Over the years, many fine photographers have called Kalamazoo home, documenting the people, places, businesses, events and institutions that have made this community special. There were photographers who specialized in taking images of people, and photographers like Ward C. Morgan who took images of just about everything. Born and raised in Kalamazoo, Morgan worked for various companies until 1939, when he purchased a photography studio here. For close to 50 years, Morgan took photos of products, buildings, individuals and events. He retired in 1987 and died in 1997. The bulk of his collection, composed of close to 27,000 negatives, came to the Western Michigan University Regional History Collections more than 30 years ago. Here are five of my favorites:
Public Comfort Station, c. 1938
This image is a great example of how some things never change, including the need for public restrooms in downtown Kalamazoo. In 1910, the Commercial Club even went so far as to state that a public restroom would help make this community one of Michigan’s leading cities. The discussion went on for several years, leading to a vote in which a restroom proposal was defeated. By January 1920, with financial support from the Chamber of Commerce, the city appropriated $12,000 for a public restroom. Three possible locations were considered, and the one chosen was at the southwest corner of Church and Academy streets, behind the county jail. Local architect Ernest Batterson designed the structure, which was completed in 1921 and operated by two full-time custodians. It was taken down by 1935 to make way for a new county courthouse on the square. The debate about public restrooms has continued over the years, and in 2020 the city installed a Portland Loo 24-hour public restroom on Water Street. Two more are planned for the near future.
Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood at Gibson Guitar Co., 1975
The Rolling Stones embarked on their three-month “Tour of Americas ’75” on June 1, 1975, eventually traveling to 27 cities and performing 58 concerts. During a tour stop in Chicago, band members Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood came to Kalamazoo on July 24 to tour the Gibson Guitar Co. plant at 225 Parsons St. They were accompanied by executives from Norlin Music, the Chicago company that owned Gibson from 1969 to 1986. Not very many people knew about their visit, since there was no image or report of it in the Kalamazoo Gazette or on local radio or television stations. What remains are 12 photos taken by Morgan for Norlin Music. It appears that the bandmates enjoyed themselves but didn’t stay long — they had to fly back to Chicago for that evening’s performance, which was Wood’s first time playing with the Rolling Stones but certainly not his last.
United Service Organizations (USO) Facility, 1944
Among the many photographs Morgan took in Kalamazoo during World War II were images of everyday life as well as images related to the war, such as those showing Girl Scouts planting victory gardens, products such as parachutes that local companies were making for the war effort, dances at Fort Custer and activities at the United Service Organizations facility. The local USO headquarters was initially located on West Michigan Avenue in 1941 but moved in 1942 to the second floor of 131 East Kalamazoo Ave., between North Burdick and North Edwards streets. Up to three days a week, hundreds of soldiers would come from Fort Custer, Kellogg Air Field and the Percy Jones Convalescent Center to play games, read and attend dances. It is estimated that in 4½ years more than 260,000 soldiers visited this facility, which received support from local organizations and churches and also War Chest funds. This image appears to be one from a quiet time of day.
Swimming Tube Promotion, Otto Kihm Tire Co., 1954
These children are looking happy, especially since they were receiving free inner tubes. Considering this photo was taken in July, one can assume the children might immediately put them to good use at a local lake, creek or river. Otto Kihm founded the tire company in 1937, and it was located on the east side of North Rose Street just north of West Kalamazoo Avenue. It started with two employees and one truck and eventually grew to several locations around the area, offering tire sales and service for cars and trucks. It continues to be in business on East Vine Street. Due to changes in the production of automobile tires, and unfortunately for children who enjoy playing in them, car tire inner tubes are no longer made.
Muggs the Lion, 1941
One wonders if Kathleen Brodie, secretary for Howard J. Cooper, owner of an auto dealership in downtown Kalamazoo, ever thought she would be sharing her desk with Muggs, the city’s resident lion, who used the space as his bed. Muggs was the size of a domesticated cat when he first came to Kalamazoo two years earlier, but when this photograph was taken in July 1941 he weighed 235 pounds. It must have been a sight to behold when Cooper took Muggs on walks around downtown on a leash. By the time World War II began, Muggs did not have very much impact on automobile sales, since civilians, with some exceptions, were not allowed to purchase cars. Muggs left Kalamazoo in the fall of 1945 for a zoo in South Bend, Indiana. Morgan’s photo helps us remember one of Kalamazoo’s most unusual residents.
