Classroom

Prior to being chosen for the Western State Normal School location, the land atop Prospect Hill was acquired in the 1880s by George Holt and was marked by grapevines, pear trees, as well as various sledding courses and footpaths. However, the land later fell into disrepair and became an eyesore for the city of Kalamazoo.In 1903, the bill was passed for the foundation of Michigan’s fourth normal school, and Prospect Hill was later chosen out of over 28 cities for the school’s new home. Construction on Western’s first building, the Administration Building, began in 1904 under the direction of E.W. Arnold, along with wooden stairs and an incline railroad on the northeastern side of the hill. In 1905, clay tennis courts were also added to the base of the hill, known as Davis Field, to provide students with additional spaces for extracurricular activities.Accompanying the growth of the campus, the hilltop soon became known as the Normal Hill. The transformations of the land atop the hill continued throughout the 1900s and into the early 2000s. In the summer of 1990, the Davis Field tennis courts were removed to create a practice field, which is still used today by Kalamazoo residents.In the early 2010s, Western decided to renovate the original East Campus and drew inspiration from the first designs that dated back to 1903. These plans from the Olmsted Brothers included a vista overlooking the city and garden paths, which were implemented in the construction of the new Heritage Hall Alumni Center that now sits atop the hill.

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

Prospect Hill/Davis Field

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. 

While the Normal School was officially founded in 1903, the first structure was not completed until 1905 due to delays in obtaining the property deed and the construction timeline. Architect Ernest W. Arnold was chosen for the construction of the Administration Building, with the help of Rickman and Sons Construction and contractor Albert White.The new structure consisted of a brick exterior with two stories and drew inspiration from the classical revival architectural style that included a Greek-inspired portico with classical columns that overlooked downtown Kalamazoo. The columned entrance on the east side of the building featured Romanesque arched windows over the main doors that could be seen from the street at the base of Prospect Hill.Prior to the construction of the Administration Building, classes through the Normal School were being held in various buildings throughout the city of Kalamazoo, such as the Kalamazoo County Courthouse and the Vine Street School. The new building measured around 35,000 square feet and included spaces for twelve classrooms, administrative offices, recitation rooms, and an auditorium with 400 seats.In 1905, over $60,000 was appropriated for the construction of a new gymnasium and an additional $12,000 for new recitation rooms. This new building was constructed as an addition to the Administration Building and provided rooms for offices, an expanded library, and a state-of-the-art gym, which included showers, a swimming pool, a running track, and batting cages.In 1967, the building was renamed East Hall and continued to serve as a teaching facility until the 1990s when it was permitted to students for studio space and houses the university’s archives. In the early 2010s, the gymnasium addition was torn down and the Board of Trustees voted to change the name to Heritage Hall. The original Administration Building was later renovated for a ballroom, library, café, and various conference rooms, as well as the Office for Development and Alumni Relations.

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

Heritage Hall

In 1908, over $60,000 was appropriated by the state legislature for a new structure to be built on Western’s campus. This building, which would not be attached to the Administration Building, would house classrooms and office spaces for the Training School. The contract was awarded to E.W. Arnold who also built the original Administration Building and gymnasium addition. Between the founding of the Western State Normal School and the construction of the Training School, teaching classes took place in city school buildings before being moved to their new home atop Prospect Hill.In the building, the classrooms were organized around a central rotunda on both floors that allowed for interactions between faculty and students. This space was heavily utilized by students and provided space to fulfill the teaching experience requirement of the curriculum. The Western State Normal School offered three programs for students to become teachers, which required students to hold an internship in a school or student teaching experience. By having an on-campus school, students were able to work with school children without having to leave campus.The Training School also had a cafeteria in the basement that was overseen by Grace Moore and temporarily used as a mess hall for Student Army Training Corps trainees during World War 1. When it was first constructed, the Training School was not connected to the Administration Building, which lasted until an annex was constructed in 1948. This replaced the uncovered bridge, known as the Bridge of Sighs, that was used by students and faculty to go between buildings. In 2010, the Training School was demolished to make room for the new Heritage Hall Alumni Center that was built in 2015.

