EARLY TAVERNS
In the year of the settlement at Grand Rapids, and in the following
year, were many comers and goers, chiefly of land lookers and persons seeking
for themselves homesteads in the wilderness of the West. There being no
hotels, travelers made a tavern of the pioneer house almost before the
shingles were on, and even of the pioneer shanty while that house was building.
It was simply a private family residence, but became known as Guild's Tavern.
The prominent hotels of the early village days were the Eagle, the Grand
River Exchange (Bridge Street House), the National (Morton House), and
the Mansion House (Rathbun).
EAGLE HOTEL
The first hotel was the Eagle, built in 1834 at the corner of Waterloo
and Louis streets, where the hotel of that name now stands. It was begun
by J. S. Potter and finished by Louis Campau. William H. Godfroy was its
first landlord, followed in 1836 by Louis Moran, and Canton Smith in 1838.
Others in succession were J. T. Finney in 1841, Herman Leonard and Marston
C. Luce about 1843-44, Charles Trompe, and Gideon Surprenant; in 1849 D. E.
Fisher, then Mrs. Fisher, and after her William R. Barnard in 1853. In
1856, Washington Heath; in 1859, J. L. Heath; in 1863, George C. Evans,
and then till 1871, A. R. Antisdel. For the past sixteen years and more J. K. Johnston has been its landlord. The original story and -a-half wood
house was built upon and enlarged until it became a very capacious structure,
and it was always a popular hostelry. It was burned February 5, 1883, and
the present commodious brick building has taken its place. This was opened
November 12, 1883, with a banquet. It is known far and wide as temperance
hotel since Mr. Johnston became proprietor.
BRIDGE STREET HOUSE
In 1837 a tavern was built by or for Charles H. Carroll at the corner
of Bridge and Kent streets, at first called Kent Hotel, next Grand River
Exchange, and about nine years later the name was changed to Bridge Street
House. John Thompson was the first landlord; next Solomon Withey; in 1841,
Truman H. Lyon; 1842-43, William A. Tryon; 1845-47, Joshua Boyer; 1848,
Dan Moore; 1849 Milton Hyde. Gottlieb Christ then leased and kept it until
February 10, 1855. when the old wood building was burned, after which he
purchased the property and rebuilt of brick. The new building was opened
with a ball, June 12, 1857. In 1863, Frank Boxheimer was its manager, and
a year or two later purchased the property. In 1864 it was kept by Ezra
Whitney. After 1865 Boxheimer was landlord until 1872, when Bonney &
Persons leased and kept the house until the fall of 1876. After them came
Boxheimer again, who died in 1880; and then John Mohrhard. May 1, 1883,
the property was purchased by E. P. Fuller for $15,000. Mohrhard was succeeded
in 1884 by John B. Brittain, who conducted it until the spring of 1888,
when Rice & Kelley (Judson E. Rice and John Kelley) became the lessees
and landlords. from the first small frame building this hotel has grown
to be a large four story block fronting two busy streets, and it has always
been the principal hotel on East Bridge street. The original was a two-story
structure about 24 by 40 feet on the ground, sidewise to the street, with
a portico and steps along the front, very similar in appearance to many
later country taverns. For several years after its erection it was a favorite
place for holding elections, both local and general.
NATIONAL--MORTON HOUSE
In 1835 Hiram Hinsdill erected a building for a hotel on the corner
of Monroe and Ionia streets. It was purchased by Myron Hinsdill and by
him opened in 1836. It was first called Hinsdill's Hotel. Three or four
years later it was purchased and named 'National Hotel' by
Canton Smith, who was landlord until 1850, when he leased it and went to
California. Then during three or four years its landlords were Cary &
Collins, Granger & Whittemore, Granger & Hall, Granger & Mills,
and T. H. Rathbun. After them Smith resumed possession, conducting the house
until about 1865, when James A. and Isreal C. Smith became managing proprietors.
September 27,1855, while occupied by Granger & Mills, the original
house was burned, but was soon replaced by a new one of wood, four stories
high. After I. C. Smith, John T. Barker, Mrs. Barker and Campbell &
Beach were landlords, the latter when the building was again burned, September
20,1872. The original hotel was a neat two-story frame, with ball-room
on the second floor, and a tasty veranda or portico around the first story
on each of the fronts. Opposite the corner, in the middle of Ionia street,
was a well and the town pump. For more than thirty years
the National had been the leading up-town hotel. After the fire of 1872
Isreal C. Smith and George B. Morton became proprietors and rebuilt upon
the site a fine four-story brick block, changing { picture of Canton Smith}
the name to Morton House, and renting it to Pantlind & Lyon, afterward
Pantlind & Co. (A.V. and J. Boyd Pantlind), who are still (1890) the
hotel proprietors. In September, 1884, a half interest in the property
was purchased by the Aldrich estate for $50,000. Under its present ownership
the block has been considerably improved, and another story added.
