The Gibson Stack
Jan 28, 2015 15:39:22 #
Kalamazoo was the long-time home of Gibson Guitars, before the business moved to Nashville. Some of the space in the old factory was taken by a new company.......Heritage Guitars, which employs former Gibson craftsmen. It's a rich, proud legacy, and the stack with the Gibson name is in danger of collapse. Of course, there is a movement to preserve the stack (or a large part of it) to keep this part of our history intact. Studies have been done, and the brickwork is failing. It will be a sad day when the stack comes down, but it will be dismantled brick by brick, because to just drop it would be very hazardous. I'll be following the progress, and taking shots as things move along.
Jan 28, 2015 16:01:14 #
Too bad they are going to take it down. Did anyone do a study and see what is more expensive: Reinforce the structure or pay to have it taken down brick by brick? I would think it would be close.
Jan 28, 2015 17:16:57 #
Cost would be in the neighborhood of $800K to completely redo it. Not feasible for the property owners.
Jan 28, 2015 17:24:22 #
John The Docent wrote:
Kalamazoo was the long-time home of Gibson Guitars... (show quote)
Did not know that about Gibson. Thanks for sharing. The second is very nice with the sepia tones! Hope the stack gets preserved.
Jan 28, 2015 17:30:14 #
Jan 29, 2015 23:47:20 #
Very interesting, John, and kinda sad. In the name of "progress" these thing seem to happen.
Jan 30, 2015 17:57:34 #
The good thing is, the stewardship of the stack is in good hands. This will not be wasted. Kalamazoo has done a great job of rejuvenating some of the pre-1900 areas, homes, and businesses in the city.
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