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

Training School

During the first decade of the Western State Normal School, there were no residence halls or housing facilities on campus, which meant that students and faculty had to live in the surrounding neighborhoods. Methods of transportation to campus were fairly limited and the trek up the side of Prospect Hill was only remediated with footpaths and faculty-constructed staircases.In 1908, however, President Waldo pushed for the creation of a double-track railroad that would be operated by a stationary electric motor. The railroad featured two cars that carried up to 16 people each and moved up the hill while the other car descended. At its peak, the trolley served around 2,280 passengers per day, with around 50 trips per hour.The Western State Normal Railroad continued to be a staple in Western’s campus until the late 1940s when it began to need repairs, which totaled around $5,000. With the needed repairs and the overall decline in use, the trolley was officially closed in 1949. In 1951, the tracks were torn up and the cars were sold for scrap.Today, the site is still used for transportation up the hillside, in the form of a staircase. The legacy of the trolley continued to live on when four engineering students built a replica of the trolley car as their senior project in 2003. Although there are no surviving plans for the trolley cars, the students utilized photographs, written descriptions, and the one surviving bench to construct the scale model. This replica represented the importance of the railroad to Western’s students and history, as well as the status that it held as the only known incline railroad in the history of the state of Michigan.

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

East Campus Walkway

Prior to this building’s construction, the library was housed in renovated classrooms in the Administration Building and later in the gymnasium. In 1923, architects Henry H. Turner and Victor E. Thebaud broke ground and construction began for the expanded library. At just under 34,000 square feet, the building incorporated some exterior design elements of the Administration and Science Buildings, including a stone portico, arched doors, and columns.It consisted of three floors that were used for library space, staff workrooms, classrooms, lecture rooms, and storage. A large part of the building was utilized as the reading room, which featured arched windows, vaulted ceilings, and decorative pilasters, as well as paintings and other artworks from Albert M. Todd, the founder of the A.M. Todd Company.After around two decades, the library collections started to outgrow the Library Building and a new library was constructed on the West Campus in 1958. The original Library was renovated for the College of Business, which resulted in the infilling of the reading room to create space for classrooms and offices. In 1966, the building was officially renamed North Hall and was still partially utilized as a library, as it contained the College of Business’ collections. North Hall continued to be used for classes until the 1990s when it was utilized by other departments before falling into disrepair.In 2013, new plans for the renovation of East Campus began to form, which included the demolition of North Hall. The front façade of the building, along with the reading room’s fireplace, were salvaged and continue to serve as a reminder of Western’s first library.

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

North Hall

In 1913, $75,000 was allocated for a new science building, with an additional $10,000 being set aside for equipment to be used for the various departments. The contract was awarded to E.W. Arnold and was completed in 1915. Located on the west side of the hilltop, this building formed the central quad, along with North Hall and the Administration Building.The exterior of the building mimicked the design of the Administration Building and gymnasium addition, featuring classically detailed brickwork with a terracotta portico and arched windows over the main entrance. Once officially opened, the building included spaces for classrooms, lecture rooms, and laboratories that were used by the departments of psychology, biology, chemistry, botany, and physics. There was also a greenhouse located on the southern side of the building that was used by the various departments.This building also became the temporary home for the school’s Health Service Center, Department of Business Information Systems, and Speech Correction Clinic before they were moved over to the Health and Personnel Building. As new structures were built on the expanding West Campus, the Science Building was renamed West Hall and became the temporary home for many different departments. West Hall soon fell into disrepair and was ultimately demolished in 2013.

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

West Hall

In 1914, the contract was awarded to architect Ernest W. Arnold for the construction of a heating plant that would power the new Science Building, as well as the other structures located on Prospect Hill. Completed in 1915, the two-story brick structure took inspiration from the classical revival architectural style and features a terra cotta cornice with stone coping.Due to its purpose as the heating plant, a tunnel was also constructed to house the pipes that ran between the Heating Plant and the Science Building. The Heating Plant provided the school with heat through steam radiators until the 1920s when the State began providing the central heating plant for both the Western State Normal School and the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital.The building was then renamed the Garage, which lasted until the mid-1950s when it was utilized by the Department of Engineering. Around 1960, the Electronics Building was repurposed for use by the Department of Safety and Security, which lasted until 1970. For around 35 years, the building was known as the Upholstery Shop and was used as a workshop for recovering furniture by Western faculty, including Bart L. Leatherman, Robert G. Swinehart, and Peggy J. Swinehart.Despite the demolition of West Hall in 2013, this building and the tunnel structure were left intact, and the building is now known as either the Industrial Design Building or the 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

