Arcade
The Arcade still existed when I was a kid. It was an alley that
went through the Consumer's Power Building.
It bordered men's stores and that's who hung out there - men - and me until they
caught me and chased me out.
I loved trying to look at their magazines not for the articles but the jokes.
The Arcade still exists today as a sidewalk running between Flannery's Bar and a
parking ramp but now I can read
those magazines at the grocery store.
Since Lucius Lyons and Louis Campau feuded, their two villages
did not connect.
Lyon Street was in the Village of Kent while Pearl Street was in the Village of
Grand Rapids.
Monroe Ave, Ottawa Ave and Ionia Ave all ended at the boundary line that run
half-way between
Pearl Street and Lyon Street.
The Village of Kent
The Village of Grand Rapids
T
On17 October 1867 a Quit Claim was issued between
William T Powers and Louisa Powers his wife and
Warren P Mills and Helen M. Mills his wife
to the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan
The right of free and unobstructed passage for foot passengers only and not for
teams or vehicles of any kind (except fire engine in case of fire) through, over
and upon that part of lot 3 of section 1 of the original Campau Plat of said
City (once village) of Grand Rapids, within the following boundaries -
Commending on the north line of Pearl Street at the southeasterly corner of the
westerly part of Powers and Mills new Arcade Building - as the foundation of the
same is now laid - the same being 12 feet 8 inches from the southeast corner of
Rood's Block -
thence running east on said north line of Pearl street 12 feet
thence northerly parallel with the east line of westerly part of said Arcade
Building to the north line of said lot 3,
thence westerly on said north line 12 feet
and thence southerly along the east line of said westerly part of said Arcade
Building to the place of beginning
With the right to said City to lay a sewer and gas and water pipes though the
same premises as the convenience of the public shall require, but in such manner
as not to conflict or interfere with the rights of said parties of the first
part or the convenience of the public. And reserving to said parties of the
first part, their heirs and assigns forever, the right to cover said premises with
a building in such manner as to leave said passageway 12 feet wide and not less
than twelve feet high in the clear with sky lights to light the same
sufficiently..
Now in 2006 a sidewalk (only about 3 feet wide) runs between Flannery's Bar (the former Terry House Cafeteria) and a parking ramp (the site of Consumer's Power Company).
By 1874 William Powers opened Powers Opera House.
The 1883 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
The Arcade is labeled on the 1895 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map showing the new
1891 entrance.
The Power's Bldg in 1892 from Bobanna.
The Power's Bldg in 1915.
It's hard to tell from this photo taken from Bob's
website, but I've tried to indicate the Arcade by a giant A.
West of the Arcade was the Terryhouse Cafeteria which is Flannary's Bar
today. The Power's Building was where Consumer's Power was located, maybe. As a
kid I didn't notice but I remember the Midtown Theater the new name for the
Power Opera House.
This history article is taken from Bob Kline's website on Godwin
High School his alma mater. You should be able to figure out where the kid hung
out after school.
I don't know where or when it was written but I would like to point out some
discrepancies with my memory and the Sanborn maps.
Kent Avenue was renamed Bond Avenue. There was an alley running parallel between Monroe and Kent/Bond. The front of the theater opened on Kent/Bond Avenue, the rear opened up onto the Arcade which continued into the alley.
The 1883 Sanborn maps shows the theater was behind a row of stores not above much like the old Our Theater which still exists. If there was an older pre-1883 theater it may have existed even much earlier when the Arcade was run through. It may have been owned by Mr. Powers and Mr. Mills. Perhaps it was renamed the Power's Opera House in 1873/74. It's unclear. I remember stores opening into the arcade - men's stores. In 1891 the front entrance was relocated to Pearl Street. It was built in what was Bond Avenue. Was this because the Waters Building was being built? It was completed in 1899. In 1902 the theater was rebuilt due to a fire and the new office building facing Pearl Street in was built in 1915.
The 1953 Sanborn shows the Waters Bldg which usurped the
northern half of Bond Ave
It also shows the Consumer's Power Co.
I have tried to impact every source with corrections or comments so everything on this site is copyrighted. 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