Volume 38, number 4
January 2017
Grand River Times The Newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society Inside this issue: Cover Story: January program Letter from our President page 2
THE STREETCAR ERA IN GRAND RAPIDS PRESENTED BY: Carl Bajema and Tom Maas
History Detectives page 4 Happening in History page 6
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 7:00pm Ryerson Auditorium, Grand Rapids Public Library
Photo Sleuth page 7 Search: Grand Rapids Historical Society
Next program: After the January program, the Grand Rapids Historical Society’s next program will be on February 9, 2017 at the Grand Rapids Public Library. Jeff Sytsma will be speaking about: Brookby and the
Blodgetts.
Step back in time to ride street cars in Grand Rapids. Horse cars (1865—1892) that first ran on Canal St. and Monroe Ave, cable cars that ran up and down Lyon and east Bridge (now Michigan Ave) street hills (1888—1891), steam dummy trains that ran to Ramona Park at Reed’s Lake (1881—1890) and to North Park resort (1890—1894) on the banks of the Grand River (1890—1894), electric street cars (1891—1935), and interurban cars (1901—1932) all carried passengers within and to-and-from Grand Rapids. They provide us with a window to view what it was like to live in Grand Rapids between 1865 and 1935. Continued on page 3
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Dear GRHS Members, 2017 is just a week away and I really feel that I have not done a good job of wrapping up 2016. There are so many things I haven't quite finished, including this newsletter article. Thankfully much of what I do is with great people, and within the group it gets done. One really fantastic group is the History Detectives planning committee. Once again, this The Grand River Times is the event with eight great programs will happen on Saturday, January 28, 2017, newsletter of the Grand Rapids beginning at 9:30 a.m., ending at 4:00 p.m. Because of the popularity of this Historical Society, published six times annually. Established in 1894, event, held in the library auditorium, there will be a simulcast in the the Grand Rapids Historical Society VanderVeen Room on the fourth floor. Box lunches will be available but is dedicated to exploring the history must be reserved by calling 616-988-5492 or email rsvp@grpl.org. of West Michigan; to discover its Information about the event can be found on the library web site, and sites romance and tragedy, its heroes and scoundrels, its leaders and its of any of the collaborating organizations. One of the great things about this ordinary citizens. The Society event is that eight non-profits put this together. 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 Nan Schichtel, secretary Board members: Alan Bennett Charles Bocskey Thomas Dilley Tim Gleisner Marilyn Hamill Chris Kaupa Gordon Olson, emeritus Wilhelm Seeger, emeritus Jeff Sytsma Jim Winslow Tony Wright Kurt Yost Jessica Riley, editor Grand Rapids Historical Society c/o Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library St. NE
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The January 12, 2017, Historical Society program is about the streetcar era in Grand Rapids. I was a user of the bus system in the 1960s, when I was in high school and college, but only occasionally now. I look forward to insight into this earlier form of mass transportation. Looking a little further ahead, the Grand Rapids Public Museum will present its annual Ethnic Heritage Festival on Saturday, February 4, 2017. There is always entertainment and information about many of the ethnic groups that call this community home. There is plenty to do this winter in Grand Rapids. We hope history programs are at least one of the choices you make. See you at the library.
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 front page The first horse car line ran south from the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad depot down Canal Street (now lower Monroe Ave) and passed through the factory district along the east side power canal, the business and shopping district, Campau Square, up Monroe Ave and ended at Fulton St. and Jefferson Ave intersection. A horse line was built south on Division to Hall in 1873 ending at the fairgrounds. Small dummy locomotives replaced horses on the line to Reed’s Lake in 1881 enabling the line to transport more passengers in a shorter time to the Reed’s Lake resorts. Another dummy steam locomotive line was built to Soldiers’ Home and North Park Resort in 1890. Cable cars began running up and down the steep Lyon St. hill in 1888 and the east Bridge St. (now Monroe Ave) hill in 1889 forming a loop. Cable cars could be pulled up hills that were too steep for horses to pull cars. The cable cars also could be pulled at speeds up to 12 mph. The cable railway era lasted only three and a half years and was a financial disaster because of the cost of the initial investment and the fast rate at which the cable wore out.
