Volume 37, number 1
September 2015
Grand River Times The Newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society Inside this issue: Cover Story: September program Letter from our President, page 2
A WALK THROUGH OAK GROVE CEMETERY BY THOMAS DILLEY Saturday, September 12, 2015, 10:00 a.m.
2015-2016 GRHS Schedule
Sunday, September 13, 2015 12:00 p.m.
page 4 History of Labor Day, Page 6 Happening in History, page 6 Photo Sleuth, page 7
Our exploration of the historic burial sites of Grand Rapids will continue on September 12 & 13, at one of the oldest, and certainly the smallest of city cemeteries, Oak Grove Cemetery. Though today situated in the midst of the busy, and thoroughly developed southeast end of the City of Grand Rapids, our walk into Oak Grove Cemetery will provide a brief look at what much of southern Kent County looked like more than a century and a half ago. When the cemetery was first opened, as the Paris Township Cemetery probably about 1839, all of the land that surrounded it was forested, and then only beginning to be opened up by early arrivals for farming purposes.
Search: Grand Rapids Historical Society ________________________________
Next program: After the September cemetery tours, the Grand Rapids Historical Society’s next program will be on October 8, 2015 at the Donnelly Center at Aquinas College. The speaker will be Ron Yob, Tribal Chairman of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians and Adjunct Instructor in the Sociology Dept. of Aquinas College.
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Dear GRHS Members,
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, emeritus Jeff Systsma Jim Winslow Kurt Yost Jessica Riley, editor Grand Rapids Historical Society c/o Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library St. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Website: www.grhistory.org Email: grhs.local@gmail.com Grand River Times
As I sat at Ah Nab A Wen Park on a very warm Monday evening waiting to listen to another night of Jazz at the Park in downtown Grand Rapids along the river, I thought of what a generous community we have, where so many people give so many hours to so many non-profits. It is the board of the West Michigan Jazz Society that puts on those concerts. It is the board of the Historical Society that we have to thank for all the behind the scenes work that allows us to offer you eight programs each year featuring a wide range of topics. This year we have a CHANGE OF VENUE! The generous co-sponsor of our programs this year is Aquinas College. We were informed in late spring that we would not be able to have our programs at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum due to major construction. Board members put feelers out trying to find a place that offered convenient parking and room that could accommodate our audience. The Donnelly Center at Aquinas College fit the criteria. Six of our eight programs will be at the Center, including our annual meeting and banquet. We hope to see students at our programs on campus. One off site program will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in September, and the other, a re-schedule of the Old Federal Building tour, which was cancelled last year due to weather. We will provide a map and a mention about the new Aquinas location in each of our newsletters this year, lest you forget where to go since the Ford Museum was our program home for so long. Please note that long time board member Wilhelm (Bill) Seeger has taken emeritus status. Thanks to Bill for many years of active duty. We have changed newsletter editors. John Morrison, who was with us a long time, went back to school, got another degree and found a job, not surprisingly, at a nonprofit. We wish him well. We welcome Jessica Riley. Her job is behind the scenes, but vital to getting Society information out to you. Continued on page 5
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. 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% 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
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Continued from cover Among those early arrivals were members of the family of Daniel Guild, brother of the first pioneer to settle in Grand Rapids, Joel Guild. The first burial at Oak Grove, in the year of its founding, was for Daniel’s young daughter, Harriet, who died at the age of two years, in 1839. Over the next ninety-five years, some fourteen members of the extended Guild family would rest at Oak Hill, including both of Harriet’s parents and many of her siblings. In style and appearance, Oak Grove closely resembles Fulton Street Cemetery, founded only the year before. Actually more graveyard than cemetery, Oak Grove repeats the strongly geometric lines and layout found at Fulton Street, and is filled with many burials of the earliest Paris township residents, mostly farmers and small businessmen and their families. Oak Grove lacks the large or elaborate markers and memorials found at Oak Hill and Greenwood cemeteries, both because the vogue for the The marker at the Slater family plot at Oak Grove holds ostentation of late-Victorian cemetery art had not a number of interesting symbols, all indicative of the yet arrived, and because many of the residents of sentiments and activities of the family. Paris Township, which we know today as the City of Kentwood, lacked the inclination and the means to install markers of this type. Still, the markers and headstones left by the area’s early residents, and those who came later, are filled with arresting messages and symbols, along with surprising information about the lives that they led, and what mattered most to them. Please plan to join the members of the Grand Rapids Historical Society, on Saturday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m., or Sunday, September 13, at Noon, for a walk through Oak Grove Cemetery, led by local historian and author, Thomas R. Dilley. This event is open to all interested members of the public without charge. Oak Grove Cemetery is located at the northwest corner of Kalamazoo Avenue, and 28 th Street, in Grand Rapids. Entry to the cemetery is off of Kalamazoo Avenue, next to the Grand Rapids Fire Station. Signs will guide you to the location. Copies of Mr. Dilley’s recent book, The Art of Memory, The Historic Cemeteries of Grand Rapids, Michigan, will be available for purchase at a discounted rate, for the benefit of the Society.
