Volume 42, number 1
September 2020
Grand River Times The Newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society
Inside this issue: Cover Story: Vice and Flowers Updated Photo Sleuth page 2 Little Bohemia: The Leitelt Family page 4 2020 Program Schedule page Photo Sleuth page 7
Search: Grand Rapids Historical Society
Vice and Flowers: The Black Hills, 1890—1906 By: Matthew Daley, GRHS Board Member, and Professor of History, GVSU Thursday, September 10, 2020, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Program on Zoom and YouTube https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tZwtdeusqD4qH9F5LZybktdqvIH-r4Ej1-th
In 1906, the Grand Rapids Press ran a story entitled “Where Vice Dwelt Peaceful” about the transformation of the Black Hills from a center of vice to a growing neighborhood of homes. “The Hills were a regular breeding ground for crime. Many a lad started on a career there that landed him in prison” recalled Detective Joseph Smith of the GRPD on the area’s colorful past. The Black Hills, named for the black oaks that grew along its slopes, is a rock outcropping lying between the Grand River and the steep ridge to the east where Grandville Avenue runs.
Our next program will be on Thursday, October 8, 2020. Ruth Stevens will be speaking about: Women Should be Seen and Heard: Grand Rapids and the Fight for the Vote
Grand River Times
Continued on page 3
1
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PHOTO SLEUTH UPDATE
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 Nan Schichtel, secretary Board members: Charles Bocskey Thomas Dilley Matthew Ellis Chris Kaupa Gordon Olson, emeritus Wilhelm Seeger, emeritus Jeff Sytsma Julie Tabberer 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
Our Summer Photo Sleuth was of this picture of the Grand Rapids Chicks from 1947. One of our members, Terry Konkle, identified the people in this photograph. (L-R) Twila Shively, Inez "Lefty" Voyce, Johnny Rawlings-Manager, Ruth "Tex" Lessing and Connie Wisniewski. At the present time all are deceased except for "Lefty" Voyce. Terry collected AAGPBL memorabilia for many years and gave it to his granddaughter. The picture was familiar to him and he found it with the players identified on the AAGPBL website. He attended many Grand Rapids Chicks games as a kid and attended one on their reunions a few years ago in Grand Rapids. We love it when our members identify the Photo Sleuth and add personal details. Thank you to Terry Konkle for his help!
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. 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
Between the two extends Godfrey Avenue that would become one of the principle sites production in the Furniture City. Along Market Avenue to the north ran the Michigan Central Railroad’s tracks and paralleling Godfrey were the tracks of the Pere Marquette that both helped to enhance its industrial future. However, during the 1890s, the sparse development meant that the Black Hills were a wooded patch of high ground that afforded both access to the railroads and the ability to watch for any intruders. According to Detective Smith, a gang of local criminals inhabited the area after having been pushed away from Island Field and then the area at Market and Wealthy. Combining with those rogues riding the rails, they would commit petty and major crimes throughout the area. Returning with their ill-gotten gains, they would drink and revel in peace among the woods safe from prying eyes. At the same time, the economic depression following the Panic of 1893 pushed thousands of men to follow the rails in search of work and opportunities. Throughout the nation, countless “hobo” camps sprang up near railroad lines in towns large and small. While lumped together, the term hobo meant a traveling worker, unlike “tramps” or “bums” who worked only sporadically. Such fine distinctions were lost on the public who lumped them together. Newspapers, including in Grand Rapids, ran stories on towns living in fear of the “tramp menace,” of hundreds of men descending upon their communities. Few of these ever took place, but the existence of camps in isolated areas near railroads troubled the same local authorities who also provided little in public relief. Police frequently broke up these camps, including a 1900 raid in the Black Hills that the Press reported officers as having “disturbed the domesticity of six disciples of wanderlust.” The years after 1900 saw the expansion of industry along Godfrey Avenue and the growing demand for housing brought development to the Black Hills. Logging started in 1902 and by 1910 had removed the oaks that gave the area its name. So too had departed the gangs and hoboes from the area as streets and lots were platted for the homes to come. So great was the change the Press ran a notice on April 20, 1904 that families should come to pick wildflowers that now grew on the hillsides where once the trees had whispered. No longer quite as isolated, the Press could boast in 1908 that “The Black Hills have become civilized.” NEW MEMBERS Roy Bennett Pam Brabo Jennifer Bruce Tyrell Cook Randy Currey
Grand River Times
Mary Dersch Christopher Estes Bob Huizen Mary Knudstrup Sarah Sharpe
Grand Rapids Press, April 30, 1904
3
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Little Bohemia: The Leitelt Family By: Nan Schichtel—GRHS Trustee This is the second article in an occasional series by Nan Schichtel, entitled, Little Bohemia: From Kratzau to Grand Rapids, Michigan One of the larger German-speaking immigrant families from Bohemia to Grand Rapids was the Leitelt clan. It is believed that they first heard of Grand Rapids through positive letters sent back home by Kratzau natives Dr. Wenzel Blumrich and his wife, Laura Beatrice Herkner Blumrich. The parents of the large Leitelt family were Josef Franz Leitelt (1791-1850) and his wife Barbara Johanna Truebel (1793 - 18??), and it is believed that they both died in Bohemia. However, a Barbara Leitelt, whose husband was a locksmith, lived at 316 Ottawa with her extended family in 1882 so perhaps she did immigrate in her old age. Many of Josef and Barbara’s children and grandchildren immigrated to West Michigan, with some heading onward to other German-speaking Bohemian settlements in the Grand Traverse region, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Chicago. Their family included:
•
Wilhelm Leitelt (1823-1871) m. Franziska Worm. They stayed in Kratzau, where Wilhelm inherited the family home.
•
Franz “Frank” Leitelt (1827-1893) m. (1) Caroline Catharina Worm (1829-1880) & (2) Christiana Frederica Lehman 1835-1891)
•
Wilhelmina Leitelt (1830-1893) m. Joseph Tannewitz (1824-1897) from Bohemia (probably Kratzau); they were married in Grand Rapids in 1855, and eventually farmed in Croton, Newaygo County. Their son Edward learned the machine business from his Leitelt uncles, and started Crescent Machine Works, which preceded the still operating Tannewitz Inc. of Jenison, which specializes in band saws.
•
Eduard “Edward” C. Leitelt (1831-1903) m. (1) Maria Theresa Neumann (1841-1873), (2) Anna Sommer (1847-1887), & (3) Mary Hertzig Richter (1829-1908)
•
Adolph Leitelt (1833-1897) m. Unknown Wife (1) & (2) Theresa Ansorge (1843-1882)
•
Marie T. Leitelt (1835-1901) m. Henry J. Keller (1836-1919); they married in Grand Rapids, and had one daughter, Josephine Keller Thiel Klepeck.
•
Joseph Leitelt Jr. m. Barbara Worfel; they stayed in Kratzau, but their son, Herman, emigrated in 1870 and married Anna Cordes from Alpine Township. This Barbara may also be the one listed in 1882 City Directories, rather than Joseph Sr.’s wife.
•
Wenzel Leitelt. No information on this son.
•
Caroline Leitelt. No information on this daughter.
•
Franziska Leitelt m. Anton Lichtner. They stayed in Kratzau, but Franziska’s brother Adolph traveled to Europe in 1878 to accompany the Lichtner boys, Henry and Joseph, to Grand Rapids.
The Leitelt brothers and other local Bohemians were featured in a Deutsche Arbeit article (7: 8-12, 1907 -1908. p.55-56.) “Deutsche Auswanderer NordBohmens in Amerika.”
Continued on page 5 Grand River Times
4
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Continued from page 4 Franz Leitelt Franz, or Frank, was born in Kratzau in 1827. It was there that he learned the machinist trade, and later married Caroline Catharina Worm (1829-1880) in 1853. Franz emigrated alone in March 1866, and his family arrived before early 1869. No family immigration record has been found. Franz was a machinist working with his brothers for 13 years before opening his own hardware business. Chapman’s History relates that Franz “keeps a full line of hardware, farming implements, etc. He carries a stock of $3,000, and does an annual business of $8,000.” His hardware store was located at 18 W. Bridge Street in 1880. “Mr. Leitelt owns a house and lot, 452 Ottawa St., and is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.” (Chapman 1881, p1066). After his first wife died in 1880, he married Christiana Frederica Lehman (1835-1891). Franz died at his home in 1893, and was buried from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Andrew’s Cemetery. Franz and Caroline had five children: Wilhelmina “Mina” Leitelt Batt; Frank Adolph Leitelt; Julia A. Leitelt Buechner; Mary F. Leitelt; Hedwig “Hattie” Leitelt Stoll; and Josephine Leitelt Kruger. Son Frank Adolph moved to Milwaukee where he was a machinist and engineer.
Eduard C. Leitelt Eduard C., or Edward, (1831-1903) was born in Kratzau, Bohemia, and is believed to have been the first Leitelt immigrant to western Michigan. The 1900 US Census states that he immigrated in 1846, although no ship records have been found. Eduard was very active in the family business; he was the original brother in the Adolph Leitelt and Bros. company name. He concentrated on blacksmithing, while brother Adolph was the machinist. (Michigan Manufacturer & Financial Record, 22:11, 27 July 1928, p. 36.) In 1891, brother Eduard left the family business which was then renamed Adolph Leitelt Iron Works. He apparently continued to work as a machinist for another few years before retiring. After his death, Eduard’s sons, Charles and Edward moved to Chicago where they started the Leitelt Brothers Foundry in 1908, a business that still was in existence in 2020. (https://www.lbfoundry.com/) Eduard was married three times – each time to German-speaking Bohemians. His first wife Maria Theresa Neumann (1841-1873) was born in Raspenau, Bohemia, now Raspenava, Czech Republic, near Kratzau. Her large Neumann family were pioneers of Dorr, Allegan, Michigan. Eduard and Maria Theresa’s children included: Joseph Leitelt; Gustave Howard Leitelt; Amelia Leitelt; and, William Leitelt. With second wife Anna Sommer (1847-1887), born in Friedland, Bohemia, now Frýdlant, Czech Republic, also near Kratzau, their children included: Edward Leitelt; Charles Leitelt; and, Helen Leitelt. His third wife was Mary Herzig Richter, also from Bohemia, (1829-1908) and that marriage was late in life and childless.
1874 View of the Factory. (Michigan Manufacturer & Financial Record, Vol. 13, 25 Apr 1914.
Grand River Times
Continued on page 6 5
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Continued from page 5
Adolph Leitelt While not the eldest, Adolph Leitelt was the best-known brother of the family, all of whom appear to have been tall, strong, and rather imposing. Adolph was over 6 feet tall per his passport application, about seven inches taller than most European-born men of that era. Adolph’s business acumen was often recounted in business publications, both in the US and abroad. Adolph Leitelt was a trained locksmith, and a well-known machinist – skills useful to any growing town, and especially those with industrial potential like Grand Rapids. Upon his emigration in 1853 and initial factory work experiences in New York and Michigan, in 1862, Adolph started A. Leitelt & Bros. Blacksmith & Machine Shop, an iron foundry and blacksmith shop with his brother Franz and brother-in-law, Eduard Ansorge, Jr., who worked almost 50 years as secretary/treasurer of the firm. The business was located at #5 Erie Street at Mill Street, on the east side of the Grand River, between Pearl and Bridge streets, at the center of the fast-growing city. In 2020, that is the site of the DeVos Place Conference Center. Later, brother Eduard Leitelt joined the others in business. Theirs was a prime location to serve the growing lumber and furniture industries and manufacturers that needed belts, gears, and other metal parts, as well as to take advantage of the river as their source of power. The brothers hired many German-speaking recent immigrants, and most of the families from Bohemia got their first jobs at Leitelt’s, or one of the other concerns where Adolph was an investor or sat on a board of directors.
2020 Program Schedule Women Should Be Seen and Heard: Grand Rapids and the Fight for the Vote Thursday, October 8, 2020, 7:00 p.m. Presented by: Ruth Stevens The Women’s suffrage movement in Grand Rapids began as early as 1874 when local suffragists organized and brought Susan B. Anthony to Grand Rapids. Hosted by Grand Rapids suffragists Marion Carr Bliss and Cordelia Briggs, Anthony met with local suffrage leaders and spoke at Luce’s Hall in downtown Grand Rapids. Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council board member Ruth Stevens will tell this story using archival photographs and the words of Grand Rapids suffragists from newspaper articles, scrapbooks, and rare oral interviews.
A Journey from Plaster to Community: The Story of the GUB (GalewoodUrbandale-Burlingame) Thursday, November 12, 2020, 7:00 p.m. Presented by: David Britten This presentation will explore the history of Grand Rapids’ southwest neighboring community since 1833. Beginning with the discovery and milling of plaster, the advent of the electric interurban, growth of the industrial sector, rise of two key commercial districts, we’ll look at the key pioneers, changes over time, and the parallel growth of several churches and schools. (1895) Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan. Sanborn Map Company, Vol. 1. [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn04023_003/
To be continued in a later issue…. Much more on Adolph Leitelt and his many contributions.
“A. Leitelt & Bros. Co.” (ownership unknown) circa late 1870s. The men seated in the front row are believed to be brothers Franz (Frank); Eduard; Unknown Older Man – perhaps Eduard Ansorge; and, Adolph Leitelt behind the large round gear.
Grand River Times
6
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.
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: 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 RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY PHOTO SLEUTH Our September Photo Sleuth selection comes from the Robinson Photo Studio Collection. This picture dated May 19, 1958 from WOOD-TV’s show “Bop Hop” which was the Grand Rapids version of American Bandstand. If anyone in this picture looks familiar or if anyone has any memories from the “Bop Hop”, please email the Grand Rapids Historical Society at grhs.local@gmail.com
Grand River Times
7
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
Vice and Flowers: The Black Hills, 1890—1906 By: Matthew Daley, GRHS Board Member, and Professor of History, GVSU Thursday, September 10, 2020, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Program on Zoom and YouTube https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tZwtdeusqD4qH9F5LZybktdqvIH-r4Ej1-th
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cover Story: Vice and Flowers Updated Photo Sleuth page 2
Little Bohemia: The Leitelt Family page 4 2020 Program Schedule page Photo Sleuth page 7
For more information on Historical Society programs, please visit www.grhistory.org Grand River Times
8
