Pitsch Co. Historical Photos, Version 1
by Fr. Dennis Morrow
Pitsch Company (Capitol City Wrecking Co.) Mid-1930s
Both versions 1 & 2 list images available at the Grand Rapids Public Library.
Version 1, listed by the Library’s numeration system (Set No.), is necessary for finding an item at the library.
Version 2, uses alphabetical order (Location), which aids in locating a particular street.
Set No. Location
1-1 346 Fulton W. (after demolition, cf. 6-5)
1-2 Camp Lake -- Ice House
1-3 411 Lafayette N.E.
1-4 Sparta Coach & Body Co., Sparta
(sign on bldg. reads “Grand Rapids Store Equipment Company”)
1-5 Sparta Coach & Body, Sparta (same but poorer than 8-18)
2-1 Dudley Waters Est. (large barn)
2-2 724 Eleanor N.E. (barn, “L. Valkier”)
2-3 211-13 Wealthy S.W.
2-4 Maryland Farms
3-1 601 Fulton W.
4-1 City Market job, Lansing
4-2 806 Grandville S.W. (before demolition; cf. 60-6)
4-3 Ney & Goodrich S.W. (houses)
5-1 Blodgett House (interior--sideboard)
5-2 1115 Ionia N.W.
5-3 530 Bond N.W.
5-4 Old blacksmith shop, Mason St., Cadillac
6-1 Francis Apartments, Lansing
6-2 950-52 Wealthy S.E.
6-3 unknown industrial (same as 6-4)
6-4 unknown industrial (same as 6-3)
6-5 346-56 Fulton W. (before demolition, cf. 1-1)
6-6 Arlington Pl. & Delaware S.E.
6-7 509 Alabama N.W.
6-8 41 LaGrave S.E. (Weston St. side)
7-1 New York Central roundhouse
7-2 New York Central station
7-3 New York Central freight building & water tower
7-4 513 Stocking N.W.
7-5 Michigan Soldiers’ Home, Company “E” Building
8-1 530 Bond N.W. (same but better photo than 5-3)
8-2 540 Crescent N.E. (Herpolsheimer home)
8-3 351 Eastern S.E.
8-4 211-13 Erie N.W.
8-5 1001-15 Godfrey S.W. (Standardized Furniture Co.)
8-6 47 Jefferson S.E.
8-7 147-49 Logan S.E.
8-8 Plainfield Ave., N.E., Sligh house
8-9 Rathbone St., S.W. (garage)
8-10 Lovall Hall, Hopkins
8-11 Pere Marquette shops, Ionia
8-12 Goodale Funeral Home, Kalamazoo
8-13 624 W. Michigan Ave., mansion, Kalamazoo
8-14 City Market, Lansing
8-15 Downey Hotel, Lansing
8-16 Francis Apts., Lansing
8-17 Logan St. School, Lansing
8-18 Sparta Coach and Body Co. (same but better photo than 1-5)
8-19 J. Goosmann & Co. (store), location unknown
8-20 The Kellogg-Burlingame Co., The Electric Supply Co., location unknown
9-1 New post office site, W. Michigan & N. Park St., Kalamazoo
9-2 32 Cutler S.W.
9-3 New post office site, Kalamazoo
10-1 A.B. Knowlson Co., coal & coke, building material, location unknown
12-1 I.O.O.F. Hall, Coopersville (Interurban station in background)
12-2 Broadway N.W. (single family dwelling)
12-3 Ionia Hotel, Ionia
12-4 513 Stocking N.W. (before demolition)
13-1 48 Commerce S.W.
13-2 351 Jefferson S.E. (garages at rear)
13-3 32 & 36 Fair S.E.
13-4 40 Fair S.E.
15-1 9?? Leonard N.W. (Hi-Speed gas station)
15-2 1-3-5-7-9 Fountain N.W. (after demolition; cf. 34-2)
15-3 21 Goodrich S.W.
15-4 Ninth St., N.W. (houses)
15-5 Ninth St., N.W. (houses) (same as previous, less sharp)
15-6 111 College N.E.
16-1 247-49 Grandville S.W.
