Rapids Historical Society
Volume 36, number 7!
April 2015
Grand River Times The Newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society
W h o t he H ec k is Ab ner D oub led ay: Inside this issue: Cover Story: April program
B as eb all an d t h e Civil War by Bruce Allardice (member of the Chicago Civil War Round Table)
Letter from our President, page 2 Searching for Doc Lavan, by Robert Schichtel, part 2, page 4
Co sponsored by: Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Grand Rapids Historical Society
Thursday, April 9, 2015, 7:00 p.m. at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Happening in History, page 6 Photo Sleuth, page 7
Search: Grand Rapids Historical Society
In May: Annual Banquet. Program: Berkey and Gay Litigation of 1933-34: The Furniture City’s Struggle Against a Corporate Raider. Save the date: May 14, 2015, 7:00 p.m., at the Women’s City Club.
Grand River Times!
Baseball was labeled the "national pastime" even before Fort Sumter, and Civil War soldiers spent more time playing baseball than they did fighting battles. Professor Allardice takes a sometimes serious, sometimes humorous, look at the "National Pastime" and how it was played during the Civil War. A professor of history at South Suburban College, Bruce S. Allardice is past president of the Northern Illinois Civil War Round Table, and past president of the Civil War Round Table of Chicago. Prof. Allardice has authored or coauthored six books, and numerous articles, on the Civil War. A Board Member of the Illinois State Historical Society, Prof. Allardice has presented numerous lectures and presentations on the Civil War and genealogy for Civil War Round Tables, museums, and civic organizations.
About the Grand Rapids Historical Society. The Grand Rapids Historical Society sponsors eight programs each year, beginning in September and running through May, including lectures, audio/ video presentations, demonstrations, collections, or special tours. Programs are co-sponsored by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Membership. Membership is open to all interested persons with annual dues of $30 per family, $20 for seniors and students, or $400 for a lifetime membership. The membership year runs from May to the following May. Members of the Grand Rapids Historical Society receive eight newsletters each year and a subscription to our annual magazine, Grand River Valley History. Members also receive a 20 percent discount on books published by the society as well as books published by the Grand Rapids Historical Commission. Change of Address. If you will be permanently or temporarily moving to a new address, please notify GRHS before your change occurs. Let us know your new address and the date you plan to leave and plan to return. Email to grhs.local@gmail.com, or mail to Grand Rapids Historical Society, c/o Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. 1
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Dear GRHS Members, The Grand Rapids Historical Society publication, Grand River Valley History, Volume XI, published in 1993 contains a very informative article by Richard H. Harms. The title of the article “A Century of Baseball in Grand Rapids” says it all. Since the speaker this month will be talking about Baseball and the Civil War, it seems appropriate to re-print a portion of the Harms article. …baseball has had enthusiastic supporters and promoters in Grand Rapids since the years following the Civil War. Beginning with the local entry in the Northwestern League in 1883, the city has been home to at least 32 professional minor league teams, and one professional women’s team. Some franchises, like the first team, lasted only a season. Others, like the Grand Rapids Grads of the Central League (1911-17) and the Grand Rapids Chicks of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1945-54), went out of business because their leagues folded. Baseball made its rookie appearance in Grand Rapids on the eve of the Civil War when a group of doctors, lawyers, merchants and clerks formed the Pioneer Base Ball and Wicket Club. With plenty of leisure time on their hands in the wake of the Panic of 1857, club members enthusiastically took to the field for a version of the English game of cricket. Played with bats, balls and two teams, this English sport was the forerunner of modern baseball. American baseball, meanwhile, was developing its own distinctive identity, particularly in the New York area where the game featured four bases on a diamond and nine players on a team. Civil War soldiers from the North and South saw and played New York-style baseball in their encampments, and carried the game to every section of the nation on their return to civilian life. In the years following the Civil War, baseball’s popularity spread to towns and cities throughout the United States. Grand Rapids was no exception. In May 1866, 40 men formed the Kent Base Ball Club and played at least one inter-squad game that season, but no other teams existed to provide competition. A year later, however, a reorganized Kent team had three eager opponents – the Peninsulars of Grand Rapids and the Custers and Wolverines of Ionia – and the contest for supremacy was on. The rules in those days called for barehanded fielding and mandatory easy pitches as requested by the batter. Until the ball was pitched, infielders were planted firmly on the bases; only the shortstop was allowed to move. High-scoring games were the inevitable result. One local slugfest ended with the Custers beating the Kents 60 to 30.” “The boys of summer … seldom lacked an audience. From the beginning, spectators turned out in droves to see the games, especially when professional teams were on the schedule. Until the late 19th century, baseball enthusiasts were called “cranks” in honor of their often critical comments about players skill and performance. The term “fan,” derived from “fanatic,” was first applied in 1889, and by the beginning of the 20th century, the word was permanently imbedded in the nation’s sporting vocabulary. Professional baseball came to Grand Rapids late in the summer of 1882. The city’s first professional team, boasting a lineup recruited from Grand Rapids and Chicago, played several games with teams from other Michigan cities. One of
Gina Bivins, GRHS President The Grand River Times is the newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society, published six times annually. Established in 1894, the Grand Rapids Historical Society is dedicated to exploring the history of West Michigan; to discover its romance and tragedy, its heroes and scoundrels, its leaders and its ordinary citizens. The Society collects and preserves our heritage, passing it on to new generations through books, lectures, and education projects.
