55 years ago: Old Grand Rapids City Hall demolished

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — This month marks 55 years since the demolition of an iconic building that once defined Grand Rapids.

The demolition of the old Grand Rapids City Hall started in October 1969. The razing received significant pushback from residents hoping to save the popular building.

The bells from the majestic clock tower atop the former City Hall still ring throughout the day at the Grand Rapids Public Museum . The museum has a display complete with old newspaper clippings, City Hall artifacts and memorabilia from the protests. Images of the building were reproduced on postcards, ashtrays and decorative plates.

“This is something people remember,” Alex Forist, the chief curator for the museum, said. “People who have lived in Grand Rapids and grown up here definitely have fond memories of it. It was definitely a point of pride and a symbol of progress of the city.”

The chief architect was Elijah Myers, who also designed the Michigan State Capitol. Voters approved construction of the City Hall in 1884, when it was estimated to cost $150,000 (about $4.8 million in today’s money). But the project went significantly over budget and was eventually finished in 1888 for $314,000 ($10.1 million in today’s money).

The building stood for several decades until the era of urban renewal. That’s when cities across the country received federal funding to raze old buildings and businesses for new developments and public spaces. Forist said that blocks of small family-owned businesses like shops and theaters were “completely demolished” to create wide-open plazas, leading to the construction of the new city and county building, as well as Calder Plaza.

“There were definitely improvements in infrastructure and the creation of public space, but it was at the cost of a lot of these local businesses that had been there for a long time,” Forist said. “All that was left after urban renewal were these office buildings. There was no more shopping, theaters, there was nothing to do downtown. Everyone went home at 5 o’clock, off to the suburbs… Now we’re seeing reinvestment and things like entertainment, dining and shopping coming back to Grand Rapids.”

“I think history has not been particularly kind to urban renewal and it has taken decades for downtown Grand Rapids to recover from that,” he added.

A group of protesters pushed back against the demolition until the very day it began on Oct. 27, 1969. On that day, a woman named Mary Stiles chained herself to the wrecking ball. While she eventually relented, crews agreed to raise her into the air for a final look at the city landmark, leading to this picture shared in newspapers around the country.

“I think it goes to show how much these symbols and history matter to people,” Forist said. “When you live in a place, you’re from a place, you grow up in a place, it becomes part of your identity as well.”

While protesters lost the battle for the old City Hall, it was the start of the historic preservation movement in Grand Rapids. Just six months after the building was torn down, Grand Rapids hosted the first Michigan Historic Preservation Conference. Just a few years later, preservationists successfully moved the Heritage Hill Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Kent County Courthouse now stands where the old City Hall used to be. The courthouse has its own clock outside in an homage to the one that stood atop City Hall.

The demolition of City Hall, the county building and other complexes altered the city’s skyline. More than half a century later, Grand Rapids is changing once again. An amphitheater is being built and there are plans for a soccer stadium , aquarium and high-rise developments , all of which will change the look of the city.

“I think these are really exciting projects that do underscore the value of downtown,” Forist said.

As Grand Rapids grows, those who know our history well say we shouldn’t forget the past.

“The loss of City Hall to the wrecking ball is one of the things if we could have made it work, if people could take it back, we probably would have, in retrospect,” Forist said. “I think going forward, the powers that be in Grand Rapids have definitely looked more favorably on preservation and trying to save our history.”

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