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Furniture City: 1908

Grand Rapids, Michigan, circa 1908. "Phoenix Furniture Co., Fulton and Summer Sts." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, circa 1908. "Phoenix Furniture Co., Fulton and Summer Sts." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

 

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You have to wonder

If the only wood they used was ash.

Pretty cool ... not!

Bet the workers wished they built air conditioners instead of nightstands and such.

Phoenix Furniture was replaced by Secchia Hall

Fulton and Summer Streets no longer intersect; I drew a red line where they probably would if they did. Notcom's link provided very helpful information, 1) 1987: Manufacturing complex donated to Grand Valley State University, and 2) the photo in the link shows railroad tracks at the far end of the building from the 1908 photograph.

My red line runs straight through the Grand Valley State University campus. Railroad tracks run along Winter Ave NW. I think the four-story factory was replaced by a four-story dormitory, Secchia Hall. Notcom was correct-ish about it being converted to living space. Loner was correct about that end of the building facing east.

Click to embiggen

Hey!

Stop the gawking and get back to work.

Handsome building and solid construction. I'm betting the left end of the building faced east, hence the shutters to keep out the summer morning heat.

Would you believe

... this building is alive and well and converted into condos selling for seven-figures??

Well, then you're too hopeful: it's gone to building heaven (presumably occupying an extra-long plot) Still, you weren't insanely hopeful: it wasn't demolished until 1988. (That's a nifty bridge to the warehouse, cut off at the edge of picture, left)

The photo faces Northwest: i.e. the building ran in a N/S direction along Summer. The shutters, I'm guessing, were for fire protection, due to the exposure from the bridge.

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