Adriana was born Arjaantje Terpstra on 23 June 1897 in Hantum, Westdongeradeel, Friesland, The Neherlands. She arrived on Ellis Island on 19 June 1919 with the SS Nieuw Amsterdam together with her parents Harold and Hilda Terpstra and her youngest brother Isaak. She writes in her memoires how she went to Denver and lived with reverent Van Dellen and his familie as a housekeeper. About 1922 she married Wessel (Wesley) Spinder and became the mother of all Frisian-American Spinders. Adriana passed away on 2 February 1990. 19                            I Family Arrival

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I arrived in Denver on June 22. 19 with my parents Harold and Hilda Terpstra and youngest brother Isaak.
We came by tram from N.York after a sea voyage on a ship of the Holland America Line from Friesland and the Netherlands.
Arrangements had been made with Bethesda Sanatorium (as they owned a bus) that we should call them to pick us up and bring us to my sister and brother-in-law's home John Bandsma. They lived on a dry farm located on E Quiney Ave about 4 1/2 or 2 miles east of University Blvd.
As my parents spoke very little English, I was assigned to do the calling. I was nervous as I had not spoken English on a phone for 5 years.
I spoke with the then Miss De Boer later Mrs. Dr. George

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who was head nurse at the San.
after telling her we came from the old country, she no longer thought it strange we would arrive on Sunday.
While waiting for the bus we took turns sight seeing and guarding our bagage.
The building on 17th St. sure looked tall to us coming from a small village in Friesland.
The change of the dry prarie landscape did not compare favorable to the fields of lush grass and growing crops in the Netherlands.
The next day Rev. van Dellen send word asking me to come to live with them as maid, which I accepted. in a few days I was with them, on the narrow gage railroad to Buffalo Calo, for the summer. I was in awe of the Mountains

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as Mrs Ven was a former T.B. patient, who came to America all by herself in her early 20 ties as a sick young woman engaged to student v. Dellen who had one more year of study before becoming a candidate for the ministry.
Mrs. V. settled in Maxwell N.Mexico where there was a small settlement of Dutch people mostly young, all fighting the dreaded disease.
Somehow they did not prosper there. Some moved to Denver some to Eastern States. The Ven's went to Denver.
When we came, the 1st church had been remodeled and enlarged. I remember it being about 2/3 occupied that first Sunday.
we also had communion and as they were allready using the individual cups here which was a rather hot issue at the time

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and our ministers in Friesland being very strongly opposed too them I partook with mixed feelings.
at that time there was a horse barn in the rear of the church, a few people came with horse & buggy as most members lived close to church many on Lo Emersson. Dutchman Blvd. I believe my husband and I were the last ones to use the barn .
What a change from low Netherlands to the Mtns in America!
As this was our second time to emigrate to America I had a limited knowledge of the English language, no Bible English, 5th grade. There were a few other Dutch families residing there in Buffalo, one was from Ill, Meter by name, but very few young people
needless to say, I missed my friends, and spend many lonely days there. Rev. & Mrs tried very hard to help me see the beauty

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of the Mtns area, I was in awe of it all, but still lonely, and read an awfull lot, during that time.
In Sept most people left, it was getting chilly, so we packed and came to the parsonage bay, that time Rev & Mrs had endeared themself to me, acting as if they were my foster parents.
A whole new world opened to me, such as the Telephone, vacuum sweeper and icebox to name a few. I became chief cook. sometimes burning the toast forgetting the rice in the soup etc.
We had a waterpower washmachine. as many homes were being built and occupied in our area the water pressure became less and less the machine stopping many time, it tried my patience, of which I did not posses too large an amount

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I learned a little of the problems of a pastor, also the language question was there, because of World War One all churches had been forced by the government, I believe, to have English service each Sunday, to prove patriotism.
Anyway Rev. Van Dellen was 24 yrs old when he came to this country, was required to attend our Seminary for 1 yr. before being exepted (=accepted) as a candidate in our church which he did, and then was called by the little flock of sick people in Maxwell. All Dutch of course.
After arriving in Denver Rev V attended D.U. for language study with a little imagination it will be easily understood that he had a hard time pronouncing the th. also the R caused problems.
I remember some young people seemed to find it amusing and

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didn't hide their feelings during the sermon.
Every Sat evening Mrs. V and I were priveleged to hear the English sermon, each one of us was asked to make corrections as improvement if we could, if the Rev. made one mistake during his delivery of his sermon, the next day, Monday, his free day, would be spoiled for him, as I understood. one of my missuse of English was, that I said that I had been teached, instead of taught, I've never made that mistake again, touchy subject.
The congregation grew steadily, as some of our members oreginally belonged to the Ref. chirch, they decided the time was right to organize a Ref Church. this happened in 1921.
the Chr. Ref. members stayed, and greatly missed those who left us

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as a good number of Dutch people or those of Dutch decent moved to Denver for health reasons, the membership of both churches grew steadily. as time went on, more people moved here, not only for their health, but because they liked the Colo climate.
In a few years time, the consistory proposed having a second minister. The congregation called Rev. Bonnema who lightened Rev Ven's workload of preaching, calling on the many sick, and spiritual adviser of Bethesda patients and Rev. Bonema served the congregation well, and was apreciated by the members.
Besides being pastor of the 1st Church Rev V. also taught the Sunday School lessen at Bethesda on Wed morning, walking both ways most of the time.
Mrs. McPherson came to Denver

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I think in 1921. she was a wonderful speaker, I heard her twice, and watched the healing services, a few of our people also went to be healed without desired results as far as I know.
Later the second church was organized then the 3rd est.
During my stay with the Dominé (2 yrs) I was prevailed upon to teach Sunday School since we had no S.S. in Wisconsin. It was all new to me and in English! I also only had Public School training, 9 yr old boys were assigned to me, and they were attending Chr. School. I had to study hard to keep up with them! Mr. Isaac Ver Lee was S.S. Supt and led the Teachers meeting. I learned a lot at the meetings.

I could tell enough to fill a book about myself and fam. as we moved to G.R. 3 times once as far as Clamosa (?) on way to California, another time as far as

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Englewood on our way to move to Clamosa (?) we lived in 37 different houses in our 43 yrs of marriage.
We must have had Gypsy blood I think.

Adriana Spinder
Summer 1983