Tag Archives: Grand River

VINTAGE POINT: Grand River gas station

1930s Farmington had a Hi-Speed gas station at Grand River and Grace (33604 Grand River Avenue), across from Thayer-Rock Funeral Home. Today, it’s Acosta Sales & Marketing. See the then-and-now slider here. Historic photo courtesy of Michael Legg (thank you, … Continue reading

Posted in Vintage Point | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VINTAGE POINT: Owen House hotel

In the early 1900s, the Owen House hotel stood at the site of The Village Mall, at the southeast corner of Grand River and Farmington. Rates were $1.50/day with a special Sunday dinner for 25 cents. See the then-and-now slider … Continue reading

Posted in Vintage Point | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VINTAGE POINT: Farmington From Above

In 1930s Farmington, much of the area outside the immediate downtown–like the neighborhood between Grand River (at center) and Freedom–was still open land. See the then-and-now slider here. Historic photo from Brian Golden/Heritage & History Center. Contemporary image from Bing.com … Continue reading

Posted in Vintage Point | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VINTAGE POINT: Old Town Hall

A hundred years ago, the Masonic Lodge (23715 Farmington Road) doubled as Farmington Township Hall. It also hosted talent shows, lectures, Eastern Star dances, political meetings, and basketball games—although some council members thought the games shouldn’t be allowed, as the … Continue reading

Posted in Vintage Point | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VINTAGE POINT: Farmington State Savings Bank

Farmington State Savings Bank (now the Village Mall) opened at Grand River and Farmington Road on March 18, 1922. The lobby was marble and walnut, and the vault door weighed more than 10,000 pounds. See the then-and-now slider here. Historic … Continue reading

Posted in Vintage Point | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VINTAGE POINT: Doc’s office/Los Tres Amigos

This house, now demolished, at the site of Los Tres Amigos (33200 Grand River) was once the offices of Drs. E.F. Holcomb, Joseph Norton, and Maynard Whitehead, per a note in the Farmington Community Library Heritage Room’s digital archives. See … Continue reading

Posted in Vintage Point | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VINTAGE POINT: Peoples State Bank

The Peoples State Bank at 33312 Grand River (now Edward Jones Investments) opened in 1918 and closed during the Depression. For years, it served as Farmington’s city hall. “The clerk’s office is in the Farmington State Bank, the treasurer’s office … Continue reading

Posted in Vintage Point | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VINTAGE POINT: Clang, clang, clang went the trolley

An old shot looking west along Grand River shows the interurban tracks that once ran through downtown Farmington. NEW FEATURE: Have some fun with our interactive then-and-now slider at this link. Historic photo from the Farmington Community Library Heritage Room. Contemporary … Continue reading

Posted in Vintage Point | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VINTAGE POINT: Back to school

The original Farmington High School stood at the end of School Street, just off Grand River at the east side of downtown. It was built in 1888 and burned to the ground in 1918. The building at left in the … Continue reading

Posted in Maxfield Training Center, Vintage Point | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VINTAGE POINT: Farmington Civic Theatre

Movies and air conditioning were both big draws for the Farmington Civic Theatre, as the sign in this late 1940s photo suggests. Historic photo from the Farmington Civic Theatre archives. Contemporary photo by Maria Taylor. VINTAGE POINT is Preservation Farmington’s … Continue reading

Posted in Vintage Point | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment