Between 1884 - 1893, I cannot find anyone who lived at 274 Henry St. The city directories didn't have an index yet, so the directories were only in alphabetical order by surname.
Between 1894 - 1901, there were many people that lived in the house and some of the residents overlapped years. I can assume the owner of the house rented rooms and/or beds. To keep it simpler, instead of doing a summary of each year, I did a summary of each resident.
The following post tells the story of a Black family. I am a White woman writing this blog. My intention is to write factual data without assumptions especially when it comes to race. As an ally and someone constantly involved in anti-racist training, I hope I am respectful and factual with this information.
Even though Michigan was thousands of miles north of the Jim Crow laws that the southern states followed, Black residents faced racism and discrimination in Grand Rapids, which unfortunately is still present in different ways today. To help me understand further, I read, "A City Within A City" by Todd E. Robinson as I was researching this house. I highly recommend it to truly understand how Grand Rapids was developed and organized and how it affected Black residents. Another book that is on my list is, "African Americans in the Furniture City: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Grand Rapids" . I've heard this provides excellent history as well.
Below are excerpts from, Jelks, R. (1993). Making Opportunity: The Struggle against Jim Crow in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1890-1927. Michigan Historical Review, 19(2), 23-48. doi:10.2307/20173402
*Occupants of 624 (274) Henry Ave are highlighted in red font to help the reader keep track of names.
1894-95: Henry Smith
In 1894 and '95 there were ten other Henry Smiths in Grand Rapids, so tracking this particular Henry Smith to where he was before Henry Ave was almost impossible. Since it only listed laborer and a stone cutter for his occupation and not a company's name, I couldn't even track him further that way.
1895 & 1897: James H Smith
James H Smith - as one can assume, that name is common. In 1895, there were 12 other James Smiths. In 1896, there wasn't a James H Smith that lived on Henry, but in '97, his name appeared again living on Henry. In 1897, he worked as a porter - I would assume at a hotel but could also be at an apartment building.
Other than appearing in a few city directories, I am unable to connect him to anything else.
The G R Gas Co that he worked at was actually called the Grand Rapids Gas Light Co. It was the only gas company in the city in 1895.
Below: clippings from the Grand Rapids Press 1895, 96 and the 1895 Grand Rapids Directory.
1896: Henry Stewart
Unfortunately, I don't have anything else on Henry Stewart other than this listing in the 1896 Grand Rapids City Directory. The year before and after, there weren't any Henry Stewarts listed. The abbreviation "bds" means renting a bed/room, so maybe he was only here for one year visiting family or stopped in the city looking for work then moved on.
1897: Savonia Lewis
Domestic in this sense means either a maid, servant, or keeping house - cleaning, cooking, taking care of children, etc.
On the 1880 US Census, there was a Savonia Lewis (7 years old) listed with her family living in Porter Township, Van Buren County, Michigan -
Henry was her father and mother was Keziah. Her siblings in order from oldest to youngest - Tilly, Frank, Myrandy, James, Stephen, Daisy, and Edwin. Her parents and oldest sister were born in Kentucky, while everyone else was born in Michigan. Another thing to point out was the family was all listed as 'MU' under race. MU is an abbreviation for "Mulatto" (mixed race). (That term was used until the 1930 US Census)
I did find a Savonia Lewis that was a Servant in 1894 for a family in Kalamazoo, MI. Other than these two documents, that is all the concrete data I can collect on her life.
1895-1901: George B Stewart & wife Carrie E Jones
George B Stewart was a resident of 274 Henry for five years. If the publishers of the directory knew of a death, they would publish it so others knew as well. Because of this, I was able to search his name on other sites to find more information about him.
According to his death certificate, he was born April 19, 1864 in Ohio to George and Sarah (Pettiford) and he was Black. The cause of his early death was due to pneumonia. He was married to Carrie E Jones with no children and worked as a Conductor for the Grand Rapids and Indiana RailRoad.
George and Carrie were married in Grand Rapids in December 1888 and both listed themselves as "Mulatto" in the marriage records. Carrie was born in 1868 in Ontario, Canada to J.H. Jones or a J.G. Jones (?) and on the marriage record her mother's name is listed as 'unknown.'
The following image below is the 1900 U.S. Federal Census from when they lived at 274 Henry:
George and Carrie's last name is spelled "Stuart"
Race is Black
George's birthday is same as his death certificate; Carrie's birthday is January 1869
They have been married for 11 years - confirms the 1888 record
Never had children - (0,0 column; 0 children born, 0 children alive)
George was born in Ohio; His father in Ohio; and his mother in South Carolina
Carrie was born in Canada; Her father in Missouri; I am unable to translate her mother's place
Carrie immigrated to the US in 1887
George is working as a Porter for the RailRoad but owned (vs. rented) his home at 274 Henry
From looking at the 1900 US Census, of the 12 houses nearest to them, 230 Henry St to 290 Henry St, George and Carrie were the only Black family. The other families were White, either born in Michigan with Netherland descent or were born in the Netherlands and immigrated. The Henry block more North, closer to Wealthy St, had six Black families, other than that, the entire Henry St were all White residents (60+ houses).
Before George and Carrie lived on Henry St, they lived at 177 Spring St (Commerce St today) as George was working as a waiter at the Owashtanong Boat Club in 1889. In 1891, they still lived on Spring St but that was when George started working as a waiter at the Peninsular Club.
Unfortunately, I am unable to trace where Carrie lived after George died in 1901. I found an ad in the GR Press from September 3, 1901 that the entire household goods were for sale. Maybe Carrie sold everything and left Grand Rapids?
According to the book, "Images of America: Grand Rapids", "many African Americans were waiters in Grand Rapids during the late 1800's and up to the mid 1900's."
The O-Wash-ta-Nong Boat Club, where George Stewart worked, "was organized July 12th, 1885, for the purpose of promoting social intercourse and stimulating athletic sports among the young men of our city, and to establish a much needed breathing spot for the families of its member during the heated term. To this end we have erected at Reed’s Lake, three miles from the center of the city, a spacious, handsome Boat and Club House, which is amply equipped with racing and pleasure boats, bowling alleys, billiard and pool tables, wide verandas, ball room, ladies’ dressing room, etc., with every facility for bathing, fishing, and boating and picnic parties."
The O-Wash-ta-Nong Boat Club was a successful club for it's prime audience - young, wealthy, White men. It provided access to boats, rowing competitions, and a social club at a lake without having to travel far. It only lasted for ten years until it went bankrupted.
Below are clippings from the Charter, By-Laws, Rules for the club. Notice how the book refers to employees as servants.
Below: Dining Room of the O-Wash-ta-Nong Boat Club where George B Stewart worked.
The Peninsular Club, where George worked, was another social club that originally only White, wealthy, men could join- "the club’s primary function was 'to promote social intercourse amongst its members.' In order to accommodate the city’s preeminent elite on both sides of the political aisle, the club refused to express any 'opinion on any religious, political or social question.' On everyday but Sunday, members could frequent the club house from seven in the morning until midnight, though special occasions could keep the club open until four in the morning. The club was still open on Sundays, from 9:00am until 10:00pm, but the club did not allow games or alcohol. During the other days, the club allowed card games, though only gentlemanly ones."
Pictures above are from the Grand Rapids Public Library Digital Collections.
(Information on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad will be discussed in the next two posts as other families that lived at 624 (274) Henry also worked there.)