Volume 37, number 4
January 2016
Grand River Times The Newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society Inside this issue:
East Hills: Past, Present, Future PRESENTED BY:
Cover Story: January program Letter from our President page 2
Rachel Lee Thursday, January 14, 2016, 7:00 p.m. Aquinas College—Donnelly Center
The East Hills neighborhood has a unique history that adds to its current vibrant character. It History Detectives has, however, taken a lot of hard page 4 work and citizen involvement to regain some of the character that the neighborhood possessed in its 2016 Program Schedule early beginnings. The majority of page 5 the East Hills neighborhood was built in the late 19th Century, when it was made up of orchards Happening in History and farms. During the late page 6 1800s, the city of Grand Rapids experienced the effects of the industrial revolution and massive Photo Sleuth immigration of Europeans. Many page 7 of these different ethnic groups settled in the East Hills area of the city because it was accessible due to the streetcar. These walkable communities connected the residents to schools, churches, commercial needs, industrial, and transit. Development occurred along transit routes at the time in form Search: Grand Rapids Historical Society of the streetcar, which went along Cherry Street, Eastern Avenue, ________________________________ Lake Drive, Wealthy Street, and Union Avenue making it easy for the residents to travel downtown or to Reeds Lake. From 1870 to 1920 Next program: After the January program, the Grand Rapids the population of Grand Rapids grew from 16,507 to 137,634. The local businesses began to grow along with the neighborhoods and Historical Society’s next program offered goods to the residents. For years the neighborhood served its will be on February 11, 2016 at the residents and was considered a safe neighborhood for families. Donnelly Center at Aquinas College. The speakers will be Yvonne Sims and Jo Ellyn Clarey. Their program is titled: Community Builders: Early African American Women in Grand Rapids.
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During the 1960’s East Hills went from being a thriving active community to a neighborhood filled with blight, crime, and abandonment. This was quite a different picture than that of its early beginnings, as the area was left for neglect as residents headed for the newly created suburbs.
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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
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What do Lucius Lyon, Noahquagashik (Chief Noonday), Jay Van Andel, Bishop Baraga, Lyman Parks, Helen Claytor and Stanley Ketchel have in common? They are all immortalized in bronze and can be seen day or night around downtown Grand Rapids. All are part of the Legends of Grand Rapids series funded in total by the Secchia Family Foundation. I like that people coming downtown will see permanent art pieces that tell a piece of the story of our city’s history. In fact there are also statues in honor of Arthur Vandenberg, and Rosa Parks which also tell their story and put them in perspective of their place in history. While on vacation up north this fall I took along books to read. The first one I read was Grand Rapids Beer: An Intoxicating History of River City Brewing. I was surprised to find reference to Lucius Lyon in this book. It seems that Lyon “was the president of the first temperance society, called the Washingtonians, in 1812”. (p.54) The second book was recommended by my husband. Michigan’s Columbus: the Life of Douglass Houghton gave me new perspective to those early surveyors who mapped out the state when it was still western territory. Houghton and our own Lucius Lyon were friends and had similar interests and had a couple of adventures together. How does this tie in with the first paragraph, you might ask. Well, anyone who has gone on one of my sculpture/architecture tours knows that I mention how small the statue of Lucius appears to be. I had wondered if in fact he was a small man, not having ever seen a picture of him with any kind of perspective to give me the answer. It surprised me when I read on page 7 of Michigan’s Columbus that “Lyon was a large man, standing almost six feet tall and weighing around two hundred pounds.” I now have that additional information to share when giving tours. The Lyon statue was the first in the series of 25 that will go up over the years. There are now seven statues in place and I will say that the rest are of Legend size, as they should be. It doesn’t help that Lyon is in front of the large Amway Grand Plaza (Pantlind) Hotel. Even a seven foot statue might look small in comparison. Regarding the two books that I read on vacation, I personally recommend them.