Executive Committee: Gina Bivins, president Matthew Daley, vice president John Gelderloos, treasurer Board members: Alan Bennett Charles Bocskey Thomas Dilley Tim Gleisner Marilyn Hamill Chris Kaupa Gordon Olson, emeritus Nan Schichtel Wilhelm Seeger Jeff Sytsma Jim Winslow Kurt Yost John Morrison, editor
Grand Rapids Historical Society c/o Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library St NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Web site: www.grhistory.org Email: grhs.local@gmail.com
Continued on page 3
2
Grand River Times
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Continued from page 2
the season’s more memorable contests took place on September 11, when the Detroit Nationals, members of the National League from 1881 to 1888 and pennant winners in 1887, came to town. A thousand fans (still known as cranks) watched Detroit squeeze out a 2-1 victory over the hometown heroes at Recreation Park, located at the southwest corner of Jefferson and Franklin. Afterwards, the big league Nationals commented favorably on the quality of the local’s play. This article is loaded with photographs and has citations as to where the information was gleaned. This is only a portion of the article. I thought I should promote the Kent Base Ball Club, which former City Historian Gordon Olson, with others, started a number of years ago. They played by early rules and wore uniforms to match the era. I was sad to read on their web page, that they have disbanded. I went to several contests over the years and even though the players took the game seriously I can honestly say “a good time was had by all.” Last month I mentioned a book that was sent to the Historical Society written by Betsy Goolian. I finally found time to read it and enjoyed it very much. It is a family history and Armenian history. Just as I finished the book I read an article about the exodus of Irish and why they left their country in such large numbers. The article said that today’s text books contain no stories of actual people. We meet no one, learn nothing of anyone’s life, and encounter no injustice, no resistance. So, they say,
children don’t remember the history. I haven’t read a textbook lately, but I do know that I was not into history until I had a teacher who went out of the textbook and told stories about real, everyday people who made a difference in the world. The book, A Place to Call Home, tells stories of real people. It tells of injustices they faced, their resistance, and their resilience. These are stories that compel me to read more. Several months ago I wrote that I wanted to know more about the under-represented groups in our community. Having read this book I realize that I want to know the personal stories too, to make it real, not just an overarching history. Ask yourself, what do I know about my family? Are there hidden stories? A friend recently took a trip across the country based on a scrapbook their mother left. Since my friend blogged about the experience, those who wanted to could go along. And I did, and found out her mother never told her about this trip. The stories are there, we just need to find them before they are gone, forever. The Annual dinner, meeting and final program will be on Thursday, May 14 at the Women’s City Club. Final arrangements are being made and your invitation will arrive soon.
Join the Grand Rapids Historical Society or Give a Membership as a Gift The Grand Rapids Historical Society sponsors eight lectures each year, which are co-sponsored by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Members of the society enjoy these benefits: The Grand River Times is the newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society, mailed to members eight times a year. The Grand River Valley History is the society’s annual magazine. 20% Discount on all books and other items published by the society. Please enroll me as a member of the Grand Rapids Historical Society: ___ New ___ Renewal ___ Gift ____ Individual/Family Membership: $30.00 per year ____ Senior Citizen or Student: $20.00 per year ____ Lifetime: $400.00 one-time fee Name: Address: City/State/Zip Email: Please make check payable to the Grand Rapids Historical Society and mail it with this form to: Grand Rapids Historical Society, c/o Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library Street NE, Grand Rapids MI 49503 Grand River Times!
