Browse Items (163 total)

This photograph shows the groundbreaking of the Civic Auditorium in 1931. City Manager George Welsh and Mayor John D. Karel are present. The Grand Rapids City Commission is most likely present at the Ground Breaking as well.

This is an image of the City Social Center for Transient Men located at 58 Commerce Avenue SW. The City Social Center provided food and housing for transient young men who had registered with the City. A Grand Rapids Press article (Jan.1, 1930)…

This is a view of a shower and clothes washing area at the City Social Center for Transient Men located at 58 Commerce Ave SW. Functional areas in this former church / parking garage structure are divided by wooden partitions.

One of the shower…

This is a view of one of multiple dining areas at the City Social Center for Transient Men located at 58 Commerce Ave SW. Several men are standing at the edges of the dining room. More than 80 men of all ages are eating dinner in the dining room,…

The image depicts four men working in the kitchen of the City Social Center located at 58 Commerce Ave. SW. A man dressed in kitchen whites works at the stove preparing a soup or stew in large stockpots on a Detroit Stove. One man cuts meat, while…

The photo depicts the sleeping facilities at the City Social Center for transient single men, located at 58 Commerce Ave. SW. A Grand Rapids Press article noted that the Center housed 105 unmarried men at night. The canvas and wood cots are numbered.…

The photo depicts the dining and sleeping facilities at the City Social Center, located at 58 Commerce Ave. SW. The dining tables and benches are full. Men from all walks of life and all ages are seated eating, while others are seated or standing…

The photo depicts the dining and sleeping facilities at the City Social Center, located at 58 Commerce Ave. SW. This photo was taken from the former church choir loft. A Christmas tree with garland decorates the dining space.

The dining tables…

This "before" photo depicts a small trash-filled room with damaged ceilings, torn wallpaper, torn roller blinds, gas lighting, and broken woodwork.

This "after" photo depicts an interior after it had been cleaned, painted, wallpapered, and new white roller blinds were installed. The woodwork has been painted white. The gas fixture has been replaced with an electric light hanging from the…