Hauser Home SWAN
A Historical Sketch

In 1833 the Ottawa Indians had three or four acres cleared on the West side of the Grand River. An Indian village of approximately 300 people was established where today's Watson and National Streets meet. Prior to 1833 there were only scattered non-Indian buildings West of the Grand River. One of these buildings was a Baptist Mission, built in 1824 just South of Bridge St., to serve the Ottawa Indians. By 1927 the mission had a blacksmith, a teacher, milk cows and farming implements. The cattle and farming implements were the first in the Grand River Valley. The first sawmill in the area was built by the Federal Government to provide lumber for a Catholic Indian Mission in 1832. Twenty to 30 homes were built by the Indians with the lumber. In 1833 a Catholic Mission was established by Fr. Frederic Baraga just South of Fulton Street. This mission served both Indians and White Settlers.

This area, which is known today as the South West Area Neighborhood (SWAN), was originally part of the township of Walker. In 1838, the township's first town meeting was held in the Mission schoolhouse, which stood just south of Bridge St. and West of Front St.

In 1842 a footbridge was thrown across the Grand River, just South of Bridge St. This bridge was in use for two or three years. In 1844 a plank bridge was built at Bridge St.

In 1850 the land between Straight St. and the Grand River became part of the city of Grand Rapids. Despite this official designation, the area remained isolated from the rest of the city due to the difficulties involved with crossing the Grand River.

n the 1850's Deacon James Converse, future president of the Phoenix Furniture Co. bought what was once an Ottawa cornfield South of Bridge Street. He instructed his agents to grade, plat, and plant trees on the land. Many prominent German families took addresses in the area and a typical middle class neighborhood was started. The Germans constructed several community gathering places including the Evangelical Zion Church at Bridge and Straight Streets (1856), the German English School Society on Front south of Bridge (1866), and St. John's Lutheran Church at Bridge and Mt. Vernon (1880). German clubs including the Working Men's Aid Society, the Arbeiters Club, and the German Turnverein gymnastics club were also established.

Following the Germans, the Roman Catholic Polish Community found a home west of the Grand River. Four Polish aid societies built halls in the neighborhood. Their primary function was to aid new Polish immigrants. These halls also became community gathering places. Today the halls are still functioning and in most cases have dedicated members going back generations.

* Lexicon Club - 209 Lexington NW * Polish Falcons - 957 W. Fulton * St. Ladislaus Aid Society - Laddies - 58 Lane St. NW * Polish National Aid Society, Jackson Street Hall - 921 Jackson St. NW

One of the more unique aspects of the neighborhood are the corner stores within the residential area. Most blocks had corner candy/ice cream shops with apartments above. These structures still exist, although most have been converted into lower apartments.

Between 1850 and 1900, improvements in transportation and utilities made living and doing business West of the Grand River more appealing. Improvements included:

* The first Bridge at Pearl St was built in 1858. Tolls were charged for crossing at this bridge until the city purchased the bridge in June, 1873. The Fulton St. Bridge was built in 1885. The Wealthy St. Bridge was completed in 1905. * Between 1869 and 1870 two railroads laid tracks west of Broadway St. through what had been a swampy area used for dumping. These railroads supplied freighting services to the manufacturing businesses that were rapidly springing up along Front St. * Fifteen years after streetcars became operation on the East Side of the Grand River, a route began operating on the West Side. In 1878 a route moving people along the industry packed Front St was established. In 1888, routes along Butterworth, Pine, Jackson, Straight, and Fulton were established. * The city of Grand Rapids undertook major sewer and water projects during 1875. These projects included constructing a pipe across the Grand River for supplying the West side with water. * In 1866 William Powers bought a ¾ mile stretch of riverfront property between Fulton and 7th Street. At this location he dredged and narrowed the Grand River to build the West Side Power Canal. The canal's ability to furnish power for propelling the machinery attracted enterprise. Industry, including a planning mill, sash and door factory, casket company, flour mil, and a brush company, quickly sprung up around the new source of power.

Advances didn't come without occasional setbacks. Some of these setbacks included:

* In 1883, 75,000,000 feet of logs jammed at the D., G. H. & M railroad bridge which spanned the Grand River upstream from the SWAN area. Timber companies blamed the jam on the narrowing of the Grand River by bridge builders and canal diggers. When the bridge finally gave way three weeks later the bridges downstream from it were brushed aside like cobwebs and water several feet deep covered the streets of the West Side. Property loss was approximated at $5,000,000. * The year 1904 brought the 'Great Flood of 1904' to the John Ball Park neighborhood. The West side of Grand Rapids went underwater all the way to John Ball Park (South of Bridge St.) as the Grand River rose five feet above flood stage. Twenty-five hundred houses and 14,000 people were completely surrounded by water. By the time the water had receded 8,000 people were put out of work, fifty factories were forced to close, and many homes had to be demolished due to the water damage. Estimates pegged the damage at $1.8 million in 1904 dollars. The flooding of the West Side became a political issue for years and the some west side residents even went as far as to organization a succession movement. Subsequent lesser floods in 1905 and 1907 further enlarged the issue of controlling the Grand River. In 1911, floodwalls were completed. * In 1958, demolition was begun on 1000 West side homes to make room for the construction of the US 131and I-196 Highways. US 131 opened in 1961 and I-196 opened shortly after, in 1964. Although the highways provided major conveniences to thousands of suburban residents, thousands of West Side residents were displaced.

Sources:

• Gentrification and Grand Rapids - UP 494 Planning Practicum Report Michigan State University
• Grand Rapids: A City Renewed by Gordon L Olsen 1996