On April 4, 1905, John and Martin Bekius presented the church with $1,000 to buy an organ in memory of their mother, who had recently gone to be with the Lord. This organ is the beautiful organ still used in the church. In 1908, Rev. Van Zanten had serious health problems. The consistory minutes reveal that he was absent from several meetings because of ill health. On August 29, 1908, Rev. Van Zanten asked the consistory for a three-month leave of absence for health reasons, which was granted with pay. In October, 1908, while on a visit to South Holland, Illinois, he died in a most tragic manner. His successor was Student M. D. Van Der Meer, ordained and installed on June 9, 1909. During Rev. Van Der Meer’s pastorate here tow notable things happened. On May 19, 1910, the congregation voted to buy new pews for the church, and in March, 1911, a telephone was installed in the parsonage. Things were beginning to get modern! In May, 1911, Rev. Van Der Meer accepted a call from Eighth Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After being vacant a year and a half, Beaverdam called Rev. TePaske. He was installed as pastor on January 31, 1913. On March 27, 1913, Elder Peter Huyser passed away, at age 91, to be with the Lord. He had faithfully served as Elder for 35 years, without intermission, until his death. In July, 1913, our first Sunday School picnic, an all day affair, was held. What the reasons were is not apparent from the consistory minutes, but the relationship between Rev. TePaske and Beaverdam Reformed Church deteriorated to such a degree that the Pastoral Relations Committee, of Classis Holland, considered it in the best interests of all parties to sever the relationship between the pastor and the church. The consistory agreed to pay Rev. TePaske three months’ salary as severance pay. Rev. Tepaske soon accepted a call to the Three Oaks Reformed Church, Three Oaks. In June, 1917, the church decided to build a new parsonage, at the estimated cost of $3,500, to replace the first one built in 1873. The old parsonage was partly dismantled, but a sizable part was sold in one piece, and is now the main portion of a farmhouse located near the corner of 72nd Avenue and Quincy Street. On March 28, 1919, a congregational meeting voted to have tow English language services each month. Early in 191, the Bekius family offered to build a consistory room for the church in memory of Sjoerd Bekius. This building, now called the chapel, was first built separate from the church building, (where the parsonage now stands) and later moved and annex to the church. In the same year also, the church changed from the "common cup" mode of celebrating the Lord’s Supper, when the Ohlman family presented the church with a new communion set. After a vacancy of more than two years, Rev. Herman Maassen was installed as pastor of Beaverdam on July 2, 1919.

Blendon Reformed 50th Anniversary

1920 Consistory

Front Row: John Brouwer, Rev. H. Maassen, Cornelius Van Farowe
Second Row: Gerrit Huyser, John Feenstra, John Hop
Third Row: Dave Bekius, Reindert Knap

