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June 9 - For immediate release 

Media contacts: Nancy Gillette, Historic Ottawa Beach Society; Valarie van Heest, 616-566-6009

Click here for pump house photos.

Learn more about local Holland history in the newly renovated pump house

Holland, MI Have you had the chance to take a peek inside the historic pump house building on Ottawa Beach Road? You know the one, the brick building past the general store on the way to Holland State Park. Whether you've passed by and never been inside or saw it for the first time last year, join the Historic Ottawa Beach Society (HOBS) for an open house or a historical program this summer.  The pump house, a building from 1901, is the only surviving structure from the once magnificent Ottawa Beach Hotel. The building was renovated in 2015 by Ottawa County Parks and HOBS and opened to the public for the first time in June of last year. More restorations and renovations are planned for the pump house as HOBS strives to create a learning center and museum dedicated to local history. Until then, the public can only view the interior during special open houses and programs. When you visit, be sure to take a look at the new exhibit: Icebound: the Ordeal of the SS Michigan. The exhibit tells the story of the 1885 sinking of the SS Michigan off Holland and the heroic survival of its crew. You can hear this exciting tale told by local historians at a free program on July 7 from 7-8:30 pm.  The pump house is located at 2390 Ottawa Beach Road in Holland. It is just north of the Coast Guard Station. Admission is free, donations are welcome.

Open Houses, 4-6 pm

• June 23
• July 21
• August 18 - Book signing by local authors Valerie van Heest, Craig Rich, Lois Jessiek Kayes, and Alisa Crawford, with maritime and local history books.
• September 15

Special Programs, 7-8:30 pm

July 7 • Icebound Found

Craig Rich and Valerie van Heest will take attendees back in time to experience the ordeal of the SS Michigan in 1985 while it was trapped in the ice, its sinking, and the successful escape of the crew and  deep beneath the lake to explore the wreck that rests 18 miles off Holland. 

August 4 • Jenison Electric Park

Lois Kayes and Geoff Reynolds will share the story of Holland's magnificent amusement park, the subject of Kayes' recent book.

Exhibit information

In 1885, during one of the brutal winters on record, the iron-hulled steamship Michigan, became trapped with its entire crew in the pack ice on Lake Michigan. After a 38-day battle with Mother Nature, the ship began taking on water and finally sank far off Holland, Michigan. Thanks to the decisive action of Captain Redmond Prindiville and the courage of the porter George Sheldon all 30 crew members lived to tell this incredible story of patience, stamina, and heroism while icebound on Lake Michigan.

Travel back in time following these artist’s renderings chronologically to learn  about the drama that unfolded so long ago. Then journey underwater to see the actual S.S. Michigan as it rests today on the bottom of Lake Michigan.

This exhibit was designed by Valerie van Heest of Lafferty van Heest & Associates and is based on the story of the S.S. Michigan as told in her book, Lost and Found: Legendary Lake Michigan Shipwrecks and includes illustrations from her children’s book,

Icebound: The Adventures of Young George Sheldon and the SS Michigan. These digitally created illustrations were prepared by combining layers of historic and staged photographs, which the author/artist enhanced and colorized. Valerie van Heest is a Holland based underwater explorer, historian and author who serves on the board of the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association as well as operating an exhibit design firm. 

Ottawa County is unveiling its exhibit Water at Ottawa Beach: A perspective on changing technology  that provides new insight into early water utilities at Ottawa Beach and highlights a unique period at the turn of the century  as the sources of power to operate machinery transitioned from wind, to steam, then gasoline, and finally electric within only three decades.

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To support its mission of preserving and interpreting the wonders, memories, and stories of the area, HOBS continues to work with Ottawa County to convert the historic Pump House at Ottawa Beach into the Pump House Museum and Learning Center.

 Visit HistoricOttawaBeachSociety.org to become a member of HOBS or to support the project.