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History of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Journey back in time to Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Visit Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.
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Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, USA
Ottawa Indians were Grand Rapids' first inhabitants and in 1826 the city was settled by French fur traders.
Grand Rapids was once known as America's Furniture Capital for its fine residential furniture It is known today as the center of office furniture manufacturing.
President Gerald R. Ford was a native of Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids was the first city in the U.S. to add fluoride to its drinking water - way back in 1945.
experiencegr.com
There is MUCH more to discover about Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. Read on!
Old Photos, Pictures, Advertisements and Postcards from Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Postcard

Morton House
The Morton Hotel was the place to stay when business travelers came by the trainload to buy furniture for their stores back home.
The Morton Hotel is the fourth hotel structure on the northwest corner of Monroe Center and Ionia... Read MORE...

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
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1880s
The Goshen Sweeper Co.
Easiest Operated Carpet Sweepers Made

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Postcard

Michigan Soldier's Home
1886
The Grand Rapids Home for Veterans is established
On 90 acres of land, experts built three main buildings, 19 additional buildings and a 5,000-grave cemetery... michigan.gov

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
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A Good Cheap Desk
The Fred Macey Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Ladies' Home Journal
January 1898
The Macey Furniture Co. was founded by Fred Macey, who served as its first chairman along with his brother Frank, who also served as treasurer. In... Read MORE...
Read more about Fred MACEY


Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Postcard

Ramona Theatre, Reeds Lake, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Ramona Park was an amusement park located on the western shore of Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids, Michigan from 1903-1954... The park also included the Ramona Theatre which hosted vaudeville shows, ... Read MORE...

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Postcard

U. B. A. Hospital, Grand Rapids, Mich.
The U.B.A. is the Union Benevolent Association, previously the Ladies’ Union Benevolent Association, and this organization built the hospital in 1886. Visible on the porch is at least one nurse and likely... Read MORE...

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Postcard

City Hall, Grand Rapids, Mich.
The Grand Rapids City Hall was a government building located at 35 Lyon Street, NW, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, but demolished later that year, and... Read MORE...

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Postcard

Hotel Pantlind
The hotel building was originally named for the Pantlind family, famous local hoteliers, and was conceived to accommodate the large number of furniture buyers who frequented the city.
In 1925, the Pantlind Hotel was ranked as one... Read MORE...

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Postcard

Phoenix Furniture Co.
1868: William A. Berkey becomes assignee for the property of cabinetmakers Atkins and Soule.
1872: Berkey combines residuals of Atkins & Soule with $200,000 new capital to form Phoenix Furniture Co.
The Phoenix... Read MORE...

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Postcard

Grand River
Bissell Carpet Sweeper Co.
Like a lot of well-intentioned people who plan on having a relaxing Saturday, we didn’t really mean to start cleaning—it just happened. In 1876, Melville R. Bissell and his wife, Anna, were running a small... Read MORE...
Read more about Melville Reuben BISSELL

History, News and Stories of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

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1825 - Grand Rapids, Michigan founded
www.wikipedia.org
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1854 - Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids city, capital of Kent co., Michigan, is finely situated on the rapids of Grand River, 40 miles from its mouth, and 60 miles W. N. W.... Read MORE...
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1876 - September 19 - 1st carpet sweeper patented (Melville Bissell of Grand Rapids, Mich)
historyorb.com
Read more about Melville Reuben BISSELL -
1880 - July 23 - 1st commercial hydroelectric power planet begins, Grand Rapids, Mich
historyorb.com
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1895 - Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, a city of Michigan, capital of Kent co., at the head of steamboat navigation on Grand River," the junction of 6 railroads,—the Chicago... Read MORE...
1896 - An Aeronaut Killed
Grand Rapids, Mich., June 29. - Hiram Cole, twenty-six years old, a professional aeronaut, living in Big Rapids, Mich., fell thirty feet from his... Read MORE...
1905 - TRAIN CRASHES INTO STREET CAR
Four Probably Fatally Injured, Two Others Hurt, at Grand Rapids, Mich.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 1. — Six persons were injured, four probably... Read MORE...
1910 - BIG CYCLONE RUINS CROPS
Michigan Section Storm Swept, and Creek Overflows, Flooding Houses.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 25. - A storm of cyclone proportions raged today... Read MORE...
1912 - TORNADO
Grand Rapids, Mich, July 13. - Grand Rapids was hit early today by a cyclone that injured forty or more persons and did thousands of dollars worth of ... Read MORE...
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1916
Grand Rapids, a city of Michigan, capital of Kent co., at the head of steamboat navigation on the Grand River, at the junction of the Grand Rapids... Read MORE...
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1945 - January 25 - Grand Rapids, Michigan becomes 1st US city to fluoridate its water
historyorb.com
Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA Genealogy
Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
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Ancestors Who Were Married in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
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Updated: 5/8/2022 1:17:03 PM
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