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From the Holland Sentinel, May 5, 1942

Hope Reformed Church in its location on West 11th Street is the combination of two buildings. The Flemish-type auditorium with its $15,000 pipe organ was dedicated July 6, 1902, after having been added to the church which was constructed during 1873 and 1874. The original church building, put up in 1864, was destroyed in the great fire of 1871.

A faded copy of the Holland City News, dated Saturday, May 16, 1874, tells the story of the dedication of the Second Reformed (Hope) Church of Holland which took place May 4, 1874.

The first church building was built in 1864. Dr. A. C. Van Raalte donated four village lots, the present site. The sum of $800 was subscribed in the place, and donations received from other localities. It was 30 feet by 50 feet, and built principally by Messrs. A. Meerman and P. Negelkerke.

The parsonage was built in 1869, at a cost of $3000. The great conflagration of 1871 destroyed the church building, but as by a miracle, the parsonage was saved. The present parsonage was built in 1910.

The Rev. Stewart was installed as the first pastor of Hope Church in May 1866.

The whole cost of the building, including furnace, is about $11,000. Before the formal dedication of the house, the pastor announced an outstanding indebtedness of $600, of which more than $500 was immediately assumed by the congregation present, and the balance, $100, was assumed by the pastor. The value of the property of Hope Church at that time including real estate, church building and parsonage can safely be estimated as $16,000.

Contents of the cornerstone were a brief sketch of the history and records of the church, copies of Holland City News, De Hope, a carefully written historical article of Holland from 1847 and 1857, and other newspapers.

Celebration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of Hope Church took place on May 3 and May 5.

Charter members of Second Reformed Church were Dr. And Mrs. Bernardus Ledeboer, Henry D. Post and wife, Charles F. Post, Mrs. James Lipp and Mrs. Brodmore.