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

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 1925.¹

“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.”²

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.³

The H. K. Vedder House is an East Lansing Landmark Structure.

1. Beal, p. 433. Kuhn, p. 151. ↩︎
2. Beal, p. 433. Towar, p. 44. ↩︎
3. Minutes, 12 Jul 1922, p 546. Beal, p. 433. ↩︎