Upholstery Shop

The Eames Mill dates back to the 1840s when it was built by Lovett Eames, who came to Kalamazoo from New York in 1834. Eames, who was an active machinist, bought the land in 1845, which included a three-acre pond, and built the mill to provide waterpower to the workshop. Eames produced wagon wheels, wooden water pipes, and hub and spoke machines before the mill was passed down to his grandson, Gardner Eames, after his death.In 1916, Western’s first president Dwight B. Waldo purchased the mill and transformed it to house manual arts classes and a machine shop. Located next to the mill, a shed was used to house the Dr. Charles Van Riper Speech Clinic, which was used until the late 1930s when the clinic was relocated to the Health Services Building.The Manual Arts Department moved to its new structure in 1922 and the Dramatic Arts Department began to occupy the space. Known as the Western Normal Players, the department, under the direction of Laura Shaw, built a stage in the old mill and soon referred to it as the “Playhouse”. Although the building was condemned in 1923 due to safety concerns, the Players continued to use the space for rehearsals until the new Theatre was built and the mill was demolished in 1942.Today, the site is home to President Waldo’s boulder, which was moved from Waldo’s childhood city in 1944 by the Men’s Alumni Club. The boulder was a staple in President Waldo’s childhood and was relocated to honor his contributions to Western.Also located at this site is the street that was named after Eddie Powless, who was a bus driver for Western between 1942 and 1975. Powless was best known for his role of driving the bus that would take Western students from West Campus, which is now known as Main Campus, to East Campus, or vice versa.

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

Waldo's Boulder and Eddie's Lane

Due to the growing global crisis of World War I, President Dwight B. Waldo secured Western’s status as a Student Army Training Corps (SATC) in order to attract students who were interested in military training. After being granted in 1918, President Waldo and other faculty traveled around Michigan to recruit trainees. Over 350 men arrived on campus and began basic training courses, along with the traditional curriculum.At this time, the barracks were still under construction and the trainees were housed in the Science Building and around the pool in East Hall. In October 1918, the trainees in Western’s Student Army Training Corps finally had designated housing, which was built with help from the United States Government. However, the building did not serve as SATC housing as long as it had intended due to the armistice that was reached in November 1918, which resulted in the disbanding of the corps on December 21, 1918.The building was then renovated to house classrooms and was renamed the Temporary Building. In addition to this renovation, around five other buildings were built between 1918 and 1948 for classrooms. In 1928, two wooden structures and a small fieldhouse were built just south of the Men’s Gymnasium, and each included space for two classrooms. In addition to these structures, Western also constructed tennis courts near this complex for the Physical Education curriculum.These structures were utilized until the early 1930s when they were no longer needed due to falling enrollment during the Great Depression and were later torn down. Presently, the site of these former buildings is used as a parking lot for Waldo Stadium and for parking near other buildings.

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

Barracks and Temporary Classrooms

Due to the expansion of Western and the growth of departments, a new building was required to house the manual and industrial arts programs. The Manual Arts Building, which was formerly housed in the Eames Mill, was constructed in 1921 and provided many new spaces for the Auto Mechanics Department and industrial arts classes.The plans for the building were first introduced in 1916 and included three other structures, but World War I limited the number of funds that were available, which resulted in only one being constructed right after the war. The building also featured an automobile shop, a woodworking room, tool rooms, offices, as well as spaces for sheet metal work, Blacksmithing, and welding, as well as classrooms for architectural drafting and automobile repair.One of the key features of the automobile shop was the overhead trolley system that allowed engines to be carried around and worked on in different spaces throughout the building. The Manual Arts Building continued to serve in this capacity until the 1940s when it was renovated for more classrooms and offices and was renamed the Maintenance Building.This two-story addition nearly doubled the amount of workspace and area for the university garage. Today, the building is known as the Physical Plant and is home to the university’s transportation services. Although the purpose has changed since the building’s construction, hints of its former use can still be seen in the words “Manual Arts” that are still located above the entrance.