Early residents have a grateful and pleasant remembrance of Mrs. Ann
Smith, whose maiden name was Angell, wife of Canton Smith, who was landlady
of the National Hotel while he was proprietor. She was a most excellent
lady, who took a kindly and motherly interest in the care of the sick and
suffering, of whom not a few were inmates of that house in those days.
She was a hostess of blessed memory.
RATHBUN HOUSE
In 1834 Louis Campau built a dwelling house west of Waterloo, adjoining
Monroe street. It was his family residence till 1838. Afterward it was
leased by the Misses Bayless (sisters of Mrs. George Coggeshall), who
kept a boarding house there. A little later it was opened as a hotel--the
Mansion House--by James T. Finney, after whom came landlords, Marston C.
Luce and Truman H. Lyon. Then in succession were Charles Rathbun (who changed
the name to Rathbun House), Hiram Rathbun, Dorsey & Thornton, De Witt
Shoemaker, Julious Granger, W. P. Mills, and Benjamin Smith, prior to 1860.
From 1861 to 1866 it was run by Truman H. Lyon, Jr. In the later year it
was taken by Farnham and Charles D. Lyon who managed it but a short time,
when T. H. Lyon, Jr. resumed possession and retained it until 1870. In 1872
it went into the hands of A. R. Antisdel, who remained its landlord until
November 12, 1885, when the house was closed, the place having been sold,
and the ground became the site of the Widdicomb Block. At first it was
a story and a half structure on the corner, fronting Monroe street, about
20 by 30 feet in size, to which wooden additions were made on both streets
and on top, until finally it was a four story building. In 1846 a wing
was added on the Waterloo street side, of stone, four stories high in which
were placed the dining room, and on the upper floor a hall or ball room.
The latter for some years was frequently used for lectures, concerts, and
as a theater hall by the earliest organized traveling theatrical companies
giving performances here. The massive building now on that spot, in its
strong contract with the pioneer house and its rough stone cellar, affords
a striking illustration of the growth of Grand Rapids in the years from
1834 to 1888. Charles Rathbun erected the stone addition above mentioned.
He was landlord in person about seven years, from 1844, and owned and leased
it afterward until 1871. Lansing K. Rathbun, son of Charles, was with his
father at the hotel, and about 1851 retired to Paris township, where he
has since lived, a successful farmer.
MICHIGAN HOUSE
It is not the intention here to give a description in detail of all
the numerous hotels or taverns of the earlier days. The four already described
are prominent not only on account of priority but of their long life and
indentication with the history of the city up to the present day. Yet a
considerable number of the minor stopping places for the traveler and wayfarer
are worthy of mention. A small wooden building on the corner of Waterloo
and Louis streets where the Michigan House of early days. It was built
by Charles Trompe, who opened it in the fall of 1848, and in 1850 was succeeded
by John W. Robbins, and after him E. C. Saunders and Ezekiel Welch. In 1854
it was purchased by Jacob Nagele, who has since been its owner, and who
built the three-story brick block now on that corner. Frank T. Warrell
is the present proprietor.
OTHER INNS, EARLY AND LATE
In the village and early city days there were a number of small wooden
taverns in and about the business part of the town, doing only a moderate
but most of them a living business, in the entertainment of farmers and
their horse and ox teams. One of these was a little building known at different
times as the Farmer's Home, the Bender Hotel and the Courtright Tavern,
situated a short distance north of Erie street, about where now is the
location of 103 Canal street. Its lodging accommodations were meager, but
it had a small barn and sheds at the rear, next the canal where teams were
fed, and the table was usually sumptuously loaded with plain, good and
substantial food, and home-made pastry for hungry customers. Among its
landlords were A. Bender, Aaron Courtright, and John M. Balcom. It was
destroyed by fire February 27,1857.
Another village tavern was located between Waterloo street and the river
near Ferry street, called the Exchange. It was used as a public house until
about 1859. Asa Pratt was landlord for several years there. Another, a
little south of Erie, on Canal street, was called the Franklin House. It
was kept in 1859 by P. K. Smith.
About 1848, was erected by A.W. Almy, the building since known as the
Arnold House, at 86 West Bridge street. He traded it for a farm. It is
still a tavern, and among its landlords have been Frank Arnold, John Wallich,
Joseph Herrmann, Mary J. Beal, and Frank S. Damskey, the present proprietors.
On the west side of the river in 1852, on Court street, a little south
of Bridge, was built the American, named later the Planters' House, occupied
for some years by Isaac Turner, and still carried on as a hotel.
