The article MichMatters linked to says that there were boards on top of these planks, so it wouldn't be as bumpy of a ride as the picture makes it look like. Those boards were removed when the street was put in, but the planks remained as they provided some extra stability for the road during construction.
Also, in the background of this picture is the Taco Bell and I think the buildings prior to the first Stonehouse Village (the multi-tiered one that includes Cottage Inn Pizza).
I think the fact that Lansing got a later start then other communities in the area is reflected in our streets. We have wide boulevards and a street plan that is Midwestern. Older towns are more Eastern, small narrow streets and small blocks perhaps that grew in a more organic way [like cow paths or Native trails] oppose to the planned streets that were laid out in a wider grid as Lansing grew south from Grand River Ave. I think you could say that our lower density downtown was the first urban sprawl from the original town center "Old Town". Like I said about Ann Arbor we did not build everything right in the center of a dense city. We built our state college in the country, and had big sections of land to build factories near but not in downtown. What I am trying to point out that this may be why Lansing is not like Indianapolis, or Austin with lots of sky scrapers and a big downtown. We had lots of space to build horizontal, not vertical. Lansing has always been spreading out that way since the start.
I really love these two pictures as this is my neighborhood. I can remember when the power plant looked like this. It is a nice looking building with all the gear stripped away. I do not know how long this bridge lasted, but it reminds of the S Logan Street bridge over the Grand. It had a big graceful arch over the river, rail tracks and Olds Plant. It was not really great to drive on with a stick shift as the grade was steep and you could roll back or stall out. It was nice to look at from the Riverside Park, unlike the highway style bridges there now.
I found that video very interesting, the Capitol looks really nice these days. it was also interesting to see those plans again after so long. They were the reason the state took down the whole surrounding neighborhood, in exchange we would get this beautiful mall of modern shining buildings from Capitol Ave to Logan Street. Not really how it worked out.
Also on that youtube page is that video of a trip around Lansing in about 1970, now that I have been back for a while I can name the whole route. I like when they go over the old Kalamazoo Street bridge, and turn down Cherry over to St.Joe next to the 496 construction, and the last part of "The Gut" on North Washington.
Help needed to ID building from 1934, It is the tall building directly above the windshield of the car. The building has a chimney running up the side. Picture is thought to be taken from Grand Ave. Is this the Davenport U Building now? Any help would be greatly appreciated.....thank you. http://s1006.photobucket.com/user/radssmith/media/64.jpg.html
@Rads I don't clearly recognize anything in that photo, but after some comparing I'm pretty sure the building in question is the back of the old Michigan/Strand Theater. I believe the Davenport building is in the far upper left of your photo, peeking out above the roof of the Michigan Theater. Here's an aerial to better show the two buildings:
@Michmatters I successfully used the Sanborn maps on the CADL website at one time, but it was at least three or four years ago. I don't see it now either, it wasn't hard to find then so I'd say it looks like they don't have access to it anymore.
I remember there was a service station and a Goodyear tire store in that area in the 60's maybe this business on the right was the forefather of that store. The Michigan Theater had a full deep theatrical stage.It was a big building. I only saw one play the there[lots of movies], which may have been the last play ever presented on that stage. It was a road show of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and it must have been in the early to mid-70's as it was not long after that for some reason they tore down the theater part of the building. There were a lot of buildings on that block, and when we would leave by the rear exit of the theater it felt very "big city" to me as a little kid, walking down the ally to get to the car. Kind of sad to see the foundation of the balcony and a bunch of surface lots there now.
The picture is taken 1 block south of the Montgomery Wards/Riverside Tires Service center on Grand looking west.......Sherm's diner car was next this service station. The Strand Hotel is facing Grand one block north of the building in question (N/W corner of Grand and Washtenaw?) . Here is another from the old stacks across the river looking west, the Strand Hotel is right of the "Electricity" sign on the fire house. it may be the building behind the stack or right at the edge of the negative. Thank you for all the replies.
Nope, I still am unsure of the building. Another negative I have shows the corner of Grand and Michigan and I can see the Hotel Strand sign [below the T in the watermark} in the negative. It is still a block north from this building.
They are from a group photo's taken on Grand in June 1934....The building in question appears in most of the photo's, getting an identification will help to put each photo in the correct order.
Comments
Also, in the background of this picture is the Taco Bell and I think the buildings prior to the first Stonehouse Village (the multi-tiered one that includes Cottage Inn Pizza).
I make note of it mostly because there are some interesting renderings of proposed Capitol replacements at 3:30.
Also on that youtube page is that video of a trip around Lansing in about 1970, now that I have been back for a while I can name the whole route. I like when they go over the old Kalamazoo Street bridge, and turn down Cherry over to St.Joe next to the 496 construction, and the last part of "The Gut" on North Washington.
@Michmatters I successfully used the Sanborn maps on the CADL website at one time, but it was at least three or four years ago. I don't see it now either, it wasn't hard to find then so I'd say it looks like they don't have access to it anymore.
I remember there was a service station and a Goodyear tire store in that area in the 60's maybe this business on the right was the forefather of that store. The Michigan Theater had a full deep theatrical stage.It was a big building. I only saw one play the there[lots of movies], which may have been the last play ever presented on that stage. It was a road show of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and it must have been in the early to mid-70's as it was not long after that for some reason they tore down the theater part of the building. There were a lot of buildings on that block, and when we would leave by the rear exit of the theater it felt very "big city" to me as a little kid, walking down the ally to get to the car. Kind of sad to see the foundation of the balcony and a bunch of surface lots there now.
They are from a group photo's taken on Grand in June 1934....The building in question appears in most of the photo's, getting an identification will help to put each photo in the correct order.