photograph
Catalog Number
2008.121.8Description
Black and white photograph of the Tulip Time parade ca. 1955. The photo shows motorcycles and a band moving south along River Avenue, just south of the 9th street intersection. The Chevy dealer, on the southeast corner of River and 9th, is visible, as is a portion of the post office at 31 West 10th Street.History
History of the building on the southeast corner of River and 9th (Wolverine Garage/Decker Chevrolet/De Nooyer Chevrolet)Francis E. Dulyea (1868-1938) and Martin Vander Bie (1879-1949) were partners in the Union Bottling Works (180 River Ave, Holland, MI) from about 1910 to 1915 (city directories). By 1921 they had built the Wolverine Garage (221-227 River Ave, southeast corner of 9th and River, Holland, MI). They would continue operating the Wolverine Garage until about 1934.
Dulyea lived at 204 west 9th with his wife Dollie. Vander Bie lived at 217 River Ave with his wife Nellie.
It was about 1938 that the garage was renamed Decker Chevrolet, for new owner Louis "Jack" Decker. In 1954 Robert J. De Nooyer (1924-2021) took over the garage, changing the name to De Nooyer Chevrolet. Robert would operate the garage out of the building at the southeast corner of River and 9th (221-227 River) until ca. 1962. By 1965 De Nooyer Chevrolet had moved to East 8th and US 31 (Holland Sentinel).