Heritage Hill – Grand Rapids, Michigan – Excerpts from a Photo Shoot

The holidays were filled with travel, family and friends. The warmth we experienced meeting our middle daughter’s new in-laws, was incredible and that experience led to the attached shots. So, let me back up just a bit. With three adult daughters and two of them married and our third (our youngest) in a serious relationship heading in that direction, we rotate Christmas. Every other year we host all of them and the off years, they spend with their significant others family. I’m sure this will change again whenever grand children arrive, but for now, that’s what we do. This was the “off” year and all three spent Christmas with their in-laws or soon to be in-laws. Our middle daughter and her husband hosted us to a Christmas in Michigan to meet the members of his family that we had not met. They rented this charming Victorian house in an area called Heritage Hill just two blocks from downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. The entire area is vibrant with growth and restoration of homes found throughout the neighborhood. After our arrival, I went for a walk and couldn’t stop taking shots of these houses. I appreciate architecture, especially the architecture found in older large homes you typically see in many Midwestern and Eastern towns, here in the US. I have attached 10 of my favorites:

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This first shot is typical of the size of homes in the area.

Heritage Hill 1

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The second capture is another large rambling structure. I love the detail in the trim. This particular house has been split up into multiple rental units as are about 50 % of these large old homes.

Heritage Hill 2

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Picture three was a shot that typified the look and feel of the neighborhood. I can only image how beautiful this setting is in the spring, summer and fall.

Heritage Hill 3

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Shot number four reminds me of the large rambling house I grew up in as a small child when we lived in a small farm town in Iowa.

Heritage Hill 4

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Capture number five looks like a small castle. The detail work with the rock (and I am assuming local stone) is incredible.

Heritage Hill 5

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Picture number 6 is the first of three for this house. I was able to get to multiple sides of the home for a complete look at the architecture of this structure. This is actually the side of the home, where a carriage would pull up to disembark passengers.

Heritage Hill 6

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This shot shows the front of the house from the street…

Heritage Hill 7

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And the last capture shows the opposite side of the home from the carriage porch of picture number 6. Rather large estate…

Heritage Hill 8

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Picture number nine and ten are of a house that has been restored and turned into a museum. It is located a couple of homes away from the last series. I love the wrap around porch and you can see the old carriage house in the background. This particular street was obviously a very prominent and wealthy street in it’s day.

Heritage Hill 9

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Shot number ten shows the wrap around porch and massive chimneys.

Heritage Hill 10

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So much of this history and architecture has been destroyed in the name of progress across the country and I was happy to see a city embrace the heritage and encourage new growth in this area. Since it is within walking distance to downtown, it is very active with young adults and families allowing close access to work and the many restaurants and shops located there. Thoughts?

(The neighborhood also has a Frank Loyd Wright house, which I will share in a future post.)

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