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Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and Reformed. Other churches included
Netherlands Reformed, Evangelical, Congregational, Presbyterian,
Lutheran, and Baptist.

The historical index of the CRC does not contain the name of J.W. Poot.
The index might not be complete, but it is doubtful that J.W. would have
served with them. The CRC was rigidly conservative, while J.W. was more
concerned with the broader evangelical principles promoted by Rev.
Kuyper and Dwight Moody.

The Dutch Reformed Church, later renamed the Reformed Church in
America (RCA), does not record Reverend Poot ministering to any of their
churches until 1895. That was when he was in Hudsonville, which is 13
miles SW of Grand Rapids.

Rev J.W. Poot may have participated in the construction of the Holland
Home. Dutch congregations of some local Reformed Churches saw the
need for a Christian nursing home for the elderly and the ill. In 1892 the
Dutch organized a foundation and collected money to establish the
Holland Home. It is now one of the largest assisted living centers in the
U.S. and cares for 1,750 people.

Young Will Poot assisted his father by teaching Sunday School. His quick
mind and sincere interest in religion would have made Will an excellent
teacher. All of the members of the Poot family were musically talented
and fine singers. It is likely that Will played either a piano or foot-pedal
organ for the classes and taught them religious songs in addition to their
Bible lessons.

Grand Rapids offered several recreational opportunities. John Ball Park on
the West Side of town was named after a prominent early settler who
donated the land to the city in 1884. The park was popular for picnics,
and a small petting zoo was established in 1891, the year the Poots
arrived.

One of the pleasant changes Will experienced in America was that he was
now able to ice-skate. He never skated in Holland, even though he wanted
to. In the Netherlands, Will had watched longingly through the windows of
his home at children skating on the river in the winter. He was not
allowed to play with them because skating was for the "lower classes".
This rule changed after Will came to America, and ice-skating became a
lifelong pleasure for him. Grand Rapids' many streams and ponds became
good places to ice skate in the winter. He also enjoyed tobogganing on
the snow.

Reeds Lake was a very popular recreation area 3 1/2 miles east of
downtown. The Reeds Lake Street Railway, also known as the "dummy
line", carried passengers between downtown stops and the lake. Several

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