National Register of Historic Places

Lawrence and Chapin Building

Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan
Listed
May 26, 1983
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83000862

About this property

The Lawrence and Chapin Building', also known as the Vermeulen Furniture Building, is a commercial building located at 201 North Rose Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Iron manufacturing was Kalamazoo's first heavy industry. In the middle of the 19th century, a factory making iron implements was constructed on this site. In 1870, the firm owned by William S. Lawrence and Dr. L. C. Chapin began construction on this building, designed by architect Lemuel Dwight Grosvenor, at the same site. The firm of Bush & Patterson built the factory. Construction was finished in 1872, and the company quickly became successful. However, as the century progressed, iron gave way to steel. Chapin died, and Lawrence lost his fortune. About the turn of the century, he sold this factory. The building subsequently housed a mission, a skating rink, and an interurban railway station. It was then sold to the Vermeulen Furniture Company, who occupied the building for over 50 years. The building was renovated in 1994 as part of the Arcadia Commons project. The Lawrence & Chapin Building is a massive four-story, brick Second Empire structure topped with a mansard roof with a central tower. Dormers pierce the roof. The building measures 68 feet in width and 188 feet in depth. Piers divide the facade into bays; the piers are topped with paired cornice brackets. Windows have round heads.

Location

201 N. Rose St.
Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan
42.29283, -85.58516

Categories

INDUSTRYARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

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0.1 mi
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Haymarket Historic District (Boundary Increase II)
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United States Post Office
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0.2 mi
Bronson Park Historic District
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0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Lawrence and Chapin Building listed on the National Register?

Lawrence and Chapin Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 26, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Lawrence and Chapin Building?

Lawrence and Chapin Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Lawrence and Chapin Building?

The period of significance for Lawrence and Chapin Building is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Lawrence and Chapin Building?

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