This photograph is of the southside of the 100 block of West Grand River Avenue, Howell, Michigan, and was taken as part of documentation for the R/UDAT Study, 1984. In view are the storefronts of The Team Room, Garland's Mens' Apparel and Sutton's Hardware.
In 1983, the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce applied for a R/UDAT (Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team) study, an American Institute of Architects program that brought a team of professionals to the city for a four-day period to study Howell's downtown, its ability to compete for regional shopping, and to make recommendations for improvements to re-vitalize the city. The team, in 1984, during the study took photographs, interviewed people, held forums, and in the end provided an outline of strategies.
In 1999, Howell Chamber of Commerce, Howell, Michigan, celebrated its 50th Anniversary and used a number of photographs to mark the event.
In this photograph from the late 1950's, Sidewalk Dazes is happening. Howard Pyles is roped by Joe Harris in front of Sutton's Hardware, 121 - 123 West Grand River Avenue. Howard Pyles and Arnold Heino owned Sutton's Hardware, and it was later owned by the Shaw's. Joe Harris was the owner of Diamond Dot Market on M-59 in Howell.