At 164 West Bridge street the Watson House was built in 1858 by John
Watson.
The Barnard House, west side of Waterloo, near Fulton street, was opened
in 1855 by William R. Barnard. Present proprietor, Stella S. Nellis.
The Ohio House at 182 Canal was started as early as 1858 by Valentine
Richter, and by him conducted during his life, about twenty years. It afterward
passed into the hands of Frederick Brogger, who has since been its landlord.
The Taylor House at the corner of Coldbrook and Taylor streets, was
built about 1857 by Charles W. Taylor. It was operated many years as a
hotel and boarding house, and then for other business uses.
A frame building erected in 1836, at the corner of Canal street and Crescent avenue, on the site of the present Grinnell Block, was remodeled
in 1854 and converted into a hotel--three stories high, 100 feet on Canal
street and 94 feet deep. it was opened in February, 1855, as the Western
Hotel, by John W. Squier and Charles P.Babcock, the latter being landlord,
and afterward George C. Evans, the name being changed to Bronson House.
In 1863 it was kept by Aaron Courtright, who managed it until it was reduced
to ashes by fire in May, 1871, and the use of that site for hotel purposes
ended.
There were but a few others of this class of public houses here during
the thirty years following the settlement. With two or three exceptions,
frequent changes of proprietorship form a noticeable feature of their history.
The later ones have become so numerous as to almost lose their individuality
among the hundreds of business houses in the fast-growing city. Prominent
among those of the past twenty-five years is Sweet's Hotel, which was built
in 1868 and opened by Lawrence & French in 1869. They were succeeded
in March, 1870, by T. Hawley Lyon. The block was lifted four feet in 1874
to the grade of the street. Lyon continued landlord of the hotel till 1878,
when it was taken by T. F. Pickering, and he in turn was succeeded in 1882
bt N. C. Johnson, still its manager, widely known and popular. The building
and property are owned by Martin L. Sweet.
A tavern called the Union Hotel was built by William H. Stewart in 1860,
at the corner of Lyon and Kent streets, which was burned in January, 1864.
In its place was built the Phoenix Block, with the Commercial Hotel, which
was kept up a dozen years. In the wood building Orin Plumley was landlord.
In the brick Elliott Covell, W. F. Parrish and others. It is now Livingston's
Hotel.
The Clarendon Hotel, at the northwest corner of Bridge and Canal streets,
was opened as the Rasch Hotel, in 1878. Edward Killean became proprietor
in 1880 and renamed it. This is a neat four-story brick structure fronting
154 feet on Canal and about 85 feet on Bridge street, roomy, well ventilated
and popular.
The Sherman House, corner of Leonard street and Plainfield avenue, was
from about 1864 for upward of twenty years a prominent hotel in that part
of the town, kept by Fred Saunders. It was destroyed about five years ago
by fire.
The Occidental, later the Parnell House, Patrick Finn, proprietor, has
been running some ten years, at 44 Plainfield avenue, by the depot.
Among others of recent years, have been the Hotel Weber, 142 Canal,
and the Kalamazoo House, corner of Division and Oakes. The Sinclair House,
125 and 127 Canal, has changed landlords several times in fifteen years;
J. B. Brittain, present proprietor; is under the management of Mrs. Brittain.
There have been, also, several taverns in wood buildings near the Union
Depot.
The Baldwin House, west side of Plainfield avenue, and south of East
Leonard street is a capacious wood structure, which for half a dozen years
has had brick business; Fred. Saunders, proprietor.
There are now some forty or more hotels, of all classes in the city.
The larger ones, in appearance and furnishing, compare favorable with those
of cities having twice the population of Grand Rapids. They have acquired
a national reputation for hospitality in entertaining large conventions
and great numbers of people. The Morton, Sweet's, Eagle, Bridge Street,
Clarendon, Derby, Michigan, and New Rathbun, among leading public hotels
and the Livingston, Brunswick, Vendome, Warwick, Park Place and Irving,
of the family hotels, have room and facilities for the care of about 3,000
quests and patrons. Many others are popular with the traveling public.
LIVERY
In 1847 Henry Potts kept a few horses for hire, at a little barn just
below the Eagle Hotel. To this place he had moved from north side of Fountain
street, near Ottawa, where he began the business some years earlier. His
livery outfit was small, cheap and plain, with no costly carriages, but
seemed sufficient for the time.
In 1848 Joseph J. Baxter built a small livery barn just north of the
stables of the old National Hotel, where he carried on the livery business
during several years.
