Why Sunnyside?
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:00 pm
Why is the area between Plaster Creek and Godfrey St in Grand Rapids called "Sunnyside?"
B1G - The Big Train
https://mail.railroadfan.com/phpbb/
https://mail.railroadfan.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=22881
Okay, where is it?
"Sunnyside" is actually the area between Godfrey Ave east to Century Ave. Today it basically refers to the wye between Oakland and Grandville Ave. Back before the 1960's or early 70's the track arrangement was much differnent that what it is today. Chessie System and PC agreed to redo the trackage through downtown GR and they consolidated their routes to the west side. Back before this there was even more trackage allowing access to the old Union Station. There where crossovers just west of Century Ave as well as other industry tracks all along this area. How the name actually came into exsistence is probably something best found in a library. I've never heard how the name came about, but I know it's been called Sunnyside since the late 1800's.MQT3001 wrote:Okay, where is it?
trnwatcher wrote:"Sunnyside" is actually the area between Godfrey Ave east to Century Ave. Today it basically refers to the wye between Oakland and Grandville Ave. Back before the 1960's or early 70's the track arrangement was much differnent that what it is today. Chessie System and PC agreed to redo the trackage through downtown GR and they consolidated their routes to the west side. Back before this there was even more trackage allowing access to the old Union Station. There where crossovers just west of Century Ave as well as other industry tracks all along this area. How the name actually came into exsistence is probably something best found in a library. I've never heard how the name came about, but I know it's been called Sunnyside since the late 1800's.MQT3001 wrote:Okay, where is it?
Man, she must have been really dirty and smelly.trnwatcher wrote:My paternal grandfather worked for the PM back in the early part of the 20th century. My dad told the story he heard from my grandfather that Maggies lead got it's name from the madame who ran a brothel that was near the tracks back at that time. The men from the railroad would frequent her "house" and the track just "took" her name...