Volume 40, number 7
April 2019
Grand River Times The Newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society Inside this issue: Cover Story: April program Letter from our President page 2 West Michigan Tornadoes of 1956 page 3
From Pig Farm to Thriving Neighborhood PRESENTED BY: Fred Davison Thursday, April 11, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
Annual Meeting and Banquet page 5 Happening in History page 6 Photo Sleuth page 7
Search:
Grand Rapids Historical Society
Next program: After the April program, the Grand Rapids Historical Society’s next program will be on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at the Bluff Banquet and Conference Center. Michael J. Page will be speaking about: Lesser Known Grand Rapids Landmarks. Details about the banquet on page 5.
Grand River Times
at the Grand Rapids Public Library
In the early 1900’s, the 160 acre pig farm owned by Nelson Higbee was purchased and developed into a 9 hole golf course. Over the next 20 years the golf course changed hands several times. Ultimately one of the original owners and a friend decided to develop part of the land that was to become the Ottawa Hills neighborhood. The land was platted along landscape lines featuring beautiful winding drives and large open areas where streets intersect. The first set of lots were put on the market in 1922. The lots sold so quickly that a second plat was put on the market in 1923. The neighborhood was (and is) bordered on the north by Franklin Street, on the south by Hall street, on the west by Giddings Avenue and on the East by the border of East Grand Rapids (then Grand Rapids Township). In 1925, a High School was built on land left open for that purpose. By 1928, 200 brick homes dotted the landscape. Franklin Park (now Martin Luther King Park) was two blocks away. Calvin College and Clark home were just north of the neighborhood. There was little change during the Depression and World War II. In the 1960’s property values decreased during racial tensions in the city. Ottawa Hills Neighborhood Association organized to stop realtors from redlining and block busting and soliciting listings with scare tactics. Continued on page 4
1
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Dear GRHS Members, It is a busy time for the Society’s Board of Trustees. The Program Committee is lining up speakers for 2019/20120. Marketing Membership has been busy working with Coding For Good to create a new, fresh website. The end of our year banquet, Baxter Award presentation and May speaker arrangements are in their final planning stages. Publications is investigating new, affordable ways to get quality articles out to our membership. It cannot be stressed enough that our May program The Grand River Times is the has been moved to Wednesday, May 8, and will be held at The Bluff Banquet and newsletter of the Grand Rapids Conference Center, located 2035 28th St, just east of Indian Trails golf course. For Historical Society, published six those who have been a member for a while, this should be a familiar location. Please times annually. Established in 1894, the Grand Rapids Historical Society mark your calendar for this final event of the programming year. Invitations should is dedicated to exploring the history arrive in your mail soon and reservations will be taken until April 29. Membership renewal letters will be going out soon. If you have been renewing of West Michigan; to discover its romance and tragedy, its heroes in May, it is time. If you joined or renewed since September, you are given a grace and scoundrels, its leaders and its period and will need to renew next May. The Society puts on eight programs each ordinary citizens. The Society year, we send out eight newsletters also. We have, in the past, co-sponsored or collects and preserves our heritage, participated in programming with the Grand Rapids Public Library, the Greater Grand passing it on to new generations Rapids Women’s History Council, the Kutsche Center for Local History at GVSU, the through books, lectures, and Grand Rapids Civil War Roundtable, and other history organizations either formally education projects. or informally. We have offered at least one members only activity each year for the past several years. In 2018, Trustee Jeff Sytsma arranged a tour of the Brookby Estate, Executive Committee: former home of the Blodgett family and now part of Aquinas College. If there are Gina Bivins, president ideas you have or something you would like to have us look into for a “members only” Matthew Daley, vice-president activity let me know by emailing me at grhs.local@gmail.com John Gelderloos, treasurer The 2019 April program has been in preparation for a long time. Residents of Nan Schichtel, secretary the Ottawa Hills neighborhood have been researching and digging through earlier histories to put together an enticing presentation. The title, From Pig Farm to Thriving Neighborhood, should be enough to get you to the library. I expect to see a great turn Board members: out. In my never ending quest to identify photographs in the Public Museum archives I Alan Bennett was able to find a few for them in the Camera Shop collection. 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 Grand River Times
See you on Thursday, April 11, at 7:00 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Public 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
West Michigan Tornadoes of April 3, 1956 Four tornados struck West Michigan on April 3, 1956, including the most powerful and deadly tornado in West Michigan history. Eighteen people were killed and over 300 injured. The following story is the recollection of that day by Frederic Myers on December 17, 2017 (taken from www.facebook.com/West-Michigan-Tornadoes-of-April-3-1956)
