteJTed. While happy that we could be
there, the experience brought tears to our eyes. I feel privileged
to know such a fine man.

Marvin Duenk
Marv has been my friend for a ve1y long time. In some ways
we are a lot alike. We both have physical problems, like a good
prank, and enjoy the unexpected. We even were married on the
same day. Over the years I have seen many sides of this talented
gentleman. This man has a great sense of humor \\lith the ability
to be very serious if required.

I got to know Marv after he graduated from high school, and
his front yard was a gathering place for pranksters of all kinds-Wayne VanDriest, Mike Schreurs, Don Bruggink, and more. I
guess these "nerds," if you wish, gathered on North Main Street
to plan or conceive that one greot never-before-tried prunk.
Pranks included plncing n lady's purse Oil the ~treet only to be
quickly pulled away when a passerby stopped to pick it up, or
placing vvhut appeared to be a one-hundred pound bag of sugar
on the shoulder of the road during rhe war when sugar was
rationed quite severely. In actuuJity the bag was an empty sugar
sack that had been filled with sand and then painstakingly sewn
shut. While hardly knee-sJappers today theses antics brought
down the house then.
When Mnrv took over Standurd Printing from Henry
Grotenh11is, kids olten stopped in at the comer of Main Street and
Union Avenue to "shoot the breeze'' and just chat. Marv was
always hospitable and interesting. When he later built his new
print shop, Marv expanded into Christian book sales and gave the
village a first-class business, Marv always had time for a good
laugh m the old Smitty's Sweet Shop which was a hangout for
guys who enjoyed a laugh. No one was exempt as Marv, Don
Hnbelink, Rich Dykstra, Ken VerGowe, Jim Bruce, and others
recalled past jokes and pranks including the Jo1Iy Green Giant
caper, the Cheeseburger with Extra Butter or Where are the
Napkins? episode, and the never-to-be-forgotten Should We Go
Ahead H'ith the Car Repair schtick. Then there was always the

2:12

233

Chapter 16

question of the Guinness record for the longest distance u cur
might be driven in reverse.
Needless to say, this gentleman was versatile. His demeanor is
quiet and gentle, his persona friendly und giving. his skills
diverse, and his friendship revered. Marvin is a man who gave
much to his village and asked very little in return. He truly is a
"legend in his time."

Bernard Huenink
Bern Huenink mu~t be included in any listing of people who
meant a great deal to this community. Bern was loved by everyone who knew him. His quiet, unassuming nnture was admired
by all, and when he voiced his opinion it was obvious that a great
deal of thought had gone into it. Bern served this community in
many different ways over the years including positions within his
church, the village, and several local service clubs. He was a generous parent and husband. I served with Bern on a garden club
board and learned much from him about a subject he knew well.
The community \VJS privileg~d to have had Bern Huenink Js a
resident.

Arthur Champagne
Art first came to Cedar Grove in the mid-1940s and worked as
a foreman at the Musebeck Shoe Company_ His arrival signaled
a dynasty in-the-making. Art, who had lost his wife, once played
and couched bnseball in the Eastern League. While making shoes
was his vocation, haseball was his love.
At about the time An arrived in Cedar Grove. many young
men \.Vere returning from service in great physical shape and
looking for something to do. Softball was the game of choice in
this area and every small town had lights and a diamond not
unlike the "Field of Dreams," sculpted out of a cornfield but the
pride of the village. Art's first practices were held indoors and the
response was overwhelming. The old grade-school gymnasium
provided a warm, dry location for stiff arms and legs to get into
shape. Bunting, something new around here, was to be his secret
weapon and coupled with the speed these kids possessed, good
things were about to happen. I was Art's scorekeeper and manager, and I loved it. The team was great with many outstanding
234

Chuprer 16

players like Jake K.ruis, Carroll Huenink, Bud Huenink, Elmo
DeSmith, La Vern Prinsen, Red Bmggink, Ken TenHaken, Carl
DuMez, Orlie Navis and so many more. Art's teams were the
pride of the village and gave Cedar Grove many trophies and
even more great memories.
Art, the quiet, good-looking, unassuming gentleman, brought
a legend to Cedar Grove and when he retired, he allowed me the
privilege of coaching the kids he left, all with a desire to win and
succeed. It was a pleasure not only to know this gentle giant but
to recnll the impact he had on so many. Thank you, Art, and
thanks for the memories.

Ellsworth TeRonde
Ells was all that any village could hope for among its citizens.
The TeRonde family home, recently acquired by Het Museum
board, is being readied for a public museum to open in the summer of 1997, the fulfillment of a dream that Ells spoke of often
before his passing. Ells was molded in the- cast of a citizen's ci1izen. His was lo serve his church, his village, his community, his
Lord. He was my first Boy Scout leader and spirited many of his
"troopers" to Eagle, Star. and Life Scout levels. His bird carvings
and interest in wildlife, ecology, and local Indian history will be
remembered by many. His spontaneous, cheerful whistling is
missed by a community who loved him.

235

9[l

9! ./JtdD1J:)