16-2 S.e. corner Ionia & Fulton W. (after demolition; cf. 38-1)
16-3 1015-17 Lake Dr., S.E. (house to west)
16-4 1015-17 Lake Dr., S.E. (house to east)
17-1 401 Ionia N.W., First Pilgrim Tabernacle, c. 1937 (under demolition)
17-2 unknown--interior of greenhouse? (cf. 28-1)
17-3 mansions--unknown location (resembles Herpolsheimer home, Set No. 8)
17-4 301 LaGrave S.E.
18-1 Munson Building, location unknown
18-2 545 Henry S.E.
18-3 unknown industrial
20-1 1950 Division S.
20-2 “Job wrecked by others” (ruins)
20-3 117 Commerce S.W.
25-1 11-19 Tannery St., Comstock Park
25-2 624 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo (same photo as 8-13, but poorer quality)
25-3 624 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo (interior)
28-1 Greenway Estate--greenhouse
28-2 133 LaGrave S.E.
28-3 Picric acid plant, Wyoming
28-4 Picric acid plant, Wyoming
31-1 2-story brick dwelling, location unknown
31-2 buildings at rear of previous dwelling
31-3 3 houses & brick commercial garage, location unknown
31-4 large brick mansion, same location as 31-1, 31-2
32-1 Broadway & Fifth N.W., alley
32-2 30 Blackburn S.E. (should be S.W.?)
34-1 923 Leonard N.W. (Fortuin Pastry Shop)
34-2 1-3-5-7-9 Fountain N.W. (before demolition; cf. 15-2)
34-3 S.e. corner Fulton & Ionia S.W. (same but better than 38-1)
38-1 S.e. corner Fulton & Ionia S.W. (before demolition; cf. 16-2 and 34-3)
38-2 marble mantle, Kalamazoo
38-3 Muskegon Foundry, Sparta
38-4 444 Ionia S.W.
38-5 Kewpee Hamburgs, Division Ave., N.
38-6 655 Ninth N.W.
38-7 226 Grandville S.W.
38-8 2 Ionia S.W., Hamel Stag Lunch (cf. 16-2, 34-3, 38-1)
38-9 528 Butterworth S.W.
38-10 128 LaGrave S.E.
38-11 P.M. shops, Ionia
50-1 500 Monroe N.W., Ohio House
50-2 Ohio House, barn on Hastings St., N.W.
50-3 817 Ionia N.W.
60-1 138 Antoine S.W.
60-2 431 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo
60-3 47 Jefferson S.E. (demolished)
60-4 540 Crescent N.E., Herpolsheimer barn
60-5 Wurzburg’s parking lot
60-6 806 Grandville S.W. (after demolition; cf. 4-2)
60-7 41 Jefferson S.E., white mantle
61-1 Rocks Carving Factory, Grand Haven
61-2 Rocks Carving Factory, Grand Haven
61-3 1019 Ionia N.W.
62-1 1526 Grandville S.W.
66-1 unknown location, houses
66-2 650 Seventh N.W. (sheds)
V122 610 Ottawa N.W. (crossed out)
x-1 Keeler Brass Co., location unknown
x-2 Grand Rapids Chair Co.
x-3 dance hall, Mason
x-4 Blodgett home, interior (mantle)
x-5 Blodgett home, buffet (same as 5-1)
x-6 Blodgett home, interior (mantle)
x-7 Blodgett home, dining room mantle
x-8 barn, East Grand Rapids
x-9 close-up of rear of No. 35 Buick plant, Flint (same as x-23)
x-10 “barn at Blodgett”
x-11 1106 Wealthy S.E.
x-12 1040 Ottawa N.W.
x-13 house on King Ct., S.W.
x-14 340-42-44 King Ct., S.W. (4 houses, incl. x-13)
x-15 814 Ionia S.W.
x-16 Graham St., S.W., sheds
x-17 Graham St., S.W., sheds (Franklin St. viaduct in background)
x-18 811 Broadway N.W., apt.
x-19 1302 Ashland N.E.
x-20 1725 Division S.
x-21 Francis Apts., Lansing
x-22 1001-15 Godfrey S.W., Standardized Furniture Co.
x-23 #35 Buick factory, Flint (same as x-9)