Richard DeKorn’s house is still standing, at the corner of Burdick and Balch Streets in Kalamazoo. Someone lives there, but the house needs some TLC, in my opinion. I wonder if the owner knows who built the house–or is interested. I love the distinctive light brick stripes on the dark brown brick. The house was most likely built in the 1880s. I would love to know the exact year.
Although the basic house hasn’t changed, the property has. In the old photographs, the house looks set back from the street. The house number is now different.
It looks like a barn to the left, doesn’t it? Notice that the above photo is the same view as the first photo. Is that a fire hydrant in the same spot? Did they have fire hydrants in those days? Or is it something else?
Here is a photo of the area where the barn was. I wonder if the garage has the same footprint as the barn. And you can see the house that is next door. How old do you think the gray house is?
In the following photograph, Richard DeKorn stands by the house he built.
Here is another angle of the house today:
In the above photo, the right side (two windows in 2nd story, 1st floor, and basement) faces Burdick Street. The left side (two windows 2nd story and three windows on the 1st floor and basement) faces Balch Street. In the old photo, where is Richard standing? Is he at the opposite corner from the Burdick-Balch corner–at the back of the house?
Here’s a view from the opposite side of Balch. I think it shows that Richard has his back to Balch Street in the old photo.
What a wonderful, well-built house. No wolf could blow it down. I think that thing out front was a fireplug — nice to have right by one’s home. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to walk inside? I bet the woodwork is gorgeous.
Oh man, I would love to see the inside–especially if it still has some of the old touches and it hasn’t been ripped apart.
I love that word “fireplug.”
These are amazing. My father is an architect, so I have a special love for houses, especially old houses.
I think the gray house was built in the 1920s—just a guess. Definitely before World War II and after 1900. It definitely looks like a hydrant in both photos and in the same location. I am not sure that is a barn in the older picture—it looks more like a house, but it’s hard to tell.
And I think Richard is standing on the opposite side of where that little porch now is—look at the chimney and the roof lines and you can see that it’s the opposite corner of the house.
Hope that helps.
The reason I was wondering about that gray house is because originally Richard owned three houses in a row there–so the one he built, one where the gray one is, and a brick one on the other side that is still there. But the gray one does look newer to me, so 20s would make sense. I wonder what happened to the other. I have reason to believe it might have been a white wooden house.
Maybe that “barn” is more of a carriage house, really.
I was thinking that about the opposite side, which means he was facing off toward who knows what. A neighbor’s house, maybe. Thanks, Amy!
Here’s another thought. What if you took off that big porch? Would the house be the original underneath the froufrous? Could it be a house from the 19th century made to look more early 20th?
Anything is possible. I am no expert. But there are lots of houses like that gray one in our town, and they were all built between 1910 and 1930. The other house, Richard’s house, has so much more character and has those quaint Victorian features that it just doesn’t seem likely that these two houses were built at the same time. Could the structure you think is a barn have been the third house? Too bad it’s so hard to see.
Amy, isn’t it funny how questions lead to questions lead to more questions? And yet I saw all these houses as a kid and didn’t have any questions at all!
I used the chimneys on the house for a landmark. I still don’t have it clear in my head what part of the house faces what street, but I do see that there is a distinctive bay window on one side of the house.
Ruth, I was wondering if you would call that a bay window or not since it is divided into separate windows, right? But the shape is definitely a bay window. And what a practical way of building it.
If it had rounded lines it would be a bow window. I had a custom window treatment workroom once upon a time.
What a sweet house. I have some old photos of a family house in New Jersey and it also looks set back further than in the modern pictures–I’m guessing the road was much narrower back then, and maybe not paved and curbed.
Pancho, I think you must be right. I don’t think of Balch and Burdick being side streets, but I guess compared with what they were in those days they are. The streets must have been very narrow in those days. There are still brick streets in Kalamazoo. I wonder if these were once brick, too.
So cool to see the old vs. current! How fun…great post!
Thanks, Lenore! I had such a wonderful time seeing the old house again and then comparing it with the old photos.
I love the mysteries and stories of old houses. I really enjoyed going back in time with your post!
Ah thanks. I love the old houses, too. I could drive around taking pictures of them all day long!
Isn’t it fun being one of those passionate people?
I love these old homes. If I could afford the upkeep, I’d get one in a heartbeat! They just have so much history and mystery!
LInda, did you ever see that old movie The Money Pit about the young couple buying a house that needed SO much work? I always try to remind myself of that when I think how much I would love to live in one of these old beauties!
I did see that. It would have been funny if it weren’t so true! LOL! I think those old beauties are best left to those with a boat load of $$$$! If I lived in one, it would end up looking like the house from Psycho! 😛
I almost spit out my water when I read this. Now THERE was a house! 😉
If only the walls could talk. These old photos are wonderful and you ask great wondering questions! We lived in an old farmhouse like this just outside our town’s boundary. Our house ALWAYS needed TLC, but it rarely was affordable to give it. Still – the house had good bones and we have good memories.
Sammy, your town is known for its gorgeous old homes. I remember going to Marshall for the home tours! Ah, you were lucky to live in a house with “good bones” and “good memories.” Thanks so much for stopping by!
It’s funny how we see things differently when we live in a place. I have enjoyed home tours in other towns, but never went on one there. Maybe because, knowing some of the families, it felt like snooping! It’s still fun to walk around town when I go back. Michigan is such a beautiful state.
Wow, that is a twist! The houses were so beautiful! Yes, such a beautiful state.
Have you checked these out? Zillow.com and Google maps has nice photos also. You are so lucky to have your great photos and family history.
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/110-Balch-St-Kalamazoo-MI-49001/84496095_zpid/
The gray house – 110 Balch St – estimated value $43,868
Street view on Google Maps
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.276082,-85.5831547,3a,75y,6.74h,72.42t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sAPyFR3ZD1bRIRzrA8TOldw!2e0!6m1!1e1
Tanya, I hadn’t seen the Zillow one, but I had seen the Google one. I was amazed how great it was to see it this way, although I will admit that actually seeing it in person this time was more wonderful! Especially with the fall color. This is a good idea, though, to use Zillow, as well as Google to check out addresses in genealogy.
[…] DeKorn’s brick house at the corner of Burdick and Balch. I wrote about it in this post The Richard DeKorn House. Alice was Richard’s granddaughter as her mother Jennie was Richard’s daughter and my […]
[…] means Richard DeKorn’s (Grandpa’s grandfather) house. See it and read about it here: The Richard DeKorn House. My aunt Alice is seated on our left, and she begins the questions. Uncle Don is in the middle, and […]
[…] seeing. In fact, you see that brick house in the distance to the left of the tree? That is the Richard DeKorn house where Grandpa himself grew up. There are a couple of houses in between, then the service station […]