By MLive.com 

ZEELAND -- The Zeeland Historical Society has requested a $100,000 contribution from the Holland Township Board to help complete restoration on the 127-year-old New Groningen School on Paw Paw Drive. The group purchased the building in 2006 to renovate into a schoolhouse museum and community meeting center. Society manager Kit Karsten said his group has $80,000 raised for the renovations and needs an estimated $455,000 for the restoration. A fundraising campaign is under way. Karsten said the school is believed to be the oldest public building in the township and used brick from Veneklasen Brick Co., which flourished in the area from 1848 to 1924. Karsten told the board that the funding could be spread over several years.