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

Physical Plant

In April of 1940, the Michigan State Board of Education accepted a gift of around $60,000 from the W.E. Upjohn Unemployment Trustee Corporation for the construction of a new building just west of the Industrial Arts complex. The building was constructed by the Stewart-Kingscott Corporation and officially opened in 1941.The exterior of the building featured concrete ornamentations of airplane propellers in honor of its purpose as the Aviation Building. The center of the building was utilized for airplane assembly and overhauling, while the office spaces around this central room were in a u-shape. The spaces included an airplane engine testing room, engine repair shop, spray booth, sheet metal shop, instrument laboratory, blueprint rooms, classrooms, and a library. Students had the opportunity to work with five instructional airplanes, including a Parks Biplane with a 175-horsepower engine.The building was primarily utilized for aviation training until 1967 when it was renovated by Louis C. Kingscott to become the Industrial Tech Building. The last renovation done to the building was completed in 1980 when it was repurposed for the university’s printing services and renamed Brink Printing Services. This name paid homage to Western alumnus Lawrence J. Brink, who served as the director of printing services and contributed to the production of the Western Herald. The new renovations added a stereotype, type shop, pressrooms, composing rooms, wire room, photo studio, and a newspaper press, and the building printed most of the university’s publications until the early 2000s.Due to its decreased use, the building was torn down to make room for the construction of the Seelye Center which began in 2001. The site was not totally incorporated into the new athletic facilities and is now being used as part of the parking lot for the Physical Plant and stadium.

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

Mechanical Trades Building

Although the first gymnasium on Western’s campus was included in the addition to the Administration Building, a new state-of-the-art gym was constructed in 1924 by Henry Turner and Victor Thebaud. The Oakland Gymnasium’s dedication was held on June 19, 1925, and was attended by nationally famous athletic directors, such as Alonzo Stagg of the University of Chicago and Western’s own William H. Spaulding. The gym was devoted exclusively to men once it was opened and the original gymnasium atop Prospect Hill was then used primarily by women. Included in these spaces was a regulation basketball court with three cross courts, a 14-lap cork track, locker rooms, a vaulting and jumping pit, a dirt floor for various field events, archery/golf alleys, handball courts, classrooms, offices, and a 50-caliber rifle range for use by the ROTC program. Until 2001, the gym was used for physical education classes and events before being demolished. The façade of the building was salvaged and used for the new Seelye Indoor Athletic Facility that was constructed in 2003. The new facility is connected to Waldo Stadium and features classrooms, weight rooms, a practice field utilized by multiple sports teams, conference rooms, and locker rooms.

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

Seelye Indoor Athletic Center

Shortly after the construction of the first dormitory for women in 1938, plans were put in place to construct a residence hall for men. The contract was awarded to Malcomson, Calder, and Hammond Incorporated, and the building was completed in 1939 with funds from the federal government as part of the Public Works Administration.The name Vandercook Hall was chosen by a faculty committee under President Paul Sangren to honor Henry B. Vandercook and his contributions to the college, which can be seen in the attached image. The brick exterior of the building is inspired by the Tudor architectural style and features contrasting masonry around the main entrances.The main floor included a barbershop, small auditorium, recreation rooms, coffee and sandwich bar, pressing rooms, counselor services, and various lounging areas scattered throughout. The top three floors of the building were designated for residential use and featured lounges, bathrooms, and communal kitchenettes. The residents’ rooms included a furnished bed, a desk, an armchair, and other furnishings to make the space more comfortable.When the dormitory first opened, students paid $50 for each semester, which totaled about 18 weeks, for a room or $135 for each semester for both room and board. While most of the rooms were designed for two residents, there was a shortage of space after World War II which resulted in three men being housed in the same room.Due to the new residence halls being constructed on the expanding West Campus, Vandercook was remodeled in 1991 to be used by fraternities, such as Chi Omega, and other offices. These organizations did not remain in the building for long and soon the building was closed, which is how it still sits today.