3
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Searching for Doc Lavan (Part 2) by Robert J. Schichtel assists. It is difficult to assess players from other eras due to changes in equipment, gloves specifically, quality of field surfaces and criteria of evaluation. BaseballReference listed May 29, 1952 as Lavan’s date of death in Detroit, Michigan with burial in Arlington National Cemetery. There appeared to be more to his “Who was Doc Lavan?” More life than what could be found on the back specifically, “Who was John “Doc” of a baseball card. Lavan? How was I unaware of him?” It The search continued with a was somewhat of a humbling moment. straightforward internet search for John Immediately, Baseball“Doc” Lavan. There were numerous sites Reference gave me the basic which could provide some basic biographical information. John information. Sometimes information was Leonard “Doc” Lavan, birth name at odds with other sites, usually on dates. Laven, was born in Grand Rapids, One site, arlingtoncemetery.com., proved Michigan on October 28, 1890. He to be helpful in quickly sketching out an attended Grand Rapids High School on outline of his three careers. There I was Ransom Street (later Grand Rapids able to piece together information about Central) graduating in 1907, Hope his professional career in medicine both in College graduating in 1910, and the the military and in the public sector. I felt University of Michigan Medical reasonably confident that a military School graduating in 1914. He came cemetery site would be well-sourced and upon his nickname honestly; he was a accurate. The more I learned, the more I real medical doctor. questioned why I had not heard more Lavan played major league about him. baseball from 1913 to 1924 with the Dr. Lavan worked as a doctor in St. Louis Browns, the Philadelphia the off-season while playing major league Lavan in uniform. Courtesy of Athletics, Washington Senators and the baseball. With the arrival of World War I, Legendary Auctions: St. Louis Cardinals. He was wellhe served as a surgeon at the Great Lakes respected for his gritty play, leadership www.legendaryauctions.com. Naval Base and retired in World War II as and because he was well educated. Few a Commander of the Naval Reserve. He players had high school degrees, far continued to play baseball during WWI. He fewer still, college or post grad degrees. served as a city health officer in: Kansas As far as I know he is the only player in City, MO; St. Louis, MO; New York City, major league history to also be the team NY; Toledo, OH; Kalamazoo, MI; Detroit, doctor. MI; and his hometown, Grand Rapids, MI He was known as a good field from 1935-1940. He served as Director of no hit shortstop. Baseball-Reference Research for the National Foundation of shows a lifetime batting average of .245 Infantile Paralysis (Polio). He was married in 1163 games. Conversely, Lavan held with two children. This certainly was not the season RBI record for Cardinal your normal light hitting-good fielding shortstops for over eighty years with 82. shortstop. He was also characterized by some as Finally, it dawned on me that he was error-prone, leading the league on more probably a member of the Grand Rapids than one occasion. However, more recent Lavan’s grave marker in Arlington Sports Hall of Fame. (GRSHOF) This was statistical analysis indicates a player Cemetery. Courtesy of Arlington in late January 2012. So I went to their ranked high for fielding range (26th National Cemetery website: webpage and found a list of all inductees career) as well as double plays and www.arlingtoncemetery.net. This story is continued from March. Robert J. Schichtel is a member of the Grand Rapids Historical Society. Schichtel is a retired Grand Rapids Public Schools teacher, and a long-time girls basketball coach at Catholic Central. He is currently teaching at the Kent County Jail.
