Welcome to this beautiful colonial style home near Lake Michigan in Holland, Michigan. This home was built in 1950, which is newer than most houses I research. I was commissioned to create a coffee table book about this home's history for a Christmas present. With each commissioned book I create, a blog post is included. To find out more information about having the commission services that I offer, email me at brickandkinco@gmail.com.
General Facts:
Year Built: 1950
Sq. Feet: 2,040
Beds/Baths: 4/2.5
Acres: 0.145
Legal Description: LOT 9 ELMDALE COURT SUB OF LOTS 10,11,12, & 13 & LOT 14 EXC E 1 ROD OF ADD NO. 1 TO VILLAGE OF HARRINGTON SEC 32 T5N R15W
In November 1846, Rev. Albertus Van Raalte arrived in New York from his home country of the Netherlands. He eventually migrated west and decided to stay in what is now the city of Holland. However, the Ottawa Indians were already settled along Lake Macatawa (originally called Black Lake). As more white men migrated to the area, the Ottawa Indians were forced out of their home.
Along with Van Raalte, Judge Kellogg, Isaac Fairbanks, and George Harrington were the first white families that formed Holland, Michigan.
George Harrington was born in New York in 1807 and married Margaret Van Alstine. Around 1845-46, before Van Raalte arrived, the Harrington family moved to Michigan with government land surveyors and settled in Fillmore Township.
George's son, Edward (E.J.) Harrington was born in 1832 in New York. Being a member of one of the founding families of Holland, he became one of Holland's leading businessmen, public official, and land dealer. Long story short, E.J. Harrington bought and sold around 18,000 acres of land during his lifetime.
The land where 554 Elmdale Court is located was originally owned by Harrington. The plats of land were called the Village of Harrington.
By 1912, the city of Holland grew substantially compared to 1876. The land owned by Harrington was still undeveloped - which was Cherry St, Elmdale Court, Lawndale Court, and Central Ave.
The two images below are the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps from 1916 and 1930. These maps are very useful to know when houses are built, when neighborhoods are formed, and when streets are created/redirected. The two maps below show that the neighborhood of 554 Elmdale Court was not established yet. Elmdale Court was not even a street in 1930.
In 1949, Elmdale Court first appears as a street in the Holland City Directory with five houses on the east side of the street. The west side was still undeveloped.
Family #1:
The Buys Family
Years @ 554 Elmdale Court: 9
1950-1959
Adrian Gerard Buys
Born: January 15, 1905; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Died: September 20, 1991; Michigan
Father: James Buys (b. 1884; Grand Rapids, MI - d. 1945; Grand Rapids, MI)
Mother: Jeannette Ekdal (b. 1887; Grand Rapids, MI - d. 1925; Grand Rapids, MI
Siblings: Caroline (1907-2001)
Barbara (1909-2005)
Ekdal (1916-2002)
Adrian G. Buys' grandfather, also named Adrian Buys, immigrated from the Netherlands in the 1870's and was an early resident of Grand Rapids. He owned and operated a grocery business on Fulton St for 40 years.
Adrian G Buys' father, James, started a real estate business with his brother, John, and another partner, called Buys & Kinsey.
Adrian grew up on Fulton St and graduated from Central High School in 1923. After high school, he attended Hope College in Holland and graduated in 1927.
Frieda I. Boone
Born: June 5, 1907; Holland, Michigan
Died: October 1993; Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Father: Peter Boone (b. 1871; Holland, MI - d. 1952; Holland, MI)
Mother: Mary Huntleyl (b. 1871; Holland, MI - d. 1963; Holland, MI)
Siblings: Maxine (1905-1989)
Frieda Boone was born and raised in Holland, Michigan - specifically, 12 E 9th St. Her father, Peter, owned and operated a large horse stable in downtown Holland and later worked as a contractor.
Frieda's paternal grandparents immigrated from the Netherlands around 1850's. Frieda's maternal grandparents immigrated from England around the 1870's. Her maternal grandfather, James Huntley, owned the first furniture shop in Holland, and was a wealthy and prominent businessman in the late 19th century.
Frieda graduated from Holland High School in 1925. She attended Hope College after high school, but if she graduated is unknown.
In June of 1928, Adrian Buys married Frieda Boone in Holland, Michigan.
Adrian and Frieda Buys lived in Grand Rapids for the first few years of their marriage - specifically at 857 N. Ottlia St SE.
Adrian worked for many years at Kinsey & Buys - a real estate company that was owned by his cousin. In 1931, he was appointed to be an assistant to the city tax clerk.
Adrian and Frieda had two children - James and Mary.
James Frederick Buys
Born: June 13, 1935; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Died: February 21, 1973; Kalamazoo, Michigan
Spouse: Kay Rynbrand (b. 1936-living as of 2021)
James Buys was born in 1935 while the Buys family was living on Ottillia St in Grand Rapids.
James graduated from Holland High School in 1953. He attended Hope College but graduated with his bachelors degree from George Williams College in Chicago. He then received his masters degree from Western Reserve University.
James worked in Chicago for the Salvation Army, Lakewood, Ohio at the YMCA, and then worked for his father-in-law's company, Glen W Rynbrand Co, in Kalamazoo.
James married Kay Rynbrand in June 1958 and they had two children.
