Introduction

The original Pilgrim Cemetery grounds encompassed the Log Church, built in 1847 by the First Reformed Dutch Church, and the burial site located to the east called Pioneer Plot. When the First Reformed Church moved to its new building, Pillar Church (9^th street) in June 1856, this location became only a cemetery. The cemetery was renamed Pilgrim Home Cemetery on October 31, 1889. In 1934, Pilgrim Home Cemetery expanded to include Fairlawn Cemetery (south side of 16^th street) and again in 1940 to include the former fairgrounds area.

Log Church

This boulder indicates where the Log Church was located. There are markers somewhere, but cemetery employees have been unable to locate them. The inscription on the plaque reads, "This boulder, with the four white markers, designate the site of the first church erected by the Holland colonists in 1847, the year of the settlement. It was 35 x 60 feet and did service until 1856. Erected by the Board of Parks and Cemetery Trustees, 1917."

The church started by Dr. A.C. VanRaalte and the first settlers, who had come here seeking religious freedom. In 1856, the congregation moved to its new home, the Pillar Church. A split occurred in 1857 that resulted in two denominations, the Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church, meeting in two separate locations.

Pioneer Plot

Pioneer Plot is the original churchyard located east of the Log Church. The first recorded burial was Sept. 21, 1854, a two-year-old girl named Janna Vanden Beldt. Pictured is a newer headstone placed on May 1, 2002. Pioneer Plot has 783 recorded burials, but since people were laid to rest one next to the other as deaths occurred, the location of most individuals is unknown.

1890 was the last year people were buried in this section, including the infant William Hayes, Jr. William’s grave marker is made of wood with a tin covering along the top, most likely an attempt to protect the marker from weathering and decay.

Janna Vanden Beldt

William Hayes, Jr.

Baby Land

Located on the north side of Pilgrim Home Cemetery along the path that runs parallel to the Hope College football field, Baby Land was a dedicated space for the burial of babies and young children. Many of the graves here are from the late 1800's to early 1900's. Demographic research suggests that to at least the year 1800, more than one third of children failed to reach the age of five. Because of the high mortality rate, many parents waited a few years after birth to officially name their child. Many of the graves here are simply marked "Baby" with the year of the child’s death.