Stroll - Discover Traverse City, Spring & Summer 2009

Historical Photos of Downtown Traverse City

Look closely to see that the young boy in the photo is hugging a small monkey.
Front Street. Late 1930’s. Looking toward Cass Street from Union. Traffic then was two-way.
Camels on Parade! Note the style of dress of the ladies and gentlemen in the crowd.
The Park Place Hotel in 1879. Previously the Campbell House, which was the largest hotel north of Grand Rapids. Purchased by Perry Hannah and renamed the Park Place was the first step in his plan “to make this region in itself the most popular and comfortable resort in the west.” Hannah chose Col. John D. Billings as the new hotel’s first manager. Billings had already done much to attract visitors from Detroit and Chicago to the area. He helped to build the reputation of the high standards that the Park Place still holds today.
This house, built on the corner of State and Franklin Streets, belonged to Oscar P. Carver, Traverse City’s first mayor. Carver was born April 13, 1847 in Angola, Indiana. He was a Civil War hero, business man, teacher and politician. When he was elected to Grand Traverse County Clerk and Register of Deeds in 1881, Carver and his family moved into Traverse City and built this home. After many years of serving Traverse City, he died at the age of 88 on September 3, 1935. Carver Street was given his name in memory of him and his devotion to Traverse City.   
Thank you to the Grand Traverse Historical Society and to Bob Wilson for providing information and photos from Traverse City's past. His books, Grand Traverse Legends, are available for purchase at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center.