The East Crisp School
1860

The 75th anniversary of the East Crisp or Groenewoude school, District No. 4, Olive township, north of Holland, was celebrated.

This well kept township school was founded in 1860 on property donated by A. Groenewoude, great uncle of county commissioner Gerrit G. Groenwoude.  The county commissioner received a part of his early education there.

With the passing of the years, many improvements have been made in the course of study and the building.  For a number of years, the Groenewoude school had two small rooms and employed two instructors, but in recent years, a partition was removed from the building making one large and modern school room.

Elbert De Weerd, Holland, who attended Western State Teachers college, was the instructor. Following is a list of the pupils shown above;  Andrew Stegenga, Sidney Brandsen, Benjamin Brandsen, June Brandsen, Hazel Rouwhorst, Esther Lievense, Leona Veldheer, Donald Knoll, Raymond Rouwhorst, Vernon Rouwhorst,  Pearl De Haan, Albertus De Haan, Jay Rouwhorst, Randall Nienhuis, Anna Jean Nienhuis, Constance Nienhuis, Julia Brandsen, Susie Jean Brandsen, Elma Jane Slagh, Luella Knoll, Glenna Pearl Looman, Leonard Brandsen, Ruth Slotman, Claude Rouwhorst, Lillian Stegenga, Pauline Stegenga and Alma Deane Brandsen.

Olive Township Historical Society