All About Kalamazoo History

Last updated 15 April 2008

Kalamazoo's unusual name, its central location between Detroit and Chicago, its thriving and balanced economy, its rich educational tradition, and its long-time interest in the arts have given the city a unique and colorful history. Choose a topic to explore. We will be adding many more in the months to come, so be sure to check back soon for other items of interest.

Jump to area of interest

General Topics Arts & Entertainment Biography Business Cemeteries
Education Fires & Firemen Government Health Houses & Buildings
Kalamazoo Public Library Neighborhoods Parks Recreation Religion
Towns        

 

General Topics  
You Called it WHAT? How Kalamazoo Got Its Name
That Gal in Kalamazoo
From Wheels to Heels: The Mall City
Twister! The 1980 Tornado
USS Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo River
Lincoln's 1856 Speech in Bronson Park
Underground Railroad in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo's First Residents: Our Native Americans
 
Arts and Entertainment
Barn Theatre
Downtown Kalamazoo Theatres 1866 to 1938
(Courtesy of J. P. Jenks)
Kalamazoo Civic Players (kazoocivic.com)
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Public Sculpture
State Theatre
 
Biography
Titus Bronson: Founder of Kalamazoo
Caroline Bartlett Crane: Minister and Civic Leader
Paulus denBleyker: The Dutch Governor
John E. Fetzer: Broadcasting, Baseball, Mystical Science
Enoch and Deborah Harris: Black Pioneers
Bazel and Martha Harrison: Kalamazoo County's First Family
Charles B. Hays: The Man Who Helped Build Kalamazoo
Edward Israel: Arctic Explorer
Frank Little House: 605 W. South Street
Epaphroditus  Ransom: Michigan Governor
A. M. Todd: The Peppermint King
William E. Upjohn: Person of the Century
Edwin and Cynthia Van Deusen: A Quiet Legacy
Joseph B. Westnedge: War Hero
 
Business
Celery Industry: Stalking the Celery City
Checker Motors: Taxicab Makers NEW
Flinch Card Company
Gibson, Inc.: Music Makers
Gilmore Brothers Department Store
Henderson-Ames Company: Regalia Makers
Kalamazoo Corset Company
Kalamazoo Gazette
Kalamazoo Sled Company
Kalamazoo Stove Company: A Kalamazoo Direct to You
Miller-Davis Company: Building Contractors NEW
The Paper Industry
The Shakespeare Company: Fine Fishing Tackle
A. M. Todd Company: Flavoring Oils
 
Cemeteries
Mountain Home Cemetery
Riverside Cemetery
South Westnedge Park: Pioneer Cemetery and Urban Oak Opening
 

Education

Kalamazoo College 
Kalamazoo Public Schools: Kalamazoo Central High School NEW
Kalamazoo Public Schools: Parkwood-Upjohn School NEW
Kalamazoo Public Schools: West Main Street School NEW
The Kalamazoo School Case: Supporting High School Education
List of Kalamazoo School Superintendents
Michigan Female Seminary: Education for Women
Rural Schools of Kalamazoo County  
 

Fires and Firemen

The Kalamazoo Fire Department
 
Government
Kalamazoo’s City Government
Kalamazoo Village Presidents,1843-1883
Kalamazoo Mayors, 1884-present
Kalamazoo City Managers
Corporation Hall /City Hall
 

Health

Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital
KPH Brook and Colony Farms: Harvesting Mental Health
KPH Northwest Unit: Empty Echo of the Past
KPH Water Tower: Landmark & Legend
 
Houses and Buildings
459 N. Burdick: Michigan Central Railroad Station
226 W. Lovell Street : Austin-Sill House
402 E. Michigan Avenue: Grand Rapids and Indiana Station
1006 Oakland Drive: State Hospital Gatehouse NEW
236 S. Park: Christian Science Church
333 S. Park: Ladies Library Association
219 W. South Street: Park Club
(www.parkclub.net/history.shtml)
515 W. South Street: Boudeman House
516 W. South Street: James F. and Carrie Gilmore House
523 W. South Street: Frank B. Lay House
527 W. South Street: Carder-Van Deusen House
530 W. South Street: Wood-Upjohn House
533 W. South Street: Nehemiah Chase House
602 W. South Street: William DeYoe House
605 W. South Street: Frank Little House
610 W. South Street: John M. Edwards House
611 W. South Street: Blumenberg-Wilson House
617 W. South Street: Buckhout-Austin House
620 W. South Street: Albert M. Todd House
629 W. South Street: Edmond S. Rankin House
630 W. South Street: Jonathan Parsons House
705 W. South Street: Robert Burns House
708 W. South Street: Lewis H. Kirby House
711 W. South Street: James Henry House
718 W. South Street: Hon. Allen Potter House
723 W. South Street: Burry Fry House NEW
724-726 W. South Street: M. D. Woodford House NEW
729 W. South Street: Mrs. Laurence VandeWalker House NEW
821 W. South Street: Stockbridge-Everard House NEW
925 S. Westnedge: Octagon House--Allen Potter House
2026 S. Westnedge: Everyman's House
Corporation Hall /City Hall
Frank Lloyd Wright Houses
Henderson Castle
Ingersoll Village NEW
 

Kalamazoo Public Library

Kalamazoo Public Library History
The Library's Stained Glass
Eastwood Branch
Oshtemo Branch
Alma Powell Branch
Washington Square Branch
 

Neighborhoods

Northside
 
Parks
Bronson Park
Crane Park
Markin Glen Park (www.kalcounty.com/parks/markinglen)
Milham Park: Bears, Tourists and Golf
Oakwood Amusement Park
South Westnedge Park: Pioneer Cemetery and Urban Oak Opening
 

Recreation

Flinch (Flinch Card Company)
Horsing Around: The National Driving Park
The Kalamazoo Lassies (1950-1954)
Little League
Peter the Great: Champion Trotting Horse
 

Religion

First Baptist Church: Town & Gown
First Church of Christ, Scientist NEW
First Congregational Church: Fledgling Faith and Fire
First Methodist Church: Another Trial by Fire
First Presbyterian Church: A Phoenix From the Ashes
First Reformed Church: A Mirror of Immigration
From Hymns to Horseshoes: Kalamazoo's First Church
People's Church: A Liberal Oasis
St. Augustine's: In Spite of Everything
St. Luke's Episcopal Church 
 

Towns

Climax  (from Michigan Shadow Towns)

Parchment
Richland
Schoolcraft
Vicksburg
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