Stocking Avenue

 

near the corner of Stocking and Bridge there is a medieval looking building.   

 
 
 
Rauser Sausages
 
 

City Assessor's                       

 
 

 

The notes show numerous buildings that aren't there anymore. Rauser Sausages was in some scandal and closed down. The Little Mexico cafe was involved in a different scandal and was closed down.  It's owner went to jail and then it burned down. Little Mexico has been rebuilt and reopened including  the first floor of what used to be Rauser Sausages.

 

THE medieval-looking building: tar and gravel roof, 2 toilets, 3 lavatories, full basement, concrete floor, reinforced concrete ceiling, 1 walk-in cooler 12' x 30'. One steam gas fired boiler with blower on each floor.

1st floor - 13' high reinforced concrete ceiling, concrete floor, solid brick partition, reinforced concrete posts.
2nd floor - concrete ceiling, concrete floor, concrete posts, concrete beams, 12'x12' walk-in cooler
3rd floor - concrete floor, 11'H wallboard ceiling, four 2x12 laminated beams, 6" steel posts
4th floor - storage space, open ceiling, 7'H, 2x8x10 joists with posts and beams

one steel frame elevator, 6'x6', 1500 lbs capacity.  

 
623 Stocking Ave NW
 
While Birdie and I were driving by I was sure this building was going to disappear. It did.
 
1982 real estate card: owner Stream and Lake Tackle, store front used for retail, office upstairs, space heater, wood frame. No off-street parking. There is now.
      
There were no assessor records.
 
637 Stocking Ave NW
 
This building fascinated me so. It looks so old. I really like the narrow front doors in casement style. There were no real estate cards and no assessor records. It has been used as a store and as a residence. Have no idea what it's being used for now but it has air-conditioning! (2010)
 
           
Unfortunately this was the dumpster where that little girl was dumped after her mother's boyfriend killed her.
The most attention this building has received in decades.
 
 
The Guest House
 
634 Stocking Ave NW
 
 
This former movie theater has been used for wakes by Arsulowicz Brothers Funeral Home for as long as I can remember. Now John and Stanley are both dead. The real estate card dated 1968 states: built c. 1918, 2 furnaces, gas, no air conditioning, flat roof, includes complete kitchen, bar, tables, chairs, dishes. Bldg used for parties.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

From Heading Architecture

From Website MyGrandRapids.info

 
Postal address
Grand Rapids, Kent Co, Michigan

 

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Last modified: 08/05/11