West Side

From Heart and Soul by Linda Samuels shows the destruction caused by construction of US131.

What's left in this photo of the old German neighborhood (Schantz Hardware, an old fraternal hall, Joseph Vrana & Sons - Harnesses - Leather Goods - Riding Saddles - Auto Body Supplies -- 421 Front Avenue is now gone too but was still there until about 1990. What the freeway didn't destroy, the Gerald R. Ford Museum destroyed, and new condominiums destroyed.

The old 1840 German-American school was re-located but subsequently mysteriously destroyed because somebody didn't want some old building next to the NEW Gerald R. Ford Museum. Fifteen running factories were re-located or forced out of business to make way for a non-profit, non-tax-paying museum which I have never visited. Nor will I ever visit the City--Employees-Stolen-Pension-Fund-Convention Center either.  Sour Grapes.

When I worked at City Hall I walked home through this old neighborhood and enjoyed looking at the old buildings particularly Joe Varano's(?) Leather Works. A very old man still worked there. Now I'm old.

See 1853 map

#1 is the original location of St. Mary's (German) Catholic Church.

#2 is the original  location of Grand Rapids Union High School and now is the location of  St Mary's Catholic Church

#3 is the second Union High School now condominiums