Volume 43, number 6
March 2022
Grand River Times The Newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society
Steeple Chase Inside this issue: Cover Story: Steeple Chase Letter from our President page 2
Presented by: Caroline Cook, Grand Rapids Running Tours Part One: The East Side of the Grand River— Thursday, March 10, 2022, 7:00 p.m. https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tZMkcOGsqTIrGNJrJNcdurR-TOnWUhQGNF4e
Elly Peterson Book Discussion page 3 (Part Two: The West Side of the Grand River— Thursday, May 12, 2022)
History of the Amway Grand Plaza—Part 3 page 4 Photo Sleuth page 7
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Grand River Times
At one point in time, per capita, Grand Rapids boasted more churches than any other city in the nation. Thus, the awarding of the nicknames, Steepletown or Church City… both monikers given to Grand Rapids because of its many historically significant and beautiful church buildings resplendent with spires. Earliest religion in Grand Rapids began with the missions on the Grand River, then, circuit riders arrived, and pioneers gathered to worship in tents, private homes or rented spaces before these impressive church buildings were constructed. Every wave of immigrants that settled in Grand Rapids fostered their “own” communities of faith. The churches were conduits, connecting settlers with their pasts. The buildings in which they worshipped were also social centers of their walkable neighborhoods. You know, birds of a feather, flock together. As a result, Grand Rapids is now, home to an unusual density of religious buildings. But, with the advent of the automobile and expressways to suburbs, these once ethnically formed church communities ceased to exist. While still open today, these church homes no longer serve just one ethnic group, but many. Continued on page13