Historic Map - Kalamazoo, MI - 1883

View of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, M.I., 1883 / drawn & published by H. Wellge & A. F. Poole.

This bird’s-eye view print of Kalamazoo, Michigan was drawn and published by H. Wellge & A. F. Poole, Beck & Pauli Lith. in 1883. Kalamazoo was settled amid the tributary waters of the Kalamazoo River in the 1830's.

Kalamazoo College was established here by Baptist ministers in 1833 as the Michigan and Huron Institute and then later the Kalamazoo Literary Institute. Upon receiving a Michigan state charter in 1855, the school, no longer associated with any church, became known as Kalamazoo College.

The village of Kalamazoo was well known for raising fine quality celery, as well as other vegetable crops. Paper was produced at a mill along Portage Creek; and Kalamazoo maintained a thriving windmill-making industry.

The town was served by the Michigan Central, Grand Rapids & Indiana, Michigan Southern & Lake Shore, and South Haven & Kalamazoo railroads.

The Michigan Asylum for the Insane opened at Kalamazoo in 1859 under the direction of Dr. Edwin Van Deusen.

The map, oriented with north toward the upper left, includes labeled roads, buildings, waterways and railroad routes. It features inset illustrations of the following:

• Strong, Sebring & Co. Grain Elevator.
• Academy of Music.
• Fountain at Bronson Park.
• James Barnett Boot and Shoe Store
• D. C. & H. C. Reed & Co. Kalamazoo Spring Tooth Harrows.
• Main Street from Edwards to Rose Sts.
• State Asylum for the Insane.

Features references to the following locations:

Methodist Episcopal Church.
Presbyterian Church.
St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Unitarian Church.
Plymouth Congregational Church.
Dutch Reformed Church.
Congregational Church.
Baptist Church.
German Lutheran Church.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
St. Augustine Catholic Church.
African Methodist Church.
Jewish Synagogue.
Holland Christian Reformed Church.
Rehoboth Church.
North Presbyterian Church.
Kalamazoo College.
High School.
Vine St. School.
Frank St. School.
Woodward Ave. School.
Michigan Female College.
Post Office.
Academy of Music.
County Jail.
Court House.
Masonic Hall.
Ladies’ Library.
Opera House.
Corporation Building.
Board of Trade Rooms.
Michigan Central R. R. Station.
Grand Rapids & Indiana R. R. Station.
Water Works.
Kalamazoo House.
Burdick House.
American House.
International House.
Rose Terrace.
Lawrence & Chapin, Engine and Mill Works.
Wm. E. Hill & Co., Saw Mill Machinery.
Planing Mill.
Bird Wind Mill Co.
L. Cahill, Sulky Plow Works.
Bird & Clarage, Iron Works.
Dodge Plow Co.
Eagle Flouring Mills.
Kalamazoo Wagon Co.
Cornell Wagon Factory.
Kalamazoo Tubular Well Co.
Dewing & Sons, Sash, Door and Blind Manufactory.
Kalamazoo River Flour Mills.
Strong, Sebring & Co., Grain Elevator.
L. Eggleston, Spring and Axle Works.
Tannery.
Page Manufacturing Company.
D. Burrell & Son, Wagon Manufactory.
Planing Mill.
D. C. & H. C. Reed & Co., Spring Tooth Harrows.
Chase, Taylor & Co., Spring Tooth Harrows.
Kalamazoo Canning Works.