organette
Catalog Number
1993.55.1Description
Monarch brand, portable organette with black, wood case and attached lid.History
This organette was played by Hattie Vanden Brink Ver Hey at Nellie Churchford’s church services. Services began with the playing of Onward Christian Soldiers. The organette would sit on the back of a horse drawn wagon.Hattie was born in Holland, MI on 3-19-1895. She married Nicholas Ver Hey at the Rescue Mission in Holland on 3-20-1913, with Nellie Churchford officiating. Hattie passed away in Holland on 5-1-1981.
Nellie Churchford was born on 10-4-1874 in the Netherlands to Gerrit Churchford and Lavina Dieleman. While still young, the family moved to Michigan.
By 1900, Nellie was living in Holland, MI where she began the Holland Rescue Mission ca. 1902. On Saturday evenings she would set up a tent meeting on 8th Street and preach the gospel.
Nellie passed away on 12-6-1931 and was buried in Holland's Pilgrim Home Cemetery.