Young Vander Wagen family in Zuni - 1897
The Vander Wagen family: (front row) Richard, Andrew, Gertrude, Effa,
Bernard - (back row) Mary, Simon, Edward, Eleanor, Margaret. All Vander Wagen children
were raised in Zuni.
Circa 1924 - The Vander Wagen historic home (left) and
the original Halona Plaza building (right) - The Inn at Halona's current premises were
eventually built later between those two buildings
Richard Vander Wagen with grandson Rick Murphy
Chris Dodson, Websmith
- Graphical logo © Christopher Dodson 1999 -
 Do
you wish to know a bit more about the Vander Wagen family and the builders & previous
occupants of the Inn's premises? Just click over to the information page about "PRAYER WARRIORS", a book compiled, written and
self-published by Innkeeper Elaine Thomas. This spiral-bound volume may now be purchased
from this site and at The Inn At Halona.
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Andrew
Vander Wagen, born in northern Holland in 1868, arrived in Zuni on October 11, 1897, along
with his wife, Effa Hofma Vander Wagen . An accomplished horseman, Andrew came west as a
scout and missionary for the Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Effa, a
trained nurse, endeared herself to the Zuni people by saving numerous lives during the
smallpox epidemic of 1898. Andrew and Effa opened their first trading post in 1903 and
purchased the present store, Halona Plaza (located to the west of the Inn), in 1910. The
couple raised nine children in Zuni. Bernard J. Vander Wagen, the eighth child of Andrew
and Effa Vander Wagen, became a second generation trader in the early 1930s.
The Inn at Halona now occupies the residence which Bernard
built in 1940. It lies between Andrew and Effa’s historic home (just to the east) -
currently the residence of the owners - and the original trading post (since much
expanded). The sometimes unusual but wholly solid construction was accomplished by
carpenter, Clarence Pendergast, who boasted of never needing a square-rule or level.
Clarence, who was shell-shocked during World War I, lived with the Vander Wagen family
until his death in 1979. A number of Clarence’s primitive but colorful oil paintings
of Zuni and other Western scenes are now on display at the Inn. Great grandson of Andrew
& Effa, Rick Murphy of Murphy Builders,
Inc., and his crew of Zuni tradesmen, retained much of Clarence's building style
while remodeling the Inn's premises. They have also recently completed several
major renovations in Zuni and built the wonderful, new Zuni Christian Reformed Mission's Andrew & Effa Vander
Wagen Ministry Center. Another great grandson of Andrew & Effa, multitalented
Christopher Dodson (a previous, long time resident of
Zuni), has been instrumental in bringing this site to life... and the Inn At Halona to the
Web, along with lively, genuine bits of our life at Zuni - for the enjoyment of visitors
as well as community members!
"Three Generations of happy 'Vander Wagen'
Women"!
Innkeeper Elaine Thomas (left), granddaughter Tia (middle) and daughter Renee
(right). Renee and husband Allen own and operate ANASAZI TRADING
POST in the nearby resort of Lakeside, Arizona.
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Now available in Zuni...
