More than two centuries of overlooked history flow through Grand Rapids like the river for which it is named. The first city surveyor dabbled in séances while platting out neighborhoods and streets. When a river dredging project left a mountain of stone tormenting residents, the ordeal pitted them against city leaders. Humane society agents uncovered horrendous conditions at the city pound and successfully brought about reform and much better conditions for the animals. Grand Rapids native and city archivist Matthew A. Ellis delves into the layout of streets, the manufacture of materials used to build the city, local food trends and more.
Matthew A. Ellis is a lifelong resident of Grand Rapids. He has worked for the City of Grand Rapids Archives and Records Center since 2015 and graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2020 with a MA in public management. He spearheaded a project for the city archives to digitize and publish records online and served as a trustee for the Grand Rapids Historical Society since 2018. He has also worked with the local history community in putting on programs and publishing articles. Matthew now resides in Boston Square with his wife, Ashley, and their four huskies.