As I’ve mentioned before, my great-great-grandfather, Richard DeKorn, was a brick mason who worked on many public buildings in the Kalamazoo area. He was a brick mason on the beautiful Ladies’ Library Association in 1878-79 and lead brick mason on the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital Water Tower in 1895. According to his obituary he was the contractor for the Pythian building and the Merchants Publishing Company building.
The asylum water tower was slated for demolition in 1974. Here is the story of how it came to be saved (from http://www.kpl.gov/local-history/health/kph-water-tower.aspx):
In spite of being on the National Register of Historic Buildings and endorsed by the Michigan Historical Commission and the Kalamazoo County Bi-Centennial Commission, the structure was earmarked by the State of Michigan for demolition in 1974. A local committee that called itself the Committee to Save the Tower launched a campaign to raise public funds to restore the building to its original grandeur and save it from the wrecking ball. A year later, Mrs. William John (Penny) Upjohn announced that $208,000 was successfully raised for this purpose. The money came from federal, state, and city contributions to the effort. Contributions also came from such disparate groups as school children, former state hospital patients, current hospital patients and employees, a hospital auxiliary, service clubs and concerned citizens. The campaign to save the structure was not without controversy. Some residents felt that the monies needed to repair the structure could better be spent on local service needs. Sen. Jack R. Welborn, R-Kalamazoo, pointed out, however, that taxpayers would be spending at least $150,000 to tear down the tower.
I recently visited Kalamazoo and went on a tour of Henderson Castle, a mansion built the same year as the water tower.
From a rooftop viewpoint, I was able to see the water tower in the distance.
And then my mother showed me a photograph that was in the local newspaper of the blood moon near the tower.
I’m off preparing for a poetry reading this weekend. Have a lovely weekend!
The Family Kalamazoo 
Thank goodness some people back in the ’70s recognized the value of saving the tower. It is a really unique piece of architechural history, and beautiful in its own way. I enjoyed reading its story. Best wishes on the poetry reading.
It would have been terrible if they had torn it down. You wonder why anybody would want to tear down something that unique and well made. Thanks for the wishes, Sheryl! I’m a little nervous!
I’m glad they saved it. I hate the way too many of the old structures are being demolished — mostly for “progress.” Call me old-fashioned! Good luck with your poetry reading! 🙂
Oh, I hate it, too. We are going to be so sorry when too much has been destroyed. We can’t bring it back. Thanks, Linda! A little nervous!!!!
How cool that your great-grandfather built such a landmark in Kalamazoo. My father is an architect, so I also am sensitive to the need to preserve and maintain older buildings.
Nothing I like better than gorgeous contemporary buildings with mirrored walls that reflect beautiful old buildings!!! I wonder what an architect like your father thinks about that mixture haha!
Wow, when you see these features of the water tower and the mansion, you realize how much Kalamazoo had to offer in interesting sights, Luanne. I was there twice after I met my friend from Rockport, Massachusetts. (I met her in 1972.) Her family allowed her to come to my house for Thanksgiving and I still have a photo of her and me, at the Bay Village water tower. We drove her home to K. College one year after she arrived via bus. The next year we picked her up and she had arranged a ride with someone who had visited their nearby Ohio family. Take care and hope you had fun at the poetry reading. ♡
How was the poetry reading? Even tho my 3g-grandfather lived in other states, he ended up in the Asylum at the end of his life. It’s cool to see something he may have seen out his window. Thx for posting the pics.
Why were they going to tear it down? Had it simply been allowed to fall into disrepair? How ironic that it would have cost almost as much to destroy the building as it did to restore it.
And those folks who claimed the money could have been better spent elsewhere? They always remind me of Judas, when the woman put ointment on Jesus’ feet; “it could have been sold and given to the poor”. Well, if YOU want to give money to the poor, do so. If I want to give money to preserve this tower, then I will do that. (And BTW, how much did you happen to put in the pot?)
Great post. My dad lives in Kalamazoo so it was nice to read more about the area.
So beautiful! You have a rich history!