In 1850 George C. Evans erected a barn at the northeast corner of Fountain
and Ionia Streets. It was quite large, and so well stocked with fine horses,
and finer carriages than had previously been plenty, that the enterprise
seemed to the villagers as a rash and extravagant venture. This building,
considerably enlarged, remains there and has been used ever since in the
same business. In 1859 W. R. Cady and H. P. Yale were its proprietors,
and in 1867 and many years thereafter, James M. Kennedy. Its proprietoress
in 1889 were Gill & Greenley.
In 1850 Andrew J. Wheelock had a small livery stable on Ionia street,
nearly opposite the site of the Morton House, and during all the years
since in that immediate vicinity have been from one to three livery, hack
or sale stables.
Winthrop R. Cady, the pioneer here in hack running, during some thirty
years after 1851, conducted a brick livery business, the greater portion
of the time near the junction of Ottawa and Louis streets. He also carried
on considerable trade as a dealer in horses.
Among others in the livery business between 1850 and 1870 were E. H.
Cady, Duncan Stocking. N. H. Cady, S. S. Ball, Leonard Covell, Rathbun
& Moore, A. Gage, Todd & Boorhem, and Watson & Klys. During
ten years or more of that period there were two or three stables on the
west side of Canal street between Huron and Bridge. Some later livery keepers
have been Calvin L. Ives, Kent street, 1874; Klys & Shaw, corner of
West Bridge and Broadway, 1874; George W. Granger, corner of Waterloo and
Louis, 1874; E. A. & G. S. Ward, Louis street, 1878; John Klys, West
Briodge street, 1878.
Some of the prominent livery barns and boarding and sale stables in
1888, are those of A. N. Albee, 9 Cresent avenue; Gill & Greenley,
corner of Fountain and Ionia; C. E. Hodges, 42 Louis; G.V. French, 62 North
Ionia; H. N. Pulver, 64 North Ionia; A. M. Rathbun, corner of Wealthy avenue
and Lagrave street; E. M. Vincent, 107 Kent; C. B. Pierce, 89 West Bridge;
Owashtanong, corner of Spring and Fulton, J. L. Lee, proprietor.
Andrew Tabor has conducted a hack and baggage line several years, at
66 North Ionia street. A large proportion of the hack business of the city
has been carried on in a smaller way by parties running one or more carriages
each.
James P. Moran in 1850 bought a livery barn very near the spot where
was kept the earliest one in the village, which he operated for some years.
He is now in the business (1889) at 65 and 67 Kent street.
HACK AND OMNIBUS--TRANSFER
Until the advent of railroads the hack and omnibus business as a specialty
was very light. The leading hotels upon their own account ran open carriages
free to meet the river boats. In 1859 Sidney S. Ball, with N. H. Cady,
had a hack and omnibus barn at the corner of Waterloo and Louis streets,
with a stock of fine covered carriages. Mr. Ball has followed this business
for thirty years; after 1864 at 70 North Waterloo street, and since 1884
at 15-17 North Waterloo. Since 1881 Charles M. Watters has been associated
with him in operating a hack, omnibus and baggage line, and in 1886 they
organized the Ball & Watters Transfer Company, of which Watters is
President and Ball is Secretary and Treasurer.
SIDNEY S. BALL, a stirring, active and busy citizen of Grand
Rapids during thirty years and more, was born at Rochester, N.Y., October
27, 1827. His early educational advantages were meager; but in the common
schools he managed to acquire sufficient rudimental culture to serve him
in the business transactions of life, and he also had youthful experience
at work and learned useful lessons of self-reliance and energetic endeavor.
Before coming to Grand Rapids, after coming to the years of manhood, his
occupation was chiefly that of railroad and canal contractor. On coming
west, he arrived in this city January 21, 1856, and from that time for
some four years, followed steamboating, and was then agent for the Detroit
and Milwaukee Railroad Company about two and a half years. Meantime, he
had begun to make investments in horses and carriages for the accommodation
of the public; in 1857-58 brought to this town some of the first covered
omnibuses that were run here, and since that time has followed the livery,
omnibus and hack business continuously and with a marked degree of success.
For an omnibus barn he erected the brick building on Waterloo street opposite
the Eagle Hotel, afterward for many years occupied for thestrical uses
and known as Smith's Opera House. In 1882 he associated with himself Charles
M. Watters as a partner, and in 1886 they organized the Ball & Watters
Transfer Company, and Omnibus, Hack and Baggage line, of which Me. Ball
has been and still is Secretary and Treasurer. In 1885 the establishment
was removed to the other side of Waterloo street, just above the Barnard
House, it present location. From the first Mr. Ball has done a lively business
and has probably carried in and through and about the city more people
and more baggage than any other person; always equipped with the best of
carriages and of horses adapted to that business. Mr. Ball married, at
Rochester, New York, November 9, 1848, Amanda N. Wood, who died in this
city July 4, 1871. January 24, 1872, he married Mrs. Susan M. Gray, his
present wife, at Grand Rapids. Naturally quiet and unostentatious, Mr.
