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The Holland Academy was founded in the early 1850s by Albertus C. Van Raalte and the Dutch settlers in the new town of Holland, Michigan. In 1851 Van Raalte called it his "anchor of hope for the future of the people". Fifteen years later the academy became a college. Hope became the college name, and the anchor became the college symbol. The Anchor was installed in front of Graves Hall in 1965. It was given to the college by Alpha Phi Omega, the national service fraternity. It weighs 1,790 pounds and was obtained from the Boston Medals Company in Chester, Pa. The anchor was reported to be over 100 years of age when it was donated, making it the same approximate age as the college.