History

Westnedge Hill Neighborhood: History & Architecture

Lynn Houghton, regional history curator at Western Michigan University's Archives and Regional History Collections and co-author of "Kalamazoo: Lost and Found," examines the history and architectural styles that are found in Kalamazoo's Westnedge Hill neighborhood.

Westnedge Hill Neighborhood: Crane Park History and Transformation

Natalie Patchell examines of the history and transformation of Crane Park in the Westnedge Hill neighborhood from an 1880s gravel pit to the park it is today with beautifully designed gardens. Presented Thursday, April 30, 2015, at Kalamazoo Public Library, as part of a series of programs honoring the diversity and history of Kalamazoo’s neighborhoods.

Westnedge Hill Neighborhood: Everyman’s House

Former homeowner Wendy Mutch presents the story of the five-room Everyman’s House on Westnedge Hill, designed by civic leader Caroline Bartlett Crane, which won the 1924 “Better Homes in America” contest. Presented at Kalamazoo Public Library, May 4, 2015.

Kalamazoo public library article

In September 2025, KPL’s Ryan Gage published an article offering a brief history of the Westnedge Hill neighborhood in the following topics:

The transformation from apple orchards (known as “Winslow Woods”) into a residential area.
The neighborhood’s architectural diversity, including Tudor, Colonial, Bungalow, and Modernist styles.
Prominent landmarks such as Crane Park, Kleinstuck Land Preserve, and the Everyman’s House.
Historical figures like Deacon Martin Heydenburk, an early settler who built a farmhouse in the 1840s.

Read the Article on KPL Website

Are you interested in history and stories?

Westnedge Hill Neighborhood: History & Architecture

Westnedge Hill Neighborhood: Crane Park History and Transformation

Westnedge Hill Neighborhood: Everyman’s House

Kalamazoo public library article

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