I’ve been thinking about this post since the new “gateway” at the intersection of Lovell, Oakland and Stadium Dr. was built in 2008. I’ve been so pissed off about it, I’ve had a hard time writing something that didn’t sound like a lunatic rant. Still not sure it doesn’t.
I visited East Hall this spring with my sister-in-law and took these photos. Whenever I have visitors from out of town, it is the one place I’m sure to take them. (All the photo’s in my blog header where taken there). I’ve recently discovered that many people that grew up in Kalamazoo have never seen this view either. After showing it to just such a friend, and sharing my passion on the subject, he told me that “people need to know it’s there — there needs to be a reason for them to go up there and see it.” I argued for a museum, but he said “museum’s don’t make money.” So now I’m on a mission to share it with everyone I talk to. If I can get a small, determined group of people to help, East Hall might have a chance for survival.
When I took these photos in April, it was covered with graffiti. I was happy to see that it had been cleaned up when I visited recently with my new friend. The Friends of Historic East Campus (formerly the Friends of East Hall) have cared for the building as best they can and they have made some progress in talking with WMU and the City about preserving the building.
The “gateway” cost over $650,000 — that kind of money would have gone a long way to make some of the much needed repairs to this historic building. East Hall is the original site of Western Michigan Normal School — now Western Michigan University. The City donated the site —Prospect Hill — to Western in 1904 for the purpose of creating an institute of higher education. WMU seems determined to let it crumble and fall. It’s not a priority for them. Instead, they want to build a new medical school (even though Kalamazoo already has one on East Campus) and have started to raise the money for it. That recent news has sparked my concerned about the fate of this beautiful, historic building and it’s view of our City. (I question many of WMU’s decisions, and even more so the City’s willingness to go along with them — no matter how they impact the neighborhoods around them. How can the City thrive without being trampled by this giant?)
I’ve been struck with an idea that I think could be a great joint venture for Western and the City. A way to partner in saving East Hall and create business opportunities and jobs while saving the view of Kalamazoo for all it’s citizens. More on that later.
What do you think? Isn’t East Hall worth saving? Sign the petition!
