The following post tells the story of a Black family. As mentioned in previous posts, I am a white woman writing this blog. I spend time on antiracism education, but due to the nature of white supremacy it is apparent my intent may have a different impact to a Black reader. I welcome all and any feedback as I work on uplifting the stories and lives of these Black families who have resided in this address.
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.
1907-1933: The Brown Family: Emeline (Washington), Alexander, George H., Robert S., Lillian (Morris) & Theresa;
Emeline Brown:
Emeline was born in September 1844 in Niagara, Ontario, Canada to Isaac Washington and Elizabeth (Baker). The astonishing life of Isaac Washington can be best summarized in the obituary from the December 25, 1898 issue of the Detroit Free Press below:
I am unable to find the parents of Isaac or which church he preached at in Niagara.
From this obituary, I know he was born in 1833 in Virginia and he was Black. Niagara was one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad. I do know from their children's marriage and death records, his wife was Elizabeth Baker (Emeline's mom). Emeline's mom was born in Canada, but her parents immigrated from England and her race was white.
Isaac Washington was one of the founding members of the First Baptist Church of Buxton of Buxton, Ontario, Canada. The building is still standing and is home of the Buxton National Historic Museum.
I had never heard of Buxton, Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada before I started this research. It has an incredible history that is not taught in schools but I highly recommend everyone take the time to read about it.
Below are excerpts from various sources that best describe Buxton. (Sources are hyperlinked to the image, and can also be found on the Sources page)
Other recommended articles about Buxton, Ontario, Canada:
From the 1861 Census of Canada, the Washington family consisted of Isaac, Elizabeth (Emelie's parents), Emeline (eldest child), and four other siblings. Isaac's occupation was a farmer, as were most men's in Buxton, and they lived in a log house, one story high.
Below is the 1871 Census of Canada which shows two more children were born, but nothing much else changed.
Emeline married William H Brown in 1866 in Buxton, Ontario where they both were living at the time.
The information I can confirm about William is sparse. From his marriage record, I know he was born 1842 in Sandusky, OH to Isaac and Mary Brown. Then on his 1850 US Census, he is listed with his parents and two older sisters living in Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio.
Emeline and William Brown had six children - Eliza, Isaac, William, Alexander, Robert, and George. The first four children were born in Buxton, Kent, Ontario, Canada. Sometime between 1875-1878, the Brown family immigrated to the US, and lived in Detroit, MI.
In 1878, in Detroit, tragically the eldest child, Eliza, passed away at the age of 11 from Typhoid Fever.
The earliest record I can find of the Brown family moving to Grand Rapids, MI is in 1883. In that year, William (Emeline's husband) was working as a calciminer (painter) and the family was living at 344 Shepard SW (Lane Ave today).
In 1886, they lived at 22 Olive SW - Isaac and William L were already working as laborers. Since they were listed in the city directory, I'd assume they weren't going to school at this time. Isaac was only 16 years old and William L was just 15. (Emeline's children)
In 1889, the Brown family lived at 48 Earle (Pulawski St today) which was right next to Olive St and William H (Emeline's husband) was working as a painter. The family lived on Earle St for eight more years until they bought the house on Henry Ave.
The same year, 1889, the family faced another tragedy. At just 18 years old, the middle child of William and Emeline, William L, died of Rheumatism of the Heart.
On the 1900 US Census, Emeline, Alexander, and George were the only residents of 48 Earle. Emeline's marriage status was divorced and the census shows that she was working as a washwoman. Alexander was a cook while George, 17 years old, was in school. Emeline owned that house at 48 Earle with a mortgage.
(I cannot find a record of where William H [Emeline's husband] lived in 1900 or any years later. Nor can I find a divorce record either.)
From 1905-1907, Emeline lived at 75 Monroe as she was a housekeeper there.
By 1908, Emeline bought the house at 274 (624) Henry Ave and two of her children moved in as well. Below is the 1910 and 1920 US Census and quick summaries of each.
Brown family tree recap:
1910 Census:
Emeline, Robert, George, (Emeline's sons) and Theresa (4 years old; "Boarder") are residents
As will be discussed later, Theresa is not a daughter of Emeline. I'm not exactly sure her relationship, but she did live with Emeline for her entire childhood.
Emeline is now a widow, so William H must have passed away between 1899-1910
Everyone's race is listed as "Mulatto" (This is a racist term that was used on census records until 1930 and meant a mixed race)
Robert and George are both working as cooks in hotels
Emeline owned the home without a mortgage
Out of the 11 other homes on this particular US Census page close to their house, they were the only non-white family
1920 Census:
Emeline, Robert, George, and Theresa are still residing there
Both Robert (43 years old) and George (35 years old) are single and are waiters for the railroad
Under the Immigration/Naturalization section, Emeline and George both listed that they received American citizenship through a husband/father being part of the Union Navy. (However, I searched and searched and I couldn't find concrete data to show this. I would assume William H Brown was part of the Union Navy for the Civil War. I am still looking for documents!)
There were other non-white families living closer to them on Henry Ave at this time. (Out of the 10 other households on this census page, four others were listed as Black or "mulatto".)