The electric street car era began in 1891 after the financially ailing cable and horse street car railway companies merged. As many as 100 electric street cars could be seen traveling through Campau Square in downtown Grand Rapids in an hour by 1894. Electric street cars had several advantages over horse cars and cable cars. Electric power made it possible to not only run street cars at speeds as high as 20—30 mph, but also to run heavier and thus longer cars which meant more passengers could be carried per car. The Grand Rapids street car system was a leader in innovation with respect to street car designs, efficient operation and courteous service during the 1920s. Buses which could be operated more cheaply began replacing Grand Rapids electric street car lines in 1932. Miles McDonald was the motorman in charge of the last electric trolley car to ride the rails on Grand Rapids streets early Sunday morning, August 26, 1935.
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10th Annual History Detectives: Sleuthing for Local History Saturday, January 28, 2017, 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. Present, But Not Counted: Dutch Immigrant Midwives in Grand Rapids Janet Sjaarda Sheeres Sponsored by the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council Though stories of male physicians are adequately represented in medical histories, accounts of female midwives have been woefully neglected. And what histories of early American immigrants ever ask, “Who delivered the babies”? Adding to her body of work on invisible Dutch women, Janet Sjaarda Sheeres has uncovered ten midwives working in late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century Grand Rapids, and thirty more in other Dutch colonies. She will address why these women chose work delivering babies; who their clients were; what hardships they faced; and why they are not in our histories. Sheeres’ findings also shed light on midwives serving other ethnic communities and why they have been sidelined in early historical records.
10:30 a.m.—11:15 a.m. Selling Grand Rapids: Expositions in the Furniture City, 1878-1965 Scott St. Louis Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Historical Society Grand Rapids' late-nineteenth century business leaders were ambitious and optimistic: striving for the greatest profit from available resources, they rationalized production workflows, integrating the latest technologies into their factories. They also took advantage of the railroad network connecting Grand Rapids to an emerging consumer economy, reaching new levels of prosperity through an industry on the verge of unprecedented growth: domestic furniture production. Local leaders established semi-annual furniture expositions and collaborated to make Grand Rapids' name synonymous with excellent household furniture on an international scale. With the help of a supportive community, leaders also resolved to prevent similar efforts in other cities from eclipsing their own. Their success transformed the physical and economic landscape of Grand Rapids.
11:30 a.m.—12:15 p.m. Making Waves: Michigan's Boat Building Industry, 1865-2000 Scott M. Peters Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Historical Commission Michigan's late-nineteenth century emergence as the boat-building industry’s hub drew together talented designers, builders, and engine makers to produce some of the fastest, most innovative boats ever created. Entrepreneurs like Christopher Columbus Smith, John L. Hacker, and Gar Wood established some of the nation’s top brands and brought the prospect of boat ownership within reach for every American consumer. Michigan boat builders also left their mark on history— from developing the speedy runabouts favored by Prohibition-era rum-runners to creating the landing craft that carried Allied forces to Europe and the Pacific. Making Waves explores this intriguing story of people, processes, and products—of an industry that evolved in Michigan but would change boating across the world. Continued on page 5 Grand River Times
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Continued from page 4 Lunch – Reserve ahead of time! 12:15 p.m.—1:00 p.m. 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. To reserve a lunch, call 616.988.5492 or email rsvp@grpl.org by 5:00 PM on Monday, January 23. Cash payment is due at the event. Lunches by Cherry Deli; afternoon cookies by Lomonaco Sicilian Cookies.