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
2015—2016 Grand Rapids Historical Society Programs
September 12 and 13, 2015, Cemetery Tours
February 11, 2016
Saturday, September 12 10:00 a.m.
Community Builders: Early African American Women in Grand Rapids
Sunday, September 13, 12:00 p.m. Presented by: Thomas R. Dilley, Oak Grove Cemetery – Kalamazoo and 29th St. Entrance off Kalamazoo between the fire station and the ballfield.
Presented by: Yvonne Simms, Grand Rapids Study Club and Jo Ellyn Clarey, GRSC and the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council March 10, 2016
October 8, 2015 A History of the Native Americans in the Grand River Valley
Federal Building to W.N. Ferris Building: Renewal and Reconstruction Presented by: Tom Mathison and Gene C. Hopkins
Presented by Ron Yob, Tribal Chairman of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians and Program on site of Ferris/Kendall Building Adjunct Instructor in the Sociology Department of Aquinas College. A classroom format with April 14, 2016 audience participation. Fighting the Civil War: Historical Treasures of the Conflict in the Collection of the National November 12, 2015 Civil War Museum. How the Pere Marquette Railway Presented by: Wayne E. Motts, CEO of the Impacted Grand Rapids National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg, PA Presented by: Tom Buettner May 12, 2016
January 14, 2016 East Hills: Past, Present, and Future Presented by: Rachel Lee, Director of East Hills Council of Neighbors
GRHS Banquet and Program, Wicked West Michigan Presented by: Amberrose Hammond
***Please note: The programs this year (unless otherwise specified) will be held at Aquinas College in the Donnelly Center. Aquinas College is located at 1607 Robinson Rd. SE. (access off of Woodward Lane) .
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY JOIN THE GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY OR GIVE A MEMBERSHIP AS A GIFT The Grand Rapids Historical Society sponsors eight lectures each year. Members of the society enjoy these benefits:
The Grand River Times is the newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society. Published and mailed to members eight times a year, it includes current items of historical interest, details of upcoming lectures, historically relevant activities, and short articles.
The Grand River Valley History is the society’s annual magazine. Featured are illustrated articles by local history researchers and contributions from the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the City Archivist, the Grand Rapids Public Library, and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
20% Discount on all books and other items published by the society.
