Historical Grand Rapids

The Hawkins Building

1 Ionia Avenue

The Hawkins Building (and entire block technically) gets it's name from a wholesale grocery operation that occupied the building in the early 20th century.

Rexall Drug Store

South east corner of Monroe and Michigan

In the 1940's, Dr. Robert W. Clayton had his offices on the second floor of the building occupied by the Burkehead and Collins Rexall Drug Store. 

Alabastine Mine

1200 Judd St.

In the early 1890's , the Alabastine Mining Co. began open quarry mining . This business provided raw gypsum that was refined and used for numerous consumer products such as, plaster, toothpaste, casts and fertilizers. Bert Kragt bough this mine in 1943 and his family still owns it today. 

Campau Square

Street cars shared the streets of old Grand Rapids with horse drawn carriages. 

The Doll House

Lagrave Avenue

Selling antiques and gifts, The Doll House was owned by Helen Nichols. The Cottage Bar, which is still operating today, is seen on Lagrave Ave. just south of The Doll House. 

Rathbun House

Monroe and Waterloo ( Market St.)

This photo was taken in the late 1870's. The Rathbun House was located on the north west corner of Monroe and Waterloo- Waterloo was later named Market Street. The Rathbun House was the city's leading hotel in the 1870's

The Trolley System

Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids had an extensive trolley system up until 1935. GM, and other big automotive companies, owned Michigan at the time. GM suggested that the city convert to buses (which were built by GM) and Grand Rapids was the first U.S. City to convert to buses.