The Upjohn Company acquired many buildings in its 109-year history. Here are the most interesting purchases.

Bldg 19 - purchased 1926 – this was the American Playing Card Company building on Lovell St in Downtown Kalamazoo. It was used by Upjohn for forty years until demolition in 1966.

 

In 1933 Upjohn purchased the original Borgess hospital on Portage Road in Downtown Kalamazoo and immediately razed it. It apparently did not receive a building number.

 

Bldg 49 - purchased 1947 – this farmhouse on the west of Portage Road was bought to use as the first cafeteria on the new Upjohn Portage site. Workers from Bldg 38 (Fermentation), then the only completed manufacturing building on the site, walked across Portage Road for lunch. Portage Road was a muddy country lane back then.

 

Bldg 262 – purchased 1981 – this was the Ramona Lane School, just north of Romence on Lovers Lane, some 50,000 sq feet, which was demolished in 1985

 

Bldg 264 – purchased 1982 – the former Spring St Morgue in Downtown Kalamazoo, demolished in 1991 to make way for Bldg 300, which is now the research building for Zoetis.

 

Bldg 274 – purchased in 1981 – the former Club Hollywood on Portage Road in Downtown Kalamazoo, demolished in 1985

 

Bldg 278 – purchased 1982 – the former American Beauty College in Downtown Kalamazoo, demolished in 1991 to make way for Bldg 300.

 

Bldg 282 – purchased 1982 – the former DeNooyer Used Cars decagon (10 sided) building on Portage Road in Downtown Kalamazoo. It was demolished in 1991 to make way for Bldg 300.

 

Bldg 296 – purchased 1985 – the former Pitcher St Morgue in Downtown Kalamazoo, demolished in 1985

 

Bldg 922 – purchased mid-1980s –the former Venetian Gardens adult entertainment venue that was on the corner of Portage and Center, across from McDonalds. Its unoffical name was the "Venereal Gardens". The building was demolished in 1987.