The Holland Oz Project ~ September 25, 2021

In front of the Herrick District Library at 300 S. River Avenue in Holland, Michigan, these sculptures can be found standing alongside a yellow-brick road. And they are marvelous. They were modeled after the original drawings of W.W. Denslow, the illustrator of  "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" written by L. Frank Baum. These photos were taken in April of this year.

The yellow-brick road is then continued across the street at Centennial Park.

Note the "it is suggested by" and "most likely" on the sign. Suspect.

It is undisputed that Baum summered in Macatawa Park for about 10 years in a house he first rented and then purchased, nicknamed Sign of the Goose after his Father Goose book. (it burned down in the 1920s). Baum lived in Chicago from 1890 until 1910 when he moved to California. Most research indicates he wrote Wizard of Oz while living in Chicago at 1667 Humboldt Blvd. Holland, Michigan-based articles use language like:

"assumed he drew inspiration"

"have a feeling it was finalized in Macatawa"

"assumed he wrote part of the book here"

"local legend states"

"some believe"

"possibly wrote"

"reportedly inspired"

"it is thought to have"

(There have been others who have claimed to be the inspiration for Dorothy 😊 ) 

This is problematic language and there is no proof he was inspired by people, boardwalks, or even a castle-like building nearby, and there is no evidence he wrote any of the book while staying in his summer home. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. But saying so doesn't make it so. Regardless, the sculptures are fun and we visited again in May when things were a lot more colorful.

The promised giant book was still not in Centennial park, however.

Later that summer we were in Holland again and stopped by the park. There the huge book was in all its plant glory.

"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" book differs from the movie and is a bit darker. But we all know and love the movie, and L. Frank Baum will always be honored in Holland, Michigan with this fine tribute.