“They did a good job with it - it’s very pretty,” Schaap said.

The renovation results received high marks from the former school students, who helped project leaders identify the original traits of the schoolhouse and classroom. The pair recalled the schoolhouse had only outdoor toilet facilities until one Christmas vacation during which workers installed the indoor variety. “We still see each other at least once a week.” “We’ve remained friends for almost the entire time,” Van Zoeren noted regarding her relationship with Schaap. The pair said school traditions included having a daily devotion and singing hymns together.Īnd, as luck had it for the students, “everyone got B’s,” Van Zoeren said. We also had a merry-go-round outside and had a school ball team.” “We had the older kids in the small room and the younger students in the big room. She is nicknamed “Honey” and is still called that by her childhood friend. “There were three girls and four boys in my eighth-grade class,” said Schaap, who also attended the reception. One of her good friends then - and remaining so until this day - is Helene (Van Kley) Schaap, who will turn 90 this year and attended New Groningen from 1927-1931 and graduated from Zeeland High School in 1940. Van Zoeren attended the two-room schoolhouse at 10537 Paw Paw Drive from 1926-1930 and graduated from Zeeland High School in 1939. 18 public reception unveiling the $500,000 project recently completed under direction of the Zeeland Historical Society. She he admired the surroundings of the renovated New Groningen Schoolhouse in Holland Township during a Feb.

The memories all came rushing back for Van Zoeren, who celebrated her 90th birthday on Valentine’s Day. Lifelong Zeeland resident Elaine (Veneklasen) Van Zoeren remembers so many little things, including the time she accidentally spilled the contents of an inkwell on a student sitting by her.

Holland township school history