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

Vandercook Hall

In 1909, President Waldo had secured $50,000 to buy land for the future athletic fields but it was not enough to cover the costs. Over the next two years, Waldo searched and negotiated for space and soon purchased 14 acres of swamp just west of campus. Both students and faculty helped to rechannel Arcadia Creek, which ran through the field, and prepare the ground for the new athletic facilities.Western’s first field consisted of a grassy space surrounded by a dirt running track, which lasted until 1936 when the official stadium was constructed. Fundraising campaigns were set up to help make the project debt-free upon completion, which included the selling of minted souvenir coins adorned with Waldo’s image and sending out wooden barrels that were to be filled with coins and sent back.Once completed, the stadium included concrete stands that accommodated up to 15,000 people, 52 eight-person boxes, locker rooms, a press box, conference rooms, and concessions, and was officially dedicated on November 4, 1939.Over the next several decades, the stadium underwent numerous renovations to keep up with the growing athletic department, which included the addition of more seating, artificial turf, new press boxes in honor of Western alumni, and the renovation of the front entrance. In addition, the stadium was equipped with new locker rooms, training facilities, offices for conferences and coaches, meeting rooms, and an auditorium.In 1997, the stadium accommodated up to 30,200 spectators, which still remains true today. Waldo Stadium continues to serve as the official home for Western football and as a memory of President Waldo.

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

Waldo Stadium

The land of the future baseball field, which included a large slope, was cut down to make room for an adequate field and stands when Western ceded the strip of land to the State Highway Department during the construction of Waldo Stadium. This project was also overseen by the Osborn Engineering Company and featured a covered concrete grandstand and a realigned baseball diamond. The grandstand totaled around 10,600 square feet and featured reinforced concrete steps with wooden seats for 2,500 spectators, as well as storage space, dugouts, and locker rooms.At the dedication game in 1939, the field was officially named after Judson A. Hyames, in honor of his time on Western’s fifth baseball team and his 15 years of coaching. After the completion of the new field, Western’s baseball program continued to hold a superior presence in college baseball, with at least 11 members moving on to play major league baseball and around 56 continuing on with professional contracts.This legacy was further supported when Hyames Field was chosen to host the 1947 and 1948 inaugural College World Series, which featured the University of California and Yale and the University of Southern California and Yale, respectively. Hyames Field continued to serve with its original construction until the early 2000s when it underwent renovations.This included a full restoration of the grandstand, the addition of 400 chair back seats, new walkways, two new VIP suites, concession, improved dugouts, press box addition, and new fencing around the field. This remodel upgraded the facilities and made the stadium more accommodating for the baseball players and visitors.

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

Hyames Field

In November of 1939, the plans for a new women’s residence hall were approved by the State Board of Education. The building, like many of the other structures on campus, was to be built on a self-liquidating basis, which means that the building would earn back the money that was spent on it through resident fees such as room and board.The building was completed in 1940 under the direction of Malcomson, Calder, and Hammond Incorporated and was named in honor of Lavina Spindler. Spindler was hired at Western in 1906 and held multiple positions before her retirement around 1938, which included critic teacher and director of the Training School, Dean of Women, instructor, advisor, and director of the Women’s League. The exterior of the building also features cement bas-reliefs at the entrance that detail the accomplishments of Lavina Spindler during her time at Western.Spindler Hall was built to accommodate around 200 women and each room featured a single bed, a double study desk with filing drawers and a shelf for a typewriter, and linens that incorporated the resident’s monogram. The main floor featured a lobby area, director’s office, reception room, and dining room, as well as murals on the east and west walls which were painted by Gustave Hildebrand. Much like the other East Campus buildings, Spindler Hall was renovated in the 1990s and is still being used as a residence hall today.

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

Spindler Hall

As Western’s campus continued to expand, more departments were being moved into newer facilities, and the theatre program was no exception. Prior to the 1940s, the dramatic arts department and thespians, called the Western Normal Players, utilized the Eames Mill as their performance and practice space, which was condemned in 1923.In 1942, the Theatre was built by Malcomson, Calder, and Hammond Incorporated and officially became the new home for the Western Players. The new facility provided an auditorium with over 350 seats, a stage, dressing rooms, offices, and classrooms to be used by the Dramatic Arts Department. Aside from theatrical performances, the theatre also served as a temporary classroom space during the post-war period from 1946 to 1950 when student enrollment increased exponentially after World War II.The building continued to serve under the name “The Theatre” until the 1970s when it was renamed the Oakland Recital Hall. This name lasted approximately 20 years until the theatre’s remodel in 1996 and was rededicated as the Campus Cinema in September of the following year. With the construction of both Miller Auditorium and Shaw Theatre on WMU’s Main Campus, the Campus Cinema was no longer needed to host the university’s theatre departments.Now regarded as the Little Theatre, the space was renovated once again to house the E-sports club and featured thirty-six gaming machines with high-resolution monitors, special headsets, keyboards, mice, and ergonomic gaming chairs. Although the theatre’s name and purpose have undergone multiple changes throughout its history, remnants of the past can still be seen through the ornamental detailing that is located above the main entrance.

