Downtown Grand Rapids, Kent County, MIchigan
When I was a child and until the freeway went through about 1965 every neighborhood had a business district with local stores owned by the neighbors. Everyday simple shopping was done in the neighborhood. Downtown was a special excursion but EVERYTHING was downtown: dime stores, drug stores, grocery stores, bakeries, charities, car dealers. Once you took the bus downtown, everything was within walking distance.
Downtown was divided into areas:
Downtown Retail
Upper Monroe was the Middle Class shopping district
Lower Monroe was the Working Class shopping district
Fulton Street and Jefferson Avenue was the Upper Class shopping district
Union Station Buildings not maps, need to get the page from the archives
South Division Avenue were hotels for train employees and lower class travelers. These hotels had shops on the main floor and the Check-in Desk was upstairs. There would be about seven or more rooms with sinks and commodes and a central bathroom on each floor.
This was a seedy area with men-only taverns and ladies-of-the-night. My mother would not stop in this area but when I was old enough I did.
Downtown Industrial maps
There were many factories along the river and shops for men. My mother would not stop in this area but when I was old enough I did. I used to love to dawdle in the Arcade where men bought cigars and pornography magazines. They rarely noticed a little kid.
Michigan Street and Bridge Street were adjacent to this area Adjacent. Immanuel Lutheran Church is the only remaining building from my childhood and it was sold last year and is now vacant. (2010)
Downtown Business Offices maps
Division Avenue and Pearl Street were many of bank and insurance type jplaces
Need to clean up:
4. South Division Avenue and West Fulton Street.. This area provided services for the main passenger and freight train depot. It was surrounded by warehouses and working class hotels that catered to travelers and railroad employees. Union Station
5. North Division Avenue: This is where the business offices were located: MichCon, Comsumer's Power, Michigan Bell Telephone Division
I have tried to impact every source with corrections or comments so everything on this site is copywrited. The information may be used for your project but the source must be cited.
From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info