I heard a voice saying to get under the counter. A few On April 3, 1956, I was at my grandparents’ seconds later the noise got louder and from under the home in Grand Rapids and remember standing outside counter I could sense that things were flying around us. It is looking at the southwest sky and noticing the yellowish hard to say how loud it was but the “freight train going orange color to the overcast sky. It was around 5:00 p.m. through your back yard” sums it up. I really don’t remember and there was no wind and everything seemed very how long it lasted but when the wind and noise subsided I calm. I really don’t remember if there was a tornado looked up and saw that the roof was gone but the steel cross watch or warning at that time but nobody that day members were still in place. I still had my ice cream cone in seemed to be concerned with the my hand but the ice cream was gone. strange weather. There was definitely ice cream in the My aunt, her girlfriend and cone when I ducked under the her girlfriend’s nephew were also at counter. my grandparents that day. I’m not I don’t recall being buried in sure how it was decided but the four a lot of debris as I could see from my of us were going to take a ride out position under the counter somebody towards the Standale area. My aunt’s with a flashlight asking if anybody girlfriend’s car was a red 1954 was there. That person removed some Chevrolet Bel Air hardtop. I was a debris around us so we were all able “car guy” at an early age and vividly to walk out of the store. None of remember that car. My us were hurt including the girl The wreckage of the Nellist Drugstore and the grandparents lived on the west side Standale Department Store. The car on the left side behind the soda fountain counter. of Grand Rapids and we headed of the photo is the 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air mentioned As we walked out the front of the out Fulton Street where it met store there were quite a few in the story. Photo courtesy James Ashley. Lake Michigan Drive heading people already on the scene. I towards Standale. I think us two looked over at the vehicle we young guys were standing up in the back seat when came in and noticed there was a telephone pole that entered somebody said to look to the left to see this black/gray through the front windshield and extended out the back funnel-looking cloud in the distance. This was noticed window. Looking across the street I didn’t see a building just as we were passing the Lincoln Lawns Motel. I there, just an empty parcel of land. Later on, I learned that a don’t think anyone had any idea as to how far or how gas station had been there. close we were to that funnel cloud. We were still As we walked heading towards Standale and a decision was made to go out the store with the into Standale and stop someplace. We stopped at the person who helped us, Nellist Drugstore that was near the intersection of another person asked if Kinney and Lake Michigan Drive. We all went inside we would need a ride and headed towards the soda fountain counter. I think home as his car was just the only other person in the store was a young girl up a few blocks on Lake working behind the soda fountain. Somebody mentioned Michigan Drive. It was a to her what we saw but we all ordered ice cream cones slight uphill walk to his anyway. Ten minutes had passed from the time we saw car but when we got the funnel cloud as we were passing the motel, until we there I could see the two were sitting at the soda fountain counter. This photo of the tornado was taken tires on the driver side We were sitting on those red circular swivel by Carl Walkons This photo appeared were flat. Actually, the seats at the soda fountain counter, enjoying our ice in the April 16, 1956 issue of sidewalls were popped off cream cones when the lights went out. I don’t recall Life Magazine. the rim. No damage to the hearing anything until we heard a swooshing sound and car, just flat tires. the plate glass windows in front of the store blew out. Continued of page 4 Grand River Times
3
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Continued from front page The neighborhood association became a driving force over the years and sponsored a babysitting co-op, a bridge group, a garden tour, and other activities, installed decorative streetlights twice, and has been a long-time supporter of the Hollyhock Lane Parade. The neighborhood association was involved in the sale of the school building to Grand Rapids Christian schools when the Grand Rapids Public School system decided to sell the old building. This once again has stabilized the neighborhood. Come hear the story of the beginnings, development, and struggles of the Ottawa Hills Neighborhood; see the varied and beautiful architecture of the houses, meet the prominent citizens who have added to the city; watch the evolution of the schools, and see how the neighborhood continues to carry on old traditions. About the Speaker: Fred Davison, spokesman for the Ottawa Hills Neighborhood Association Historical Committee, is an attorney who grew up in the Ottawa Hills neighborhood and attended Ottawa Hills schools from 1951 through graduation in 1965. He continued to have contact with the neighborhood as his parents owned their home in the neighborhood until 2014. After high school he attended GVSC, now University and graduated in 1969. Following graduation he attended Western Michigan University, the University of Michigan in a graduate program and then attended and graduated from Valparaiso University Law School in 1974. In 1986 he returned to the neighborhood with his family where they have lived ever since. While in the neighborhood he served as Vice President of the Neighborhood Association and currently serves as the President of the Association since 2016. Continued from page 3 Another thing I was told later was that the low pressure created by the tornado and the higher tire pressure caused the sidewall to pop off the rim. We finally did get a ride back to my grandparent’s house and they knew exactly what had happened to us as we all looked a little disheveled. I didn’t know this until we got back home but somebody said I had blue ink spatters on my face and jacket. Probably from a fountain pen ink bottle refill that was broken during the tornado going through the store. One other odd thing that happened was that I discovered some change in one of the open pockets on my Davey Crockett fringe jacket. I didn’t start out with any money in my pockets that day. I went to school the next day and the big news was yesterday’s tornado. When I mentioned that I was in the tornado the only responses I would get is “you’re not dead”. Pretty unpolished for 4th grade kids at that time. I never mentioned it again. I was 9 years old in 1956 and it took a few years for me to adjust to any stormy weather that was forecast. If there were any type of tornado alerts I would pack up my American Flyer trains and model car collection and sit in the basement until an all-clear was sounded. Sometimes airliners flying into the old Kent County airport would fly over my grandparents’ house and the loud roar of the engines from those planes would get my heart beating a mile-a-minute. Grand River Times
