Grand Rapids Railway records of Ramona Park
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the collection consists of contract agreements between Grand Rapids Railway Co. and various Ramona Park concession owners, 1932-1950. Also included in the collection is a property book of the Grand Rapids Railway Co., 1908 and a Stock Trust Agreement, Grand Rapids Motor Coach Co., 1937
Dates
- 1908-1950
Creator
- Grand Rapids Railway Co (Organization)
Biographical / Historical
The Grand Rapids Street Railway Company began service in April 1900. The company began development of Ramona Park in 1904 under President Benjamin S. Hanchett, in an effort to get more people to ride the streetcar, especially on the weekends. The company, under various corporate names, retained its interests in the park until its closing in 1954.
This is an incomplete list of some of the receivers/authors of the contracts and correspondence:
1) Louis J. Delamarter, Receiver of the Grand Rapids Railroad Co. with: George B. Zindel, Mystic Chures Co., Alex Demar
2) Grand Rapids Motor Coach Co., with: Alex Demar; Wilder & Minni Hilliard; Olive Williams; Andrew Beerhorst; Charles Poisson; George B. Zindel; Erwin A. Courtney; James Gross; G.H. Perkins; George S. Adams; Fred Hollingsworth, Jr.; H.D. Glidden of Glidden Railway Co.; A.B. Marcus, Ramona Derby Racer Co., Mystic Chutes Co.; John J. McElwee & James P. McElwee; Harry J. Brown; Glenn McIntosh; Thomas H. Yanda; Ernest L. Bates; Don Williams; Henry Nieboer
Extent
0.42 Linear Feet (One box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Grand Rapids Railway records are primarily composed of contracts for various concessions at Ramona Park and/or Reeds Lake, at Grand Rapids and East Grand Rapids, Michigan, between 1932-1950. The Company began development of Ramona Park in 1904 under President Benjamin S. Hanchett, in an effort to get more people to ride the streetcar, especially on the weekends. It retained interest in the park until it closed in 1954. The contracts found here are made between various individuals or companies, and successive versions of the company name, including Grand Rapids Railway Corporation, Grand Rapids Railroad Corporation and Grand Rapids Motor Coach Company. Correspondence related to these concessions also exists. A property book of the Grand Rapids Railway Company, 1908, contains maps and blueprints. A Stock Trust Agreement for Grand Rapids Motor Coach Company, 1937, and the Grand Rapids Railroad Co. Stockholders report of 1928 also provide historical data related to this interurban railway.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Includes accession numbers 00.[1287.]1; 00.[5701].1-
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Grand Rapids Railway records of Ramona Park
- Subtitle
- Including Grand Rapids Railroad Co., Grand Rapids Motor Coach Co.
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- October 1989
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497
localhis@grpl.org