WMU Students Reveal Kalamazoo’s Hidden Burial Ground Beneath South Westnedge City Park

Western Michigan University students in HIST 3404 are uncovering the hidden history of Kalamazoo’s first Euro-American cemetery, revealing the city’s early foundations.

WMU Students Investigate the Untold Story of Kalamazoo’s First Settlers

In the heart of Kalamazoo’s South Westnedge Park, history lies just below the surface, long concealed beneath the lawns and walkways. Thanks to the work of Western Michigan University (WMU) history students, the story of Kalamazoo’s first settlers, buried in the South West Street Cemetery established in 1833, is now emerging. WMU’s “Introduction to Public History” students, guided by Professor Evan Kutzler, are creating a digital exhibition that traces the lives of early Euro-American settlers and their significant roles in shaping Kalamazoo.

The cemetery, once known by various names, including Pioneer Cemetery and Kalamazoo Settler Cemetery, saw its headstones buried in place in 1862 as the area transformed into a public park. Kutzler explains that while people often view cemeteries as locations to “find a grave,” the WMU project looks to broaden that perspective, “thinking about the broader story of the history of the development of Kalamazoo and Western expansion,” he says.

Digital Mapping Brings Historical Records to Life

As part of the project, Kutzler collaborated with maps and repository specialist Jason Glatz over the summer to build a digital map of the cemetery, identifying roughly 110 marked graves and an additional 230 unmarked ones. The students now expand on this map, delving into the lives of the settlers buried there, ranging from shoemakers to clergy, to create a detailed portrait of Kalamazoo’s 19th-century landscape.

According to Kutzler, each individual buried becomes “a starting point for historical discovery,” as students sift through historical documents, from land contracts to archival maps, bringing to light the everyday lives and social contributions of Kalamazoo’s earliest inhabitants. This extensive research will culminate in a digital exhibition, featuring essays that explore these settlers’ roles in the growth and culture of Kalamazoo.

Public Talk to Reveal Findings and Engage Community

Kutzler will present the students’ findings in early December at the Kalamazoo Public Library, offering the community a glimpse into this newfound chapter of local history. The public event will feature a preview of the digital map and essays, highlighting how the students’ discoveries have recontextualized South Westnedge Park from a recreational space to a significant historical site.

WMU’s initiative not only enriches public understanding of Kalamazoo’s past but also provides students with hands-on experience in historical research and archival work, equipping them with skills valuable beyond the classroom.

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