Welcome to the story of 540 Leonard St NE in Grand Rapids, Michigan! I created this story into a photo book for a client so she could give it as a gift. It was such a unique and personalized gift and can be passed down to her daughter as a memory of her childhood home or just serve as an awesome coffee table book!
This house is one of those that was loved for many, many years. One family lived in this from 1907 until 1952 - an Irish immigrant who was a charter member of St. Alphonsus Church. Imagine all the memories and stories that were shared in this house.
If only these walls could talk...
Built: 1900
Neighborhood: Creston
City, State: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Size: 3 bedrooms/1 bathroom; ≈ 1200 sq. ft.
The Downs Family
45 years at 540 Leonard (1907-1952)
Michael John Downs (Downes)
Years at 540 Leonard: 45 (1907-1952)
Born: June 27, 1869; Kilmihil, County Clare, Ireland
Died: October 8, 1952; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Father: Patrick Downes (Birth & Death Unknown)
Mother: Mary Culligan (b. 1838; Ireland - d. 1913; Michigan)
Siblings: 2 sisters & 5 brothers
Michael, along with his mother and seven siblings, immigrated to the US from Ireland in 1893/1894. The earliest record of the Downs family in Grand Rapids is from 1895.
Lenora McCarthy
Years at 540 Leonard: 41 (1907-1948)
Born: June 1875; Dennison, Michigan
Died: 1948; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Father: John McCarthy (b. 1828; Ireland - d. 1882; Michigan)
Mother: Bridget Maloney (b. 1935; Ireland - d. 1903; Michigan)
Siblings: Youngest of 10 - all girls except for one
On September 9, 1902, Michael Downs and Lenora McCarthy married in Dennison, Michigan - just outside of Coopersville.
Michael and Lenora had four children: Gerald, Edmund, Geraldine, and Maurice.
Michael and Lenora's first child:
Gerald Downs
Years at 540 Leonard: 30 (1907-1937)
Born: June 6, 1905; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Died: March 18, 1980; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Spouse: Louise Clark (b. 1906 - d. 1977) married 1937
Children: Michael (1939-2001), Louise (1943-1943), Mary, and Kristen
Gerald worked as a plumber for his entire career and was active in various associations within the industry. Gerald, his wife, Louise, and their children lived at 1312 Diamond NE for their entire lives. That house is less than a mile east from Gerald's childhood home at 540 Leonard.
Gerald's wife, Louise Clark, graduated from the University of Michigan in 1927 with a Bachelors of Arts degree. She grew up in Gladstone, Michigan and moved to Grand Rapids after her college graduation. She worked as a librarian at the downtown branch of the Grand Rapids Public Library for more than 40 years.
Michael and Lenora's second child:
Edmund Jeffery Downs
Years at 540 Leonard: 29 (1907-1936)
Born: August 5, 1907; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Died: December 28, 1972; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Spouse: Mary Gerulis (b. 1912 - d. unknown) married 1936 - divorced 1947
Michael and Lenora's third child:
Geraldine Mary Downs
Years at 540 Leonard: 28 (1907-1937)
Born: September 20, 1909; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Died: October 27, 2003; Eugene, Oregon
Spouse: Arthur White (b. 1916 - d. 2010) married 1937
Michael and Lenora's fourth child:
Maurice John Downs
Years at 540 Leonard: 38 (1907-1952)
Born: May 19, 1914; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Died: August 26, 1975; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Spouse: Josephine Caurso - married 1957
When Michael Downs and his family moved into 540 Leonard St in 1907, Michael worked at Oriel Cabinet Company. He worked as a packer and a foreman in furniture factories for his entire career.
Oriel Cabinet Company was founded in 1880. In 1893 it moved into one of the largest factories in the city. Today it is known as the Boardwalk Condos on Monroe Ave. In 1912, Oriel Cabinet merged with Berkey & Gay's Furniture and became one of the most prominent furniture businesses in Grand Rapids.
The Woman's Committee of the Council of National Defense, Grand Rapids Unit Records consists of over 23,000 registration cards containing data about women who registered for home front service during World War I. The collection provides insight into the lives of women during the early 20th century. Not only do the cards provide biographical information such as name, age, and address; but they also record education levels, skills, and employment status.
In April and May of 1918, Grand Rapids women registered for war work with 1000 registrars. Grand Rapids has the only searchable database of these cards in the entire country.
The Downs Family @ 540 Leonard St NE: 1910 Census
In 1910, the household consisted of Michael & Lenora and three of their children (Maurice wasn't born yet). Lenora's older sister, Catherine McCarthy, also lived in the home as well.
The Downs Family @ 540 Leonard St NE: 1920 Census
In 1920, the household consisted of Michael & Lenora and all four of their children.
Lenora's older sister, Catherine McCarthy, still lived in the home as well. Catherine lived with her sister and family until the mid 1920's. She then moved to Ravenna, Michigan to live with her nephew. She never married. Catherine passed away in 1948.
The Downs Family @ 540 Leonard St NE: 1930 Census
In 1930, the household consisted of Michael & Lenora and all four of their children.
The home value was $1,500 ($24,000 in 2021 dollars). The family owned a radio set, one of the new homes on the block that had one.
The children, Gerald and Edmund, worked as a plumber and Geraldine was a telephone operator.
The Downs Family @ 540 Leonard St NE: 1940 Census
In 1940, the household consisted of Michael & Lenora and the youngest son - Maurice. The other children were married and had moved out.
The home value was $3,000 ($58,000 in 2021 dollars).
Michael was 69 years old and still worked as a machine hand in a furniture factory. His salary was $700 ($13,000 in 2021 dollars) for the entire year of 1939.
Maurice was 25 years old and owned and operated his own lunch stand. This was one year before he enlisted into the Army.
Michael and Lenora Downs lived at 540 Leonard St NE for most of their lives. They raised four children in the home and shared countless lifetime memories.
Lenora Downs passed away in 1948 and Michael followed a few years later in 1952. After Michael's death, the children sold the home.
