50th Anniversary
                                                                of the Borculo
                                                                Chr. Ref. Church
         
                                                                    1933
         
         
         few, but God provided a helper in sending to this place the Edifier or
         “Oefenaar” J. Dragt, who had already studied in the Netherlands. T14ç
         steady growth of this settlement, together with the faithful labor of Mr.’
         Dragt, who became afterwards a Minister in the Reformed Church, proved
         to be a blessing to the congregation.
         
            The school house soon became too small and it was decided to build a
         new church. Geert Moeke donated a quarter acre ground located at the
         south-west corner of the Borculo crossing. Geert Moeke, H. A. Wiegmink,
         Albert Marling, L. Morsink and J. Boessenkool served as building com-
         mittee. In the Spring of 1885 the first church building was dedicated for
         the service of God. The incorporation of our church took place March 11,
         1885. When Mr. Dragt received a call from North Overijsel we promised
         him a salary of $200.00. Notwithstanding this inducement Dragt left us in
         the Spring of 1889.
         
            After the departure of Brother Dragt it was decided to call an ordained
         Minister. Many calls were extended. In the meantime a house was bought
         from Willem Van Loo for $600.00. (This house is now the property of G.
         Talsma.) Because this house was too far from the church it was exchanged
         on July 24, 1890, for a store building belonging to R. Bouwman. This build-
         ing was remodeled and became the parsonage of the future ministers of
         Borculo’s church. The building committee consisted of the brethren R.
         Timmerman, P. Lamer and Geert Moeke.
         
            In June 18, 1890, Rev. W. Greve of Chicago, Ill., was called and accepted
         the call. When Greve came the church grew in membership and soon it was
         found necessary to build a new church. A new site, the present location,
         was donated by Mr. G. Moeke, and the church was moved to its new loca-
         tion. A little later this church was again torn down and a new and larger
         church built on the same spot. The lumber for this church was, for the
         greater part, donated by the members, who cut down the trees in their
         woods, which were transformed into building timber at Mr. Moeke’s saw-
         mill. This church building was dedicated unto the Lord in the year 1891.
         While the church was under construction the congregation worshipped in
         the church barn. When Rev. Greve left us, having accepted a call of the
         Grandville Ave. Church, Grand Rapids, Mich., Borculo possessed an up to
         date church building and a fine parsonage.
         
            Candidate C. C. Haan became our second pastor. On the 6th of October,
         1898, he preached his inaugural sermon based on 2 Cor. 3:4-6. Rev. Haan
         did much to beautify the property by planting many shade trees, some of
         which were destroyed by the conflagration of April, 1927. Mr. C. Moeke
         served many years as “Voorzinger.” In this time our first organ was
         installed. Rev. Haan labored here until September, 1896, when he became a
         home missionary, a task for which he was well equipped.
         
            In these years much trouble was experienced with parents who came
         with their children for baptism but refused to make confession of faith.
         The consistory labored faithfully during these years to overcome these