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The story told by the Holland Town and City Records:
The story told by the Holland Town and City Records:
George Fulmer Getz first came to Holland, Michigan in the summer of 1910. He, his wife and two sons selected a site on a sandy bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. At that time the area was a little used wasteland, famous mainly for the ship Alpena which had sunk off shore near there in 1880. Mr. Getz purchased 70 acres of land from Miss Ida F. Fay on 12 August 1910, and thus began his amazing farm. On 13 September 1913, he bought another 64 acres from Hyo Bos and Abraham Peters, and on 29 November 1916, he purchased more acreage from Gerrit W. Kooyers making a total of 253 acres. It was called Lakewood Farm
In December, 1911, the Lakewood Farm entered some white Wyandotte poultry in the local show and won a $25 silver cup. The farm also exhibited in a tent at the Holland Fair in September, 1912. It had the reputation of being one of the most complete and well equipped farms in the state. Mr. Getz also exhibited in the 1913 Holland Fair at the fairgrounds located on the south side of 16th Street, opposite the original Pilgrim Home Cemetery and west of the Holland Township Cemetery. Mr. Getz built a large exhibit building, 50 x 100 foot, for his own displays and brought a number of newly acquired animals such as camels, donkeys, Arabian stallions to the Fair.
Mr. Getz had made a trip to the Holy Land and Egypt and purchased a number of exotic animals. They were placed in quarantine when arriving in the United States and it took some effort to have them released in time for the Holland Fair. He also had many flowers and trees which are distributed about the farm. There was a small admission fee to see the exhibit.
On 4 July 1914, Mr. Getz invited a large group of friends and businessmen from Chicago and Holland to his farm to celebrate. Again the farm had a display at the 1914 Holland Fair with some prominent Chicago businessmen visiting.
After the Fair was over, Mr. Getz purchased many of the animals of the Fletcher-Fowler Company sideshow – a red fox, an eagle, two wildcats, a leopard, a badger, two coyotes, and 5 monkeys.
John W. Clarke was in charge of the flowers at the farm and Gerrit Beelen all the orchards and greenhouses. M. H. Caesar was in charge of the poultry where there were as many 10,000 pigeons and a like number of other fowl.
Early in 1915 a schoolhouse was built for his sons and the families living on the Lakewood Farm. At this time the road from Holland to his farm was a dirt road and, through his efforts, two miles of the road were paved. The following year two more miles of Alpena Beach Road were paved due to his efforts.
In 1916 he built a dormitory on his farm for his unmarried men employees. The married men had already been provided homes. He added more poultry and when chicken pox became an epidemic he established a research facility to prevent the spread of it. They again exhibited at the 1916 Holland Fair and animals were from all over the world as well as the floral and vegetable collection. After the fair, Mr. Getz shipped much of his menagerie and both of his camels to a charity fair at the South Shore Country Club near Chicago. One camel died en route and the other was given to the Lincoln Park Zoo. There was nor mention of further camels at Lakewood after that. The cost of admission to the fair at that time was $.10 per adult and $.05 per child.
Due to the entry of the United States in the ward in April, 1917, and the controls being placed on railroads, Mr. Getz determined to curtail his Lakewood Farm. Many employees were enlisting in the military. He abandoned all of his large parties and outings and spent his energies increasing the food supply for the country.
He disposed of most of his animals at this time. Many were sent to the Lincoln park Zoo, the eagles and other birds to the Selig Moving Picture Company and many small animals went to the John Ball Park Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In October, 1918, at the age of 53, Mr. Getz left his Globe Coal Company, his farm and his two sons to serve with the Red Cross in the war zones of Europe. By the summer of 1919 he had returned to Holland. By the summer of 1922 things were back to normal at Lakewood and 1,000 invitations were sent to Holland Citizens, ex-service men, all the city merchants, and many children for the Fourth of July barbecue. There were 1,118 autos and 5,900 people. There were sports programs for the young people, the Grand Haven Jackie Band performed, a 600 pound ox was roasted, among other provisions made for the celebration.
In 1923 the last 1,000 feet of road was paved. Mr. Getz loaned the money to the Ottawa County Road Commission and they were to pay it back when they could. After the road was completed, Mr. Getz had a large cement walk for the public’s access to the beach. The borders of the walk were decorated with plants from his greenhouses and an oval drive was arranged to access to the parking area. It still exists at the end of Lakewood Boulevard.
There were a number of semi-permanent summer guests who stayed in lakeside cottages: Benjamin S. Hanchett, president of the Interurban, William Alden Smith, a former U. S. Representative and owner of the G. R. Herald, and, later, Sen. Arthur Vandenberg, of the G. R. Herald and U. S. Senator, G. J. Diekema, legislature.
