*Occupants of 450 Kenwood are highlighted in red font to help the reader keep track of names.*
1940: DE GRAAF - MAURICE AND HIS WIFE LOIS (WILLIAMS)
According to the 1940 Grand Rapids City Directory, 450 Kenwood was vacant. However, on the 1940 US Census, Maurice and Lois DeGraaf listed the house as their address and it was a rental. I'm not sure when the city directory was published, but all US Census data is collected starting April 1, so the family lived in the house sometime in between.
Maurice was born on December 3, 1912 in Grand Rapids, MI to Marinus "Martin" Jr and Anna (Ver Merris). When Marinus Jr was two years old, he immigrated from Tholen, Sint Philipsland, Netherlands with his parents and five other siblings around 1889.
Anna Ver Merris is the daughter of Dutch immigrants who came over around 1879 with three of their siblings.
Two years before Maurice was born, Marinus and Anna lived at 604 Lafayette NE. By 1920, Maurice, his parents, and all the siblings lived at 1040 Lafayette NE; His dad was listed as a Carpenter in the Housing industry. The family lived at 1040 Lafayette for many years after.
Lois Marie Williams was born February 26, 1916 in Moline, IL to Fred and Florence (Nitzel). She was the oldest of five and they lived in Milwaukee before coming to Grand Rapids.
In 1937, when Lois and Maurice were married, Lois was working as a Saleslady living at home with her parents at 628 Fairview Ave. Maurice was a Tool & Die Maker living at home with his parents as well on Lafayette Ave.
One of their first houses as a married couple was 927 Arlington NE in 1939. At that time Maurice's brother, Gerald, was already living at 516 Kenwood NE so I'm assuming that is a
reason why Maurice and Lois moved to 450 Kenwood the following year.
While they lived there, Maurice was still working as a Tool & Die Maker at Metal Craft Factory and Lois was a Saleslady at a Retail Dry Goods store.
They moved the following year to 1215 Penn NE; In 1949, they lived at 2441 Mildred SE until they built their future forever house at 624 Russwood NE in 1958. At that time, Maurice was an Industry Engineer at the Rapids Standards Co. They did have two children together.
Maurice passed away in 1973 and Lois continued to live in their Russwood St house until she passed away in 2003.
1941-1999: HOOK - CHARLES JR, his wife CORA (STEBBINS), and daughters
For approximately 60 years, Charles Hook Jr lived at 450 Kenwood. The makeup and structure of the home today is largely due to Hook family. It is rare a family lives in a single home for that many years. The information below is just a brief overview of the family as I tried to highlight important dates and events.
Charles Robert Hook Jr was born in January 7, 1910 in Chicago, IL to Charles Sr and Elizabeth Dempster. At the time of his birth, his parents lived at 210 N Paulina St in Chicago where Charles Sr was working as a photographer in the commercial industry. Cora's brother, Alexander, also a photographer, lived with them.
Charles Jr's grandfather immigrated in 1877 from Somerset, England; his grandmother immigrated from Scotland in 1876. His father, Charles Sr, was also a commercial photographer and married Elizabeth Dempster who was born also born in Chicago.
By 1920, Charles Sr and Elizabeth had three sons- Charles Jr, Alexander, and Thomas. That year is when they all moved to Grand Rapids, MI with Elizabeth's brother, Thomas Dempster Jr and his wife Emma. They all lived together at 955 Front Ave (house was razed when highway was built).
Charles Sr and Thomas Jr both worked at the popular James Bayne Co . Charles Sr's position was a Photographer and Thomas' was a Salesman. According to Thomas' obituary, his new job at the James Bayne Co, was the reason why he moved from Chicago.
In 1922, Fred C West, former Treasurer and Vice President of the James Bayne Co, and Thomas Dempster Jr, took over the furniture photography company- Max P Thiele & Co and created - The West-Dempster Co.
Charles Hook Sr worked with his brother-in-law at his new company, as one of their first photographers in 1923. As soon as Charles Jr finished school, he would also join the company and stay until his retirement.
Cora Stebbins was born January 28, 1911 in Grand Rapids, MI to Orson and Hattie Morningstar. Hattie Morningstar's parents were farmers in the late 1800's - early 1900's in the Sparta and Newaygo area. Hattie was first married to Victor Priest, but after almost 10 years of marriage, they divorced in 1909. The next year she was married to Orson Stebbins, who was recently a widow. Orson's father, Andrew Jackson Stebbins, along with his father, Gaius, was one of the first settlers of Sparta, MI. Andrew Jackson Stebbins was very prominent and influential in Sparta and Kent County.
Cora Stebbins- Hook - Ancestry.com - Date Unknown
Charles Jr and Cora were married in September 1931 and by the time they moved into 450 Kenwood 10 years later, they had two daughters. Cora's father had then passed away, so her mother had moved in with them. (Should have been interesting living arrangements because as I read in old real estate listings, 450 Kenwood was only a 2 bedroom at that time!)
At that time, Charles Jr was promoted to Factory Manager of West-Dempster Co. His uncle and co-founder of West-Dempster, Thomas Dempster Jr, built and lived the house at 414 Cheshire Dr NE just two blocks north of Kenwood St.
According to the 1951 Census, Charles Jr was now the Secretary of the West- Dempster Co; his dad still a Photographer at the company, lived only a block away at 469 Eleanor NE; Charles Jr's younger brother, Alex, was Vice President of West-Dempster, living with his wife, Mabel, at 1319 Fuller NE.
Also, in that same year, 1951, Thomas Dempster Jr was President of his company, ironically, living on Stebbins Rd in Sparta, MI. I'm sure the family was close knowing most of them lived within blocks and they worked together - I'm sure Cora told him about her grandfather's impact in Sparta.
Thomas Dempster Jr remained President of his company until he retired in 1955. He and Emma moved to Florida shortly afterwards and they remained there until they passed away. Emma in 1960 and Thomas in 1969.
Charles Jr and Cora were really active in many social circles in the city such as the Grand Rapids Photography Club, Boy Scouts, Furniture Manufacturers Society, Riverside Elementary/Middle PTA, and others.
After getting appraisal records from the Grand Rapids Archive Center, I learned that the Hooks improved the structure of 450 Kenwood in 1961 by building a 200 sq. ft room addition in the back. This addition created a third bedroom and a second full bathroom. (Before this, the only bathroom was upstairs)
They also built a new one stall garage with a 70 sq. feet attached greenhouse. The greenhouse had electricity, a sink with faucet, automated sprinklers, heater, and an AC unit. The Hook family made their Kenwood home into one of the most pristine houses on the street.
Charles Jr stayed at West-Dempster his entire career, eventually becoming President and then an Owner. The business was discontinued in 1983 when Charles retired. He was one of the first employees, and one of the last.
Cora Hook passed away in 1986; Charles stayed in their home until he had to be moved to a nursing home and then passed away in 1999.
Charles Jr's brother and former Vice President of West-Dempster, Alex Hook, was very influential in Ada, MI. (See his obituary below for further details)
~You can tell when a house was loved by its owners, and 450 Kenwood is a prime example. Its owners had pride in where they lived and all of them made sure future families would also create fond memories within the same walls. It's amazing to know all the different stories of each resident - even if it's just a very brief stint. Everyone comes from somewhere and their story deserves to be told. ~