1:00 p.m.— 1:45 p.m. Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Rediscovering Emma Cole's 19th-Century Grand Rapids Flora Julie Stivers, Garrett E. Crow, and David P. Warners Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Public Museum In 1901, Emma Cole published Grand Rapids Flora, a catalog of plants growing without cultivation in the vicinity of Kent County. Enormous changes have taken place since those days, yet her book remains the most complete account of plants specific to our area. Who was this high school teacher, world traveler and Kent Scientific Institute botanist? Where were her favorite spots for wildflowers? Do they still exist? Julie Stivers will speak about the life of Emma Cole. Professors Warners and Crow will describe their work with Calvin College students to rediscover Emma’s haunts and assess their natural quality today. There are interesting surprises as we observe the changes over more than 100 years.
2:00 p.m.— 2:45 p.m. A Modern Vision Realized: The Mid-Century Park School Development Program Pam VanderPloeg Sponsored by the Grand Rapids City Archives In 1951, a successful Grand Rapids Public Schools millage vote launched a twenty-year building program to solve the crisis of aging, overcrowded schools and the post-World War II baby boom. A collaboration between the schools, prominent West Michigan architects and the Grand Rapids Park Department, led by landscape architect Fred See, created beautiful modern schools set in expansive parks in old and new neighborhoods, and brought national recognition. The story of how that project unfolded, and of the fate of those schools today, will be told through original and contemporary photos and images.
3:00 p.m.— 3:45 p.m. Reflections on the Gi-Gikinomaage-min (We are all Teachers) Project Belinda Bardwell Sponsored by the Western Michigan Genealogical Society Launched in November 2014, the Gi-gikinomaage-min (We are all Teachers) project aims to document the urban Native American experience in Grand Rapids. The local Native American community grew dramatically in the last half of the 20th century as a result of a little-known federal program still impacting American Indian lives today. The Urban Relocation Program created one of the largest mass movements of Indians in American history. This talk invites you to learn more about the Gi-gikinomaage-min project, based in the Kutsche Office of Local History at Grand Valley State University.
Limited parking is available in the Library parking lot and is free with a validated parking lot ticket Grand River Times
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GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
HAPPENING IN HISTORY: JANUARY 2017 Reading the Great Lakes Thursday, January 5, 2017, 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 Burnt Toast Makes Y ou Sing Good by Kathleen Flinn. Western Michigan Genealogical Society Genealogy Mini-Class Saturday, January 7, 2017, 12:00 p.m. Main Library- GRPL Lower Level Computer Lab 111 Library St. NE
Western Michigan Genealogical Society Saturday, January 7, 2017, 1:30 p.m. Main Library- Ryerson Auditorium 111 Library St. NE Topic: Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors Presenter: Jim Jackson Information on soldiers' military experience and later life is available from federal, state and local records. Some of these records have been reproduced or available online. Many useful internet research sites are presented. Jim Jackson has been interested in genealogy and local history since the mid-70s, having served as President of the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research, Inc, and President of the Oakland County Genealogical Society. He has been the index editor of the DSGR Magazine since 1994 and the current President of the Calhoun County Genealogical Society and Commander of Camp 22 (Marshall, MI) Sons of Union Veterans. Jim has taught genealogical classes and presented talks to various local and national Societies.
Topic: Using Others' Online Family Trees Presenter: Linda Guth This class will be looking at a few of the online family trees available to genealogists including Rootsweb, Family Search, and WMGS. These tools provide researchers with greater opportunities to locate information critical to furthering the development of their family tree. Also learn what to watch out for.
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Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 7:30 p.m. De Witt Student Center Kuyper College 3333 East Beltline NE The presentation for this meeting is titled: Was Gettysburg the Real High Watermark for Lee's Army?
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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 PUBLIC LIBRARY PHOTO SLEUTH This month's Photo Sleuth selection comes from the Robinson Studio Collection's negatives. In this undated photo, five unidentified young women rest atop a snow pile. If you know who any of these ladies are, 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 THE STREETCAR ERA IN GRAND RAPIDS PRESENTED BY: Carl Bajema and Tom Maas
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 7:00pm Ryerson Auditorium, Grand Rapids Public Library
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cover Story: January program Letter from our President page 2 History Detectives 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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