Sunday, November 16, 2008

Old Antique Vintage 1908 Postcards of Kalamazoo Michigan

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Kalamazoo Michigan was settled by Native Americans thousands of years ago but it wasn't until fur traders came to the area in the late 1700s that Europeans settled there. During the War of 1812, the British had a prison camp in the area and in 1831 the village was laid out and named Bronson after Titus Bronson who built the first house there. He was later run out of town and the town was renamed Kalamazoo in 1836. The town is on the Kalamazoo River and about half way between Detroit and Chicago. The population was 39,437 in the 1908 census and was 81,300 in the 2000 census. The first view is a circa 1908 Hugh C. Leighton Company post card showing the Elks' Temple which is a little unusual looking and has a sign on the front that says "Cafe".

The second view is a circa 1906 Souvenir Postcard Company post card showing the beautiful Public Library with two horse and buggies in front, a bicycle, two ladies and a dog posing on the steps. Prior to March 1907, only the address could be placed on the back of the postcard so manufacturers usually left a white space on the front for a brief message. Both of these postcards are available in my Michigan listings along with 10,000 additional post cards on my website Moody's Postcards.

CATCH POSTCARD FEVER!! A great way to see and enjoy all the beautiful buildings in your home town that were torn down in the name of progress.

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