OLD CORNERSTONE RAISED

"The old corner stone of the Second Reformed Church was found last Tuesday morning,
April 21, 1908, and the box was removed in the presence of a number of citizens
and members of the church.

"The box contained a copy of the Christian Intelligencer of October 1, 1863, a copy
of the Bible of 1862, a copy of the constitution of the Reformed Church of America,
minutes of the June session of Synod of 1863 and a historical sketch of the
organization of the church. The documents were almost destroyed by water, the stone
having been laid so low that water had seeped in and rusted away one side of the
tin box. A number who witnessed the laying of the corner stone were disappointed
at not finding the relics in better condition."

PELLA BECOMES A MODERN CITY

While Pella had not been behind other towns of her class in commercial development
and the building of modern homes, up to the year 1909 there had been little done in
the way of up-to-date public improvements. The light plant was old and inadequate;
the water supply was only fit for street sprinkling; there was neither sewer nor
paving.

This was not due to neglect or lack of enterprise on the part of the officials so
much as it was to the conservative policy of the citizens. An attempt to vote bonds
for a municipal water and light system had been defeated. In the spring of 1909 an
administration was elected consisting of new men in practically every department.
The tide had turned and the progressives were in the saddle. A short time after the
new officers took charge, an election to issue bonds in the amount of $60,000.00
for water and $30,000.00 for light was held. The result was that the proposition
carried by about 80 per cent in favor of the bond issue. Resolutions of necessity
for a complete sewer system were also passed. Later the same administration passed
the preliminary resolutions for paving the principal streets; junketing committees
were sent to various parts of the country to investigate the different kinds of
paving, etc.

As soon as the necessary legal steps could be taken and the contracts let, the work
of constructing the water and light system was commenced and pushed to rapid
completion. The result was that by 1910 Pella had one of the most modern water,
light and sewer systems of any system in the state. We are glad to be able to say
that all the dire prophesies of bankruptcy and disaster, made by the opponents of
progress, have failed to materialize. The statement which follows, showing the
present status of the municipally owned public utilities of Pella, completely
vindicates the judgment of our citizens in the action taken by them in the year
1909.

The administration, who had charge of city affairs at the time that this important
work of putting Pella on a modern basis took place, was composed of the following
men:

Mayor, N. J. Gesman; Treasurer, Wm. Kruger; Assessor, John Bloem; Clerk, A. C.
Kuyper. Aldermen at Large, A. N. Kuyper, A. W. De Bruin; First Ward, A. Waechter;
second, Jacob Plender; Third, E. J. Faassen; Fourth, L. P. Grundman.

Before the work was completed and accepted by the city, there were some changes in
the Council.

On the 17th day of May, 1910, L. P. Grundman removed from the Fourth Ward, and K.
van Dusseldorp was elected to fill his unexpired term as alderman for that ward.

On December 10th, 1910, L. P. Grundman was elected Alderman at Large, to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Alderman A. N. Kuyper.