Ball has never sought official position, nor been active in politics.
He is essentially a man of business, to which he gives strict personal
attention. As a man and citizen he enjoys universal respect, and the public
confidence in his trustworthiness. His share of the building up of Grand
Rapids to its present stature and robustness is one upon which he may look
back with no small degree of pleasure. The artificers of a livery, attractive
town, are the workers, not the drones of the community.
SOCIAL
The pioneers of this valley were volunteers in the army of occupation
and progress. All men are selfish, in some degree, yet they were as near
to being unselfish as in nature man can be. the women and children were
packed into the rude wagon, with the ax and the hoe and the hammer, a little
bedding, some clothes, a spinning wheel, the tin oven and a few other domestic
utensils, and rode joltingly over the rough places, or more slowly through
the miry ones; the men and the dog walked, while the patient team drew
the load. Many think and speak of the early times as hard times--so they
were in some sense; times of hard work, and frequently of sickness and
of other hardships not now known. But they were also times of many social
pleasures that were enjoyed with great relich, and a measure of cheerfulness
and content not exceded in the present day. They were free from many of
the ills and annoyances and fashionable labors that vex modern communities.
There were few or no class distinctions. All were neighborly, and they
helped one another. They endured much toil and privation; but withal enjoyed
many and various ways of rest and relaxation. A social gathering in the
roughest of log houses or the plainest of board shanties was a genuine
feast of good will and good cheer. The raising, logging, husking, harvesting
and quilting bees and the evening frolic and games were alike genuine jollities,
giving zest to labor and driving dull care away. What if sometimes they
lived on plain and scant fare and dressed in homespun garb? What if they
came from various countries and conditions? Here they were neighbors and
friends, ready with a true fellow-feeling to sympathize with each other
in all the phases of socialty and open-hearted humanity. And they had numerous
resources for amusement and recreation.
At first and for many years there was little need of public halls as
places for social entertainment. The original cabins, whether made of logs,
slabs or boards, and the better though yet cheap and modest residences
which succeeded them, in the village and in the country about, were cozy
meeting places for little neighborhood parties and not infrequently for
dancing, games, or other social pastimes, were filled to overflowing. Some
of the very early houses were logs, roofed with marsh grass, or straw,
or bark, or slabs, or rough boards; had doors on wooden hinges, with wooden
latches; windows of but two six-light, seven-by-nine sash, and the glass
fastened with little three-cornered bits of tin or with small pegs or tacks;
but even in such a building, sixteen by twenty-two feet, before a cheerful,
open fire-place, was room for a French four, an eight-hand reel, or half
a dozen couples in Money-musk, while as many onlookers sat or stand by
the walls. And it is doubtful if the more formal, elaborate, conventional
and general receptions of our modern life are enjoyed with more
real, unaffected pleasure than were those plays and breakdowns
of the early days. A ride out of town six, eight, or ten miles, in a lumber
rigged with rough board seats, or in winter a sleigh in which the parties
were snugly packed, was often a jolly frolic; and if after a 'dance
all night till broad daylight' the load could be dexterously tipped over,
the merriment was only so much the greater. The spirit of play rounded the
rough edges of many a hard day's work. When the young man finished his
task a little earlier than usual, his face betrayed his anticipation of
accompanying his favorite girl in the pleasures of an evening party somewhere
in the settlement. It was not all dancing; often some other sport opened
the entertainment, and usually all in the house participated in the amusements----'children
of large growth' as well as the stalwart young men and the blithesome maidens.
Few or none were too dignified for that. They had no stock on hand of quadrille
bands and string orchestras, but seldom were they without a fiddler--not
a 'violinist,' but an all-alive fiddler, whose head and shoulders and heels
would mask time with the cadences of the fiddle and bow. Sometimes the
boys would pay him twp shillings each, more or less, according to the number
present or the condition of their finances.
The fiddler was perched in one corner, perhaps adjacent to the big fire-place,
or in a double loft house. The entertainment would begin with a march to
some such refrain as "We're marching onward to Quebec." the company promenading
by couples about the room. Some one would be placed within the circle,
whose duty it was to choose a partner from the promenaders. Then there
was the forfeit of a kiss and another must take his place. And the play
was so timed as to give each a kiss before a change was made in the programme.
