I just discovered an article which explains the Telegraph building in Kalamazoo. As I’ve mentioned before, it was built by my great-great-grandfather Richard DeKorn. In my earlier post today I wrote about him building the Pythian building. From this article, I now find that the two buildings are the same. The Telegraph building was for the Kalamazoo Telegraph, a rival newspaper to the Kalamazoo Gazette. This article explains the history.
The building was first called the Telegraph Building and later the Pythian Building. Apparently it is also called the Park Building, according to the website of the Portage District Library.
Be sure to look at the article because it has a couple of great photos of the building, including one from 1881 where the front is festooned with striped awnings and garlands.
The building stood at 132 W. South Street, near the intersection of Rose, across from the Kalamazoo Public Library.
Does it still stand there? I no longer live in Kalamazoo, so I don’t know. I looked on a Google satellite map, and this is what I found. Is this a new building or a remodel of the old building or am I at the wrong address? Does anyone know? BREAKING NEWS: the Miller Canfield building was built on this property. Great-great-grandfather’s building was probably demolished in 2005 or 2006, according to reader Kathryn Lightcap.
So once again, here are the photos I’ve published on here of the Telegraph building site and then of the finished building, eventually known as the Pythian or Park building.
Telegraph Building
Pythian Building
The Family Kalamazoo 
[…] Yippee!!! Extra, Extra, Read All About It […]
I think the remodeled building at the corner of Rose and South is Miller -Canfield Attorneys.
Lok at this address on Google Maps.
Do you think they kept the shell of the original building or just tore it down?
But the last building in this pot….I can’t figure it out. Because the long, open side of the building should be on Rose, not a parking lot, if it is the same building as the first building.
The street with the second building is too wide to a South Street. It’s more like Michigan Ave., but I don’t recognize the buildings.
I will go look at the article you recommended.
Also, you should do a little research re: the 3 or 4 churches around Bronson Park that were burned down due to arson in the 1930s, I think.
I had no idea churches were burned down. Now you’ve got me interested in the history of those churches, especially the United Methodist one.
277 S Rose St #5000, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Sorry — here is the address for Miller Canfield.
Yeah, it fronts Rose, whereas the Pythian fronted South. Do you remember the Park Cafe or was it gone before you got there?
I’m not sure if you answered this, but google map shows the building is directly across from the Kalamazoo Public Library. I think it was about 2005 or 2006 when they demolished the Park building. Miller Canfield building opened a couple of years later. Here’s a link to some pictures: http://www.ascribehq.com/csm-group/portfolio/660
Kathryn, thank you so much. It’s now clear that the Miller Canfield building replaced the old Pythian/Park bldg. I like how the new building kind of tries to fit in some respects the older buildings downtown. But not how the old ones had to go :(. Thanks for the link!
Brilliant post, my father is a stonemason so I know the feeling of being able to drive around town and think, my family built that. Also I just wanted to let you knowI’ve nominated you for a Liebster Award you can view your nomination here; http://genealogydiscovery.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/libster-award/
[…] part: Richard DeKorn built the Pythian building known as Pythian Castle and, earlier, as the Telegraph Building. The link explains about the […]
[…] part: Richard DeKorn built the Pythian building known as Pythian Castle and, earlier, as the Telegraph Building. The link explains about the […]