Remembering the Historic Neighborhoods of City of Wyoming

Did you know that the city of Wyoming has a rich history of local communities and neighborhoods?

Folks who either don't live in Wyoming or haven't lived there for very long, probably don't know that a number of the city's neighborhoods and commercial districts had "pet names" of their own.

Of course they were all in the city of Wyoming, but for whatever reason some of the commercial areas wanted a local identity to provide a sense of community.

The better known districts were places like Galewood, which is the area on Burton Street just west of 131.

GALEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD

You can't forget Godwin Heights, around Division and 36th street.

Then there is Home Acres which would be the Division and 44th street area.

And of course the Rogers Heights area considered on 28th street around Clyde Park.

WYOMING PARK PHARMACY SODA FOUNTAIN

There were other neighborhoods that actually had names but they have long been  forgotten. Does anyone remember Fishers Station, Picric Town, Newhall, Beverly and Urbandale? Nope, but they were all little neighborhoods in Wyoming.

The Wyoming Michigan History Room Facebook site says that all of these districts are historic only from the sense that they represent a way of life long ago in a simpler time.

GAS STATION NORTHWEST CORNER OF CHICAGO DRIVE AND BURLINGAME

For instance, a trip from, say, Urbandale, north of the Galewood area along Chicago Drive, to Kelloggsville and back would take the better part of a day.

KELLOGGSVILLE

And, mail delivery, before mail service as we know it, could get to the right person if you simply wrote their name on the envelope and just said the area like Home Acres.

In Grand Rapids most people are aware of the neighborhoods of Alger Heights, Seymour Square, Creston Heights, and Eastown.

GRAND RAPIDS EASTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD

Why? Well, they are certainly in a more densely populated area, and people living in those areas need more services. Maybe it's because of better marketing, or a more defined commercial and retail district created to attract people for shopping, dining and entertainment.

Whatever, wouldn't it be nice to see if some of these historic Wyoming districts of the past would come alive today!