wagon
Catalog Number
2017.62.2Manufacturer
unknownArtist/Author
noneMaterials
wood, metalDimensions
10.6 feet X 5 feet in.Description
Red, wooden wagon with gold trim. Along the side, in gold, are letters that spell out "HOLLAND FURNACE CO>" and "World's Largest Installers of Furnaces".History
The following information comes from a Holland Museum press release written in May of 2018 by staff member Katie Baker.Iconic Parade Wagon Returns to Tulip Time Parades!
In celebration of Tulip Time, the Holland Museum is proud to feature a newly restored historic Holland Furnace Parade Wagon in the Volksparade and Muziekparade, Wednesday, May 9 and Saturday, May 12.
The red parade wagon was built in the 1950s and has been part of the Cheff estate since the company closed. It has recently been donated to the Holland Museum by Holly Palmer, widow of former Holland Furnace Company employee, P.T. Cheff.
Full restoration of this beautiful metal red wagon with brass trim has been made possible by Don and Jodi Heeringa. The work was done by Ken Harper. It will be drawn by a team of horses owned and driven by Phil Plasman and Richard Doeden in both parades. Don says, “We took great pleasure in bringing back part of Holland’s History.”
Holland Museum’s executive director Ricki Levine says, “We are thrilled to have this iconic piece of Holland history in our collection and are excited to have it on display for generations to come.”
The Holland Furnace Company was a major employer in Holland during the 1920’s through the 1950’s and sold cast iron coal fired furnaces. The company is often given credit for bringing central heating to American homes during that era. It was a family owned company started by John P. Kohla and his son in law AH Landwehr. The company eventually failed in the 1960’s due in part to new heat fuels like oil and gas.
Holland Furnace Company was a major supporter of Tulip Time. As part of their promotional efforts, the company had their factory build this parade carriage to be used in a number of locations and parades, including Tulip Time.
Jodi Heeringa, Don’s wife, has a family history with the parade wagons as she is the granddaughter of AH Landwehr and rode in the wagons in the early 1950’s.
A second Holland Furnace Parade Wagon has also been donated to the Museum by Holly Palmer. This white wooden wagon, built in the early 1920s, is being restored by Mike Teusink and Kirk Wingard of the Wooden Runabout Company, with restoration donation made by Don Heeringa and Trendway Corp.