I wonder which Richard DeKorn building site this is. The thin line of trees behind it is interesting because that doesn’t look like right downtown. What do you think the buildings behind the site are? And that long low structure?
The next photo was identified by reader David K. as “the old city hall in Grand Rapids.” http://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/habshaer/mi/mi0000/mi0015/photos/089268pv.jpg This makes sense because the photographer, Joseph DeKorn, ended up going to work for the City of Grand Rapids, eventually becoming Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Water and Light Company. The details of the building are beautiful, as is the landscaping.
Joseph DeKorn took the following photo of Kalamazoo’s downtown. Comments by readers help to describe more about the location.
Downtown Kalamazoo
As usual, I don’t know enough about these photographs. The first one was a photo I found with old newspaper clippings. The other two were from glass negatives taken by Joseph DeKorn. Any guesses on age, based on the clothing of the people?
The Family Kalamazoo 
The top pic = ?
The middle pic….wasn’t there a school on Burdick you already discussed? Whatever this is looks like a school. I see a basement entrance, sort of like on the Marlboro Apts., (which is on a corner of South St.) This building has awnings. Do schools have awnings? Maybe. People are walking down the front steps. Children? The women on the sidewalk are wearing long skirts/dresses. The windows are arched, like in the mysterious bar photo. Dirk’s buildings have a certain look. Unfortunately, in Kazoo, some buildings have had face lifts.
The bottom pic….looks like Michigan Ave., looking east to where it curves. You had another pic like this some time ago but, perhaps looking west down this same street. The building labeled Folz would be at the corner of Michigan and Burdick, The corner at the forefront would be Michigan and Rose. I think….I’m not sure where W. Michigan becomes E. Michigan. At Burdick?
Thanks, Wilma! I am writing down these ideas and those of others so that I can imagine them more closely later. I agree that his buildings have a certain look. I thought that the light line of bricks through the house he built for his family was very distinctively his, although I have also wondered if there is a significant Dutch influence to his building styles.
Early 20th century, between 1900 – 1914?
Pre-WWI then. That would be about right with when Joe DeKorn was doing a lot of his photography.
I agree with you for the time period. The skirts are slightly above the ankle and the foot is visible. The silhouette is slimmer than it was at turn of the 20th century. I put it at a little closer to 1910-1915.
I leave it to your practiced (fashion) eye, EmilyAnn!
Great pics! I’m also thinking early 20th century 1900 – 1914 seems close to what I thought based on my family photos.
That’s what Wilma (Jeannie) above thought, too, and I think that sounds right.
For the last picture, I would say 1910 +/- 5 years. The hats on the ladies are very large and their skirts are still long. There are also cars in the picture.
I really would love to hear what people have to say about the cars. Yes, I think you are right about the clothing. Such a difference between the clothing on people downtown and then the clothing my relatives wore for “snapshots” around their home. So much more casual!
It looks like Foltz building is where the restaurant Olde Peninsula is now located. Here’ a recent picture of the building that appeared in USA today in an article discussing digital signage: http://tinyurl.com/c5bpf3x
Kathryn, how do you DO that? You have amazing research powers! I’m amazed.
Well, in this case, no research skills were necessary. I remembered reading the article when it was published a few weeks ago, and recalled the picture. I thought it was good photo.
Good call!!!
Yes, Gen Lady! Cars! My mind blanked them out!
The cars, I agree. Wilma, read Kathryn’s comment above yours. Look at the pic. is that the same place then as the Folz building in the photo?
Yes, Olde Peninsula is in that Folz place now.
Yay, we have a match! I remember finding the name of Sam Folz on some of my grad school research documents–I think it was the local synagogue roster. Here is some great info on Samuel Folz who owned the store there from this website– http://www.michjewishhistory.org/pdfs/vol44.pdf
Notice a couple o fthings, the store mentioned doesn’t appear to be correctly placed or named here, so there is no doubt more to the story. Also, notice Knights of Pythias, which of course relates to the Pythian building, right?
“From Shopkeeper To Mayor: Samuel Folz
Samuel Folz offers a different model of business success. He was born in
Hillsdale, Michigan in 1859, the son of Jewish immigrants from Germany. Sam
worked as a newsboy for the Detroit Daily News and learned the craft of a cigar
worker, a trade he practiced at the Lilies Cigar Company for five years after
moving to Kalamazoo in 1875. In 1880, at the age of 21, he went to work at the
Henry Stern clothing store. He worked there until starting his own clothing
business in 1884.
In time, Sam Folz’s clothing store became the city’s largest. Located finally
on the southeast corner of East Main and Portage streets, Folz’s big store was a
LILIENFELD’S
With its charming storefront, Lilienfeld’s
was a popular cigar and wine shop
on East Main Street.
26
KALAMAZOO’S JEWISH COMMUNITY
fixture in Kalamazoo until it closed in 1932 in the midst of the Great Depression.
He was the president of the Kalamazoo Board of Trade, a director on the
boards of several local companies, president of the local humane society and a
member of the Knights of Pythias. In 1912, he was elected to a term as mayor of
Kalamazoo.”
The second car on the left looks like a Model T Ford. Those were produced from 1908 -1927. I see no horses and buggies, so they were phasing out when this photo was taken. The dresses are from before WWI. So that narrows it down a bit. Check out this blog
http://alookthrutime.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/womens-fashion-in-1912/
Thanks, Wilma! What a shame that that blog hasn’t been updated in almost a year. It looks lovely. Really good point about no horses and buggies.
I’d also guess that it was taken sometime in the early 20th century.
I’m leaning toward what EmilyAnn said about closer to WWI because of the clothing. Thanks, Sheryl!
The middle pic is the old city hall in Grand Rapids.
I think we figured this out on another post. How do you know all this? I posted today about the other photo being First Congregational. So exciting!