There was the 'grab' play, when at the word each one would grab for
some other's partner, sometimes creating much mirthful confusion; or
'hurl-burly',
in which each would attempt to do something according to instructions that
had been given in a whisper, and with collisions or tumbling over each
other the scene would be one of 'confusion more confounded'. Men and
matrons of sixty years or over will remember numerous ludicrous incidents
connected with those harmless plays which now seem so silly and frivolous.
But the winding up, with dancing, as men and maidens of those days did
and could dance--even now something more than the mere remembrance of it
is demonstrated whenever the Old Residents have a reunion party or picnic.
There is probably no keener nor more satisfying enjoyment in the modern
promenade, or quadrille, or waltz, than was theirs when Robert Barr called 'Down the outside!' in the Opera Reel; when John Bemis prompted,
'Swing
once and a half round!' and 'Forward six!' in the Money-musk, or when
Chester Turner, or Fidius Stocking, or John Powell, sang out, 'All
hands round!' or 'Grand right and left!' The olden times are gone,
but many gray-headed men and women love to look back upon the hours when 'Old Zip Coon' or
'Molly put the kettle on' gave the key note
and inspiration to their recreations, as among the happiest in their lives.
In calicoes and keyseys clad
What cared they for silks and laces?
In friendship's ties they all were glad--
They had stout hearts and smiling faces.
THEATERS--ASSEMBLY HALLS
Some of the early efforts in the way of theatrical playing were made
at school exhibitions. About 1838 a term of school in the house on the
Baptist mission ground was closed in that manner, and the village youngsters
vied with each other in endeavoring to make it as good as a genuine theater.
What the play was, is not recorded. They built a platform outside the building
for a stage entrance, and with sheets and shawls managed to make a drop
curtain for the stage. Probably without suspecting that it was the fashionably
way, the actors were slow in the opening, and the boys in the audience
began to whistle and stamp and hiss; when John W. Peirce parted the curtains
and put his head far enough through to say, 'Ladies and gentlemen,
please be patient; we will soon begin; we are fixing up a woman';
whereat there was a thundering outburst of applause. The 'woman' was
Aaron B. Turner, then a slim, beardless boy of sixteen years. He says it
was his first and last appearance as an actress or actor 'on any stage;'
yet he has acted a very creditable part since as a citizen and in public
life.
The earliest place of regular resort in Grand Rapids for concerts, dancing
parties, minstrel shows and other public social gatherings was in the upper
part of the building long known as the Old Yellow Warehouse, erected in
1843, on the east bank of the river, some four hundred feet below the Eagle
Hotel. Following that, within a few years, were popular entertainment rooms
in two or three other buildings in that vicinity. The first prestidigitator
or sleight of hand performer who came this way gave an exhibition in the
Yellow Warehouse, and the building was packed full. In one part of his
performance he lifted Warren Mills' hat from his head, and nearly a peck
of potatoes rolled over that gentleman's shoulders to the floor. Then amid
the cheering and stamping of feet came a crackling of timbers, and the
floor began to settle. This caused a stampede for exit, and those in the
audience tumbled over each other in their haste to get down stairs. Fortunately
the sills settled but two or three inches and were on solid blocking. No
one was seriously hurt.
The ball room of the old National Hotel, built in 1836, was a hall of
fair dimensions for those days and was much used for a variety of social
purpose, including dancing parties, during the next fifteen years.
In 1844, the Irving Hall was opened, and became a popular place for
public assemblages of various kinds, and as a lecture room. It was also
occupied for a time as a lodge room by two or three secret societies. At
that time also were built the Commerical Block and the Faneuil Hall Block,
each of which had a room large enough for similar uses. That in Commercial
Block was afterward fitted up for a Masonic Hall and used as such for a
long time. The Odd Fellows and the Good Templars also occupied it. In Faneuil
Hall the Mechanics' Mutual Prottection held its sessions when organized.
In 1849 a three-story wooden building was erected on the east side of
Canal street, about midway between Lyon street and Cresent avenue, in which
was fitted up a hall about 25 by 80 feet in size. It was christened Sons
of Temerance Hall, and afterward called Public Hall. The building was burned
about ten years ago.
John W. Peirce, about 1853, built over his store on Canal street, opposite
the foot of Cresent avenue, a cosy room, suitable and considerably used
for public meetings, lectures, theatrical performances and dancing parties,
which he named Concert Hall. Across Erie street on the opposite corner,
two years later, was Collins Hall, afterward called Empire Hall, in the
fourth story of a large brick block, This was a larger room than any of
the kind that had preceded it (40 by 70 feet), and became popular with
the public and with traveling theater companies.
In the stone part of the Rathbun House, facing Waterloo street, was
a comfortable little hall, much used by lovers of the quadrille, and which
was fitted up and used some weeks by the first regularly organized theatrical
troupe that came this way--that of Langrishe & Atwater, in September,
1852. There was also a neat little hall in the upper part of the Bridge
Street House, much used by the earlier German immigrants for their convivial
and musical entertainments.