Continued on page 5 4
Grand River Times
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Continued from page 4
since its inception in 1972. The GRSHOF was revitalized in 1995 after a dormant period and currently graces the walls on the upper halls of the VanAndel Arena. Over 130 individuals or teams have been inducted since 1972, and Dr. John Lavan was not among them. Why was he missing? What was I missing? What could I do about it? After talking to many of my baseball historian friends, I came to the conclusion that he probably was just the right age and era that when the GRSHOF got started he was overlooked. By 1972, it One of Robert Schichtel’s had been thirty years since baseball cards. he lived in the area and twenty years since his death. His contemporaries for the most part were ten years past their life expectancy. It certainly didn’t seem right that a person with his athletic and civic resume was not remembered in his own hometown and I decided that I would nominate him for the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame. The 2012 deadline was approaching. It was also apparent that I needed more information to confirm and clarify that which I already possessed. My sister is a librarian/historian/author/ genealogist who possesses the skills to find data from exclusive databases not always available to the ordinary researcher. She is also highly familiar with the history of Grand Rapids High School or Central during the early 1900s. This was the type of scenario she loved, and although she never has free time on her hands, she was also intrigued, and easily taken in. Within days I had approximately twenty-five documents that made reference to John Leonard Lavan. Most were copies of newspaper articles that gave short anecdotes about Lavan. All gave the reader a different taste or sense of the times with the language used, the turn of a phrase or just by the fact that it was newsworthy. Baseball, of course, has always had a language all its own. These documents brought to light some interesting stories. Lavan and a teammate once sued the St. Louis Browns owner for $50,000 each for making slanderous statements about the team “laying down” because of
conflicts with the manager. The owner retracted. Before the next season, Lavan was traded to Washington. Another article featured his association with Branch Rickey, his baseball coach at Michigan. Rickey went on to fame for his organizational skills as a baseball executive and for being the person who ushered Jackie Robinson into the big leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Rickey was instrumental in Lavan being signed and moving quickly through the minors to the majors. One article entitled “From Campus to Majors” by Heinie Martin of the Grand Rapids Herald stated that Johnny Lavan couldn’t make his high school team despite three attempts, but a few years later started on a major league career that would last twelve seasons. This raised some questions with my sister who surmised that perhaps (1) he was not good enough or physically mature enough to play; (2) the social-athletic structure of the high school was intertwined with the fraternities and secret societies that really controlled the sports teams. Lavan is listed as an independent in the GRHS yearbook. (3) Lavan participated in three sports at Hope College indicating the ability to participate in both academics and athletics successfully. (4) As a first-generation American, perhaps Lavan had to work through high school to pay for college, making participation difficult. High school and college sports both were highly different then. It wasn’t unusual for high
1912 University of Michigan baseball team. Lavan is seated on the floor in the front row, left. Courtesy of Wikimedia commons.
school and small college teams to compete with each other. In non-contact sports like track, some meets featured participants from high school, college, and industrial teams. This same article indicated that Lavan always stressed education to groups of young people, that he valued the experience of big league baseball, but a profession should be their first choice. Continued on page 7
Grand River Times!
5
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Happening in History: April 2015 If you have history-related events you would like included in our calendar, please let us know at grhs.local@gmail.com. Reading the Great Lakes Thursday, April 2, 2015, 7:00 p.m. Main Library – 111 Library St NE Come explore the Lakes with the Grand Rapids Public Library! They’re reading a range of titles including mystery, history, fiction, and nonfiction all taking place in the Great Lakes region—from Chicago to Cleveland. This book club is led by librarians and takes place the first Thursday of each month. Additional copies of the book are available to be checked out on Level 4 of the Main Library. For a complete list of books, visit www.grpl.org/ rtgl. April’s selection is Detroit City is the Place to Be by Mark Binelli. Genealogy Class: Prepping for the Allen County Public Library Saturday, April 4, 2015, 12:00 p.m. Main Library – 111 Library St NE Thinking about going to the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN on April 22-23? They have one of the largest research collections available, incorporating records from around the world. Our presenter will show you how to prepare for research at their library. Genealogy Class: Bringing Your Family Story to Life – Tips and Ideas Wednesday, April 8, 2015, 6:30 p.m. Main Library – 111 Library St NE You've spent many hours (or years) doing research, pouring over documents, visiting libraries, and interviewing people. Now you want to write up your family history to be more than charts, or lists of names and dates. How can you bring your family narrative to life, in a format that people will want to read? This talk will give you tips and ideas for writing narrative that draws the readers in while helping them keep track of who's who. West Michigan Postcard Club Monday, April 13, 2015, 7:00 p.m. Faith United Methodist Church, 2600 7th St NW Free and open to the public
6!
