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Grand Rapids in 1856

Scene of early Grand Rapids viewed from the...


Construction of City Hall

Construction of City Hall

1886

The corner of the city hall closest to the camera is part of the clock tower, and the large arch of the entrance can just be seen at the right. The view looks east up Lyon St. toward Division Ave. where the original Swedenborgian Church stands. Many workmen and construction material are visible on the ground and on the top of the construction.

Subjects

Full Details

TitleConstruction of City Hall
Date1886
Current AddressLyon and Ottawa
Pre 1912 AddressLyon and Ottawa
ArchitectElijah E. Myers
ContractorW.D. Richardson, Springfield, IL
Date Constructed1888
Original OwnerCity of Grand Rapids
Original UseCity government
NeighborhoodDowntown
Information SourceHistory of the City of Grand Rapids by Albert Baxter
Notes

Title by cataloger.
Construction began in May of 1885, the cornerstone was laid September 9, 1885, and dedication was Septmeber 26, 1888.
Grand Rapids City Hall was razed in 1969 after an extended effort to save it.

The house on the crest of the hill, about one-third of the way from the left, belonged to Henry R. Williams, the first mayor of Grand Rapids. It is also easily identified in the Sarah Nelson painting on our Home Page, the second house from the left on the crest of the hill. See also the photo, Destruction of City Hall, in the archive.

CollectionGRPL Photo Coll. #54-10-25, Neg # 3430, Grand Rapids History & Special Collections, Archives
Rights

Reproduction and copyright information regarding this image is available from Grand Rapids History & Special Collections, Archives, Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids, MI

Locationlocation on map


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