The first hall suitable in size for gatherings of a thousand or more
people was in Luce's block, corner of Monroe and Ottawa streets, erected
in 1856. It was provided with an outfit of movable raised seats; also a
stage and theatrical curtains and drops at the further end. Afterward
something was added to its capacity by the construction of a gallery around
three sides. This was a popular resort for a great variety of public entertainments,
where large numbers were in attandance, including political and religious
meetings and conventions, public lectures, theatrical performances, bazaars,
and balls, for about a quarter of a century.
Ransom C. Luce has been a prominently known resident of Grand Rapids
fifty years. He is the only surviving son of Marston C. and Rebecca W.
Luce. He was born in Genesee county, N.Y., February 28,1822. The family
came here in 1839. In 1846 he began trade as a groceryman in a small wood
building on the north side of Monroe nearly opposite Waterloo street, and
continued in business there some sixteen years, when, in 1863, he built
at that place a three-story brick block. In 1856 he erected the first four-story
brick block on Monroe street, at the west corner of Ottawa, ever since
known as Luce's Block. Mr. Luce has been an incessantly busy man, financially
successful, is counted among the wealthy citizens, and has always exhibited
much interest and public spirit in the welfare and growth of the city.
He served eleven years as Alderman in the Common Council, and one year
as Supervisor of his ward, between 1858 and 1870, and has been a Cemetery
Commissioner most of the time for a quarter of a century. He is a citizen
whose yes or no is always positive and peremptory---a plain man, who puts
on no airs and takes little heed of the changing breezes of fashion, or
of self-seeking popularity.
On the west side of the river about 1847, the Rev. Joseph Penney caused
a building to be erected on Bridge street, near the end of the bridge,
for lecture-room purposes. It was not very large, but convenient, and used
many years, some of the time as a court room. In 1853 a house built for
a hotel on the west side of Court street, a little south of Bridge, was
finished with a commodious hall or ball-room in the upper part. Lincoln
Hall, built in 1857 by Alfred B. and Selden E. Turner, was in a brick block
at the corner of Bridge and Scibner streets. It was 50 by 74 feet, and
popular with social parties. It went down in the great fire of 1875 which
swept through Bridge street. The upper story of the West Side Union School
House (the stone structure built in 1855) was for some years used as an
armory hall by the militia men, and a room for public assemblies.
A convenient and much used hall, for many years, is on the corner of
Canal and Pearl streets in the Lovett Block. Among other halls of the past
twenty years have been Leppig Hall, corner of Lyon street and Arcade; Armory
Hall, 36 1/2 North Ionia; Arbeiter Hall, corner of Jefferson and Chatham.
The halls of the Masons and Odd Fellows in the Tower Clock Block, the Lyon
street, are finely finished for their uses.
At present nearly every nationality represented in the city has its
club building, where the members, their wives, families and friends hold
social assemblies. Among these are the club buildings of the Arbeiter Verein,
on Jefferson street, costing $20,000; the turn Verein, also on Jefferson
street, costing $7,000; the Germania, costing $9,000; the Casino, costing
$9,000; Holland Society's Hall, $6.000; Polish, Danish, and Scandinavain
Halls, costing from $2,500 to $5,000. There are also many clubs, organized
purely for social purposes, that occupy apartments of no mean or insignificant
proportions in public and private blocks of the city. And a large number
of public halls in various parts of the city are constructed and well adapted
for the presentation of theatricals, operas, concerts, lectures and public
enterainments generally.
Germania Hall, at 26 North Front street, was opened October 27,1886,
and dedicated with formal ceremonies and a musical concert by the German
Benevolent Association, a Mutual Benefit society. It will hold an assembly
of about 1,000 people.
Metroplitan Hall, built by W. T. Powers, at 57 Pearl street, has been
in much request for popular gatherings, and for dancing assemblies. It
was opened December 30,1880, the dedicatory performance being a children's
dress carnival.
HARTMAN'S HALL
An assembly room not excelled by any for public entertainment in the
State is Hartman's Hall (C. S. Hartman, owner and manager), corner of Ionia
and Fountain streets. It was opened December 12, 1887. Its cost, including
heating and furnishing, was about $50,000. It is on the ground floor, three-stories
high, 88 by 132 feet in dimensions, and has a large gallery. Its regular
concert seats number 2,300, besides which it is supplied with chairs to
accommodate a convention audience of over 4,000 persons. The platform is
without scenery, 25 by 45 feet. The hall is well ventilated, and acoustically
its construction is excellent. It has all needed accessories of ante-rooms,
ticket-office and check-rooms. In connection with it is a lecture room
with a seating capacity of 500 or more, and to this are attached a kitchen
and a full set of ante-rooms. Hartman's Hall is in the building called
the Shepard Block, built in the same year, in which are also safe deposit
vaults and several stores, offices and other apartments.
