Business Card
Catalog Number
2019.1.2203Description
Holland Public Schools business card for Mary Vande Water, teacher at Washington Elementary School.History
Randall P. "Randy" Vande Water was a local historian and newspaper editor. He spent 4 decades at the Holland Sentinel working as sports editor, city editor, editorial page editor, and managing editor.The Holland City News reported on 9-9-1926 that the foundation for the new Washington School was complete. On May 17, 1927 the new school was dedicated. The school principal at the time was Etta Whitman and the school was located on the southeast corner of Maple Avenue and 11th Street in Holland, MI.
The new building had 12 regular class rooms, a kindergarten room, a gymnasium, a sun room (designed for children that were physical challenged) and a fresh air room (designed for students experiencing poor health). In 1935 an Oral Deaf Department was added. This new building was actually the second Washington School.
The original Washington School, built in 1896, was also located at Maple and 11th. This school building was not named Washington School until 6-4-1916. Prior to this date the school, name was Maple Street School.
Washington School closed in 2004.