Volume 37, number 3
November 2015
Grand River Times The Newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society Inside this issue: Cover Story: November program Letter from our President, page 2 2016 Schedule
How the Pere Marquette Railway Impacted Grand Rapids PRESENTED BY: Tom Buettner
page 4 Happening in History,
Thursday, November 12, 2015, 7:00 p.m.
page 6
Tom grew up surrounded with railroads in Chicago. Therefore, his interest in trains should come as no surprise. One of his first contacts that Photo Sleuth, he had with the Pere Marquette (C&O) was when page 7 he took the train to the Interlochen Music Camp on a high school music scholarship. Later, a job move to Wisconsin enabled Tom to watch the railroad ferries from the C&O operate in Milwaukee, Manitowoc, and Search: Grand Rapids Historical Society Kewanee. When Tom and ________________________________ his family moved to Grand Rapids in 1985, his interest in Next program: Michigan railroads in general, and the Pere Marquette After the November program, the Railway in particular, was Grand Rapids Historical Society’s renewed. He became active next program will be on January 14, in several West Michigan 2016 at the Donnelly Center at Aquinas College. The speaker will be railroad clubs. The Pere Rachel Lee. Ms. Lee will be speaking Marquette Railroad was created from the merger of about East Hills: Past, Present and three railroad systems in January 1, 1900. Future. Continued on page 3 Grand River Times
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Dear GRHS Members,
We have had our first program at our new space at Aquinas College. The Donnelly Center was not as I remembered it from the last time I was on the east end of the Aquinas College campus, more than twenty years ago. The Hauenstein Library is where I remember the Donnelly center being and that is because the The Grand River Times is the Hauenstein Library did not exist at the time and newsletter of the Grand Rapids the Donnelly Center was the only building Historical Society, published six times served by the parking lot. annually. Established in 1894, the Grand Rapids Historical Society is There is new campus housing to the north of Donnelly also. The dedicated to exploring the history of night we were there an athletic field to the west was full of lacrosse West Michigan; to discover its players (they continued playing when the short but torrential rain moved romance and tragedy, its heroes and scoundrels, its leaders and its ordinary through). The sound system was good and the electronic equipment citizens. The Society collects and worked. The chairs were comfortable. The speaker, Levi Rickert, gave preserves our heritage, passing it on insight into a project he is working on with the Kutsche Center at GVSU. to new generations through books, “Urban Native American Experience in Grand Rapids� has an opening lectures, and education projects. reception on November 3, 2015 at the Mary Idema Pew Library multipurpose room on the GVSU Allendale Campus. The exhibit closes Executive Committee: with a campus dialogue on the topic November 18. It is open to the Gina Bivins, president public. A map for the Donnelly Center can easily be found by typing Matthew Daley, vice-president Aquinas College Campus Map into your search engine. The parking lot John Gelderloos, treasurer is off Woodward Lane. Parking for the Donnelly Center and the Hauenstein Library is a shared space. There are some spaces up the drive Board members: to the north, right in front of the entrance. I would like to see those Alan Bennett spaces available for our guests with physical limitations. There are Charles Bocskey several designated handicap spaces up there also. 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
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 2
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Continued from cover The Pere Marquette Railway was formed in April 1917 when the system was reincorporated after a reorganization. Its rails ran throughout Michigan and as far south as La Crosse, Indiana and to southern Ontario. The latter included trackage rights as far east as Niagara Falls and Bridgeburg, Along with these expansions, the Pere Marquette also had car ferry operations at Ludington, connecting with Milwaukee, Manitowoc and Kewaunee, Wisconsin. It also took over the Manistee & North Eastern Railroad in December 1931, giving it additional lines in northern Michigan. At its peak, the Pere Marquette was Michigan’s largest railroad. The Pere Marquette Railway came to an end when it merged with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad on June 6, 1947. It was because of this rich history, plus the previous experiences, that Tom got interested in this particular railroad. The November program brings the Pere Marquette Railway “closer to home”, emphasizing the impact that it had on Grand Rapids. A sampling of areas to be covered are: 1) The Pere Marquette’s predecessor railroad was instrumental in bringing the Dutch Settlers to the Hudsonville area in the 1870’s. 2) The Pere Marquette was a heavy user of insulated box cars and reefers, hauling large amounts of celery out of the Hudsonville area, cherries from the Grand Traverse Bay region, and onions from Newaygo County. 3) From its beginning, the railroad was closely associated with the furniture industry. A special named train, “Furniture City Special”, was the key link between the Grand Rapids furniture manufacturers and the Chicago Furniture Mart. 4) During WWII, the Pere Marquette moved heavy wartime traffic on a tight nine-and-a-half hour schedule between Chicago and Detroit, via Grand Rapids. 5) Pere Marquette had nine other named trains that serviced passengers going to Chicago, Muskegon, Traverse City, Detroit, and Bay View. 6) After WWII the Pere Marquette introduced the first all-new postwar lightweight streamliners - the “Pere Marquettes”. They provided special conveniences for the passengers and frequent service between Detroit and Grand Rapids, and later Chicago
Continued on page 7
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
2016 Grand Rapids Historical Society Programs 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 January 14, 2016
April 14, 2016
East Hills: Past, Present, and Future Presented by: Rachel Lee, Director of East Hills Council of Neighbors
Fighting the Civil War: Historical Treasures of the Conflict in the Collection of the National Civil War Museum.