SQUIER'S OPERA HOUSE
Squier's Opera House was the first regularly appointed theater in Grand
Rapids. It stood on the west side of Canal street, midway between Erie
and Bridge. It was built in 1859, by John W. Squier, and thereafter, until
destroyed by fire in 1872, was almost constantly in use as a theater, and
for lectures and public exhibitions. During that time it was the only appropriately
seated, furnished and equipped theater, and was a popular place of resort.
POWERS' GRAND OPERA HOUSE
Powers' Grand Opera House was built by Wm. T. Powers in 1873, and was
opened by McVicker's Theatrical Company May 12, 1874. This was the first
fully equipped modern opera house erected in Western Michigan. It is on
Pearl street, in the Arcade Block, a five story brick building which together
with the opera house cost upward of $100,000. The opera house as originally
built consisted of three tiers, the main floor being one story above the
ground, and had a seating capacity of about 1,300. In 1884 Mr. Powers enlarged
it by dropping the lower floor to the ground and converting the original
lower floor into a gallery, thereby making the auditorium to consist of
four tiers, which are designed parquette and parquette circle, dress circle,
balcony and gallery. Ample ways are furnished for ingress and egress, by
a main hall of large proportions on each floor of the building, so that
the largest audience can be dispersed in less than five minutes' time.
The house at
(Inserted picture of Squier's Opera House-Built in 1859-burned in 1872)
the time the enlargement was made was thoroughly refitted and
seated with improved folding chairs, and new scenery, drop curtains and
stage paraphernalia were provided, at a cost of about $10,000. It now
seats over 1,600 people. The auditorium is 61 by 66 feet in size. The stage
is 33 by 61 feet, with scene loft 60 feet in height, and is fully equipped
with pullies and tackle sufficient to handle any modern drops and special
scenery. The house is also provided with a stand pipe and hose connected
with the city water pipes for fire protection. It is heated by steam and
lighted by both gas and incandescent electric lamps.
REDMOND'S GRAND OPERA HOUSE
Redmond's Grand Opera House, built by T. H. Remond, was opened September
18, 1882, by the Madison Square Theater Company. The interior is elaborately
and richly finished and furnished. In style and in capacity it is among
the first class theaters of the country. It has seatings for about 1,400
people, with entrances and exits sufficient for the rapid clearing of the
house in case of emergency. The stage is 34 by 60 feet and thoroughly equipped
with all essential appliances. The seats are folding opera chairs of the
best styles. There are eleven dressing rooms nicely furnished, the lighting
is electric, and the heating is done by steam. It has a stand pipe and
hose ready for use in case of fire. Outwardly the building is an imposing
structure, 60 feet front and about the same height, and its architecture
is tasty and attractive. It is situated at 117-121 Canal street.
SMITH'S OPERA HOUSE
Wm. B. Smith opened Ball's Adelphia Theater, at 68 Waterloo street,
October 25, 1875, and closed it July 17, 1885. That was not a large theater,
but had very steady patronage. April 25, 1885, he began excavating at 62
Waterloo street for Smith's Opera House, which was completed and opened
September 7, 1885. Its cost was $45,000. The building is 55 by 132 feet
on the ground. The lobby and front offices are paved and floored with English
tiling, and lighted with electric lights. The theater proper is lighted
with gas and seated with Andrew folding chairs. The entire building is
heated by steam. The theater is situated at the street corner and on the
ground floor. The stage is 26 by 42 feet, and nicely equipped. On each
side are five upholstered private boxes. The flats are 24 by 18 feet. Proscenium
arch 32 feet high. It has six commodious dressing rooms and a large orchestra
room. Seating capacity--parquette and circle 500, balcony 260, gallery
500, private boxes 56; total 1,316. The stage is equipped with all modern
improvements and fitted for the production of all classes of theatrical
plays. The building is of a pleasing style of architecture, and, though
not the largest, this theater is among the handsomest in the country.
Science Hall, 59 by 61 Canal street, was erected in 1883 and opened
in January, 1884. It was at first fitted up as a lecture room and for small
assemblies, by an association of Spiritualists. It was then upon the second
floor. In 1886 it was remodeled by taking out the stores beneath and settling
it to the lower floors. The hall was reconstructed and fitted up as a theater,
in which shape it had a lively run of business for a year or two, under
the name of Wonderland. It has since been rechristened Lyceum Theater.
Seating capacity, about 800.