Everything old is new again, and with the continued restoration of old buildings downtown, Grand Rapids has been digging into its past to form its future.

Here is some old school vintage Grand Rapids stuff I found online that you can gift to the GR lover in your family. 

5. A book of vintage photos called 'A Kaleidoscope of Photographs'

This book, published by the Grand Rapids Press, is out of print now, but this copy is up for sale for just $16. It features photos of the Grand Rapids women's baseball team that played at Valley Field in the '40s, and some great shots of GR in the '50s.

smit-hlf via EBay
smit-hlf via EBay
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4. A Grand Rapids Savings Bank token, which includes an interesting address

Not sure what these coins were used for, but they're a nice buy at $6.99. This one is interesting because it says the address of the bank is 'corner of Monroe and Ionia', which is weird, because those two streets run parallel to each other and don't intersect. Maybe they did in 1922. Where? I have no idea.

buyallied/EBay
buyallied/EBay
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3. A veritable treasure trove of Grand Rapids Owls memorabilia

Let's start with this hot looking tam circa 1977. Look at the size of the pom on that baby! The Owls predated the Griffins in GR minor league hockey lore, playing at was then the Stadium Arena (now the DeltaPlex). They moved here from Columbus, Ohio in the late '70s and competed the old IHL which was a lower tier minor league and featured teams like the Saginaw Gears, Muskegon Mohawks, and the Port Huron Flags. Ever see 'Slap Shot'? It was a lot like that.

Also up for grabs -- Owls pucks, and stationary, among other things. And -- as an added bonus a GR Hoops basketball schedule and GR Mackers sticker, to help you live the memory of minor league hoops at the Welsh Auditorium.

EBay
EBay
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2. Recall the glory days of GRCC football with this mini-football

Grand Rapids Community College (also known as Grand Rapids Junior College used to have an elite junior college football program, one that competed at an elite level on the JC scene back in the day. The Raiders went to such illustrious bowl games such as the Wool Bowl, Valley of the Sun Bowl, and the Dixie Rotary Bowl.

EBay
EBay
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1. An original model Bissell sweeper

Bissell still bases their vacuum business here in GR, but back in the days before electricity, the Bissell was de rigueur for household clean ups. My great Aunt swore by hers, and it looked like this. $79.00 for a piece of GR history.

dodge123dog/EBay
dodge123dog/EBay
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