Downtown Muskegon, MI

The images on this page show the Muskegon downtown area as it would have appeared from around 1900 to 1925. The city was transitioning from years of service as "The Lumber Queen of the World" to an industrial base. Muskegon's downtown provided residents with a centralized shopping district, allowing working folks the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of their success. Like many others across America, it was a constantly changing canvas.

The sites depicted on postcards presented idealized views of these landscapes. While based on reality, the images were often "cleaned up" for consumption by the masses. Sites were touched up and colorized by artists. Signs, people and clutter were often removed, while road were polished to a consistent shade of grey-black. Cracks in the sidewalk were repaired, droopy awnings squared and, in many cases, unsightly utility poles and traffic lights were edited out of the shot. The sky was always blue with beautiful billowy clouds accenting the scene.

Check out Alison Isenberg's wonderful book, "downtown AMERICA" for more on the story. Locals will be delighted as Isenberg even uses images from Muskegon's downtown from 1941 to illustrate the work of these magicians.

Many of the buildings shown in the following prints from Muskegon still survive, while other fell victim to time and "progress". Numerous sites were lost to a fire that swept the main shopping district in the fall of 1946. Others lost the battle with urban renewal that visited Muskegon in the 1970s. Indeed, some gems were lost, but such were the times.

From a September 1911 publication of the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce designed
"To introduce the outside world the industries of Muskegon".

A Bird's Eye view of the downtown area. The large multistory building in the distance is the Amazon Knitting Co.

WESTERN AVENUE
from Eighth St. to Pine St.

The Crosby Transportation Company offered cross-lake service between Muskegon and Milwaukee.

Muskegon Boiler Works building, located between Eighth and Ninth Streets and Clay Avenue, was built in 1905.

The Goodrich steamers, easily recognized by their red stacks, were based out of Chicago. They were one of multiple firms to serve the ports of West Michigan and beyond.

The Goodrich Transportation dock on Muskegon Lake.

Built in 1909, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin and launched December 18,1909. The ALABAMA was a 272 foot passenger steamer run by the Goodrich Line. Beginning in the spring of 1910, the steamer began service between Chicago, Grand Haven and Muskegon. A familiar site on Muskegon Lake until the demise of the Goodrich Line in 1933. Retired from service in 1946, she was laid up in Holland, MI, serving as a warehouse until 1960. Cut down to a non-powered barge in 1961, she was scrapped in La Salle, Ontario, in 2006. Click here for additional images and detail.

Union Station served the area as the prime railroad port of entry.

From a 1908 publication of the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce, highlighting "the advantages of spending the summer season of your vacation in and around Muskegon."

You can take a Goodrich steamer from Chicago, or a Crosby steamer from Milwaukee, every night in summer, and go direct to Muskegon without change, arriving at seven o'clock next morning. No more delightful trip can be imagined. Or you can reach Muskegon by the Pere Marquette, Grand Rapids & Indiana, or Grand Trunk Railroads. From Grand Rapids, which is only 33 miles away, you can take an Interurban car that will land you in the heart of Muskegon in an hour and a half, passing Spring and Mona Lakes on the way.

The Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Muskegon Interurban, known for it's third rail that supplied power. This image is the station at Fruitport, where riders could transfer to the southwestern junction that lead to Spring Lake and Grand Haven, or continue on the northwestern line that led to Muskegon. While the service was abandoned in 1928, Interurban stations still stand in Coopersville and Marne.

Looking Southwest from the Amazon Knitting Co down Western Avenue. Muskegon Traction and Lighting offered trolley service to the city while the Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Co offered interurban service allowing convenient travel around West Michigan.

The Hotel Muskegon, located across the street from Union Station.

The Park Hotel, later known as the Lakeview Hotel, located at the corner of Sixth and Western, across from the Amazon Knitting Co. The structure is known as the McCracken Building.

The Amazon Knitting Company, located between Fifth Street and Sixth Street on Western Avenue. Word is that the nation's first mass produced "Raggety Ann" dolls were made here.

An August 1920 Muskegon Chronicle reported Frank E. Hathaway Inc. was "engaged in the construction of its immense new garage building" at 201-203 Western Avenue and Fifth Street. It was described as one of the largest and best equipped in the state.

Western Avenue between Third Street and Jefferson. This segment of map, drawn by historian Marc Okkonen in April 1991 is based on information found in the Muskegon Chronicle - July 30, 1909. Click on the image for an enlarged view.

The Occidental Hotel, cira 1915, located at the corner of Third Street and Western Avenue. The facility would undergo numerous additions and alterations over the years, before its final dramatic demise in April 1975

Macabee Day, August 7, 1909, looking east down Western Avenue from the Occidental Hotel.

A later view of the Occidental. The older section facing Western Avenue was destroyed in a spectacular fire in March 1936.