Beaverdam Reformed Church, 1870 - 1920

In the consistory minutes of year 1920, mention is made of the passing of J. Westrate, who drew the plan of the church, and supervised the construction. On September 13, 1920, the consistory mourned the death of one of its members, Cornelius Boertje. We quote from the minutes; "He not only possessed exceptional God given talents, but he was always investing these talents in the Kingdom of God, so that the Lord might profit from them. He was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, having experienced in his own soul that it is the power of God unto salvation. After a life in many ways eventful and troubled, he has entered into the rest that remaineth for the people of God." On June 13, 1921, the consistory moved to begin using collection plates to take up the offering, "whenever they might be presented as a gift to the Church." In July, 1922, Rev. Herman Maassen accepted a call to become the pastor of Hope Reformed Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. A year and a half later, the congregation extended a call to Student David Bogaard, who was ordained and installed as our pastor on June 6, 1924. A young girl’s society, "The Busy Bees," was organized by Mrs. Bogaard. Beginning August 18, 1924, the church records were kept in the English language. Prior to this time, all records were written in the Dutch language. According to a set of by-laws adopted at this time, our church had a Holland language service beginning at 9 a.m.; and an English language service at 1:30 p.m. each Lord’s Day. For election to an office in the church a two-thirds majority vote was required. On September 29, 1920, the church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. In May of the same year, the Consistory auctioned off the buggy, cutter, and the barn belonging to the church. Still later in this year, decisions were made to enlarge the church basement, and install a generating plant to furnish electricity for lighting the church and parsonage. In the early days of the church, it was customary for the consistory to occupany an "Elders and Deacons" pew in the front of the church during services. In 1927, this time-honored custom was abandoned. Rev. Bogaard accepted a call to Marion, New York in April, 1928. Two months later a student, Mr. N. Bruinix, was engaged to serve here as Regular Supply for the summer months. In October, 1928, we extended a call to Rev. Carl Schroeder, which call was declined. On January 30, 1929, Beaverdam extended a second call to Rev. Schroeder, which call was accepted. In 1930, an invitation to attend and vote at all congregational meetings was extended to "all females who are members, and 18 years old or older." In May, 1932, in the depth of the great depression, Rev. C. Schroeder voluntarily asked the church to reduce his yearly salary from $1,800 to $1,500. The following year he requested the consistory that his salary for that year be cut to $1,200. In November, 1936, Rev. Car. Schroeder accepted a call from People’s Park Reformed Church of Patterson, NJ. In this year also, the old horse stable was broken down. The stable, a familiar feature of country churches in the horse and buggy days, formerly stood just west of the church on Ransom Street across from Huyser store. On January 28, 1937, a call was extended to Rev. Peter Muyskens, which he accepted. In 1939, the church auditorium was remodeled and redecorated. Carpet was installed in the front of the church and on the pulpit, a gift from the Christian Endeavor Society; and new lights in the auditorium were given by the Ladies Aid women. Then on March 14, 1940, a celebration commemorated the 70th anniversary of the church. In 1940, Rev. Muyskens accepted a call to Richmond Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In September of this year, the consistory engage theological students to teach catechism. They were paid $3.00 for Saturday classes, and $2.00 for Tuesday evening classes. In the fall of this year, the consistory gave Henry Ohlman permission to use the east end of the church grounds for pasture, and also to enclose this pasture with an electric fence, the current to be off during services on Sunday. At the annual congregational meeting it was moved and carried to support a foreign missionary, jointly with South Blendon and Hudsonville Reformed churches. At a special meeting of members of these three churches the following year, decision was made to share in support of Rev. and Mrs. Joseph Esther. In 1941, the perennial language question came up again. The members had been issued ballots to determine the feelings and wishes of the Congregation on the matter, with the following results: 42 for all English language services on the Lord’s Day. 35 for all English language services every other Lord’s Day. 26 for no change in the custom of one Holland, and one English language service, every Lord’s Day. On March 10, the congregation "after peaceful discussion" voted for all English language services, every other Lord’s Day. After being without a pastor for almost tow years, a call was extended to Rev. August Tellinghuizen in March of 1942. He was installed as our pastor on April 30, 1942. In July a book entitle "Reformed Church in Action" was given to each family in the church; and good reading material was sent to the boys from our church in the service of our country. At the annual congregational meeting, the language question was again discussed, and it was decided to have one Holland service once a month beginning January, 1943. Rev. Tellinghuizen also started the practice of preaching a short children’s sermon in the afternoon service. In April of 1944, a frame containing the pictures of our men in the service of our country was put up in the rear of the church. It was also decided in this year to put up an addition to the kitchen and remodel the interior, the Ladies Aid having permission to plan the kitchen for their conveniences.

