Article in the Grandville Avenue Record
August 22, 1913 – Pg. 4

S. Prakken, the Record’s poet, attended the Jamestown township picnic last Saturday. This is his old home where he lived some 40 years ago, and the day was a most enjoyable one. Before going he penned the following poetic effusions. They were printed in circular form at this office (in English and Dutch) for distribution by him among his friends.

We reproduce the lines herewith:

‘Tis a picnic so they say
It is Old Settler’s day
Six miles square.
Jamestown has the praise
Remembering the days
Of old, and that is fair.

You know the reason why
Your parents, young an spry
Took the first test
Wherever you may go,
Their labor still will show,
Although at rest.

I hate to give a hint,
But I sees the foot prints
Of those gone long ago
Are now on every breast.
May we find them at last
Among the Heavenly throng.

I think its not a shame,
By mention a name
Of one or more.
Take Chamberlain for one
The old doctor, he has done
As well as those before.

Then Woodruff, number two;
I know he tapped my shoe,
And it was well done.
He was handy and on hand
Not poor, but rent his land
To John, his oldest son.

But gets a little hard
Eb Gerrith, he was smart,
So also Mr. Brandt
And Gitsel, that old man;
Praise him where ere you can
He worked unto the end.

Now go a little to the west,
Take Strik in with the rest
Old Spyker, and
His neighbor Mr Lanst
And then the very best,
The ox man Paws Rynbrand.

Now I go east again
I’ll do the best I can,
That is for me.
Ed Kudler was the name,
He started another game
In real estate you see.

The next one then on call
I think is Mr. Hall,
And also Sweet.
Next to him Mr. Parks
And then, there were some Clarks
I’ve dined there, and ‘twas a treat.

I can’t call every name
Although ‘twould be no shame
Six miles square.
Say, You won’t be misled
You can find on their head
A crooked hair.

I wish them all success
That our God May bless
Yea, every one.
And this means young and old,
The city paved with gold,
Be they’res when done.

Some names mentioned in the Dutch version included: Wenseh Kramer, Zal Alberts, Van der Wal, Bos, Rev. J. Van der Meulen, H. Van der Bunt, Eerwaarde Van der Bunde, Oom Veenbooer, Klooster, Hermanus Van der Bunt, A. Bos, Struiken, Bronkhorst, H. Brouwer, P. Arendsen, Cotts and John Smallegang. Also mentioned was Zutphen.