Print, Photographic

Print. (2 Copies.) Sepia-toned photographic print of a window display for the Michigan Bell Telephone Company at The J.L. Hudson Company Department Store. Signage affixed to the rear of the display reads, "Michigan Bell Telephone Co. 'Know Michigan' Series, No. 30 Ionia." Images of the Hayes-Ionia Company Automobile Bodies, Manufacturing of Reed and Fibre Furniture, as well as a Windmill advertising the Michigan Porcelain Tile Company, all located in Ionia, Michigan. Flanking the central signage are images of Governor Fred W. Green, and Mayor of Ionia, Fred Chapman. The large sign at the center of the display reads, "IONIA, 'Where Business Grows and Prospers' Ionia is the county seat of Ionia County situated on the Grand River, about 35 miles east of Grand Rapids, and 128 miles from Detroit. The city which was settled in 1833 by emigrants from New York, was incorporated as a village in 1857 and chartered as a city in 1873. The population today is 10,566. It is a city of home owners, fully 80% owning their homes. Ionia is the trade center for a rich farming community and the count has larger proportion of richest farm soil than any other county in Michigan according to maps and surveys of the Michigan State College. There are - 5 Public Grade Schools; 1 High School; 1 Junior High School; 2 Parochial Schools; 11 Churches; 1 Public Library; Modern City Hall; Centralized Fire Station; Municipal Water System; Beautiful City Park; 4 Hotels - 3 Theaters - One Daily and One Weekly Newspaper. The Michigan Hospital for the Criminal Insane and the Michigan Reformatory are located here. Ionia's principal industries are Automobile Bodies and Parts, Reed and Fibre Furniture, Pottery, Decorative Tile, School, Church, & Theatre Furniture, and the Pere Marquette R.R. Shops. Ionia is the home of Michigan's Governor Fred W. Green. There are 1,616 telephones and the long distance station-to-station day rate to Detroit is $0.80. Michigan Bell Telephone Co." A Reed and Fibre chair is in the right foreground of the display including differing sizes of ceramic planters. The photographic sequence number, photographer's name, location and date are printed on the bottom of the recto, "12397-H; Photography by Davis B. Hillmer, Detroit, 1928."