Part II: On the Street Where You Live: Down the Block and Through the Years in East Grand Rapids

by Mary Dersch

Take a virtual Zoom trip down the streets of old EGR via photos, ephemera and anecdotes. This program focuses on homes and people. Share memories!

Mary has been the volunteer curator for the City of East Grand Rapids History Room since 1993. She has spent her career as a librarian working in academic and public libraries and currently serves at the East Grand Rapids branch of the Kent District Library. Community volunteerism is a passion. She has served on the board of the Friends of the EGR Library since 1993 and was involved in campaigning for the expansion and renovation of the community center and library; the turtle and fish aquariums in the children’s room and giving countless local history presentations. She especially enjoys telling the East Grand Rapids’ unique history to all the second graders, who, as part of their class lessons, walk over to the community center to hear about Ramona Amusement Park and the large Reeds Lake steamboats of bygone days.

Ben E. West House on Robinson Road

Mary manages the East Grand Rapids History Room website https:// eastgrandrapidshistoryroom.weebly.com/ If you'd like to watch part one you can find it on the Grand

Rapids Historical Society's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WsoaiCxaaI

“Part II: On the Street Where You Live: Down the Block and Through the Years in East Grand Rapids,” presented by Mary Dersch, Thursday, September 9, 2021 via Zoom.

Be sure to visit our Grand Rapids Historical Society YouTube channel to view this presentation. https://youtu.be/q12vETJjaFc