Since coming to the Joint Archives in January of 1997, I have been mystified by the lack of published material on the Holland area’s boat building industry—a history that began in 1835 with the construction of the A.C. Mitchell at what is now Waukazoo Woods. So, I decided to tackle that task last summer by interviewing the boat builders and others of the 1950s such as Jason Petroelje of Skipper-Craft, Clyde Poll of Wonder Craft, and Bill Parker of Slickcraft. But my research is far from done. I would like to interview many more men and women who worked with the following companies to assemble the best history of the industry as possible:
Alleenes Non-Capsizable Boats
Beacon Boat Company
Campbell Boat Company
Chris-Craft
Ensign Boats, Inc.
Gil-Boat Company
Kencraft
Holland Launch and Engine Company
Jesiek Boat Company
Lovecraft
Mac-Bay Boat Company
North Star Marine Construction Company
Roamer Boat Company
Skipper-Craft
Slickcraft
Victory Shipbuilding Company
Windquest (Zeeland)
Wolverine Motor Works
Wonder Craft
If you have information concerning any of Holland’s many boat manufacturers, large or small, please contact me at the Joint Archives of Holland at 616-395-7798, archives@hope.edu, or by writing to me at the Joint Archives of Holland, Hope College, P.O. Box 9000, Holland, MI 49422-9000.
Geoffrey D. Reynolds