Customer Reviews

Dutch Chicago: A History of the Hollanders in the Windy City (Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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This has to be the best Dutch/American book written to date. Countless times I have been dismayed at the lack of Dutch/American books written , and the lack of those displayed or for sale in predominant Dutch areas. This book whets the appetite , but we need more. More books on the old country in English , and more on the Dutch immigration to the US.

This book is a treasure of facts and stories of the Dutch immigrant's experience coming to Chicago. Squabbles in the churches , dutch clubs , and how the Dutch shaped Chicago areas , like Pullman , Roseland , and Englewood.

A must read if you are into history and the Dutch. It filled in some blanks of my own understanding of my upbringing !

My Father's side of the family grew up in Cicero, and this book is a fantastic resource to see what it was like for my ancestors. Some of it is a little dense, and it focuses quite a bit on the church and religion, but that's understandable since that was one of the main things that held the Chicago dutch together. I have to give it 5 stars, though, just for the fact that there is a picture of my grandpa in this book!

Swierenga does a fantastic job of pulling out all the details, both historic and personal, of the Dutch people who settled in the Chicago area. From religion to schools, societies, businesses, politics, to the "other Dutch," this book covers it all and includes wonderful photos of old Chicago, the farms, churches, schools, transportation (horse-drawn wagons, milk trucks, garbage trucks, etc) and families. Much of the book deals with the religious aspects of Dutch immigration and life as religion played a huge and fascinating part in the daily lives of the Dutch. "Dutch Chicago" is an amazing compilation of history and geneaology entwined with personal stories and interesting tidbits... very readable, very educational.

I found this work very interestingly. I am of Dutch Ancestry. I lived in the Roseland part of Chicago the first ten years of my life. I also attended the First Reform Church of Roseland (later known as Thorn Creek Reform Church) the first 25 years of my life. I currently attend Covent Presbyterian of Elk Grove Village. An interest in Calvinism is an asset in finding this book interesting.I have traveled back to Calvinism. I have put two of this author's work on my future reading list: Dutch Reformed Church of the 19th century; Dutch Immigration and Settlement in the United States1820-1920.

This work contains many things not church history or theological, but if this does not interest the reader he will bypass a great portion of this work. A lot of this work is about how congregations were formed in the Reformed and Christian Reformed Churches. Also dealt with quite a bit is church building and congregation's moving and building new buildings as the members move to new areas. Pastors quitting, dismissals, and the calling of a new pastor, Sunday work, Allow or not allow Sunday Schools, Internal theological conflicts about Dutch vs. English sermons, Union membership, to permit woman a vote, Purely Psalter sing or sing Hymns, To have accompany Music (Church Organ), To allow members to join Masonic lodges, Congregational sing or allowing a choir to sing some songs, and controversy in how run and regulate youth groups. This book also gives a history of Christian Education included Controversies at Christian High and Timothy Christian.

Again this book also deals about work ethic, social organizations, Catholic Dutch, Jewish Dutch, Dutch Companies, and a brief description of political thought and behavior.