History of the Boats on Reed’s Lake. Gail Snow, author of Remarkable Ramona Park will relate stories about the numerous boats that once plied Reeds Lake. Snow will tell the story of the passenger boats, the boat rental resorts, the boat clubs, and, of course, the Reeds Lake Naval Wars. Snow volunteers at the Grand Rapids Public Library archives and is the historian at Cascade Christian Church. Grand Rapids Torch Club program. Membership is not required to attend and guests are always welcome. There is a $29 meeting charge for members ($33 for guests), which includes the meal, and reservations are required (torchclubgr.org). The social hour and dinner are an integral part of the Torch experience as they offer the opportunity for members and guests to become acquainted and share and exchange knowledge and ideas. •
The Monuments Men: A Grand Rapids Connection. Betsy Ford, Guest Speaker. April 14, 2015
Treasures of Your Library: A White Glove Event Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Main Library – 111 Library St NE The Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation is hosting a private viewing of the Peninsular Club Archives and the Robinson Photo Collections, housed in the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department of the library. This event will raise funds for the digitization and preservation of these collections. Tickets are available by contacting sallen@grpl.org. Genealogy Lock-In Friday, April 24, 2015, 6:00 p.m. Main Library – 111 Library St NE Come to the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections department for a free after-hours program just for genealogists! Learn how to use the microfilm reader/ scanner/printer, save images, and take advantage of free copying and printing during the event. Use the time to search databases—we will have plenty of computers available or bring your own laptop and use the library’s WiFi network. Bring your genealogy questions or Ancestry and Heritage Quest problems—volunteers will be on hand to assist. Network with other genealogists— you never know what you might find! Registration required: www.grpl.org/register or call 988-5400.
Grand River Times
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Continued from page 5
I had some contacts in the Grand Rapids sports An interesting document was secured from the community who might be able to give me Grand Rapids Public Library entitled “A some insight into the process, the Study of the Administrative Control of participants, and what had gone on Whooping Cough in Grand Rapids, previously. I learned that there were Michigan,” by John Leonard Lavan. It is substantially more nominees than I would dated January, 1942 and was a have guessed and persistence probably dissertation to earn his Ph.D. in Public was a virtue. Seriously, one did ask if I Health at the University of Michigan . Dr. was related to Lavan. Lavan referenced the great work of Dr. In January of 2013, a friend asked Pearl Kendrick and assistant Miss Grace me to join him at the West Michigan Eldering and his peripheral participation Whitecaps/Detroit Tiger Caravan banquet. as the Health Officer of Grand Rapids I was fortunate to get seated next to a with responsibilities of immunization person who I guessed might be involved clinics to write his paper on a program of in the GRSHOF process. In the course of administrative control. Dr. Lavan was the evening, I brought Doc Lavan to his extremely pointed in his attention and he took an interest. Within a acknowledgments that all credit should go couple of days I brought him a Doc Lavan to Dr. Kendrick and Assistant Eldering. It promotional package. was probably this experience that helped A few months later, John him secure the position with the National Leonard “Doc Lavan was elected in the Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. GRSHOF Class of 2013. In October 2013, In March of 2012, I confidently Lavan in a suit, probably for his Doc Lavan was formally inducted into the mailed my nomination letter to the University of Michigan graduation. Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame. His GRSHOF. I included much of what you Courtesy of Legendary Auctions. plaque hangs in the hall at the VanAndel have just read. I received a confirmation Arena. that it was received. Three or four months It is important that we remember later the Grand Rapids Press announced the 2012 inductees, those who have added to the richness of our local sports and John “Doc” Lavan was not among them. history and served the community so well. Surprised and somewhat disappointed. I felt that Lavan’s resume in the major leagues, in the military and in the field of public health was too extensive to be overlooked. Maybe there was something I was overlooking.
Grand Rapids Public Library Photo Sleuth It's finally Spring... right? Time to think Spring Training, and strain our ears for the crack of the bat. These unidentified young men were the 1936 Class B champions of the YMCA Industrial Baseball League here in Grand Rapids, playing for Globe Knitting Works. Can you help the library identify any of them? If so, email Heather Edwards at the Grand Rapids Public Library at hedwards@grpl.org, or call 616 988-5402, extension 5497. Last year, the Grand Rapids Public Library added more than 25 names to its photo index with help from the public, including Grand Rapids Historical Society members. Thank you! Grand River Times!
7
Grand Rapids Historical Society, Inc.
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Grand Rapids, MI Permit No. 234
c/o Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library St NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
W h o t h e He c k i s Ab n e r D oub led ay: B as eb all an d t h e Civil War
Inside this issue: Cover Story: April program Letter from our President, page 2
by Bruce Allardice Co sponsored by: Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Grand Rapids Historical Society
Searching for Doc Lavan, by Robert Schichtel, part 2, page 4
Thursday, April 9, 2015, 7:00 p.m. at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
For more information on Historical Society programs, visit www.grhistory.org
Happening in History, page 6 Photo Sleuth, page 7
