Coldbrook Creek (Michigan) Explained

Coldbrook Creek
Source1 Location:Fisk Lake
Mouth Location:Grand River
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:United States
Source1 Elevation:732feet
River System:Grand River (Michigan)

Coldbrook Creek is an urban stream in Grand Rapids in Kent County, Michigan. Its origin is the outflow of Fisk Lake on the John W. Blodgett Estate, and the stream eventually drains to the Grand River. Although parts of the stream are now in underground culverts,[1] there are significant possibilities for daylighting, and open streambeds appear in areas on the campus of Aquinas College as well as within Highland Park.Part of its course through Grand Rapids is parallel to the Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad.

History

Ke-way-coosh-cum, known in English as Long Nose, and a signer of the Treaty of Washington (1836), was killed by Was-o-ge-nan at the place where the creek enters the Grand River. This may have been in revenge for his participation in the treaty. The creek has also been referred to as Blood Creek, because of this occurrence.,[2] [3] There was a grist mill run by the Lyman brothers on the creek, near the present day Plainfield and Leonard.

Coldbrook Creek, and its tributary Carrier Creek. were the source of the water for the first pumped water supply in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The pumphouse was located near the mouth of the creek at Coldbrook and Monroe.[4]

Flora and fauna

Natural Status and Restoration

Coldbrook creek starts at Fisk Lake in the backyard of the Blodgett mansion.[5] Except for a portion that runs through the campus of Aquinas College and within Highland Park, most of the stream has been made to run in culverts as the Coldbrook Drain.

References

42.9569°N -85.6231°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Coldbrook Creek . Midtown Neighborhood Association. 25 October 2009 .
  2. Book: Everett . Franklin . Memorials of the Grand River Valley . 1878. Chicago legal news Company . Chicago. 1728348 .
  3. Book: Baxter . Albert . Albert Baxter . History of the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan : with an appendix--History of Lowell, Michigan . Google Books . 24 October 2009 . 1974 . 1891 . Grand Rapids Historical Society . Grand Rapids, Michigan . 2841595 . 29 .
  4. Book: Ernest B. . Fisher . Grand Rapids and Kent County Michigan; Historical account of their progress from first settlement to the present time, vol. 1 . 1 . 1918 . Robert O. Law Company . Chicago . 4930527 . 185 .
  5. Hardy . Lee . June–July 2009 . A River Runs Through It . Eastown Access (The Newsletter of the Eastown Community Association) . XXXVII . 3 . article with photos . 26 December 2009 .