Wondering about your house history?

Due to overwhelming response - house history requests are on hold until 2023.
At that time the price will be $60 per house.
Histories include photos, articles, real estate information, biographical information on past owners of your home.
These are multi-page reports, many over 50 pages long.
If you wish to be on the waiting list for 2023, send your request to Mary Dersch, EGR History Room curator
egrhistoryroom@gmail.com
PictureGrand Rapids & West Michigan Research - Courtesy of the Grand Rapids Historical Society
GRAND RAPIDS & WEST MICHIGAN RESEARCH
Please click on the history book to link to resources:
  • Remembering old East Grand Rapids
Lovely video done by the Grand Rapids Camera Club.  Forward to minute 14:46 to see Ramona Park and the Ramona steamer on Reeds Lake.

"Ice Breakers" - the Consumers Ice House Gang, 1910

Ice Breakers by Chris LaPorte, 2016 monumental pencil drawing of the Consumers Ice Company "Ice House Gang" on Reeds Lake, 1910.

On permanent display in the upper lobby of the EGR Community Center.
Click to set custom HTML
Picture
​NEED ASSISTANCE. . .GLAD TO HELP!
​If you are interested in obtaining old photographs of East Grand Rapids or need help with research, please fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page and we will be in touch!

East Grand Rapids through the years!

Gaslight Village

Holiday street scape, early 1980s

Gaslight Inn

Corner of Croswell and Wealthy,                 1973 - 2006

Dulox on Fisk Lake

Ben E. West estate built in 1904, downsized by 1955 and razed by 2006.

 Visit the EGR History Room (limited access during Covid, 2020)

Upper level, East Grand Rapids Library
746 Lakeside Drive SE, East Grand Rapids, Michigan

Do you have questions about East Grand Rapids History? 
​Do you have memories, photos, artifacts that you wish to share?
Please contact us via email:  egrhistoryroom@gmail.com or by phone: 616-241-2092
We will be in touch.  Thank you!

Please follow the East Grand Rapids History Room on Facebook too!
https://www.facebook.com/EastGrandRapidsHistoryRoom
Thanks!
Picture


 Mary T. Dersch, curator, East Grand Rapids History Room                                      

The History Room is located on the upper level of the library.

Picture
The East Grand Rapids History Room is the only organization whose primary purpose is to obtain, preserve and display artifacts related to the rich history of this area.  Items of local importance are obtained via auctions, estate sales and antique dealers.  Some items are donations that need preservation or need to be readied for display.
The History Room has a growing collection of historical artifacts, memorabilia, ephemera and audiovisual items unique to this area.  These items are not circulated, as many are irreplaceable, primary sources of information.
Accessibility of History Room materials to area citizens is a top priority.
The History Room is not funded by the Kent District Library System or the branch library in which it is housed.  It is supported by private donations and occasional contributions from the East Grand Rapids Friends of the Library, the City of East Grand Rapids and private citizens.

The City of East Grand Rapids claims ownership and responsibility for the History Room facility and its contents.  The City provides not dedicated funding.

​​Since 1993 Mary Dersch has been responsible for maintenance of the collection.  The City of East Grand Rapids manages the funds for the History Room.  Monies received for use in the History Room make it possible for immediate purchases of unique historical items as they become available, books and preservation and display of existing holdings, storage of materials and presentations to the public through library programs and printed publications.

The History Room is dedicated to the memory of Marie Jay Cady, former EGR resident and a most influential individual in West Michigan.
-To learn about the life of Mrs. Cady, hold your cursor over the first picture.

    Contact the East Grand Rapids History Room