Please enroll me a member of the Grand Rapids Historical Society: _____ New _____Renewal _____Gift _____Lifetime:
$400.00 one-time fee
_____Individual/Family Membership
$30.00 per year
_____Senior Citizen or Student
$20.00 per year
Name: Address: City/State/Zip: 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
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Looking to the future, you should know that our program committee is always searching for speakers and they keep a possibilities file. If you have a program idea or have seen a program that you think would be of interest to members, please let a board member know or email it to us. We would love to have a speaker or researcher’s name with contact information. I read in the Press tonight about the Morton House re-do. It is very exciting to have the building come alive again with people. I firmly believe that downtown living is what will keep our downtown alive. A complete remodel is being done on the Water’s Building only two blocks from the Morton House. One building housed the buyers coming to the furniture market and the other housed the furniture that the buyers came to see. This is good. For those of you who grew up in Grand Rapids and went downtown to buy your records, you may have stopped in Dodds Record Shop. When I was in high school at Catholic Central the shop was at the north east corner of Division and Monroe. It is now located at 20 S Division. It is open again and is an absolute step back in time. There is lots of vinyl to consider. Memories are free. They have a Facebook page which has a phone number you can call for hours. They were able to find in the racks a copy of Son of Word Jazz by Ken Nordine, which holds great childhood memories for me. It came out in 1958 and became one of my favorite albums. See you at the programs. Grand River Times
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
HAPPENING IN HISTORY : SEPTEMBER 2015 Reading the Great Lakes Thursday, September 3, 2015, 7:00 p.m. Main Library—111 Library St. NE Come explore the Lakes with us! We’ll read 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 will be lead by our smart librarians and will take place the first Thursday of every 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. September’s selection is The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. West Michigan Genealogical Society Saturday, September 12, 2015, 1:30 p.m. Main Library- Ryerson Auditorium 111 Library St. NE
West Michigan Postcard Club Monday, September 14, 2015, 7:00 p.m. Faith United Methodist Church 2600 7th St. NW Free and open to the public Michael Hauser, native of Grand Rapids and author of 20th Century Retailing in Downtown Grand Rapids, will be speaking about the history of retail in Grand Rapids. At its peak in the mid-1950’s, downtown Grand Rapids boasted over one million square feet of retail space, making it Michigan’s second largest preferred retail destination. Generations made the trek to downtown Grand Rapids for back-to-school events, Easter shows, holiday windows, and family luncheons. The presentation will take a closer look at some of the home grown icons including Herpolsheimer’s, Steketee’s, and Wurzburg’s, as well as other beloved downtown businesses. Guests will also be treated to images of vintage ads, catalogs, and signage for some of downtown’s best known emporiums. The evening will conclude with a question and answer and an opportunity for attendees to express personal remembrances.
Going the Extra Mile-How to make the most of your hometown genealogy and historical societies. Maureen Nelson will highlight some of the smaller groups to the north of Kent County and ways you can help your local group. Maureen is the President of the Mecosta Co. Genealogical Society in Big Rapids and enjoys "digging deeper" to find some things that you might not find so easily. Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table Wednesday, September 16, 2015, 7:30 p.m. DeWitt Student Center, Kuyper College 3333 East Beltline NE Dr. Roger Rosentreter will be talking about the history of the confederate flag.
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
History of Labor Day Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September. It is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. This yearly national tribute to the contributions of American workers was first celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City. Labor Day originated during one of American labor history’s most dismal chapters. In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week in order to make a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children, some as young as 5 or 6 worked in mills, factories and mines across the country. They earned a fraction of what their adult counterparts made. People of all ages, particularly the poor and recent immigrants, often faced extremely unsafe working conditions. These workers also dealt with issues such as insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks. In light of these conditions, the idea of a working persons holiday was very popular and caught on in the large, industrialized cities. Peter J. McGuire, cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, and Matthew Maguire, a secretary of the Central Labor Union, both have been credited with the creation of Labor Day in the 1880’s. By 1894, a majority of states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers. On June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories. Members of the Bakers Union Local 78 march in the Detroit, Mich., Labor Day parade. Date unknown, likely 1950s or 60s. (http://www.dol.gov/laborday/history.htm)
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY PHOTO SLEUTH It's back-to-school time! Time to start thinking of classrooms and schedules and packed lunches. Maybe a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich, like the trio in this photo have. This 1949 Robinson Studio image is from an elementary class in the Hall Street School, who were making the sandwiches to sell and raise money for a school trip. Do you know any of these young scholars, or their teacher? If so, please email the Local History department at localhis@grpl.org.
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. postage PAID Grand Rapids, MI Permit No. 234
Grand Rapids Historical Society, Inc. c/o Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library St. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A WALK THROUGH
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
OAK GROVE CEMETERY
Cover Story: September program
BY THOMAS DILLEY Saturday, September 12, 2015, 10:00 a.m.
Letter from our President page 2
Sunday, September 13, 2015 12:00 p.m. 2015-2016 GRHS Schedule page 4 History of Labor Day, Page 6 Happening in History page 6 Photo Sleuth Page 7
For more information on Historical Society programs, please visit www.grhistory.org Grand River Times
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