A Walk Through Western Michigan University's History - Clio

Entries on This Tour

1. Prospect Hill/Davis Field

User Note: View entry while standing at the vista overlooking the city of Kalamazoo and looking down at Davis Field, which sits at the base of the hill.Before the creation of the Western State Normal School, the land on which the campus would develop was used for a much different purpose. The future site of Michigan’s fourth normal school was originally utilized as the Prospect Hill Vineyards, which gave it the name Prospect Hill. In March of 1904, the land was officially deeded over to the State Board of Education and work began on the Administration Building in May of that same year. As new buildings were being constructed, new elements were added to make transportation up the hill easier for students and faculty, including wooden steps, tennis courts, and an incline railroad. Throughout the various transitions that Western has undergone since 1903, the land atop Prospect Hill has changed to accommodate its needs.See below for more information

2. Heritage Hall

User Note: After the previous entry, turn to look at the building to the left, which is now known as Heritage Hall. Feel free to follow the path in front of the building towards the right side of the building to see the former site of the gymnasium addition or walk around the building to get a better view.After being founded in 1903, the Western State Normal School constructed its first building atop Prospect Hill. The Administration Building was completed in 1905 by architect E.W. Arnold and soon became the home of classrooms, offices, recitation rooms, and a small auditorium. After a few years, two of the classrooms were transformed into a library and reading room. In 1905, plans were put in place for an addition to the original structure, which would contain a gymnasium with a pool, an expanded library, and other spaces for physical education activities. As the campus continued to expand, the Administration Building and attached gymnasium were utilized in other ways, especially as departments were moved to newer facilities. The Administration Building, also known as East Hall, continued to be used as an educational space until the 1990s and was later renovated for the new Alumni Center in the 2010s.See below for more information

3. Training School

User Note: Look towards the south side of Heritage Hall, which is now used as a parking lot, for the former site of the Training School.Since Western began as a school for teachers, it seemed fitting for the campus to have its own training school on site. The new structure officially opened in Fall 1909 and, with over 35,000 square feet, had accommodations for kindergarten through 8th grade. As a Normal School, Western offered three programs for students to become teachers, which included a life certificate program, a three-year certificate program, and a rural school course program. When first constructed, the Training School was separate from the Administration Building, which lasted until the late 1940s when an annex was built to bridge the gap. Since having an internship or student teaching experience was a requirement of the curriculum, having a Training School on campus was very beneficial to Western students and allowed them to get professional teaching experience.See below for more information

4. East Campus Walkway

User Note: Follow the sidewalks in front of Heritage Hall to the northeastern side of the hill until you reach the staircase.In the early 1900s, the campus of Western State Normal School continued to expand, which included new modes of transportation for students to use to trek up Prospect Hill. One of the most popular methods was the Western State Normal Railroad which was constructed in 1908 and featured two cars that moved opposite of one another. Situated on the northeast corner of the original campus, the trolley stretched down to the Davis Street neighborhoods and served as an alternative to the wooden 150-steps. The trolley continued to serve Western’s campus until the mid-1900s.See below for more information

User Note: Follow the sidewalk from the staircase to this site. Feel free to explore the site and walk through the doorway.The third building constructed atop Prospect Hill was the Library Building, which is now known as North Hall. This building provided expanded space for the library that was previously housed in the Administration Building and gymnasium addition, as well as contributed to the forming quad that would serve as the heart of Western’s campus. The Library’s most prominent feature was the two-story reading room that included a 7 seven-ton limestone fireplace as the centerpiece. Once the new library was built on West Campus, the building was renovated to house the College of Business and was officially renamed North Hall in 1966.See below for more information

User Note: Follow the sidewalk from North Hall until you see the small structure in the woods, which was positioned behind this building. The area in front of this structure is the former location of West Hall.After the first decade of campus expansion, the Western State Normal School began planning for the Science Building. This building was the first structure that was not able to be seen from Davis Field, as it was situated on the west side of Prospect Hill. Built by E.W. Arnold, the three-story building was designated as the home for the natural sciences department and included spaces for classrooms, lecture rooms, and laboratories. Once opened, it was utilized by the departments of psychology, biology, chemistry, botany, and physics, as well as a greenhouse located on the southern end for use by the various programs.See below for more information

7. Upholstery Shop

User Note: Follow the sidewalk to the staircase and follow the stairs down towards Oakland Drive. This path also provides a new perspective to see the site of West Hall and the greenhouse. This building will be on the right at the end of the staircase.While the Science Building was being constructed, the Heating Plant was being built to power the new campus structures. Along with the main plant, a smaller structure was constructed to connect the tunnel that connected to the Science Building. The building’s use as a heating plant declined in the 1920s and the space was then utilized as a garage for the college. Due to various changes within the departments, the structure changed names and purposes many times throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries.See below for more information

