Find

photograph

Catalog Number
2004.39.152
Manufacturer
unknown
Materials
paper
Description
Black and white photograph of John Woldring working on carving a pair of wooden shoes.
History
John H. Woldring was born to William and Anna (Spitsbergen) Woldring of Holland, Michigan on September 21, 1910. He went on to attend Holland Public Schools before working at the Holland Racine Shoe factory. John would later work for Baker furniture and Crampton Die cast. He also worked at the Wooden Shoe Factory for 41 years carving shoes and opened Woldring’s Christmas Tree Farm on 40 acres at James St.

He married Julia Arens in 1932. John died Monday June 18, 2007 at Holland Community Hospital.

In 1929 the Dutch Novelty Shop was located at 50 West 8th Street in Holland, MI (1929 city directory). Owned and operated by Chester Van Tongeren (1896-1971), the shop had relocated to 141 River Avenue by 1934 (1934 city directory). By 1940 the address had changed once more, this time the store was located at 85 River Avenue in Holland, MI (1940 city directory). The Dutch Novelty Shop appears in city directories as late as 1962.

One of the attractions of the Dutch Novelty Shop was the window to their wooden shoe factory, where tourists could watch the carvers at work. The carvers were Gerrit “Gary” Ten Brink, a klompenmaker (wooden shoe maker) who immigrated in 1934, and Fred Oldemulders.

The Wooden Shoe Factory and Restaurant was an extension of the Van Tongeren's Dutch Novelty business.
The Wooden Shoe was originally located on M-21 (Chicago Drive). This building burned down on 12-26-1956, re-opening in 1962 at 16th and US 31. By this time Chester's son Del Van Tongeren (1929-1996) was helping run the stores.

The Fuller Brothers had a special room at the US 31 shop where their wooden bowls were sold. In 1987 the Fullers sold the Wooden Bowl to the Wooden Shoe Factory. The Wooden Shoe Factory closed it's doors in 1999 and, under the guidance of Chester Van Tongeren's grandson Dave Gier, began to focus solely on producing wooden bowls.
Gift of
Vande Water, Randall