In February 1973, at the age 37, James passed away.
His wife, Kay, eventually remarried and as of 2021 she was still living.
Mary Jeanne Buys
Born: 1944; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Died: Living as of 2021
Spouse: Daniel Pattison (Living as of 2021)
Mary Buys was born in 1944 in Grand Rapids, MI. She graduated from Holland High School in 1962 and went to Central Michigan University. In 1966, Mary graduated with a nursing degree from Mercy Central School of Nursing in Grand Rapids.
Mary married Daniel Pattison in 1965.
1960, 1961, and 1962 Holland High School.
Adrian, Frieda, James, and Mary Buys lived in Grand Rapids until 1947. At that time, they moved to Holland and lived at 14 E. 15th St. James was 12 years old and Mary was 3.
In 1950, Adrian and Frieda received the deed for lot 9 of Elmdale Court Subdivision and built the home at 554 Elmdale Ct.
When the Buys moved to Holland, Adrian left the real estate business and worked for the W E Dunn Manufacturing Company. His positions at the company included office clerk, manager, and treasurer.
In 1959, after about 9 years in the house at 554 Elmdale Court, the Buys sold the home. The moved to 447 Brecado Court - sill in Holland.
The next purchaser of 554 Elmdale Court was actually Grace Episcopal Church. Grace Episcopal Church already owned 552 Elmdale Court and used it as their main rectory. According to the newspaper article below, their plan for 554 Elmdale Court was to be the home for the assistant pastor.
From 1960 - 1989, there were at least 9 different families that lived in the home - but not all were affiliated with the church.
Adrian and and Frieda remained in Holland, MI for the remaining years together. Adrian passed away in 1991 and Frieda passed away in 1993.
Family #2:
The Bamborough Family
Years @ 554 Elmdale Court: 2
1960-1961
James Elton Bamborough
Born: October 10, 1926; Oak Park, Illinois
Died: July 17, 2007; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Father: James (b. 1895; Michigan - d. 1975; Royal Oak, MI)
Mother: Kathleen Brier (b. 1895; England - d. 1976; Royal Oak, MI
Marilyn Spencer Hopkins
Born: August 11, 1927; Baltimore, Maryland
Died: September 12, 2020; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Father: Spencer (b. 1892; Virginia - d. 1974; Royal Oak, MI)
Mother: Ethel Bigelow (b. 1894; Michigan - d. 1990; Royal Oak, MI
James Bamborough and Marilyn Hopkins were married in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 1950. James worked in the furniture industry in West Michigan and they eventually moved to Holland in 1959.
At the time, James worked as a wood technologist at Baker Furniture. They rented 554 Elmdale Court from Grace Episcopal Church where James served as one of the leaders.
They lived at 554 Elmdale Court for two years before they moved to State Steet. James and Marilyn had three children and after they retired, they moved to Grand Rapids.
James passed away in 2007 and Marilyn in 2020.
Family #3:
Warren and Ruth Hedrick
Years @ 554 Elmdale Court: 2
1962-1963
Family #4:
Christian and Jane DenHerder
Years @ 554 Elmdale Court: 1
1964
Family #5:
Charles and Jackie VanDuren
Years @ 554 Elmdale Court: 2
1965-1966
Family #6:
David and Frances Meyers
Years @ 554 Elmdale Court: 2
1967-1968
Family #7:
Marguerite Warner
Years @ 554 Elmdale Court: 6
1970-1975
Marguerite Florence Frederick
Born: May 11, 1909; Allentown, Pennsylvania
Died: July 7, 1975; Holland, Michigan
Father: John (b. 1890; Pennsylvania - d. 1962; Pennsylvania)
Mother: Elsie Ruth (b. 1889; Pennsylvania - d. 1966; Pennsylvania)
Spouse: Rev. William Chamberlin Warner
(b. 1909; Pennsylvania - d. 1968; Israel)
Marriage - 1935 in Pennsylvania
Children-
Marguerite Ellen Warner
(b. 1936; Pennsylvania - d. 2015; Poway, California)
Sue Warner
Living as of 2021
Marguerite Warner's husband was the former Rev. William Warner of Grace Episcopal Church of Holland for many years. Marguerite and William grew up, were married, and had their two daughters in Pennsylvania. The Warners moved to Traverse City where William was a Reverend at the Grace Episcopal Church of Traverse City.
In 1943, the Warners moved to Holland when William was appointed to lead Grace Episcopal Church. In 1951, the Warners moved next door to 552 Elmdale Court when the church built that home as its rectory.
Rev. William Warner passed away during a trip to Israel in 1968. Since the church also owned 554 Elmdale Court, Marguerite Warner moved next door in 1970 as the new Reverend moved into 552 Elmdale Court. Marguerite lived at 554 Elmdale Court for 6 years until she passed away in 1975.
The last three families of 554 Elmdale Court were:
Martha Orrick - 1 year at 554 Elmdale (1977)
Thomas and Linda Martin - 1 year at 554 Elmdale (1979)
Tony Peterson - 3 years at 554 Elmdale (1981-1983)
Thank you for visiting 554 Elmdale in Holland, Michigan! If only these walls could talk...the happy and sad stories and memories that each family had within these four walls will last forever.
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