My friend Mel Byrd found this postcard in California and brought it back to Michigan for me (Thank you, Mel). It was mailed from Kalamazoo in 1961 but the photo was probably taken in 1951 when the Upjohn Portage plant was officially opened. In the mid-1940's Upjohn had bought 1500 acres of land for the plant. Note the complete absence of any other notable structures behind it - this was deep in the country back then. Portage Road is at the bottom of the photo and you can see a few small houses. These houses were owned by Upjohn and lasted until the 1980's, being available for employees to rent.