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 Along with the Urban Renewal demolitions that occurred in the downtown area during the 1960s and 1970s, the face of inner city neighborhoods in Grand Rapids drastically changed for the worse. Public transit, which was for many years a popular choice of travel, also experienced huge cutbacks due to the affordability of the automobile. Rather than facing these issues head-on, many people continued to leave to the suburbs. With the absence of homeowners, large amounts of housing were bought up by slumlords. Long term businesses also left the area for the suburbs leaving buildings vacant with boarded up storefronts for illicit activity to occur. Drugs and gangs became prevalent in the area and long term neighbors began to feel angry and determined to regain their community. It is often said that the best way to unite a group of people is to find a common enemy or target. In the 1980s, the nonprofit organization East Hills Council of Neighbors was formed to face the common enemies and take back the neighborhood that they once loved. The involvement of a few concerned residents became a sustainable neighborhood association that has changed the fate of East Hills. The vision of the East Hills Council of Neighbors is to provide guidance, assistance, direction, and information in the areas of housing, public safety, education, local economic development and community development for the people who live, own property, and work in the neighborhood. Since 2004, East Hills has experienced tremendous growth as new shops, restaurants, breweries, bars, and coffee shops have opened within its three business districts of East Fulton, East Hills, and Wealthy Street. In addition, housing is in great demand. Single family houses in East Hills, on average, are sold within one week of being listed for sale. The rental market in East Hills is highly competitive. Over the next two years, eighty-one new market-rate living units are proposed to be added to our neighborhood along the Cherry Street and Wealthy Street corridors. Foot traffic and bicycle traffic along all of our streets increase 100% every year. The Rapid bus covers the East Hills area with five routes: Route 4, 5, 6, 14, and 19. The streets in East Hills are not just busy with people on weekends; it’s every day of the year, regardless of the weather. The presentation from Rachel Lee will focus on the history of development of the three business districts within the East Hills neighborhood. Rachel Lee is a long-term resident and volunteer in the East Hills neighborhood since 2000. Rachel has led multiple projects related to community economic development and green infrastructure to benefit the neighborhood. She currently serves on the City of Grand Rapids, Bicycle Safety Education Steering Committee and the Strengthening Neighborhoods Task Force; the Neighborhood Coalition and Good Neighbor Committee. She has served as the Co-Chair of the East Hills Council of Neighbors from 2012-August 2013, President of the East Hills Business Association from 2006-2010, Board of Directors for the Wealthy Street Business Alliance from 2003-2010, Chairwoman of the Uptown Advisory Council from 2007-2009, Board of Directors for the East Hills Council of Neighbors from 2001-2003, and a member of the Local Planning Committee for the Michigan Historic Preservation Network in 2009. Rachel received a 2013 Special Recognition Award from City of Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Commission and she was a Woman of East Hills honoree in 2010 and a Logie Award Nominee for the 2009 Neighborhood Business Alliance Awards. She has written and partnered on numerous grants bringing a total of $600,000 in funds for projects in the East Hills and Uptown area. She has her B.S. from Grand Valley State University, School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration. Rachel is passionate about: local history and historic preservation; urban planning and placemaking; supporting local businesses; parks, public spaces and walkable-bicycle-friendly neighborhoods; Mid-Century Modern and Vintage Design; community emergency management and infrastructure planning; and urban living with her two sons Logan and Lyon Lee, her heart and soul. Grand River Times
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
History Detectives: Sleuthing for Local History Saturday, January 23, 2016, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. *Limited Seating - Space is limited and seating is offered first come, first served. There will be an overflow room available with a simulcast video presentation. 9:30 a.m. — 10:15 a.m. “Kindergarten and ‘Radical’ Women in 1890s Grand Rapids” by Scott Bultman Sponsored by the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council Kindergarten has a history? Revolutionary German methods for teaching young children were adopted in Grand Rapids when members of the Ladies Literary Club founded a Kindergarten Training School in 1894. The Froebel Foundation's Scott Bultman will use his vast collection of photographs and documents to report on how LLC women lured the country's best teacher here from Chicago and how the daughter of Grand Rapids’ first architect devoted her life to the movement. Kindergarten became both a calling and a career opportunity for local women from varied socio-economic levels and racial backgrounds. Built by dedicated women reformers and philanthropists nationwide, the movement spawned settlement houses and the YWCA, as well as temperance and suffrage initiatives. Grand Rapids' fascinating story will illustrate the overall national history.