Western Avenue looking northeast from Third Street.

Built at a cost of $30,000, and dedicated in January 1889, Muskegon's Century Club filled the city's want for a "first class social club". Formed by Muskegon's business leaders, it was original known as the "Muskegon Club", but was rechristened in 1901. Closed in 1991, the building has been restored and today serves the area as Hegg's Gallery, an upscale furniture store.

Located on the northwest corner of Western Avenue and Second Street, next to the Century Club, the Muskegon Saving Bank survived the 1970's urban renewal project that swept the downtown area.

Muskegon's Elks Temple, once located at the southeast corner of Western Avenue and Second Street, across from the Muskegon Savings Bank, opened in April 1914. The site had previous serve as home to the Grand Opera House.
Click here for a history of the Lodge,

Mementos from the
Muskegon Elks Lodge
No. 274.

A lifelong member of the Muskegon Elks, Buster Keaton stopped by the downtown lodge during a 1949 visit to town with his new bride, Eleanor Norris Keaton. Here he chats with former Actors' Colony member Charlie Sharp during his stay.

Looking East from Second Street. Note the side of the Masonic Temple on left.

The Masonic Temple, located at the northeast corner of Second Street and Western Avenue. The Muskegon lodge was chartered on January 1, 1863.

The building that hosted Leahy Dry Goods on Western Avenue was consumed by fire on February 22, 1946. Two-thirds of the storefronts located between First and Second Streets were lost in the spectacular blaze that started down the block in the basement of the Wm. D. Hardy & Co. department store.

Hackley National Bank, located on the southwest corner of Western Avenue and First Street.

The Union National Bank Building, at the corner of Western Avenue and First Street, across the street from the Federal Building, Opened in May 1919. In August 1920, the building played host to the offices of Michigan Productions, Inc., a motion picture company. Their first production, "The Rich Slave" was directed by Romaine Fielding, once the most popular film actor in America.

National Lumberman's Bank

Muskegon' Federal Building, designed by federal architect James Know Taylor, rose from the landscape in 1904. It was replaced a short 33 years later by a new Post Office building that is still in use.

The Lyman Block, built in 1888 by Lyman G. Mason (1829-1898). At the time, the Lyman Block was Muskegon's only four story building, and featured a passenger elevator, and fire-proof vaults. Heated by steam, it was lighted by both gas and electricity.

The corner of Western Avenue and Market Street looking east.

Federal Square, situated in front of the post office at the base of Market Street.

Looking east on Western Avenue from the Flatiron Building. Notice to the far left the building occupied by

Western Avenue side of the Flat Iron Building at Market Street

Looking west down Western Avenue from Jefferson Street.

Looking west down Western Avenue from Terrace Street.

MUSKEGON
Where Greyhound got its name


"Greyhounds of the Highway" 1925 advertising for Safety Motor Coach Lines. The catch phrase was used to distinguish the company from the competition.	A 1925 ad for Lake Shore Limited Motor Coach Lines, a competitor to Safety Motor Coach.

A 1925 ad for the Safety Motor Coach Lines - better known as "The Greyhounds". The name of this well-known brand was first used in Muskegon.

Born in 1889, Edwin Carl Eckstrom, a native of Ludington, MI, launched Safety Motor Coach Lines in Muskegon in 1924. Providing intercity service between Muskegon and Grand Rapids, the firm was a direct competitor to local interurban service. In August of 1925, the company added service to Chicago and the battle to dominate passenger transportation to the Windy City was on.

Using Fageol Safety Coaches built in Oakland, California, the buses were painted in a distinctive blue-gray tone. The Eckstrom's company incorporated the phrase "Ride The Greyhounds" in advertising and painted a logo beneath the driver's side window of the fleet that featured a greyhound in full stride. The "Greyhound" line even included some open air observation coaches. December 1925 reports noted the purchase of $15,000 in snow plow equipment to maintain service through the winter. In March of 1926, press reports mentioned the purchase of a pair of double deck coaches for summer use.

Buses picked up passengers at the Union Bus Depot, located at Western Avenue and Terrace Street, as well as at the Occidental and Muskegon Hotels. Initially, riders paid drivers at each starting point. As popularity of the service grew. the company added a ticketing service in 1926 to speed service. Carrying over 45,000 passengers monthly, it was estimated that the system would save "10 minutes and upward per trip to the passengers."

Raised in Hibbing, MN, Eckstrom received his start in the industry in the northern Minnesota town. Working with Carl Eric Wickman, in 1919 Eckstrom became an officer in a division of of the Wickman's Mesaba Transportation Company, the largest provider of bus services in the area. The city is officially credited as the birthplace of what would become Greyhound Corporation.

