Van Zoeren publishes A Farm Album from Michigan’s Dutch Colony

From staff reports

Leelanau County oral historian/author Tom Van Zoeren has published a new book pertaining to Michigan history. Coauthored with 92-year-old native of the subject area, Alma Holwerda, and published to benefit the Holland (Michigan) Museum, A Farm Album from Michigan’s Dutch Colony: An Oral and Photographic History is based on oral histories, letters, and other historic sources, and is illustrated with historic photographs.

The book tells the story of the community of Netherlanders who came to Western Michigan during the mid–1800s. The story begins with the background in Europe preceding the wave of emigration, and continues through the journey to America, the terribly difficult early pioneering years, settlement of “The Dutch Colony” (the area surrounding Holland, Michigan), and life during the decades that followed. It looks generally at the broad picture of life in the Dutch Colony, but illustrates the general story by focusing on the farming community of Vriesland, and, more specifically, by following one family (the author’s) through the generations.

The book is available at the Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor and at Horizon Books in Traverse City. More information, preview pages, and online ordering are available at VZOralHistory.com. The cost for the book is $15.