75th Beaverdam Reformed Church Anniversary

Left Side of Church

Right Side of Church

In February plans were begun to celebrate the 75th anniversary of our church in March of 1945. The day of the celebration was saddened by the news of the death of John DeBoer, who was killed in the service of our country in Luxembourg, Germany. Memorial services were held for him in our church in May. Then again on April 22, 1945, another son of the church, Foster DeVries, was killed while serving his country in Italy. Memorial services were held in our church on May 27, 1945. In June of 1945, Rev. Tellinghuizen accepted a call to 1st Reformed Church of Lansing, Illinois. Four months later a call was extended to Rev. Henry Rozendal which was declined; but in January of 1946, a second cal was extended to him. He began his work here in March of 1946. At the congregation meeting in 1947 it was decided to have morning and afternoon services in December, January, February and March; and to have morning and evening services in the remaining months. It was decided to take a free will offering on February 22 for Arthur Brower, who was leaving as a missionary to Africa. There was much interest in missionary work among the women who were unable to meet with the Women’s Mission Society in the afternoon due to small children at home. Therefore, Mrs. Rozendal felt the need to organize another mission society. The new society called, "The Mission Guild" was organized with 15 members in March of 1949, under the leadership of Mrs. Rozendal. In the same year, many of the pine trees on the church property were cut down, and the lumber was kept for future use in the church. Rev. Rozendal accepted a call to the Portage Reformed Church and left here in October, 1949. In January of 1950, a committee of four was appointed as a building committee to investigate the cost of remodeling the church basement in order to make more use of the basement for Sunday School purposes. During the summer the chapel was moved and annexed to the church, and the church basement was remodeled. The lumber, made from the pine trees on the church property, was not put to use as knotty pine paneling on the walls in the church basement. Jack Van Dyken, student at Western Seminary was engaged as regular supply for the summer months. He and his family lived in the parsonage. Then in September, Student Van Dyken was given $20 per week, free home and Consumer’s bill up to $3 paid by the church for his continued services. A farewell was held for the Van Dyken family in April after he accepted a call to become the pastor in Forest Grove Reformed Church, upon his graduation from Western Seminary in June. In January of 1952, Jay Weener accepted the call extended to him to become our pastor after his graduation from Western Seminary in June. On April 14, 1852, the official call of the Beaverdam Reformed Church to Student Jay Weener was signed by members of the consistory and the moderator Rev. John Potts of Vriesland. A congregational reception was held for the Weeners on May 29, 1952. Mr. Cornelius Vereeke was given a bonus of $50 for his 20 years of daithful janitor service. Then in June, a farewell service and reception was held for Mr. and Mrs. LaVerne Sikkema before they left to begin their missionary work in Africa. A love offering was taken at the dedication services for the Sikkemas to be given to them. The church and Sunday School now share in their support. In March of 1955, when one of our elders, Richard Huyser and his family, left to join the newly organized Zion Reformed Church of Grandville, a gift of $100 was given from the Beaverdam Church to the new Zion Church. In April, Rev. Jay Reener accepted a call to the Third Reformed Church of Grand Rapids. He preached his farewell message May 8, 1955. The congregation then, after extending two pastoral calls both of which were declined held a special congregational meeting in Januar, 1956, when a call was extended to Rev. Harold Lenters of Woodstock, Minnesota. He accepted the call to become our pastor, and began his ministry here in March of 1956. In November, 1956, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence De Vries presented the church with the present Baptismal Fount in memory of their son, Foster, who was killed in military service. In December, it was decided to take on an additional missionary project, a share in the support of Rev. Carl Schroeder (our former pastor) who was then serving a congregation in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In the spring of 1958, new hard coal furnaces were installed in the church and chapel. In May, 1959, Rev. Harold Lenters accepted a call to the newly organized church of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. In June, a call was extended to Rev. Jacob Blaauw who was serving the Board of Missions in Canada. The call was declined. In August, the congregation felt it wise to build a new parsonage. A special Congregation Meeting was held on October 19, 1959. The building committee presented three different plans for the new parsonage. Then in December, 1959, a second call was extended to Rev. Blaauw which he accepted. Plans were made for moving their household and personal belongings to Beaverdam. In Marech, the 90th anniversary of the church was celebrated by having a program which was sponsored by the Christian Endeavor Society. At this time pictures were taken of the congregation. When Rev. Blaauw left in 1965, he was eventually replaced by Rev. Louis P. Kraay, who was pastor at the time of the church’s 100th anniversary.

Consistory Members, 1870 - 1970