Very Rare 1908 5th Avenue Celebration (Grand Rapids, MI) Souvenir Booklet For Sale

On July 2, 1908, the city of Grand Rapid celebrated the expansion of the street car routes to reach out 3/4 miles from the downtown area.

The idea was to promote easier access for people living in the “suburbs” to spend money at city businesses. Local developers even paid out-of-pocket to extend city water lines. The investors were later reimbursed.

This beautiful booklet has a maroon cover. On the front is a fancy design with a streetcar while the back has three advertisements for local businesses.

Page 4 has an ad for a candidate for the Prosecuting Attorney primary while page 5 has a photo of the three Executive Committee members.

Page 7 is the first of many pages explaining the purpose of the celebration.

Page 11 has photos of two residences on 5th Avenue (now Franklin Ave SE).

There’s a great photo on page 35 showing the “old” Antrim House on the corner of 5th and East Streets.

Page 47 has a comical photo (using 1908 photoshopping) of the three Executive Committee members sitting atop the Stand Pipe.

On page 53 is a list of the event’s speakers.

Pages 57 and 59 have a list of sports and contests which include The Parade of Horribles, Women’s Nail Driving Contest, the Molasses Run Race, along the The Greased Pig and Greased Pole competition.

This book is loaded with 1908 Grand Rapids ads.\\

The booklet measures 6 x 9 inches. It has a very faint fold (exaggerated by the photos), but is in really nice shape for being so old.