photo
Catalog Number
1965.3.14Description
Black and white studio photograph of Edward and Matilda Harrington ca. 1908.History
This item belonged to the Harrington family of Holland, MI. Edward J. Harrington was born on July 30, 1832 and died September 6, 1921. He and his wife Matilda Calligan were married on 9-6-1853. Matilda was born in 1832 and died in 1912. Both are buried in Pilgrim Home Cemetery in Holland, MI.Edward's father George S. arrived in the Holland, MI area in 1845 with government surveyors. In 1847, Edward moved with his parents from New York to Filmore Township, Michigan.
Edward taught in Filmore district schools for a few years before becoming a successful mercantile businessman. His endeavors and accomplishments as a businessman were manifold. He was best known for his maritime trading business and general store. At one point Harrington's trading business, had a fleet of eight schooners, which delivered forest products to Chicago, Milwaukee, and Racine. He erected wooden docks and a warehouse at the head of 4th and 5th Street and a store on 8th St., as well as a sawmill, all of which were for his successful trading business. In 1854, he owned 240 acres of land in Filmore as he became active in real estate. During the years in which he was involved with real estate he created a "resort town" called Harrington's Landing, later Virginia Beach, right on Macatawa Bay. In 1864, he returned to Filmore Township and served as a treasurer and supervisor. He filled a vacancy as the town attorney from 1867-1868 until an experienced candidate was secured. In 1871 his store, docks, and warehouses were burned to the ground in the Holland Fire. He also lost his schooner, Elmira, when it sank off the coast of Pier Cove near Saugatuck. But he quickly recovered from the fire and returned to the business scene. He built the first brick building after the fire. In 1876 he rebuilt his store and went back into the mercantile business. In 1882 he built a livery barn at 7th and Central, which stood for the next 45 years.
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