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.
Richard DeKorn’s home at the corner of Burdick and Balch, Kalamazoo, Michigan
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.
The Family Kalamazoo 