Glance at the Past show

Glance at the Past

Summary: The Grand Rapids Historical Commission Podcast features "A Glance at the Past," a local history radio project. Take a listen to give you a glimpse of Grand Rapids in the past.

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  • Artist: GRHC
  • Copyright: ℗ & © 2009, Grand Rapids Historical Commission

Podcasts:

 Crossing Lake Michigan | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 132

Grand Rapids seems to have had difficulty relinquishing its attachment to the great lakes steamboats, but at the same time it happily accepted the advantages of the railroads. 

 White Flame Light | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 119

A simple attempt to adjust his mother's oil lamp led to a small shoestring business which grew into a company with international agents.

 Saving the Fair | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 131

A Grand Rapids businessman, Melvin Church, while visiting Chicago, suggested an innovative solution to an engineer during the construction of the World's Fair that allowed the fair to open on schedule.

 The Land of Make Believe | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 127

The children's map, Land of Make Believe, created by Jaro Hess in the 1930s, captured the imagination of children and their parents as soon as it appeared. While it was just one of his many creations, it is his most well-known work and is still available today.

 Artist, Alexander Flyn | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 120

Alexander Flyn, an accomplished Grand Rapids portrait artist, came to this city in 1918 and stayed until his death in 1963. During that time he was active in the local art community.

 One Man, Two Milestones | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 111

William J. Hardy became active in the politics of Gaines Township after African American men were granted the right to vote in 1870.

 Fifty Years Ago | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 138

The "Knockout Polio" drive began in September of 1963. Approximately 320,000 people in Kent County participated, 86% of the population, and took the two drops of vaccine placed on a sugar cube.

 Rose's Beach | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 117

Jim Rose began offering swimming instruction at Reed's Lake in 1901. By the time Rose's Beach was closed during WWII, Jim and his family had watched thousands of people swimming there for forty-three years.

 City Charter and Seal | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 122

The original seal of the city was adopted on June 25, 1850, but seven years later the Common Council decided that since it had passed a new charter, the seal also needed a few adjustments.

 Aquinas College | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 127

Aquinas College has had several names and been in several locations, but it has occupied its beautiful wooded campus since 1945.

 Ryerson Portrait | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 116

Martin Antoine Ryerson's roots go back to the beginning of the city, and the Ryerson Library, now the Grand Rapids Public Library, was his gift to the people of his native city.

 Ramona Theater | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 121

The Ramona Theater had stood so long it couldn't be dismantled. Wreckers wanted to salvage the steel roof beams, but the huge wooden pillars supporting them were rotten. How could they finish the project?

 Brief History of Microfilm | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 136

When you visit the Grand Rapids Public Library you can read microfilm copies of city newspapers from the 1840s to current times. Have you ever wondered how long microfilm has been available?

 One City Corner | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 136

In October of 2007 the Grand Rapids Art Museum opened its new building, ninety-seven years after its founding in 1910. It occupies the same corner where 157 years earlier William Preusser began his jewelry and clock business.

 Inventor, Bill Lear | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 136

The Lear organization was founded in Chicago in 1930 to produce the first practical automobile radio and other radio equipment Bill Lear had invented.

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