DeMotte, Indiana History 1997

30 Years of Growth
100 Years of Tradition

Contents

Foreword & Acknowledgement

Before the White Man/Coming of the First Settlers

DeMotte Grows into a Town

Early Transportation & Farming

The First Schools

Dredging of the Grand Kankakee Marsh

Leonard Swart (Interview)

Casper Belstra (Interview)

Northern Indiana Land Company

The Halleck Telephone Company

DeMotte Mercantile Company

DeMotte Library Grows

Cheever's Garage

Eighty Years of Community Banking

Fairchild & Tanner History

Earl Schwanke Article

Keener Township Fire Department

(Art) Lageveen Looks Back

Fire Almost Destroys DeMotte in 1936

Kankakee Valley Post-News

Asparagus & Truck Farming

Businessmen's Association

Lageveen Remembers Incorporation

Belstra Remembers When...

Kankakee Valley Schools

DeMotte Elementary School

(DeMotte) Christian School

Mark L. DeMotte

Charlie Halleck

Walter Roorda, State Representative

C-SELM

Van Keppel Construction Company

Fire Destroys Main Building at Kaper's

The Hamstra Group

DeMotte Historical Society

Tysen's Family Food Center

Belstra Milling

The Fire of 1992

United Methodist Church

DeMotte Christian Church

Community Bible Church

Calvary Assembly of God

Bethel Christian Reformed Church

First Christian Reformed Church

Faith Lutheran Church

St. Cecilia Catholic Church

United Pentecostal

First Reformed Church

American Reformed Church

DeMotte Town Court

Incorporation of DeMotte

August 10 Incorporation Hearing

September 1965 Incorporation

First Town Board Election

The First Town Board

DeMotte Town Council 1969-1997

DeMotte Town Hall

DeMotte Park Board

Wastewater Treatment Begins

DeMotte Chamber of Commerce

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First Christian Reformed Church

The first consistory meeting of the First Christian Reformed Church in DeMotte was held April 12, 1932. The following officers were elected: John Walstra-president; Gerrit Boer-vice president; John Terborg-clerk; Albert Roorda-treasurer; and Frank DeHaan-assistant treasurer.

Although it was during the heart of the depression, on May 16, 1932 the decision was made to build a church large enough to seat 250 adults. The church would be made out of cement blocks rather than a frame building because there was very little difference in the cost. The congregation donated considerable work and services toward getting the building constructed.

During the 1936 fire that almost destroyed DeMotte's downtown area, volunteers successfully put out the flying embers that threatened to destroy the church and parsonage. The building was located one block east of the business district and is still there in 1997.

The building served the congregation until 1954. The congregation was growing and they decided to build a new church on land south of town rather than add to the building again. The new church was dedicated on January 10 and 11, 1956. The former building was sold to the Faith Lutheran congregation and served as their house of worship until 1995.

In 1940 the Christian Reformed Church hosted a meeting to hear a guest speaker on Christian education and ended by forming a School Society. The goal of the School Society was to start a Christian school in DeMotte as soon as possible.

The First Christian Reformed has also been instrumental in forming two additional congregations in the area Bethel Reformed in 1964 and the Roselawn Community Christian Reformed Church in the late 1970's.

The congregation continued to grow during the ensuing years and in 1978 a large addition was added to the present facility. A dedication service was held on August 23, 1979.

Several prayer groups, bible studies and youth oriented organizations are active in the church.

Today the church is home to approximately 240 families.