10:30 a.m.— 11:15 a.m. “When Everyone Knew Everyone: Forming a Latino Community in Mid-Century West Michigan” by Delia Fernandez Sponsored by the Western Michigan Genealogical Society Latinos have a long and vibrant history in West Michigan. Local sources tell us that, although their numbers were small, some of these migrants and immigrants date back to the 1920s. Evidence shows that by the 1940s they formed a very tight-knit community. Through consulting oral histories and reading a variety of primary source text documents against the grain, this presentation uncovers a rich history of Puerto Rican and Mexican community life in Grand Rapids. Come learn about how church festivals, baseball leagues, dances and other recreational activities helped to foster strong relationships and unity among Latinos in Grand Rapids in the 1940s and 1950s.
11:30 a.m.— 12:15 p.m. “Retail Icons: Shopping Downtown in 1950s Grand Rapids” by Michael Hauser Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Historical Commission At its peak in the mid-1950s, downtown Grand Rapids boasted over one-million square feet of retail space, making it Michigan’s second largest shopping destination. This presentation will take a closer look at some of the home-grown icons including Herpolsheimer's, Steketee’s and Wurzburg’s, as well as others. Generations made the trek downtown for back-to-school events, Easter shows, holiday windows and family luncheons. A number of Michigan-based companies such as S.S. Kresge even set trends in consumer culture. Guests will be treated to images of vintage ads, catalogs and signage from some of downtown’s best known emporiums.
1:00 p.m. — 1:45 p.m. “New-Car Smell: Nostalgia and the Story of Grand Rapids Car Dealerships” by Thomas R. Wilson Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Public Library Before Grand Rapids car dealerships relocated to today’s sprawling lots on suburban streets, early automobile dealers operated in more confined urban spaces near downtown and in city neighborhoods. Tom Wilson will track their movement as the car business expanded, first into neighborhoods like Eastown and Cheshire Village. They sold familiar cars like Plymouth, Pontiac and Chrysler, but also but also provided area outlets for the forgotten, such as Austin, Maxwell, Hupmobile and Studebaker. Take a look back at the heyday of car sales and automotive expansion from its beginnings before the Model T to the explosion of the Big Three and the arrival of imports like Volkswagen and Toyota. Continued on page 7 Grand River Times
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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
Grand Rapids Historical Society 2016 Program Schedule All programs (unless otherwise noted) are held at Aquinas College in the Donnelly Center. Aquinas College is located at 1607 Robinson Rd. SE (access off of Woodward Lane). February 11, 2016, 7:00 p.m. 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
April 14, 2016, 7:00 p.m. Fighting the Civil War: Historical Treasures of the Conflict in the Collection of the National Civil War Museum. Presented by: Wayne E. Motts, CEO of the National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg, PA
March 10, 2016, 7:00 p.m. 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
May 12, 2016, 7:00 p.m. GRHS Banquet and Program, Wicked West Michigan Presented by: Amberrose Hammond
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
HAPPENING IN HISTORY : JANUARY 2016 West Michigan Genealogical Society
Ethnic Heritage Festival— GR Public Museum Saturday, February 6, 2016, 10:00 a.m. 111 Library St. NE
Discovering Genealogical Clues in 19thCentury Photographs: A single photograph can unlock a family mystery. The details are in the photographic clues. Pictures document births, deaths, marriages, and more. Use an image as genealogical proof by understanding the language of family photographs.
The city of Grand Rapids and the surrounding region have a long standing history of diversity and various cultural traditions dating back from early explorers and fur traders, to modern day cultural rituals from new residents of the region. The Festival is a day-long celebration of music, dance, crafts and food representing the various ethnic groups that call West Michigan home.