Paths of Destruction - The Story of West Michigan's Worst Natural Disaster: The Tornadoes of April 3, 1956 with DVD by Ernie Ostuno Price: $29.95 ($23.96 for GRHS members)
With material collected by author Ernie Ostuno, an employee of the National Weather Service, the book includes:
• • • •
a narrative of the events that day newspaper headlines, maps, and photos over 100 personal remembrances DVD including interviews with witnesses and footage from home movies To order: www.grhistory.org/shop/Books/3
4
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Grand Rapids Historical Society Annual Meeting and Banquet Wednesday, May 8, 2019 The Bluff Banquet and Conference Center Grand Central Plaza, 2035 28th St., SE
$35/ticket
Menu Homemade Pot Roast, Asiago Chicken, Fresh Garden Salad, Hot Cinnamon Apples, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Fresh-Cut Green Beans, Bakery Fresh Bread, Coffee, Tea, Coke or Diet Coke Dessert: Fancy Mousse Shooter Vegetarian option available (requested at time of reservation) 6:00 p.m.—Doors Open 6:30 p.m.—Family Style Dinner
General Public will begin arriving before 7:30 p.m. for the May program presented in the same room as the banquet.
Short Meeting Baxter Award 7:30 p.m.—Presentation
Presentation: “Lesser Known Grand Rapids Landmarks” by Michael J. Page. (details of program to be found in the May newsletter)
Mail reservations no later than April 29, 2019 to: Grand Rapids Historical Society 111 Library NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Name (s )________________________________________________________________ Phone______________________Email________________________________________ Number of Tickets_____________ Amount Enclosed____________________________ Number of Vegetarian Options______________
Grand River Times
5
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
HAPPENING IN HISTORY: APRIL 2019 Western Michigan Genealogical Society Mini-Class Saturday, April 6, 2019, 12:00 p.m. Main Library-Ryerson Auditorium 111 Library St. NE
West Michigan Postcard Club Monday, April 8, 2019, 7:00 p.m. Faith United Methodist Church 2600 7th St. NW
Topic: Creating Your Family History Time Line
Topic: For the Love of Trains
Presenter: Linda Guth
Presenters: Mark Worrall
Michigan railroad historian Mark Worrall has collected real photo railroad postcards for over twenty years. Does your family tree timeline not contain much This program will feature some of his favorite information? Want to make it more interesting? Learn how to merge historical events into postcards, including several rare views. Michigan’s great railroad history will be illuminated by postcards your tree. of train time at the depot, tragic wrecks, lost industries, and the people who ran the railroads. Many railroads Western Michigan Genealogical Society from the postcard era will be shown including mighty Saturday, April 6, 2019, 1:30 p.m. common carriers, lowly short-lines, high speed Main Library—Ryerson Auditorium inter-urbans, city trolleys, hardworking mining 111 Library St. NE railroads, and logging railroads on crooked track. Bring your love of trains and your railroad questions for a fun Topic: The Abandonded Bride—Documnetary evening of history. Presenter: Deb Havens and Lynnne Doele Mark is a geologist for the State of Michigan. When Twenty years after their Grandfather Del Havens died, not working on geologic problems, he researches sisters Lynne Doele and Dr. Deb Havens discovered a Michigan's railroad, mining, and industrial history. His family consists of his wife, two daughters, and crazy secret that stunned their entire family: a box of dog Pumpkin. pictures and post cards from their grandfather’s post-World War I service in Europe. Among them Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table were sad messages from a mysterious woman named Dora Gallner, claiming to be his abandoned bride. All Wednesday, April 17, 2019, 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. the postcards she had written to the sisters’ Great Grandmother Grace, Del's mother, seemed to support De Witt Student Center Kuyper College 3333 East Beltline NE Dora's claim. But if that were true, if he had left her behind, truly Marjie Viveen will be speaking about the Ottawa abandoned Dora, it County Poor Farm. was unforgivable-the act of a man the family didn't recognize. The two sisters traveled to Germany, Austria and Switzerland to search for Dora Gallner... and uncovered her tragic story. "The Abandoned Bride" documents the dramatic tale as the sisters traced the clues they found in Del’s personal papers and photographs to conduct historically-based genealogical research. 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.
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 Our April Photo Sleuth selection comes from the Robinson Studio Collection's negatives. In this photo from January of 1949, the South High School basketball team poses with a basketball. If anyone in this picture looks familiar, 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
From Pig Farm to Thriving Neighborhood PRESENTED BY: Fred Davison Thursday, April 11, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cover Story: April program Letter from our President page 2 West Michigan Tornadoes of 1956 page 3
at the Grand Rapids Public Library
Annual Meeting and Banquet 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
8