Parking Lot Construction: As part of our ongoing work to maintain and improve Central Library, the parking lot will be closed for construction from Tuesday, July 28, to Saturday, August 1. Visit the Central Library page for more details. 

Notice of Public Meeting: Kalamazoo Public Library Board of Trustees | July 27 | 5:30 pm | Central Library/Van Deusen Room. The packet of information for the meeting can be found on the library’s website. 

Local History

Fires & Firemen

Burdick Hotel Fire

Construction on the Burdick Hotel began in 1850 at 130 Main Street (now Michigan Avenue). The hotel opened to the public on April 19, 1854 and was originally known as the Cosmopolitan Hotel. The name was changed to the Burdick Hotel in June of...

Fire Houses

The building of fire stations throughout the city became common in the early 20th century as the city limits expanded outward from its central business district and historic neighborhoods.

Kalamazoo Church Fires

Between December 1925 and July 1926 there were fifteen major fires in the Kalamazoo area. The origins of these fires were never discovered, though it was thought that it was the work of one or more arsonists. Of the fifteen fires twelve of them...

Kalamazoo Fire Department

The story of the Kalamazoo Fire Department begins on 5 June 1843, soon after the first charter of the village of Kalamazoo became effective. The village trustees passed an ordinance requiring all homeowners and storekeepers to provide themselves...

Pelick Stevens Fire

One of Kalamazoo’s most devastating fires took place during the afternoon of 15 April 1869. The “carnival of fire” tore through the land and buildings situated between S. West Street…