Reservoir on Franklin Street, Grand Rapids

The Ryder-Rearick family photograph collection documents the professional work and personal lives of several generations of the Ryder and Rearick families of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Included are photographs of projects completed by construction worker Harry G. Benedict throughout Michigan, many associated with the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Images depict bridge construction, the Grand Rapids Filtration Plant, and dam and flood wall work along the Grand River. Also included are group photographs of local baseball teams including Edward W. Ryder, and family photographs of Clyde and Olive Rearick, their home at 1621 Stoddard Street in Grand Rapids, Clyde’s 8th grade class at Palmer Elementary School and the congregation of Scribner Avenue Baptist Church. Additional images show water and power plants in Grand Rapids and Muskegon, as well as a notable aerial view of Reeds Lake and Lake Drive in East Grand Rapids taken from a mail plane. Many of the photographs have sticky notes on the back with additional information, likely those of staff members who were reproducing the images. The notes have been left to assist the researcher.