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

Little Theatre

In 1937, plans began forming for the construction of the first residence hall on Western’s campus, which would be dedicated for women. Before this, students and faculty had to find residence in the surrounding neighborhoods and trek up Prospect Hill to get to campus. The land that was selected for the new structure was the former home of the Fletcher Sanitarium, also known as the Kalamazoo Medical and Surgical Sanitarium, which burned down in 1914. The land also featured six homes along a street that ran up the hill, which was later named Walwood Place. The construction of Walwood Hall and Union marked the beginning of a new form of financing through self-liquidating bonds, which would later be the standard for new constructions on campus. The exterior of the building is inspired by the late Gothic Revival architectural style and features a slate roof adorned with roof dormers and corbelled chimneys. It was named after Western’s first president, Dwight B. Waldo, and the first head of the geography and geology department, Leslie H. Wood. The interior of the Union featured a Women’s League room, two Men’s Union rooms, a Student Council room, a soda fountain, a powder room, and a ballroom with a stage on the second floor. Walwood Hall continued to house residents until 1992 when it was renovated for office spaces. Today, Walwood Hall and Union is home to the WMU Foundation office, School of Public Affairs, Office of the Vice President for Research, the Medieval Institute, and the Graduate College.

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

Walwood Hall and Union

Context: Before Walwood Hall and Union was constructed, this land had been previously used for the Fletcher Sanitarium, also known as the Kalamazoo Medical and Surgical Sanitarium, which burned down in 1914, and was presently home to six residences. The homes, which were named after the families that resided in them, sat on Walwood Place. This street traversed Prospect Hill and was used by those living in the Davis Street neighborhood to travel up and down the hill. From east to west, the homes were named Bartoo, Howson, Schoonmaker, Sprau, Tashjian, and Ross. These families continued to live in the houses during and shortly after the construction of Walwood Hall and Union.In 1943, Walwood Hall, as well as Vandercook Hall and Spindler Hall, was used to house military personnel due to the V-12 operations that were taking place on campus during World War II. During this time, the families that had resided in the Walwood Place homes left and the homes were used to house the women from Walwood Hall. The women returned to Walwood Hall after the war ended and Western utilized the residences for various purposes. Howson House was used for the Colhecon Club, also known as the College Home Economics Club, Schoonmaker House was used for offices, and the other homes were used as faculty residences. Western continued to use these residences until they were demolished in the 1960s. Today, the former site of these homes is used as a parking lot for Walwood Hall and Union, as well as a green space.

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

Walwood Place

The Health and Personnel Building’s construction was authorized on November 9, 1938 and completed the quadrangle that formed the center of Western’s original campus. Constructed by architect Lewis J. Sarvis, this health services center was officially opened in the fall semester of 1939 and featured around 21,000 square feet.The interior included examination rooms, treatment rooms, an infirmary, a reception room, a semi-weekly dental clinic, physiotherapy workspace, classrooms, student advisory activity space, and offices. In addition, the Charles Van Riper Speech and Hearing Clinic, which was one of the most widely publicized services that Western provided, was also housed here. This clinic was a cornerstone for students who wanted to become speech correction teachers and helped students that had difficulties speaking.The Health and Personnel Building also housed the Psycho-educational clinic under the direction of Homer L.J. Carter, which was the first in Michigan to be located outside of Detroit. The Psycho-educational clinic served to examine students with difficulties in order to suggest remedial work for them, as well as provide intelligence tests to students which lasted until the 1950s. Also housed in this building were the offices of the Dean of Men, the Dean of Women, and the Director of Personnel and Guidance, as well as the Educational Service Library prior to 1952.As a result of the new plans that were drawn up for the land atop Prospect Hill, the Health and Personnel Building was demolished in 2013. The land has not been redeveloped and is today being utilized as green space.

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

A Walk Through Western Michigan University's History

Prospect Hill/Davis Field

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources