At the corner of Monroe and Fulton and Division was a Civil War Monument.
Fulton Street on the south side of the Square:
The Press building was at the corner of Fulton and Sheldon while the Livingston Hotel was at the corner of Fulton and Division.
Walking from my dad's store in the Metz Bldg on the way to eat lunch at the YWCA, I used to jump up to try and see into window as I could hear the presses. A man used to stand at the corner of Fulton and Sheldon yelling out "Press, Paper, Press" Sheldon was the main one-way street heading south out of downtown.
From Sheldon Ave. The Herald bldg can be seen in this postcard beyond the
Press.
The Herald was between the Press and the Livingston Hotel.
Division Ave heading south from the Square would include working class hotels and stores catering to the travelers and employees of Union Station:
The longer side of the Livingston on Division. When it burned down it was replaced by Davenport College. That building is still there but was Junior Achievement when I was in high school. I think it's been vacant for years.
A closeup of the Fulton edge of the Livingston Hotel as shown above:
To the North down Division Avenue were the Downtown Offices:
Looking East.
This 1954 map shows the "new" 1948 Herp's which occupied the vacated Commerce Ave.
Monroe Ave 1912 Monroe Ave 1954
25-33 (128-136) Porter Block 25-33 Herpolsheimer's
United Cigar Co
City Trust
and Savings Bank
Commerce Ave vacated
41-45 (122-126) The Gilbert
43-45 Luman Bldg
63 (102) Tracy Block
65-67 (100) Godfrey Bldg
From article Down Retail
From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info