Safety Motor Coach Lines was acquired by Motor Transit Corporation in October 1926, and Eckstrom became president of the organization. MTC would rename itself Northland Greyhound Corporation in 1929. Continued acquisitions of local and regional motor coach lines created the modern-day transportation company but it is a modified version of Eckstrom's logo from Safety Motor Coach Lines that became the nationwide symbol of Greyhound.

Check out this April 1930 article from Time on Greyhound, and Wickman, its founder.


This 1925 ad features a view of an Observation Coach from the back. "Skirting the outer edge of the coach at the top is blue and white canvas canopy and around the entire rear end of the coach an iron railing finishes the beauty of the car Within theiron from which the spare tires are mounted is an electric sign reading "Greyhound Limited."	Take No Chance! Take a Greyhound! 7 Trips Daily to and from Chicago Note the company logo beneath the driver's side window in this 1925 ad.

CONTINENTAL MOTORS
Powerful as the Nation

This shot from around 1912 shows Continental Motor Works, located at the base of Western Avenue along the waterfront.
A manufacturer of automobile engines for numerous car makers in the early days, including Dodge, Reo, Auburn and
Checker Cab. In 1933, the company would introduce a line of passenger cars. The move would nearly bankrupt the company.

The new facility opened on the property in 1921. The land has that once hosted the company was cleared in the 1990s and is in the process of being redeveloped.

CLAY to WEBSTER
from Sixth St. to First St.

Northwest corner of Fifth Street and Webster Avenue.

Hackley Park from the corner of Fourth Street and Clay Avenue. Joseph Carabelli created the 76-foot tall Civil War monument at the center of the property. It was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 30, 1892. Hackley also commissioned sculptor Charles Niehaus to create monuments to Abraham Lincoln and David Farragut, and sculptor J. Massey Rhind to create pieces honoring Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman. The four statues were dedicated on Memorial Day, 1900.

Muskegon's Hackley Park, looking north toward Muskegon. This postcard show the downtown area before the expansion of the Occidental Hotel.

A later shot of Hackley Park from a similar vantage point. This was taken after 1920 expansion of the Occidental Hotel.

A street level view of Hackley Park looking toward Third Street.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Rectory, located on the corner of Clay Avenue and Third Street, next to Hackley Public Library The cornerstone was laid on September 29, 1892 and the first service in the church was held June 6, 1893.

An image of the Hackley School, located between Webster and Muskegon Avenues and Third and Fourth Streets. Note the statue to William McKinley in the image. Six weeks following his assignation, Hackley commissioned sculptor Charles Niehaus to create a piece honoring McKinley. It was unveiled on Memorial Day, 1902.

Hackley Public Library, dedicated in 1888 on the northeast corner of Third Street and Webster, was a gift to the city from its greatest benefactor, Charles H. Hackley. The Torrent House (left), built in 1892 was the 31-room mansion of lumber baron John Draper Torrent (1833-1915).

Dedicated on October 15, 1890, Hackley Public Library was Charles Hackley's first gift to the city that had helped him amass a fortune during Muskegon's days processing lumber. His donation of $125,000 to the Muskegon Public School Board of Education for "a suitable and commodious building for a public library and reading room." led to the construction of this ornate building. The cornerstone was set in place on May 25, 1889 at the corner of Third Street and Webster Avenue. In 1902, a two-story addition, which features a glass floor, was constructed for addition storage of books.

The upper floor of the original building was originally to become an art gallery thank to another donation by Hackley. That gift instead would evolve into a new facility - the Hackley Art Gallery.

Another gift to the city from lumber baron Charles Hackley, the Hackley Art Gallery, was built around a $150,000 donation left to the Muskegon Public Schools Board of Education designated for the use of purchasing "pictures of the best kind". After purchasing property located next to Hackley Library, Muskegon Public Schools constructed a museum to house their growing collection. Dedicated on June 21, 1912, the museum was guided by director Raymond Wyer. His wise acquisitions helped build the stellar reputation held by the museum in art circles.

An image of the Art Museum's North Gallery most likely taken around the time of the opening of the building.

Established in 1890, The Muskegon Woman's Club, built in 1902 at the corner of Second Street and Webster Avenue on land donated to the group by Mrs. Francis Smith. Designed by the Chicago firm of Weir
and Perry, it was dedicated on February 17, 1903.

Muskegon St. Mary Catholic Church and Rectory, First Street, between Clay and Webster. The church was established in 1856, with the cornerstone of the church placed in 1889. Due to various setbacks, the building was not completed until 1896.

MORRIS
from Third St. to First St.

The Armory Building

Actors'
Colony
at Bluffton
1908 - 1938
_____________

Buster Keaton
and the
Muskegon Connection

Home | Members | Maps | Historical Marker | Walking Tour | Convention|
Coverage | Links | Contact