painting
Catalog Number
2012.25.1Title
Translation: aneArtist/Author
yesDimensions
17 in.Description
Painting of the Windmill Gas Station, in brown wooden frame.History
The Windmill Gas Station was located on the northwest corner of South 160th and 32nd Street in Park Township. 32nd Street is the dividing line between Park and Allegan County, 160th becomes 64th once Allegan County begins.The gas station was established in 1926 by William C. and Vaudie Vandenberg. The two brothers owned Vandenberg Brothers Oil Company.
The gas station was demolished in 2000. Over the years, numerous car accidents occurred at the location, usually when vehicles heading north on 64th Street failed to stop at the 32nd Street intersection. A vehicle in 1999 went through the store’s front window.
Elinor Burns was a local artist. She died in 2012 at the age of 92.
Here is her obituary from the 6-29-2012 Holland Sentinel.
"She was preceded in death by her husbands, William (Ed) Burns and Donald Webber; son-in-law, Donald Craycraft; great-granddaughter, Tonya Rose Dams; great-great-grandson, Tristan Ross; and three brothers.
She is survived by her children, Rena and Robert Westerhof of Holland, Rose (Zelly) Craycraft Holland, Robert and Bonnie Burns of Ramayor, TX, Rebecca and David Curtis of Hamilton; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; three great- great-grandchildren; sister, Mrs. C.W. (Shirley) Daniels of Virginia; two stepsons and families; several nephews and nieces.
Elinor and her husband Ed impacted so many, many people with the love of Christ in practical living with everyone they met, taking in strangers and making friends for life everywhere. Her daily mail reflected the countless contacts. As an active member of Immanuel Church, the “Lord’s work” was always volunteered and welcomed whether it was Vacation Bible School, prayer meetings, Sunday school, Pioneer Girls, Ladies Bible Study, Migrant Ministry, City Mission, Salvation Army, or doing any artwork that needed her touch.
Missionaries were hallowed friends and she and Ed supported them in many personal ways and loved to visit and receive mail from them. Children were very special to them and they provided art supplies and musical instruments to those with promise.
Prayer was an integral part of every aspect of her daily doings and her prayer list was long and specific for her family, friends, herself and her daily decisions.
A gifted and humble artist, Elinor in recent years was most noted for her “Memories of Holland” series with “Nies Hill” being her signature print. She was a charter member of the Holland Friends of Art, Holland Arts Council, Saugatuck Art Group, and the Professional Photographers of America winning many awards and acknowledgments. Her booth at Art in the Park art show was a familiar and popular spot. Local galleries and art shows displayed her work."