In August, 1923 a regatta was planned for Black Lake. Mr. Getz’s connections with the boating groups at Ottawa Beach, Chicago and Milwaukee, caused a fine turnout for the activities, along with the assistance of Fred Z. Pantlind.
From the earliest days Lakewood Farm was electrified. In 1925, he and his neighbors had electrical lines brought in by Consumers Power Company.
In December, 1925, George Getz and his two sons went on a round the world cruise. They arrived in Holland in April, 1926. He had purchased many animals while on the trip. They came by passenger and freight boats from Chicago.
In 1926 the number of people using the public beach caused serious problems and show disregard by tearing down fences, parking in driveways and the county was asked to close off the beach at night. He continued to entertain affluent guests. Among them, Gov. Alfred E. Smith who had been a former business associate in the U. S. Trucking Company. They had a miniature 9 hole golf course on the farm. On 24 July 1926, Mr. Getz had a barbecue again inviting everyone to come to become acquainted with the Republican candidate for Governor of Michigan, Mayor Fred Green. At least 30,000 people attended. There were close to 5,000 cars parked along the road, 5,000 green canes were distributed by Mr. Getz, Fred Green and Arthur Vandenberg gave speeches. There was 600 pounds of barbecue, 18,000 hot dogs and other meat that was provided and eaten. Pathe New Reel photographers were present. When the farm closed to the public in the fall of 1926, it was estimated that 800,000 had passed through the gates.
During the winter of 1926-1927 plans were made to enlarge the zoo. In September of 1927 Mr. Getz was given a banquet to honor what he had done for Holland. In September, 1927, Mr. Getz, his son, George and other members of his party, went to Africa to hunt, visit Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti Plain and Lake Victoria. After this trip, he decided not to go abroad again, at least not for a long time.
In May of 1928 the Ottawa County Road Commission changed the name of Alpena Beach Road to Lakewood Blvd. in honor of George F. Getz. Due to the problems occurring on the 66 foot public beach property, Mr. Getz proposed giving the county a 200 foot stretch of land south of Lakewood Farm in exchange for the public beach and he would pay for shelters and lavatories on this property. This park is Tunnel Park. In 1937, Mr. Getz offered the county an additional 850 foot width south of the park for $20,000 but the county did not acquire this until some time after his death in 1938.
In 1929 the farm was gain open and the General Synod of the Reformed Church came by special invitation.
The farm continued to be open to people. In 1930 Jack Dempsey, the world heavyweight boxer, was a guest. The American Legion post in Holland arranged a boxing show with Jack Dempsey as referee.
In the spring of 1931 the newspaper reported the possibility of a change in ownership of Lakewood. Mr. Getz was 65 years old and his sons were in their twenties. A bill was introduced in the senate that the State of Michigan take over the operation of the farm and zoo. Nothing ever came of it probably due to the economic depression at this time.
On Decoration Day George Getz opened the gates again to the public. At the end of the summer, Mr. Getz said that Lakewood would not longer be open under his auspices. His annual expenditures were from $75,000-$100,000 and he offered to sell the property to the State of Michigan.
In 1932 a small fee was charged, for the first time, to enter Lakewood Farm - $.25 per adult and $.10 per child.
In 1933 a tremendous storm struck the Getz Farm thought to have been a tornado destroying many large trees, the orchards, flower beds, and vegetables badly damaged, greenhouses, tractor and oil sheds, hog houses damaged or completely destroyed. Another local site, the wooden tower at Tower Park was knocked down by the high winds.
In October of 1933, Mr. Getz stated that he was going to discontinue the zoo at Lakewood Farm. He would keep the farm as a summer home but the animals would go. The animals were transferred to Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Nancy, the elephant was to be transferred in a trailer. It took approval of three governors of three states to take place on 2 November 1933. The public showplace was finished.
In 1937 George Getz planned to sell Lakewood and offered it to the county to widen Tunnel Park. He also offered other items to agencies such as the Netherlands Museum.
On 11 February 1938, George Fulmer Getz, Senior, died while he was in Florida. The Horatio Alger like story of the poor boy, who was born in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and who had to go to work at the age of 14, was ended. In March, 1939, Lakewood Farm was sold by his heirs to the Trust Company of Chicago. At this time both of the gardeners, Andrew Sederholm and John Nyland, took positions with James R. Getz in Lake Forest, Illinois
Later, in 1940, Lakewood was subdivided and the ownership of the many cottages and buildings went to a great many families.
Holland City News, 1916 – There are many men who can and there are many men that would, but the man who can and does is not so easily found. That man is George F. Getz of Holland and Chicago.
Created April 16, 2007
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