Kevin S. Forsyth (M.S.U. ’91) was born and raised in the East Lansing area, graduating from E.L.H.S. in 1987. He earned a telecommunications B.A. from Michigan State University four years later, making him both “town” and third-generation “gown” (after his grandfather, Ulo J. Forsyth, M.S.C. ’29).
During the academic year 1991–92, he resided at 219 Bailey Street in East Lansing. This vaguely historic home—built 1910, it was the home of Wesley Eastman, Junior Warden of the local Masonic Temple when it was founded in 1915—stands on a block of older frame buildings that has long been part of the “student ghetto” which extends eastward from downtown along Albert Avenue. His curiosity piqued by this home, the then-recently formed historic districts, and the changes to the city he was witnessing at that time, he sought to place them in some sort of historical perspective.
Starting with a focus on the buildings cited as Significant Structures by the East Lansing Historic Commission in its 1989 survey, the information on this site was initially researched and written in the period 1992–1993, and many of the building photographs were taken then as well. This website was launched in 2003 and further research has continued intermittently to this day.
Over time the author has come to better understand how deeply intertwined the histories of Michigan State University and East Lansing are, and the focus of this site has moved toward a more comprehensive look at that combined history. This has led to (one hopes) a better look at the people who made that history happen, and not just the buildings that occupy the landscape (and which sometimes bear their names).
Meanwhile the original site design became horribly dated and was well past overdue for a change. This more readable, minimalist overhaul of the site was launched in May 2024. (Consider this redesign to still be a work in progress, and any issues or bug reports are more than welcome.)
The author moved from the area in 1998, and since then much of East Lansing—in particular the downtown area—has changed dramatically. The need for historical perspective has never been greater.