History of Kalamazoo Edition
Today, I received one of the coolest calendars at work that I think I have ever laid eyes on. I was so intrigued by it that I had to share it with you. It had the coolest old pictures of kalamazoo; some of which you might even recognize! I personally love this city and love it’s history.
“More than likely school shopping is the order of the day on the one year old downtown mall. Shoppers also could grab a bite at Schensul’s Cafeteria, downtown from 1938 until 1974 – or even get a ticket for “Psycho” at the State Theatre, held over for two weeks.”
“What we call drive-through was called an Auto-Bank in 1961. Located on Portage Street in Washington Square, the Industrial State Bank branch opened in 1946. The bank, which later became part of Comerica, is no longer there but the main bank building now houses the First Church of Christ Scientist.”
Yes! As in the brew pub you’ve probably been to or heard of!
“It’s no surprise these women are making fishing reals, one of the Shakespeare Company’s main products at their factory on North Pitcher and Kalamazoo Avenue. Over seventy-five parts were in each of the thousands produced daily. The company made fishing and other equipment in Kalamazoo until the 1980s.”
“Second graders in Mrs. Mildrer Borton’s class at Winchell Elementary are getting ready to go on a field trip to the Brunswick Corporation with their mothers. They will be visiting a company which produced school equipment in Kalamazoo, maybe even the desks they sit in every day.”
“A free inner tube is putting smiles on the faces of these children, courtesy of Otto Kihm Tire Company at one of their locations on North Rose Street and Kalamazoo Avenue. In business since 1937, the company moved to East Vine Street.”
“The Stewart & McIntyre Company not only sold tires but also provided other auto services like gas. Located on the Northwest corner of E. Kalamazoo and Porter Street, this 1920s era Mission Revival building has been home to many business and is now part of Kalamazoo Brewery.”
OR, as you may know it as BELLS BREWERY!
“Coffee, meat, rubber and gasoline were just some of the items rationed during World War II. Cigarettes were not, but there was a shortage because troops received them with their rations – which was why there is a line at Walgreen’s located at South Burdick and W. South Street.”
“For twenty years brothers Jerry and Jake DeNooyer worked in the automobile business before they purchased this Kalamazoo Chevrolet dealership in 1943. Located on the east side of Portage Street just north of Lovell, this was the site for DeNooyer Chevrolet until 1984 when they moved to Stadium Drive.”
“The Upjohn Company employee is filling this order with one of the company’s more popular products. Introduced in 1921, Citrocarbonate, an alkalizer, became Upjohn’s number one product with sales amounting to one million dollars. Demand led to the creation of a night shift at the factory.”
“A number of drives spearheaded by the Boy Scouts were held during World War II to collect materials like metal and rubber for the war effort. Local members are filling a Bryant Paper Mill truck with paper used for items like draft cards, cartridge boxes and even blood plasma containers.”
“Gibson CEO Tom Fetters looks on as Ron Wood and Keith Richards test guitars at the Gibson factory in July 1975. Wood and Richards visited the Gibson factory at 225 Parsons Street to tour the plant and test some of the new designs.”
“This sign, located at the intersection of Oakland Drive and West Michigan Avenue, shows how far Western had spread from the older campus to the east and the new campus to the west. The students are Freshmen due to their beanies which they had to wear until fall Homecoming.”
“No surprise that the brightest Christmas decorations would be at the Consumers Power Company located at 153 South Rose near West Michigan Avenue. The company at this time had over 400 employees and was the largest taxpayer in Kalamazoo. This building came down in the 1960s for the Comerica Building.”
It is crazy what time can do. Kalamazoo continues to be as beautiful as it was back then. It is obvious Kalamazoo is trying to bring the downtown area back to life.
Visit History of Kalamazoo to view more cool posts!
**All photos and information are from the WMU Archives and Regional History Collections. All research and text was done by Lynn Houghton, Regional History Curator, WMU Archives and Regional History Collections. The calendar was designed and printed by Portage Printing**
Michigan Mac 
I have never actually driven through Kazoo, but these are awesome pics. So much manufacturing going on in Michigan back in the day. And you gotta love the fins on those cars at the auto bank!
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I know! Totally cool. It is crazy to see how much it has changed. The downtown is surely making a comeback. You should try and make it to Bells Brewery!
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