An “abstract of title” with handwritten entries starting in 1856 (J&D.W. Coit & wife) indicates Mr. and Mrs. C. Van Cleve Ganson bought the property at 60 College Avenue NE in 1887. Known as the Wellman-Ganson House, this Shingle / Craftsman-style home was built in 1888, and featured on the Heritage Hill Home Tour in 1975 and 1985.

The Gansons are listed in the 1899 and 1906 Grand Rapids Blue Book. Mr. Ganson practiced law with his nephew, and also was an attorney for the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. Mrs. Ganson was instrumental in the beginnings of the Mary Free Bed Guild, established in 1911. She served on the original YWCA board and as an honorary trustee of Blodgett Hospital. She died in 1926.

After Mr. Ganson’s death in 1941, Grover Wellman bought the house and began renovation in 1942. When he became ill, his wife Gertrude (known as Ga) halted plans to buy a second property, made 60 College NE the family residence and completed the renovation. In 1945, the third-floor billiard room became a twobedroom apartment, still in use today.

We enjoy reading wonderful histories written by 1) Gertrude’s daughter, Sally McGrath, who raised her children at 60 College NE; 2) Sally’s daughter, Janet Roter-De Berard; and 3) Karen Wellman, whose father Dr. William Wellman (Sally’s brother) was granted zoning approval to operate his medical practice on the 1st floor in 1957.

Gertrude lived in the 2nd floor apartment until her death in 1963. Dr. Wellman added a basement apartment in the 1960s. Karen Wellman bought the home in 1980 from her father, who died in 1982. She undertook an extensive renovation in all parts of the house. The original gas/electric light fixtures remain in the foyer, library and 2nd floor sitting room. The library is largely intact.

After a few quick ownership changes, Tom Koetsier and Clare Wade bought the house in 1999. They converted the 4-unit into a 2-unit – completely restoring the 1st floor, removing garage siding, replacing cedar shakes, re-roofing, landscaping, and painting the interior and exterior. They removed the 2nd floor kitchen in 2005 in a successful e-Bay adventure, and await the energy to finish that renovation.

The 1936 photo above shows a now nonexistent porch with door opening to the library.