I found a book in the library about the history of Lansing, titled "Lansing, Capital, Campus, and Cars". I found the story it presents, of our history very interesting and well written. I found it especially interesting that there was nothing really here but wilderness when it was decided that Lansing would be the site of the Capital City and how deep and dangerous that wilderness was. Places like DeWitt and Owosso and Ionia where functioning small towns well before there was a Lansing. It is also cool to read about the families that first settled here, their names now on our street signs. This book was published in the 1980's so there is some perspective on how far we have come since then as well.
@sabatoa I had always thought that it would have been good to have those tracks be below grade, I never knew there was ever any official recognition of the idea. It would be massively expensive but it's still something that would be really nice to see, I don't think trains are going anywhere anytime soon.
I've seen it before, but I love that layout, esp. with the long chain of parks along the riverfronts! They sure were brave about planning to build in flood zones back then though!
What the heck is an "Institute for Oddfellows?" An actual educational building or a just meeting place?
I am a little familiar with the IOOF, but I thought they were more of a lodge-oriented civic organization like the Elks or Moose. Are their meeting places called "institutes" perhaps?
But yeah, wow that's a great picture to see. I have never seen it like this before. The plaza is so wide there. Was there always parking there or were two streets joined?
This was when I was at MSU and I wouldn't call it a plaza then more like a wide sidewalk in the middle with parking a lane off Ann Street. The Small Planet was a true "hippy" vegetarian restaurant with pine wood tables and booths. When I was very broke I would have the steamed veggies and rice, for $2.00 you got this huge bowl of food. My family thought I was crazy to go somewhere they served no meat. It was the first time I had vegetables that were not overcooked!
Thanks for posting these photos, East Lansing had a wide variety of business, not just student-oriented eateries. Sometimes all those years I lived out east all of these places seemed like a dream, it is great to see these pictures that spark great memories.
Comments
I found a book in the library about the history of Lansing, titled "Lansing, Capital, Campus, and Cars". I found the story it presents, of our history very interesting and well written. I found it especially interesting that there was nothing really here but wilderness when it was decided that Lansing would be the site of the Capital City and how deep and dangerous that wilderness was. Places like DeWitt and Owosso and Ionia where functioning small towns well before there was a Lansing. It is also cool to read about the families that first settled here, their names now on our street signs. This book was published in the 1980's so there is some perspective on how far we have come since then as well.
@sabatoa I had always thought that it would have been good to have those tracks be below grade, I never knew there was ever any official recognition of the idea. It would be massively expensive but it's still something that would be really nice to see, I don't think trains are going anywhere anytime soon.
I've seen it before, but I love that layout, esp. with the long chain of parks along the riverfronts! They sure were brave about planning to build in flood zones back then though!
What the heck is an "Institute for Oddfellows?" An actual educational building or a just meeting place?
I am a little familiar with the IOOF, but I thought they were more of a lodge-oriented civic organization like the Elks or Moose. Are their meeting places called "institutes" perhaps?
I like that. we seem to be retro grading our roads
I think they deleted and re-posted it. This link works for me,
But yeah, wow that's a great picture to see. I have never seen it like this before. The plaza is so wide there. Was there always parking there or were two streets joined?
This was when I was at MSU and I wouldn't call it a plaza then more like a wide sidewalk in the middle with parking a lane off Ann Street. The Small Planet was a true "hippy" vegetarian restaurant with pine wood tables and booths. When I was very broke I would have the steamed veggies and rice, for $2.00 you got this huge bowl of food. My family thought I was crazy to go somewhere they served no meat. It was the first time I had vegetables that were not overcooked!
The LSJ posted some great pictures of East Lansing history today,
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/life/2018/06/20/archives-remember-when-east-lansing-looked-like/697459002/
gbd they must be reading you because they included a picture of Small Planet Natural Grocery
Thanks for posting these photos, East Lansing had a wide variety of business, not just student-oriented eateries. Sometimes all those years I lived out east all of these places seemed like a dream, it is great to see these pictures that spark great memories.
I was surprised to see that both Elderly and Marshall had music stores in downtown EL!