Asbestos Row and the Dewing Building

North Kalamazoo Mall

The story of the Dewing Building (132 N. Kalamazoo Mall), a structure so long that it embodies an entire city block (from Michigan Avenue to Water Street), will forever be connected to a series of 19th century-built, low-slung buildings once referred to as Asbestos Row.

Asbestos Row

Along the 100 block of North Burdick, on the east side of what today is referred to as the Kalamazoo Mall, was once a series of 19th century brick and wood buildings dubbed Asbestos Row, the label derived from having survived destruction by fire. Some of these buildings, having been erected as far back as the 1880’s, survived until 1928, when they were demolished to make room for the Dewing Building. By the 1920’s, the beat-up, single-story buildings which extended from Water Street southward to the George McDonald drug store building on the corner of Burdick and Main (Michigan Avenue) streets, were judged an eyesore. Eventually, businessman William Sheldon Dewing purchased the unattractive structures.

The Dewing Building

Built in 1928, at a cost of $250,000, the W. S. Dewing Building replaced the George McDonald drugstore at the corner of North Burdick and Main (now Michigan Avenue) streets. Local contractor Henry Vander Horst was hired for construction, with the design originating from William Stone. The austere building reflects the Art Deco-style, and is most notable for its length. Over the years, the building has had many occupants, including the Old Kent Bank of Kalamazoo.

Named for William S. Dewing, a leading industrialist in Kalamazoo, who notably was one of several men who founded the Kalamazoo Stove Company. Like many entrepreneurs of his era, Dewing dabbled in a variety of commercial ventures (paper making, brass fabrication, banking), including real estate. He was active in philanthropy as well, giving money to the Children’s Home (Dewing’s father and mother’s creation) and the founding of the Lake Farm Home for Boys (1907). Dewing died in 1929.

In the early 2000’s, Kalamazoo Valley Community College purchased the building, and then renovated it at a cost of $9.6 million, housing inside their Center for New Media facilities.

Article written by Ryan Gage, Kalamazoo Public Library staff, August 2022