Tag Archives: Michigan

Swimmers at the Lakefront, Michigan

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This image shows several swimmers resting on a short boat dock extending into the waters of a fair-sized lake somewhere in Michigan. In the background are lakefront properties and homes as well as a boat or two.

The L.L. Cook Co., Milwaukee, WI


The description states:
G118
“When fishing’s done — Swimming’s fun.”
Vacationland Scene
–Such lakes are common throughout the Great Lakes states, a result of the glaciation that left both depressions scoured into the landscape by glaciers and the water left when the glaciers melted.
This card is dated 1955.

Autumn Roadside Colors, Michigan

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This image shows a very typical scene in areas throughout Michigan during the fall. As one travels along the more remote rural roads, the density of forest and the presence of birch trees as shown here give considerable color to the landscape as the seasons change.

The L.L. Cook Co., Milwaukee, WI


The description states:
G-126
Dame Nature with her paint brush is the greatest artist of them all.
Vacationland Scene
–This card is dated 1956.

Vacationland Car Ferry, Mackinac, Michigan

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This image shows the large car ferry that provided transport between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, Michigan, called the Vacationland.

The L.L. Cook Co., Milwaukee, WI


The description states:
No. 81
THE VACATIONLAND
With a capacity of 650 passengers and 150 vehicles, the VACATIONLAND is the ultimate in car ferries. The special design of this ice breaking car ferry permits loading and unloading from either end. Its powerful Diesel engines (9300 maximum H.P.) help it to make the trip across the Straits of Mackinac between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, Michigan in record time.
–It’s primary purpose was to transport people and vehicles between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan in the 1950s. The ferry became redundant with the completion of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957. It served many other owners before being sold for scrap and lost at sea in 1987.
This image dates from shortly after it began service in 1952.

Women’s and Men’s Dormitories, Western State Teacher’s College, Kalamazoo, Michigan

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This dual image shows the two main residential buildings which housed students at the Teacher’s College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. By this time the name had been changed to a more explicit description of the school’s purpose. Two buildings were essential as it was not acceptable to have men and women living in the same buildings while students.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


There is no description on the back of this card.
These buildings have been renovated and repurposed over the century, and the Women’s Dormitory, erected in 1938 is now an administration building, after a 1992 renovation.  The Hall of Men appears to now be called Spindler Hall.
Since the school was renamed the Western State Teacher’s College in 1927 until 1941, this image likely dates from 1938 or 1939.

Western State Normal School Admin Building and Science Hall, Kalamazoo, Michigan

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This card has images of both the main Administration building, top, and the Science Hall, bottom, which served to train teachers for the public school system in this area of Michigan.

H. H. Hamm, Toledo, Ohio


There is no description on the back of this card.
Of particular interest is the object and sloping pathway to the right of the Administration building. This was a funicular railway, and the passenger car is shown at the bottom waiting to take passengers up the steep slope from the lower to the upper campus. The railway was built in 1907 and operated until 1949.
The Administration building was erected in 1905, and the Science Hall in 1915. They are also known as East and West Hall, on the original eastern campus.
This image likely dates from the 1920s.

Western State Normal School Gymnasium, Kalamazoo, Michigan

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This image is of the college gymnasium building on the original campus of the Western State Normal School, now the campus of Western Michigan University.

H. H. Hamm, Toledo, Ohio


There is no description on the back of the card.
These Normal Schools were established to provide training for public school teachers throughout the state. As time passed, they either closed, or in the case of Western, evolved into more comprehensive training and research institutions.
As this building was erected in 1925, and the institution was known as a Normal School only until 1927, it is certain this card dates from the mid-1920s.

Kalamazoo Public Library, Michigan

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This illustration shows the front entrance and street corner display box of the original Kalamazoo Public Library, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The box appears to feature a patriotic display of United States images and publications, along with a small Uncle Sam doll.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


There is no description on the back of the card.
This Romanesque building was erected in 1893 and served as the city library until 1957, when it was demolished and replaced with the current structure, along with four additional branch libraries.
This image likely dates from the 1940s.

Kalamazoo Court House, Michigan

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This image shows the second court house for the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The first, built in 1835, was much smaller and made of wood. This building was erected as a replacement in 1882, and was a three story brick structure. It in turn was replaced by a six-story building in 1937.

H. H. Hamm, Toledo, Ohio


There is no description on the back of the card.
This building was erected to house the county courtroom and related offices for the county of Kalamazoo. This image likely dates from the 1930s.

Bear Exhibit, Milham Park Zoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan

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This image is of a bear moving around inside the enclosure provided for bears at the Milham Park Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The stone structure is not at all representative of the habitat for such bears, but was likely easy to clean.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. American Art”


There is no description on the back.
This zoo no longer operates, having been closed in 1974, and no new institution was opened in its place in Kalamazoo.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.