Introduction

Origins

The City

Collegeville (1887, 1895)
College Delta (1897, 1899)
Oakwood (1899)
Cedar Bank (1900)
College Grove (1903)
Fairview (1903, 1905)
College Heights (1904)

Charter of 1907

Avondale (1913)
Bungalow Knolls (1915)
Chesterfield Hills (1916)
Ardson Heights (1919)
Ridgely Park (1920)
Oak Ridge (1924)
Strathmore (1925)
Glen Cairn (1926)

The Campus

Chronology

1855–1870
1871–1885
1886–1900
1901–1915
1916–1927

 

Interactive Map

Sites on the National and State Historic Registers

Complete list of
Significant Structures

Sources

H. K. Vedder House, 447 Charles St. (1922)


H. K. Vedder House, November 2003. Photo Credit: Kevin S. Forsyth.

Herman Klock Vedder (1866–1937) graduated from Cornell University and worked as a civil engineer, focussing mainly on bridges and hydraulics, before becoming Professor of Mathematics and Civil Engineering at M.A.C. in 1891, which at the time was a single department. During his tenure Vedder tirelessly sought to expand the program and was instrumental in separating civil engineering from mathematics with the creation of the Department of Civil Engineering in 1909, which he then headed until his retirement circa 1925.[Beal, p. 433. Kuhn, p. 151.]

“During his service at M.A.C. he constructed a sewer system, directed numerous surveys, constructed bridges, designed systems of plumbing; for outside parties inspecting and building bridges, plotted city subdivisions [including the Oakwood plat], investigated the water power of streams; engineering for electric and steam railroads; planned railroad for Lansing manufactures; state examiner of plots 1907 to 1910.”[Beal, p. 433. Towar, p. 44]

H. K. Vedder and his wife, née Kate Humphrey Dodd (1866–1923), raised two daughters. Prior to living here they resided at № 2 Faculty Row. At one time he also served as president of the East Lansing school board.[Minutes, 12 Jul 1922, p 546. Beal, p. 433.]


The Test

by Walter Adams
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