This page I have dedicated to myself and Lee to have this web site continue by other members of our families in the future for generations to come.

Lee and Cory 2002

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The Voyage over the Atlantic Ocean going to the great land of the United States.
February 16, 1954

As a boy of 16 years old I traveled the great Atlantic Ocean along with our family in a small boat called the Big Bear, which was named BIG but was not big it all.  Once we arrived in the Rotterdam Harbor we saw first hand how little this boat was. It looked like a small Tug Boat, which when it entered the open sea was bouncing around like a bull in an arena. After we traveled the first day, we landed for our first stop in La Havre French. And had our first taste of the open sea with the salted air of the Atlantic Ocean in our noses. From La Havre French we traveled to South Hampton England, to take on more passengers. This was the second day of our ten (10) day journey. 

Once we departed from England, we were confronted by the big Atlantic Ocean. It took at least eight days on the high seas, and I mean HIGH. The boat seemed like a toy in a big pool of water. The waves were, in my estimation at least 200 feet high if not more. Our boat had to climb the big wave and then when on top of the wave, the propeller would come out of the water. It then shuttered, shook and made horrible sounds like it was breaking apart.  We did not know, since it scared us so much if we were going to make it or not. Finally after day eight, we landed in Halifax, Canada. It was night, and cold, below zero weather, the harbor was not more then a landing platform made out of large wooden poles with a wooden deck, with one light glimmering from above. The platform was completely covered with ice from the spray of the ocean water, and so were the cables on board of our boat all were covered with clear blue ice, the cables were at least ten inches in diameter. When we arrived, some of the passenger had to debark for their trip further in to Canada. At one point, one of the passengers decided he was not going to get of off the boat and wished to go back to Holland. However the Captain ordered him to depart, and to wait for an other boat to take him back. After many words and shoving they took him by the hand and escorted him down the plank. We stayed on board the rest of the night, and continued our adventures voyage to the United States the next morning. This was our day ten on board this boat. When back on the Ocean we saw several Ice Bergs on our way to the New York Harbor, this was a exciting scene to pass these monster ice bergs going south. We then arrived in to the channel toward New York Harbor where passed the statue of Liberty, what a sight, in the middle of the channel on a little island there she was for everyone to see. We then entered the harbor front where we were processed, and since we did not understood english we were stuk. I remember my Dad could speak a little German from when he was sent to Germany by the Nazies. It took a little time before we could get our papers in order to board a train to finish our journey   

Cory on the San Francisco Bay

Cory on roller blades, never to old to skate !

Cory and Willie the BIRD

Cory & Lee taking a tour around the San Francisco Bay Area

from left to right Marie, friend, Wim Jr. Cory Vandergeld 1954

Cory in the background along with cousin Fia daughter of Ome Jan and Tante Betty.
picture taken in summer 1938

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