ticket
Catalog Number
1978.19.5Date of Origin
January 9, 1929Description
White, rectangular-shaped admittance ticket to an evening with George Getz. Black lettering, on the front, announcing "An Evening With Mr. Geo. F. Getz in the African Jungles at the Holland Theater Wednesday, January 9, 1929 Promptly at 7:30". A photo of Getz is shown at right.History
George Fulmer Getz was born on 12-26-1863 in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania to John and Amanda Getz. At the age of ten George left home. Soon after arriving in Chicago he began working as a messenger boy with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Eventually George moved up in the company becoming a telegraph operator and then a yardmaster.In 1895 George went into business for himself. His business interests included coal, ice, banking, steel, hotel, newspaper, manufacturing, and transportation. George consolidated his interests in 1901 when he organized the Globe Corporation.
George married Susan Daniel in 1904, and they had two sons together-- George F. Getz, Jr. and James R. Getz. In 1910, George and Susan Getz came to Holland, MI and bought land along Lake Michigan. The house and property built by George would become known as Lakewood Farm and included animals, a zoological exhibit and greenhouses.
The animals at Lakewood Farm included a hippo, a rhino, lions, a leopard, monkeys, tigers, bears and an elephant named "Nancy". The public was welcome to visit the "Getz Zoo" and for many years there was no entrance fee. In 1933, George Getz donated his entire zoo to the Chicago Zoological Society. George Getz died on February 11, 1938.