The Veneklasen Brick Story
Recently moved to the U.S. from the Netherlands, Jan Hendrik Veneklasen and his son Berend started digging clay and manufacturing bricks in an area southeast of Zeeland, known as Groningen. In 1848, "H. J. Veneklasen & Sons" was officially established. With hard work, an honest business ethic, and a growing population in West Michigan, it soon made the small business prosper. The small family business expanded across West Michigan to include locations in Cloverdale, Kalamazoo, Hamilton, Holland, and one in Zeeland; in the valley area where our Woodbridge Condominiums stand today.
This Zeeland branch was formally incorporated in 1892, as the "Zeeland Brick Company". Statistics show that the brickyard's span of operation was very important to the economic growth of Zeeland and surrounding areas, and at the peak season of production, more than 200 people were employed at the various yards. During this time in the mid 1890's, over 40 million bricks were manufactured. A great increase from the mere 50 thousand bricks that were each made by hand in their first year of business.
In the years to come, using a combination of the red brick from the Kalamazoo brickyard and the lighter, clay colored brick from the Zeeland yard, Mr. Zuidam, a local brick mason, began constructing uniquely decorative homes with patterns that accented the rooflines, arched windows, corners, and bases of each of the buildings. Using only his imagination and the skill of his hands, he fashioned hundreds of homes in this manner.
While these houses share many of the same motifs and design features, the brick patterns are varied and recombined in such a way that no two homes are alike. As you drive around the west Michigan area, you may notice many of the more than 90 homes and schools that were constructed in this manner, that still remain and are in use yet today.
It is in the spirit of this local history, that Hearthstone Development decided to revive this rich heritage, by fashioning its "Woodbridge" condominium development (that now sits where the brick yard kilns used to sit near the turn of the century) in the old Veneklasen brick style. Just as it was done long ago by his fellow brick masons, Mr. Jim Langerack of Langerack Masonry has designed for us a completely unique Veneklasen style, for each of the three buildings that will be constructed in the development.
By carefully laying up by hand the intricate patterns so easily identifiable as the Veneklasen style, it is once again bringing to life the beauty of a nearly forgotten architecture only in this area.
Today, you can still see some of the remaining structures of the original company in the Woodbridge area. Just up the hill, to the East of the Woodbridge condominiums (at 10231 Chicago Drive) still stands the original home of Henry John Veneklasen. His great-granddaughter, Mrs. Preston (Elaine) Van Zeoren lives there to this day. Just down from that (at 10231 Chicago Drive) is another home that was originally owned by Barend J. and Alice Veneklasen.
The carriage house, constructed prior to
1883, still stands behind it as well. (The home and carriage house are now owned by
John and Marica Bouwens). The deep pit where the clay was dug to make the bricks
(now filled with water, forming a pond), can also be found in the woods just to the
south of the development. Locals claim the pit is more than 90 feet deep, and still
contains some of the carts and other tools that were pushed into it after the Zeeland
Brick Company finally closed its doors back in 1924.
We invite you to stop by and take a look around. If you think you'll enjoy this mixture of modern, elegant, condominium living, pleasant wooded surroundings, convenient location, and rich architecture heritage, Woodbridge condominiums would be a great place for you to call home. For a personal showing, please contact us directly.