Rick Bosch will examine the life of Rev. George Smith and the history of the Old Wing Mission. We will also explore the lives of his family members, and his interactions with the Odawa including Chiefs Joseph and Peter Waukazoo. Stories involving George Fairbanks, Albertus Van Raalte, and the Dutch immigration to the Holland area, and their impact on our tale are also included.

These stories are well documented. However, of importance to this talk, much of the information used to write these tales is in the Holland Museum archives. These original source documents will be highlighted during this presentation.

Rick Bosch was born and raised in Holland. A Hope College and Northwestern University graduate, he spent 30 years in the chemical industry. Now retired, Rick volunteers for the Holland Museum as a researcher and a docent and for the Ottawa County Parks. He is also active in the efforts to clean up the Lake Macatawa watershed.