The Oaklands at WMU, c1962
Robert Babcock built this iconic Italianate in 1869. The house would be owned in later years by Benjamin Austin, a local wagonmaker, and Daniel Streeter, a horse breeder of international repute. In 1944, the Oaklands was purchased by Western Michigan University and used as a residence for the university president, as it was when this photo was taken in 1962.
Western Michigan University Photograph, WMU-U-10447
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The Oaklands at WMU, 2009
Today, the Oaklands stands as a centerpiece of Western Michigan University's main campus. It is largely used as a gathering hall and offers an interesting alternative to local hotels, offering rooms for rent, and even hosting weddings. The Oaklands is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and enjoys single-resource local historic district status.
For more information see: The Oaklands at WMU, Historic District
S. Nott, Western Michigan University, School of Art, 2009
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