Find

book
book

book

Catalog Number
2022.45.15
Description
Book of certificates for house numbers in the Holland, MI area.  This book is a log of house numbers issued to builders by the Holland City Clerk from April 1936 through June 1939.

Oscar Peterson appears in this book as the city clerk.
 
History
Oscar Peterson was born in Michigan to Ole and Oletta Peterson on 12-18-1880. By 1900 he was living in Holland, MI (1900 US census). On 10-2-1907 Oscar married Winifred in Saugatuck, MI.

Oscar served as city clerk for Holland, MI from 1927 to 1947. He passed away in Holland, MI on 12-3-1971.

The Holland Sentinel featured Oscar in their 12-18-1970 edition to celebrate his 90th birthday.

"At 90, Oscar admits he is slowing down a bit, but he remains active as a director of the Ottawa Savings and Loans Association, and even shovels the snow at his home at 403 Chippewa Drive, where he moved when he retired.
At the time, he was busy winterizing his summer home for year round living, and following his hobby of fishing. Today, he admits fishing no longer is any good on Big Bay, although some perch is caught in ice shanty fishing.

When Oscar was in City Hall, he was more than a city clerk. Those were the days of less complicated city functions. No city manager, no city auditor, and the city clerks office was something of a dumping ground for any business which did not deal specifically with a department.
He started work when graduating from high school as a street car conductor in Holland, making runs in the interurban from Holland to Macatawa during the summer. Than a road was added to Saugatuck, and in 1901 to Grand Rapids. For a time, Oscar made three roundtrips daily to Grand Rapids, leaving Holland at 5:30 a.m. and returning at 3:30 p.m. After 12 years on the interurban, he went to the Holland Shoe Co, for 12 years, working as stock keeper and purchasing agent.".
Gift of
BPW