Embedded Files
Explore what is known—and what is knowable—about this historic landscape in the heart of one of Kalamazoo's historic neighborhoods.
Explore what is known—and what is knowable—about this historic landscape in the heart of one of Kalamazoo's historic neighborhoods.
Kalamazoo outgrew its first pioneer or settler cemetery in thirty years. From 1833 to 1862, the unnamed burying ground on present-day S. Westnedge Avenue became the final resting place for hundreds of early settlers. The township grew as better roads and, soon, railroads integrated local, regional, and national markets.
Kalamazoo outgrew its first pioneer or settler cemetery in thirty years. From 1833 to 1862, the unnamed burying ground on present-day S. Westnedge Avenue became the final resting place for hundreds of early settlers. The township grew as better roads and, soon, railroads integrated local, regional, and national markets.
Growth prompted a second simple cemetery in the township at Grand Prairie in 1844 as well as dreams of a larger, private cemetery on a "rural" or "garden" plan. Mountain Home emerged on the hill overlooking Kalamazoo from the west in 1849. The township established Riverside, a public cemetery inspired by the same ideals, east of the river in 1862. Officials promptly forbade further burials in "the old cemetery" on, at the time, College Street.
Growth prompted a second simple cemetery in the township at Grand Prairie in 1844 as well as dreams of a larger, private cemetery on a "rural" or "garden" plan. Mountain Home emerged on the hill overlooking Kalamazoo from the west in 1849. The township established Riverside, a public cemetery inspired by the same ideals, east of the river in 1862. Officials promptly forbade further burials in "the old cemetery" on, at the time, College Street.
Twenty years later, township officials surveyed the old cemetery, by then on an extension of "West Street," staking the location of headstones and unmarked graves with an attention to detail lacking in earlier decades. Surveyors removed the headstones while preparing to level the ground and plant grass.
Twenty years later, township officials surveyed the old cemetery, by then on an extension of "West Street," staking the location of headstones and unmarked graves with an attention to detail lacking in earlier decades. Surveyors removed the headstones while preparing to level the ground and plant grass.
The stakes remained for two years amid structural changes in local government. In the spring of 1884, the City of Kalamazoo inherited the township's program of improving the old cemetery, and, within one year, workers buried all the old headstones by their stakes. By 1890, grading, walkways, benches, and a fountain had transformed the space into a public common. Soon this space became integrated into the growing development known today as the Vine neighborhood.
The stakes remained for two years amid structural changes in local government. In the spring of 1884, the City of Kalamazoo inherited the township's program of improving the old cemetery, and, within one year, workers buried all the old headstones by their stakes. By 1890, grading, walkways, benches, and a fountain had transformed the space into a public common. Soon this space became integrated into the growing development known today as the Vine neighborhood.
As this interactive visualization of the 1882 survey illustrates, our reappraisal begins by challenging two assumptions. The first tradition is that families removed most of their loved ones to Mountain Home or Riverside. The second is that the locations of the remaining burials were lost a century ago. We believe that most of the original burials remain and, thanks to the work of local historians in the 1980s, we can estimate the location of 340 burials.
As this interactive visualization of the 1882 survey illustrates, our reappraisal begins by challenging two assumptions. The first tradition is that families removed most of their loved ones to Mountain Home or Riverside. The second is that the locations of the remaining burials were lost a century ago. We believe that most of the original burials remain and, thanks to the work of local historians in the 1980s, we can estimate the location of 340 burials.
Interactive map showing identified (blue) and unidentified (red) graves
Interactive map showing identified (blue) and unidentified (red) graves
West Street Park, 1898, taken from (present-day) S. Westnedge Ave, of the northwest corner of (present-day) South Westnedge Park, National Archives, Chicago.
West Street Park, 1898, taken from (present-day) S. Westnedge Ave, of the northwest corner of (present-day) South Westnedge Park, National Archives, Chicago.
South Westnedge Park, 2024, taken from S. Westnedge Ave, of the northwest corner of the park, photograph by Evan Kutzler.
South Westnedge Park, 2024, taken from S. Westnedge Ave, of the northwest corner of the park, photograph by Evan Kutzler.
Surveyor's notes showing the location of numbered identified and unidentified graves. Record of Graves, 1884, City of Kalamazoo.
Surveyor's notes showing the location of numbered identified and unidentified graves. Record of Graves, 1884, City of Kalamazoo.
West Street Park, 1898, taken from (present-day) S. Westnedge Ave, of the southwest corner of (present-day) South Westnedge Park, National Archives, Chicago.
West Street Park, 1898, taken from (present-day) S. Westnedge Ave, of the southwest corner of (present-day) South Westnedge Park, National Archives, Chicago.
South Westnedge Park, 2024, taken from S. Westnedge Ave, of the southwest corner of the park, photograph by Evan Kutzler.
South Westnedge Park, 2024, taken from S. Westnedge Ave, of the southwest corner of the park, photograph by Evan Kutzler.
West Street Park, 1898, taken from Park Place, and the southeast corner of present-day South Westnedge Park, National Archives, Chicago.
West Street Park, 1898, taken from Park Place, and the southeast corner of present-day South Westnedge Park, National Archives, Chicago.
South Westnedge Park, 2024, taken from Park Place, and the southeast corner of the park, photograph by Evan Kutzler.
South Westnedge Park, 2024, taken from Park Place, and the southeast corner of the park, photograph by Evan Kutzler.
About the project
About the project
This multi-authored digital exhibit is the product of HIST 3404 Introduction to Public History at Western Michigan University and Prof. Evan Kutzler. It reconsiders what is known—and what is knowable—about this historic landscape in the heart of one of Kalamazoo's iconic neighborhoods.
Contributors to the website as of 2024 include the following in alphabetical order: Nick Aiuto, Sam Brown, Colby DeVries, Meena Jacobs, Prof. Evan Kutzler, Abubakarr Kuyateh, Emma Maher, Jack Papin, Max Roesch, and Evan Wright.
This project has received support from the WMU Department of History's Burnham MacMillan Endowment and the WMU Center for the Humanities.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse