Humphrey-Upjohn House

A modern English cottage

Built in 1925 for one of Kalamazoo’s most prominent businessmen, this striking house in the Westnedge Hill Neighborhood was designed by Chicago architect, Robert E. Seyfarth (1878-1950). Seyfarth’s house was designed and built between the revivalism styles of the early 20th century and the modernist turn from the 1930s through to the 1960s. Seyfarth undoubtedly looked to the past for inspiration as he reimagined the historical vernacular of the English Cotswold-style, rather than simply repeating it.

“Mr. Seyfarth promoted his invididual style of architecture by his treatment of the recessed entrance door, unique recessed dormers and regular stonewalls which prior to this era had not been popular in house design. The relatively steep roof pitch dates back to the English cottage style of architecture which utilized thatch as a roofing materials rather than shingles which obviously required a steep pitch in order to shed water.”

“A large home with a modest cottage-like appearance was the popular choice of the day. Mr. Seyfarth fulfilled this desire in house architecture by allowing the roof to extend down to the first story and this gave a lower, simpler, and less massive appearance to the house. By recessing the dormers and the front entrance, and by utilizing natural wood shingles which blend into the landscape rather than contrast to it, Mr. Seyfarth was able to satisfy the desires of his clients.”

Text from Kalamazoo Tour Guide, 1971

The Occupants

George A. Humphrey (1892-1971) was the son of Alfred Humphrey, one of the founders of the General Gas Light Company, George later managed the family run firm from 1946 until 1959. The Humphrey family pioneered the manufacturing of gaslights (The “Humphrey Arc”), gas-powered fireplaces and hot water heaters during Kalamazoo’s industrial heyday of the late 1800s and early 20th century. The success of the business progressed into the 20th century which provided Humphrey the financial resources to build a new home in the fashionable Westnedge Hill Neighborhood, which by 1925, had begun to be carved up for residential development. Choosing a curved lot along Glenwood Drive, Humphrey hired the Chicago-based Seyfarth to design a home that harkened back to the 16th and 17th century English Cotswold-style, a building type common to the southcentral part of England between Bristol and Birmingham.

George would have been aware of the quality of Seyfarth’s work, because the architect had already designed several homes in Kalamazoo prior to 1925, including one for Hubert R. and Bessie Humphrey, the client’s brother. Seyfarth had designed a home for George’s older brother in 1917, located just around the corner at 2322 Glenwood Drive.

Dr. Everett Gifford Upjohn (1904-1993), the grandson of Dr. Henry Uriah Upjohn (co-founder of the Upjohn Company), moved into the home around 1947 after having lived at 1910 Waite Avenue. At the time, he was serving as vice president of the Upjohn Company, as well as finishing up a two-year run as a city commissioner. In 1953, he succeeded Donald S. Gilmore as president of the company, and held that position until he stepped down in 1969. Upjohn had grown up in New Jersey and attended the University of Michigan where he earned his medical degree. He returned to Kalamazoo at the age of 26 to work in the family pharmaceutical business along with his father. Everett’s father, Dr. Lawrence Upjohn, had been appointed president in 1930 despite initially showing little interest in moving back to Kalamazoo. Apparently, Dr. W.E. Upjohn was persuasive enough to get his nephew to reconsider.

“Early in Gifford’s career, he worked closely with Dr. Frederick Heyl, who graduated from Yale at the age of 19 and came to work for the pill-making firm in 1913. Heyl was the company’s first researcher/scientist who could hang a framed doctorate degree on his wll. He spent hours in the labratory with Dr. Heyl and that relationship ultimately led to the establishement of Upjohn’s medical division seven years later, which he was charged with organizing and administering in 1937.”

Encore Magazine, Nov./Dec. 1984, p.5

Upjohn stayed in the Glenwood Drive home until 1977. The home has been occupied by several other owners since Upjohn’s departure.

Other Seyfarth-Designed Homes

Hull House (c.1917), 4225 S. Burdick (demolished)

Ransom House (c.1923), 919 Short Road

Dickinson House (c.1928), 1550 Long Road

Paul and Margaret Ihling House (c.1930), 1537 Long Road

Gilkey House (c.1917), 161 Prospect

Humphrey House (c.1917), 2322 Glenwood Drive

Brown House (c.1920), 136 Bulkley

List compiled by Pamela H. O’Connor

Article written by Ryan Gage, Kalamazoo Public Library staff, April 2026