Saturday, January 2, 2016, 1:30 p.m. Main Library- Ryerson Auditorium 111 Library St. NE
Maureen Taylor is a frequent keynote speaker on photo identification, photo preservation, and family history at historical and genealogical societies, museums, conferences, libraries, and other organizations across the U.S., London and Canada. She’s the author of several books and hundreds of articles and several television appearances. Reading the Great Lakes Thursday, January 7, 2016, 7:00 p.m. Main Library—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. January’s selection is The Radioactive Boy Scout: The Frightening True Story of a Whiz Kid and His Homemade Nuclear Reactor by Ken Silverstein.
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The event will begin at 10 a.m. and features a variety of organizations, performances, beer tastings and presentations. The Museum Café will feature ethnic food selections. There will be a special International Beer Tasting from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The beer tasting is open to those 21 and above for $5.00. Tickets will be available at the door. Colorful performances by various ethnic groups will take place throughout the day in the Meijer Theater and Galleria. Visitors will be able to view the Museum’s exhibitions with two specific exhibitions having a primary focus on diversity and culture: Newcomers: The People of This Place which highlights the ethnic groups that have settled the Grand Rapids area, and Anishinabek: The People of this Place which focuses on the Native American culture in the region.
Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table Wednesday, January 20, 2016, 7:30 p.m. DeWitt Student Center, Kuyper College 3333 East Beltline NE
Jim Spur will be speaking about Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Continued from page 4 2:00 p.m.— 2:45 p.m. “Modern Design Leader: The Story Behind Herman Miller” by Amy Auscherman Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Public Museum “By the middle of the 20th century the name Herman Miller had become synonymous with "modern" furniture. Working with legendary designers George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames, the company produced pieces which would become classics of industrial design. Since then, Herman Miller has collaborated with some of the most talented designers in the world, including Alexander Girard, Isamu Noguchi, Robert Propst, Bill Stumpf, Don Chadwick, Ayse Birsel, Studio 7.5, Yves Béhar and Doug Ball. Join Amy Auscherman, corporate archivist at Herman Miller, as she discusses the events, people, and design and management philosophies which have shaped the 108-year history of Herman Miller, Inc. 3:00 p.m. — 3:45 p.m. “The Intoxicating History of River City Brewing” by Pat Evans Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Historical Society Beer in Grand Rapids is big. But how big is it really? Journalist Pat Evans explores the history of beer in Grand Rapids and how it influences the multitude of brewers that now call West Michigan home. Evans will also take a broader look at how the current world beer industry developed, from an eclectic mix of world beer styles to the homogenous beers that dominated the United States for half a century. Those historical paths are important to understanding why beer has gone through a renaissance in the past decade and put the United States at the forefront of the beer world for the first time ever. Within that context, Evans also will look at how Grand Rapids fits into America’s beer world. 12:15-1:00 p.m.: Lunch – Reserve ahead of time! Boxed lunches are $10 and must be ordered in advance. Choose a turkey, ham or vegetarian sandwich (or make any of these gluten-free). Also included in the lunches are a fruit cup, pasta salad, cookie, condiments and bottled water. Pop will be available for an additional $1.00 and the Library has vending machines. To reserve a lunch, call 616.988.5492 or email rsvp@grpl.org by 5:00 PM on January 19. Cash payment is due at the event. Lunches by Cherry Deli; bottled water by Meijer; afternoon cookies by Lomonaco Sicilian Cookies. The Kutsche Office of Local History at Grand Valley State University also sponsors History Detectives.
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY
PHOTO SLEUTH January--brr! The first month of the new year brings a lot of shivers, but also a lot of opportunities to enjoy brisk outdoor sports, like skiing and sledding. Can you identify any of the four youngsters lined up to ski at John Ball Park in November 1947? If so, please email the Grand Rapids Public Library's 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
East Hills: Past, Present, Future By: Rachel Lee Thursday, January 14, 2016, 7:00 p.m.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cover Story: January program Letter from our President page 2 History Detectives page 4 2016 Program Schedule page 5 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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