Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-10
HE TOOK A STROLL
An Obsersant Citizen Notes
Things About Town
Mr.. BAxTER'S "REMINISCENCES
The Old Landmarks and Their Associa
uons-Mr. Baxter to Leave the City
Along the Busy Streets.

EDITOR HERALD-Last Sunday morn
ing your contributor took a stroll
through the city. The air was cool
but bEacing, and the sun warmed Ne
up enough 10 induce US TO note down
what We saw in our rambling. Meet
IN the veteran pen-pusher. Albert Bax-
ter, formerly of The Eagle. We chaited
for while aoont the changes that
have taken place in the neighboTnood
Of Bridge and Canal streets. Pointing
to the corner where now the Bridge
street House Is located, Baxter said ;
ali you 60 down to the basement of
that hotel, you will ind 8 stump Of an
elm tree that used 10 stand where now
the floor OF the basement is; the street
has raised some since. aud so nave the
boundary lines OF Kent street. Just
observe the foundation OF the now
Walz block; the building will project
about two feet or more over tue old
line, and when completed will obstruct
the view OF the entire block north OF
it." Continuing his remarks, Mr.. Bax-
ter said: where now the fhayer
building stands used TO be . small
frame building, the only one in the
neighborhood for years; 1t was occu-
pied by MIR. Pike as . general store.
This was way back In the tifties. OPP
posite OF that, on the southwest corner
of Canal and Bridge streets, Nichols q
Naysmith had . general carpenter
shop. Mr.. Nichols died some years
ago, but Mr.. Naysmlth is still hale and
hearty" Mr.. Baxter informed Us that
he was going 70 leave Grand Rapids
Monday and spend the remaining
years OF his life on his farm, about y
miles north Of Muskegon on the old
Whitehall road. he having erected q
house for that purpose on the same.
Several years ago Mr.. Baxter planted n
peach orchard on his land. but the soil
was too sandy and no peach tree will
grow where you can't raise beans. so
his venture proved to be . failure i'll
that respect. We told Mr.. Baxter that
twenty-seven years ago today We lived
In the little moss covered frame build
ing adjoining the ono where Gaus hung
himself q few weeks ago. We were
pcddling bread at that time for George
w. Van Every OF the Van Every & Co.
firm. Leaving Mr.. Baxter, we con-
tinucd our walk and took in Grand.
ville avenue.
Granville Avenue Sights.
The street Is all torn up now on &C
count of the now pavement of cedar
blocks being laid. Alderman Gezon
has remodeled his block, which with its
bay window makes fine appearance.
We had an ONCE In said building when
it stood on the corner of Monroe and
Division streets, where now tho Porter
block stands. The late Jocky Brown
removed the structure to its present
site and sold it to Mr.. Gezon. The new
sidewalk in front of it, is about two
feet higher than the balance of the
sidewalk and too high altogether, say
the neighbors; but then Mr.. Gezon is
an alderman now, and they do about
IS they please with public improve
ments, no city marshal hav-
ing anything to say, anyhow.
Swinging around the circle it found US
on South Division street; it being Sab
bath, of course, no trains we're running
and We got safely over the dozen tracks
that cross Wealthy avenue at the inter-
section OF that street aud Buchanan
street. Reaching Fifth avenue on
South Division street. We observed .
great many improvements having been
made. A fine livery stable with DR..
Whalen's veterinary office in 1t adorns
the corner Of Haifley place and
South Division street. We also noticed
that . half . dozen new cottages have
lately arisen just opposite the Haifiey
place. Building 10 booming in the
south end, but it costs something to
live there. for at no place could We
obtain q dozen bananas for less than 20
to % cents per dozen, and poor ones at
that. No wonder that the street cars
were crowded with people going down
town to buy bananas aad candy, to be
eaten when ut John Ball park. The
difference in price paid the car fare and
they obtained better bananas. Strolling
along we came TO the place from which
we started, aud crossing Bridge street
bridge We came 10 Scribner street, one
OF the finest thoroughfares en- the west
side. mo admittance, except 10 mem
bers," read the sign on the German
society hall on the corner of Third
street. A couple OF boys went in when
We passed by, and We eoliloqrized to
ourselves, wonder il they are men,
bers." Scribner street 10 in many places
cut up with bitches for gas mains, sewer
or city water connections. II must be the
latter, for with the many electric tow
ers sbounding there the people have no
use for gas, and many sewers are use
less there on account of the backing
into them of the river water when st
the height il is now. Crossing Sixth
street bridge Ne came to Ottawa street,
and observed hundreds of people en-.
joying the sights to be seen from the
bluffs near the water standp pipes on the
hill in the neighborhood OF Fairbanks
street. by the way, why not improve
those hills and make . park OF II, II
would surely b well patronized by
those who love to take . bsrd's eye
view Of the grsndest panorama before
them, and OF which this city can boast.
We noticed that the Dreamer stairway
leading upon the hill on Fairbanks
street needs repairing, especially the
ratings. Hut We must close, other
wiss your readers will rail at US for
making this communication so long
and tirssoms - the stairs VAN.
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