August Landwehr’s life, like the 1920s, was roaring.

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When, in 1923, fire destroyed the Ottawa Beach Hotel — and given the age of the existing Holland Hotel — Landwehr spearheaded a building drive for a large, modern hotel to host Holland Furnace's sales events.

To finance the project, Holland Furnace lent two-fifths of the capital needed and maintained a 51 percent interest. When finished, the Warm Friend Tavern had 144 rooms, nine apartments, a grill room, a downtown office for Holland Furnace, a gift store, a shoe store, a barber shop and a hair salon.

It also had five sample rooms where traveling salespeople could show their products, a laundry and public restrooms.

Soon after, Holland Furnace introduced a long, cylindrical duct cleaning machine, which helped open more basement doors for its salesmen.

Landwehr also served on the board of the Holland Maid Electric Washing Machine Company, Holland Country Club, Holland City State Bank, DePree Chemical Company and the Holland Fish and Game Club.

In 1924, he helped persuade Miss Helen Clarke to relocate her Sunnycrest School for Girls from Chelsea, Michigan, to 968 South Shore Drive. He also supported Nellie Churchford’s Mission.

In 1925, Holland Furnace built a plant in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. That year, the Holland Chamber of Commerce elected Landwehr president. In 1926, Landwehr and the chamber persuaded Otto Szekely to relocate his engineering company from Moline, Illinois, to Holland.

Szekely brought 20 engineers with him and formed the Szekely Aircraft and Engine Company. Meanwhile, P.T. Cheff began driving for the Kollas (co-owners of Holland Furnace Co. and Landwehr's in-laws) and learned to fly.

When Oscar and Katherine Nystrom divorced, Katherine (daughter of the Kollas) and their two children, John and Helena, remained at Hazelbank while Oscar moved into the Warm Friend Tavern.

Paul Landwehr was born to August and Louise (daughter of the Kollas) in 1907. By this time, he was coming of age. He'd graduated from Holland High School and attended the University of Southern California, where he met George Lyle, whom Otto Szekely had recently hired as a test pilot in Holland.

On Friday, July 27, 1928, Paul invited George for a boat ride in his 30-foot Chris Craft runabout. Along for the ride were John Kolla Nystrom, Earl Van Lent, John Arens and two others. Paul had also invited P.T. Cheff, but he declined on account of an earache.

Although the weather was a pleasant 75 degrees, there was a strong wind, causing waves on Black Lake (Lake Macatawa). With Paul at the helm, the speedboat left the Hazelbank docks for Lake Michigan. Upon their return, they encountered a side-paddle steamer bound for Chicago, the City of Holland.

For fun, as was his practice, Paul circled the steamer like a test pilot, hitting speeds of 40 miles per hour. As they were rounding the steamer on the north side, the wind nudged them toward the side-wheel. The side-wheel’s suction pulled them in, and the power of the wheel crushed the boat. Paul, George, Earl, and both Johns were killed. Lifeboats saved the other two riders.

After the accident, August Landwehr consoled the families. But later, Landwehr was inconsolable, blaming himself and his wealth for the accident. Ironically, later that year, the company’s stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

A year later, Holland Furnace introduced Aire-U-Well, a propeller device that circulated air from the furnace. It led to the company's most successful year to date, with sales over $18 million and profits over $2 million.

After her son’s death, Katherine Kolla Nystrom moved to the Beverly Hills Hotel in California. P.T. Cheff followed her, and played polo with celebrities Will Rogers, Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy.

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Back in Holland, August Landwehr was suffering a nervous breakdown. In 1929, in response to his declining health, the Holland Furnace Board named his brother, Charles, president and general manager, and his brother Edward vice-president.

John Kolla wanted them replaced and made his intentions known to his wife and daughters, to whom he had transferred via trust the Kolla family stock. Simultaneously, in California, Katherine Kolla Nystrom married P.T. Chef. She was 42. He was 26.

The company then made two other momentous decisions — it discontinued its research into air conditioning after initial efforts failed, and it introduced an exhaust gas testing service to open more doors for its salesmen.

I will say more next week.

— Community Columnist Steve VanderVeen is a resident of Holland. Contact him through start-upacademeinc.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland History: The beginnings of tragedy for August Landwehr