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By: Jim Fitzpatrick |
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Email: jim@nunica.com |
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Local Farmer in Polkton Township writes for the Coopersville Observer. |
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Along Brandy Creek By Jim Fitzpatrick
The Coopersville Observer March 17, 2008- - No. 93 |
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Henry grew up on a farm in the Netherlands. He was just a young boy during the war years. Some of the memories of those times are not the most pleasing to him. However; he does have many pleasant stories about his growing up experiences there in the Dutch countryside. When he was 18 years old he crossed the Atlantic on a ship with his family and came to America.
Farming continued to be a part of Henry’s life here in this country. He met and married Thea in New Jersey. Early in their marriage they settled on the land here in Michigan, a couple of miles north of Coopersville; and raised a family of six young ones. Some years back they sold the farm and moved to a smaller place southwest of town. Henry is retired now; that is if you don't take into account keeping the hardware section of Lemmen’s One Stop up and running five days a week. He plays golf often too, early in the morning before he goes off to work. If you are fortunate, when you stop in at the station for gas and you catch him just right; you will have a chance to hear one or two of those fascinating tales from his younger days. When he starts to reminisce, you will notice a certain pleasing look in his eyes; you will feel like you are right there in those bygone days as it was happening.
Not too many mornings ago, he spoke of that long ago crossing of the Atlantic on board the ocean going steamer; the family’s arrival on the East Coast in the night. “I can still remember and feel that time as if it were yesterday; walking off that ship and up an incline into the lights of the walkway – almost like yesterday!” That is pretty much how he said it. Henry will take you right out of Lemmen’s One Stop and off and into a far away time and place - for the moment. If you listen very carefully, that is. |