Paul Phillips, the former Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Urban League, wrote a brief history of Black residents of Grand Rapids, titled, "The Negro in Grand Rapids". Please take the time to read this entire article - I learned a lot about the city and it's authentic history. Emeline Brown was mentioned in his article since she was one of the few Black residents who owned their home. (Very end of the image).
Emeline was also a founding member of St. Philip's Episcopal Church which is still at 558 Henry Ave SE.
Emeline Brown passed away in1928. She is buried in Grand Rapids at Garfield Park Cemetery.
Robert Steward Brown - as mentioned above, was born in September 1875 in Buxton, Kent, Ontario, Canada to Emeline and William Brown.
During the years he lived at 624 Henry, he worked in the service industry. The Hotel Pantlind, where Robert was a waiter, is the former name of the current Amway Hotel.
P M Ry is short for the Pere Marquette Railway.
Per his 1918 WWI Draft Registration Card below, Robert worked as a waiter for the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad.
Below: From the book, "Images of America: Grand Rapids."
Employees of Hotel Pantlind - date unknown
Below: Pictures of Employees of Hotel Pantlind -1939 via GRPL Digital Archives
In 1929, at 53 years old, Robert married Lillian Morris (40 years old) in Fulton County, Ohio. As you can see below, Lillian's occupation was "Deputy Sheriff" in Detroit, MI. (I searched trying to find another article or document about her being a deputy sheriff, but I am unable to find anything.)
Lillian is also from the same town, Buxton, Ontario, as the Brown family originated. If you read page 212 of this document, you will find that her parents and brother were prominent residents of Buxton.
Robert and Lillian lived at 624 Henry for a couple years after their marriage and they were the only ones living there - Emeline had passed, and Robert and Theresa moved out.
Robert Brown died in Detroit, MI in 1933 after just four years of marriage to Lillian. I am unsure what happened to Lillian after Robert's death. I think she remarried and moved to Florida, but I cannot confirm that for certain.
George Henry Brown: To reiterate from above, George was born in 1884 in Grand Rapids, MI to William and Emeline. At the time of his birth, his dad, William, was working as a whitewasher and the family lived at 344 Shephard SW.
Similar to his brother, George worked in the service industry his entire life. He was either a waiter, cook, chef, porter, or a watchmen for a hotel or the railroad.
The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway (GR&IRy) used the Union Station Depot that was downtown Grand Rapids on Ionia Ave between Weston and Cherry.
Below: George's WWI registration card from 1918
From what I can confirm about George, he moved out of 624 Henry Ave around 1925. I can't find where he might have moved, but he appears again in the Grand Rapids directories living at 624 Henry Ave starting from 1958 until 1968. I don't think he ever married or had children. He passed away in 1968.
Finally, the last Brown resident of 624 Henry:
Theresa Brown: She was born in 1905 in Detroit, Michigan. She lived with Emeline, Robert, and George at 624 Henry Ave her entire childhood. I'm not 100% certain who her parents were or how she ended up living with Emeline.
In 1924 at 18 years old, Theresa was working as a Stenographer for A L Pinkney - a real estate office at 360 S. Division Ave.
She lived at 624 Henry Ave until she married in 1927 - more than 20 years.
She married Malvern L Crawford in November 1927 and on the marriage certificate it lists a William Brown and Estella (Stella) Jones as her parents.
Malvern was born in 1894 in Iowa to Mase and Nettie. On the 1900 US Census, Mase was working as an Engineer for a Saw Mill in Wimar, Arkansas. (This document and others are on this post)
The first place where the newlyweds lived was 650 Pleasant SE, which is only a couple houses away from 624 Henry - you can see each house from the front yards!
1930 US Census:
Address - 749 Sherman St SE (shared with the Matthews family)
Malvern, Theresa, and their two sons - Malvern Jr (1 1/2 years old) and Alan (4 months) are residents
Melvern was working as a porter for a country club
Melvern was a veteran of WWI (June 29, 1918-Dec 10, 1918)
There were two other Black families living next door to the Brown family. The other houses nearby were about 40% Black residents - and a mix of owning vs renting.
1940 US Census:
Address - 524 Henry Ave
Melvern, Theresa, and their children - Malvern Jr, Alan, Robert, Aubuis, Sue, Paul, Herbert, and Theresa
Melvern was a waiter at a hotel dining room and his salary was $780/year.
The closest neighbors were all white on Henry Ave. The nearest other Black family lived at 508 Henry. The surrounding streets were mostly white residents as well.
I'm not exactly sure when they moved to 517 James Ave SE, but that home ended up being their forever house. (It was later razed to build a parking lot)
Malvern and Theresa ended up having 12 children total! Actually in 1950, they had the most children enrolled in Grand Rapids Public Schools at a single time from one family. (Article in this post)
Theresa was really active in the community - truly trying to make a difference. She was a Charter/Founding member of the Women's Guild of the Grand Rapids Urban League, even serving as Chairman in 1962.
In the 1980's she organized a "Black Home Tour" to show off impressive homes owned by Black residents. Her goal was to improve the stereotype of Black housing (I'm summarizing her quote from the GR Press article below). She was also raising money for St. Philip's Episcopal Church - the same church Emeline Brown founded years earlier.
Malvern passed away in 1975 in Grand Rapids, MI; Theresa followed in 1982.
Woah, that's what I call a family history! Incredible!