February 11, 2016
Presented by: Wayne E. Motts, CEO of the National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg, PA
Community Builders: Early African American Women in Grand Rapids
Presented by: Yvonne Sims, Grand Rapids Study Club and Jo Ellyn Clarey, GRSC and the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council March 10, 2016
May 12, 2016 GRHS Banquet and Program, Wicked West Michigan Presented by: Amberrose Hammond
Federal Building to W.N. Ferris Building: Renewal and Reconstruction Presented by: Tom Mathison and Gene C. Hopkins Program on site of Ferris/Kendall Building Welcome New Members: Kirk Parent
Amy Lynn Nyenhuis
Abram Brosseit
Kathleen & Kenneth Nelson
Christine Friedt
Rod Denning
Michael Geyer
Bobbi Schirado
Kenneth Lachinet
Don Jablonski
Marykay Menn
Andrew Rossano
Scott Atchison
Marcia Shears
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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 as 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
Continued from page 2 The November program will be about the impact of the Pere Marquette railroad on Grand Rapids. I am sure many of you have memories of the first time you rode the train. My dad had business in Chicago when I was about ten and my brother Mike, twelve. Dad took us and mom along. All I remember about the trip is getting on the train and how exciting that was. It seems to me we got on at Plainfield and Leonard. If I am doing my math right, my parents had to arrange for someone to watch five siblings. I don't believe the last two in the family of nine kids were born yet. It's funny how those memories fade when you don't reminisce or have pictures to refer to. We have a few older city directories so I went and looked up railroads to see if, in fact, there was a passenger station where I remembered it. There was. Believe it or not our program committee is already working on lining up speakers for next year. Please let us know if you or someone you know has a program they would like to share with the public. Contact information is always necessary. If there is a topic you are interested in that you think other fans of local history would be interested in let us know. We will see if we can find a speaker.
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
HAPPENING IN HISTORY : NOVEMBER 2015 Reading the Great Lakes
West Michigan Genealogical Society
Thursday, November 5, 2015, 7:00 p.m. Main Library—111 Library St. NE
Saturday, November 7, 2015, 1:30 p.m. Main Library- Ryerson Auditorium 111 Library St. NE
Come explore the Lakes with the Grand Rapids Public Library! They are 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 will be lead by 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. November’s selection is White Hurricane by David G. Brown
West Michigan Genealogical Society Saturday, November 7, 2015, 1:30 p.m. Main Library- Ryerson Auditorium 111 Library St. NE
Come to the “Bizarre Bazaar”. There will be lots to see and do from 1:30 - 4:00 pm. A silent auction will be ongoing all afternoon. You will want to peruse what is available, make a bid on items that you would like and check back periodically to make sure you still have the highest bid. The auction will close just after the last class gets out so those individuals will have one last opportunity to check on their bids. If you donated items and they are unsold you can collect them after the auction. The rest of the materials will be recycled. During the auction enjoy one-on -one help, answering DNA questions, translating German or Dutch materials, help with Find-agrave look-ups, help organizing your documents and more.
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Classes: 1:45 to 2:15 p.m. “How to get star ted wr iting about your family” 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. Instr uction about inter libr ar y loans and a your of the 4th floor 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. " Compar ing Genealogy Software"
West Michigan Postcard Club Monday, November 9, 2015, 7:00 p.m. Faith United Methodist Church 2600 7th St. NW
The November 9, 2015 meeting is the annual post card swap and sale. It is only open to dues paying members. Dues are $10.00 and can be paid upon arrival. Members bring boxes and albums of cards for swap or sale, ranging in price from 10 cents to over $100.00. This is the only meeting which is open only to dues paying members otherwise the meetings are free and open to the public. Dues are used to pay for the meeting space, refreshments, and the publication and mailing of their newsletters and post card reminders.
Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table Wednesday, November 18, 2015, 7:30 p.m. DeWitt Student Center, Kuyper College 3333 East Beltline NE
Alan Broene, speaking on the Battle of Reams Station.
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Continued from page 3
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The Pere Marquette introduced “Roadrailers”, truck trailers that could be pulled behind freight or passenger trains without the use of trailer flatbeds. Service provided Grand Rapidians an opportunity to catch one of several excursion steam boats at either Ottawa Beach or Macatawa Park for a pleasant day trip.
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The Pere Marquette gave passengers access to the port city of Ludington, as well as neighboring communities including Benton Harbor, South Haven, Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Hart, Pentwater, Fremont, and White Cloud.
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The railroad’s connection with Holland brought in the Holland passengers to enjoy the attractions of Grand Rapids.
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The Pere Marquette service was not limited to out-of-area services. It also provided service to Oakdale Park and East Paris. A Ramona Branch serviced the resort and freight needs at Reeds Lake.
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The Wyoming Yard, the heart of the Pere Marquette Railway, was located at the convergence of lines connecting Grand Rapids with Chicago, Detroit and Petoskey. It provided jobs for thousands of workers.
Tom, a resident of Caledonia, Michigan, is noted in West Michigan for presenting programs addressing a multitude of topics – each well-researched - each one presented in a refreshing manor.
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY PHOTO SLEUTH Veteran's Day evokes reflection on what our countrymen and women have sacrificed for our freedoms. It undoubtedly also calls to mind the camaraderie of those who served together. This undated image from the Robinson Studio Collection, depicts a merry band of Navy men in mid song. Perhaps they were singing “Anchors Aweigh” for a reunited crowd? If you can identify any of the people in this photo, please email the Local History department at localhis@grpl.org. Grand River Times
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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
How the Pere Marquette Railway Impacted
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Grand Rapids
Cover Story: November program
BY TOM BUETTNER
Letter from our President page 2
Thursday, November 12, 2015, 7:00 p.m. 2016 GRHS Schedule page 4 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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