8. Waldo's Boulder and Eddie's Lane

User Note: After the previous entry, follow the sidewalk along Oakland Drive towards the northwest. Follow the sidewalk until you reach the crosswalk at the intersection and cross Oakland Drive. Follow the sidewalk along the other side of Oakland Drive until you reach Eddie's Lane.One of the oldest buildings that became a part of Western’s campus was the Eames Mill, which dated back to the 1840s. The mill was used by Lovett Eames for workshop space and waterpower. The land was purchased by President Dwight B. Waldo in 1916 and the mill was used for classes and later by the Dramatic Arts Department. The building was condemned in 1923 due to safety concerns but was still utilized until its razing in 1942. Today, the site continues to serve Western as the home to a boulder dedicated to President Waldo and Eddie’s Lane.See below for more information

9. Barracks and Temporary Classrooms

User Note: Follow the sidewalk until you reach the pin on the map below. Look towards the parking lot to see the former site of the Barracks.Due to the United States entering into World War I, new buildings were constructed to accommodate the Western’s Student Army Training Corps. In 1918, over 350 trainees arrived on campus and the barracks were finished one month later. The SATC, however, was disbanded later that year due to the Armistice and the barracks were converted to classrooms. In addition to this structure, other temporary buildings were erected to serve as classrooms or other spaces for various departments. These wooden buildings were mostly located around the athletic field and continued to be used until the mid-1900s.See below for more information

10. Physical Plant

User Note: Follow the sidewalk until you reach where it connects to the building. Feel free to walk around this area. The parking lot below this area is the former site of the Industrial Education Annex that is pictured below.The Industrial Arts Building, also known temporarily as the Manual Arts Building, was constructed in 1921 and the departments were moved over from the Eames Mill in 1922. The building contained expanded spaces for the various departments and allowed students to gain real-world experience in auto mechanics and other industrial arts. In addition to these new spaces, this building featured an automobile shop, a woodworking room, and a space for Blacksmithing. As Western continued to expand, the Manual Arts Building adapted to fit its growing needs and continues to serve the university as the Physical Plant.See below for more information

11. Mechanical Trades Building

User Note: Follow the sidewalk towards the Seelye Center sign until you are in-between the Seelye Center and the Physical Plant (the previous entry). Feel free to walk down the hill to see the front entrance of the Physical Plant, which still bears the original name "Manual Arts". Look towards the parking lot between these two buildings to see the former site of the Mechanical Trades Building.In 1941, the Mechanical Trades Building was constructed due to a generous gift from the W.E. Upjohn Unemployment Trustee Corporation for a new Aviation Building. The interior of the building was well-equipped to accommodate the airplane mechanics department and other vocational education, with various offices, classrooms, and spaces for airplane repair. In addition to these spaces, the department was also equipped with five airplanes for instructional use. The building underwent two major renovations, with the last remodeling for the university’s printing services. Between 1980 and 2001, the building was named the Brink Printing Services Building and printed most of Western’s publications.See below for more information

12. Seelye Indoor Athletic Center

User Note: Depending on where you viewed the previous entry, either walk back up the hill to the sidewalk or follow the sidewalk to the front of the next building, which is the Seelye Center. Feel free to explore around this site and walk down the hills to get a better view.In addition to the Gymnasium that was attached to the Administration Building, another Gymnasium was constructed along Oakland Drive in 1924. The Oakland Gymnasium, also known as the Men’s Gym, was known as the largest gymnasium in any American teacher’s training institution at the time, as well as the largest gym devoted exclusively to men out of the other teacher training institutions. The building included many physical education spaces, such as a track and areas for field events, and was used for social events until the 1940s. The Oakland Gymnasium continued to serve as a physical education space until the early 2000s when it was incorporated into the Seelye Indoor Athletic Facility.See below for more information

13. Vandercook Hall

User Note: Follow the sidewalk from the previous entry to this building. Feel free to walk further down the sidewalk to see the other side of the building or explore around it.The first men’s dormitory that was built on Western’s campus was Vandercook Hall, which was named after the “father of Western” Henry B. Vandercook. The building was constructed as part of the Public Works Administration and accommodated up to 215 residents. Each floor featured bathrooms and communal kitchenettes, as well as a barbershop, auditorium, and lounges on the main floor. Vandercook Hall served as a dormitory until the early 1990s when more residence halls were built on the west campus. In 1991, the building was remodeled for use by fraternities, such as Chi Omega, and other offices.See below for more information

14. Waldo Stadium

User Note: Follow the sidewalk back towards the Seelye Center until you reach another path that extends to the left. Follow that path towards the stadium and use the staircase on the left to get a better view.As Western continued to grow, the expanding athletic departments needed adequate facilities to continue to represent the Normal School. President Waldo purchased the future site of the stadium in 1911 construction soon began on the new athletic field. The land underwent many changes, including the transition from a dirt field with a running track to a stadium outfitted with concessions, VIP suites, and a few thousand seats. Today, the stadium features an artificial turf field with concrete stands for over 30,000 spectators, as well as multiple amenities for visitors. The stadium was officially dedicated as a memorial to President Waldo and continues to serve as a reminder of his legacy at WMU.See below for more information

