Lakewood Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lakewood Farm
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Lakewood Farm main house, 1910
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 264 Lakeshore Ave, Holland, Michigan |
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| Area | 4.23 acres |
| Built | 1903 |
| Built by | Boomers and Smengee |
| Architectural style | Western Stick Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 100005825 |
| Added to NRHP | November 25, 2020 |
Lakewood Farm, also known as the Getz Zoo or Lakewood Zoo, is a historic property in Holland, Michigan. It includes a large house and other buildings. This special place was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Lakewood Farm
Early Days and Ida Fay's Vision
In 1902, a woman named Ida Florence Fay from Chicago bought 71 acres of land. This land was right along Lake Michigan. She built a grand mansion there in 1903. Ida also started planting many fruit trees. She decided to call her new property "Lakewood Farm." She lived there until 1910, when she put the farm up for sale.
George Getz and His Changing Plans
In August 1910, George Fulmer Getz bought Lakewood Farm. He owned a big coal company in Chicago and was a very successful businessman. George and his wife wanted a summer home. They chose Lakewood Farm because it already had a beautiful house.
Sadly, just weeks after they bought the farm, George's wife, Susan, passed away. George became a single father. His plans for Lakewood Farm changed after this.
Building a Farm and Dispelling a Myth
George bought more land in 1911 and later years. He eventually owned 250 acres! He worked hard to turn the estate into a busy fruit and poultry farm. For a long time, people thought George built Lakewood from nothing. However, recent research showed that the land was already developed.
From Farm to Famous Zoo
George Getz had a passion for collecting exotic animals. He started bringing them to Lakewood Farm. He also supported the local county fair. In 1912, he brought two camels and other exotic animals to the fair. This made many people want to visit the fair. Soon, locals started visiting Lakewood Farm itself. George welcomed everyone to his property.
George kept improving his property. He built many new buildings and improved the roads. When the United States joined World War I, George focused on producing food. After the war, he started collecting even more animals. He soon had an elephant, orangutan, lions, tigers, kangaroos, bears, and pythons. His collection became one of the largest in the country!
The "Green Barbeque" and Public Zoo
In August 1926, George Getz hosted a big political event. It was for Fred W. Green, who was running for governor of Michigan. George opened his animal collection to 30,000 people! This event was called the "Green Barbeque." It became famous across the country. For the first time, George's animal collection was called a "zoo."
George liked this idea and kept welcoming more and more visitors. By the end of 1926, about 800,000 people had visited the zoo! Over the next two years, George developed the farm and zoo into a popular attraction.
The Zoo's Closing and Later Years
The Great Depression affected George Getz's money. In 1931, he started thinking about selling the property. He kept the zoo open but began charging for admission. This didn't work out well. George closed the zoo in 1934. He sent all the animals to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago.
George Getz passed away in 1938. After his death, the farm was divided and sold. The main mansion was finally sold in 1945. Esther Vandenberg lived in the house until she died in 2004. She didn't make many changes to the property.
In 2006, Patti and Ken Bing bought the 4.23-acre property. They did a huge restoration of the house and guest house. They brought the property back to how it looked when George Getz owned it.
Exploring the Buildings of Lakewood Farm
Lakewood Farm sits on 4.23 acres of land by the lake. It has three important buildings: the main mansion, a garage, and a guest house. These buildings are special examples of architecture from the early 1900s.
The Mansion: A Grand Home
The Lakewood Farm mansion has three stories. It was built in a style called "modified Stick Style." The original part was built in 1903. Later, additions were made in the 1910s and 1920s. These additions included a covered entrance for cars and new rooms. In the early 2000s, a modern garage was added.
The Garage: More Than Just Parking
The garage is a two-story building also in a modified Stick Style. It was built around 1916. This building was used for more than just cars. It also had offices, housing for staff, and even a power plant!
The Guest House: Welcoming Visitors
The guest house is a one-story building. It was also used as a place for employees to stay. The original part was built in 1903. An addition was built in 1910.
Why Lakewood Farm is Historically Important
Lakewood Farm is important for a few reasons. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it meets two special criteria.
Social History: George Getz's Impact
The farm is important in social history because of George F. Getz. His work at Lakewood Farm showed many important ideas and changes happening in the early 1900s. This time was called the "Progressive Era." During this time, people and the government worked to improve society because of rapid industrial growth.
Architectural Significance: A Unique Style
Lakewood Farm is also important because of its architecture. The three main buildings show a unique style. They are great examples of how architecture changed around the turn of the 20th century. The "Stick Style" from the late 1800s blended with the new "Arts and Crafts Movement" of the early 1900s.
Additional Information and Preservation Efforts
The Historic Ottawa Beach Society is a group that works to preserve local history. They helped prepare the application to get Lakewood Farm on the National Register. This group also found a large concrete pillar that used to mark the beach access at Lakewood Farm. It had fallen onto the beach. They recovered, restored, and now display it outside their museum.