15. Hyames Field

User Note: Follow the sidewalk around the side of the stadium towards the point on the map below. Feel free to use the staircases at this site to get a better view of Hyames Field, which is to the left of the stadium. With the construction of Waldo Stadium, plans were created for a baseball field that would be situated right next to the improved athletic field. The hillside was excavated to make room for the stands and the realigned field, which quickly became home to the Western Normal baseball team. The field was officially named after Western alumnus and former baseball player Judson A. Hyames. The original field lasted until the early 2000s when the grandstands were upgraded, and new walkways were added. This remodel helped to improve the overall experience at the stadium and helped to secure the future of the facilities. Much like Waldo Stadium, Hyames Field is still being utilized as a baseball field and remains home for Bronco Baseball. See below for more information

16. Spindler Hall

User Note: Cross the parking lot next to Waldo Stadium and head towards the staircase. Go up the stairs and continue forward until you reach the sidewalk, then turn left. Follow the sidewalk until you are in front of Spindler Hall.During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Western’s campus was expanding, and new structures were being built to accommodate the growing student population. Completed in 1940, the new dormitory accommodated up to 200 women and featured communal bathrooms and kitchenettes on each floor. Much like the other residence halls constructed during this period, the new hall for women was constructed out of brick and drew inspiration from the Tudor architectural style. The building was later named after Western faculty member Lavina Spindler, who worked as a teacher at the Training School and as the director of the Women’s League.See below for more information

17. Little Theatre

User Note: Follow the sidewalk in front of Spindler Hall towards Oakland Drive until you reach the Little Theatre, which is on the left. Feel free to walk up the stairs and explore around the building.As a replacement for the condemned Eames Mill, the Little Theatre was constructed for the Dramatic Arts Department and the Western State Normal Players. The new state-of-the-art facility included expanded facilities for the thespians, including a stage, dressing rooms, and classrooms. Although the building changed names multiple times, it was primarily used as a theatre, as well as for temporary classroom space during World War II. In the late 1990s, the building was renamed the Campus Cinema and served as a movie theatre for students and faculty. Today, the theatre is used by Western’s E-sports club for practice and gaming competitions.See below for more information

18. Walwood Hall and Union

User Note: Use the crosswalk to cross Oliver Street and then use the other crosswalk to cross Oakland Drive. Follow the sidewalk towards the doors of Walwood Union and then turn left. Continue to follow the sidewalk around the building until you reach the front entrance/courtyard.Prior to the late 1930s, there were no on-campus residence halls for students to live in during the academic year, which meant that students and faculty had to commute from the surrounding neighborhoods. The land that was purchased for the new dormitory was already home to six residential homes, which Western acquired and used for housing. In 1938, the new women’s residence hall was constructed and accommodated up to 115 women. Later named Walwood Hall, the building also included a Union space for student body social activities and offices. Walwood Hall and Union continued to be a social center for Western throughout the 1900s. See below for more information

19. Walwood Place

User Note: After the previous entry, follow the sidewalk to the left side of Walwood Hall towards the green space. Feel free to walk down the steps and explore the area. Look towards the right side of the space to see the remnants of a road that once led up Prospect Hill. Feel free to explore the path, which is the former Walwood Place walkway, to the left of the greenspace to see the terraced landscape where the houses were located. The residences were located in a line between these two roads and in front of Walwood Hall. Intro: The six residences, known as the Walwood Place homes, were located near the former site of the Kalamazoo Medical and Surgical Sanitarium. In the late 1930s, the homes and surrounding land were acquired by Western for the construction of Walwood Hall and Union. These homes were occupied by families, for whom the houses were each named, until the early 1940s before being used for student activities and housing. Western continued to use the residences until they were demolished in the 1960s.See below for more information

20. Health and Personnel Building

User Note: Walk across the parking lot towards Heritage Hall and use the map below to get to the pinned point. The area of the former Health and Personnel Building is now a green space, which is located to the left of the parking lot, so feel free to stand on the grass instead of on the pavement.The Health and Personnel Building was the last structure to be built atop Prospect Hill and was completed in 1939. The three stories were made up of the infirmary, health services, the Speech and Hearing Clinic, as well as various other health clinics that gave real-world experience to students in the medical field. In addition to these clinics, the building also held many institutional offices, such as the Dean of Men, the Dean of Women, as well as the Educational Service Library prior to 1952, and the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology. The building was demolished in 2013 and the space is now being utilized as green space. See below for more information

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

A Walk Through Western Michigan University's History

Created by Campus History Tour (Western Michigan University) on April 12th 2022, 2:09:47 pm.

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Description

This walking tour showcases the history of Western Michigan University and is centered around Western's original campus which was founded in 1903. The individual entries detail the various buildings that make up East Campus and illustrate to users the growth of campus throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Users can examine photographs of the various sites and read about their significance to the expansion of the Western State Normal School. Each entry also includes notes for the users to help with navigation and where to look for certain buildings that no longer exist. This walking tour takes approximately 1 1/2 hours to complete and users can expect to use stairs between some of the locations. This walking tour and accompanying research paper, which can be accessed through the WMU ScholarWorks Digital Archive with the following link https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/3566, were completed by Melissa Paduk for the Thesis requirement by the Lee Honors College at Western Michigan University. The research and completion of this project were supported by the Lee Honors College Research and Creative Activities Scholarship and all photographs and sources were collected through the Zhang Legacy Collections Center.

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