Welcome to Kentwood.

The mission of the Historic Preservation Commission is to identify, preserve, develop, and promote the city of Kentwood’s architectural, historical, and cultural heritage.
The city of Kentwood was founded as Paris Township in the early 1800's, almost 200 years ago. Its early development took place in an age described as the "transportation revolution" that occurred all around the US. This time period was marked by the technological advancements in railroads, steamboats, and canals, all before the Civil War. Big cities were taking shape around the country as Irish and German immigrants made their way across the Atlantic, and soon after, the country would idealize her "Manifest Destiny," soon taking the Oregon Trail to settle out west in iconic horse-drawn wagons. 
Although Kentwood appears a shiny, new city- it has a rich history which is nearly as old as the United States itself. 
This is highlighted in the beautiful barns dotted along busy roads, and old photographs depicting scenes of farm families and harvest, all formed with the changing United States. Histories of Kentwood's cultural or business growth are found in the charming story of the Noorman family, or the Bowen Station. Everywhere you look in the city of Kentwood, there sit new buildings on the land previously farmed by the first community that once settled here.
On the official website, there is information about donations, local history books, genealogy tracings, cemeteries, and more.

Explore the History!

Preservation 
& Documentation

The situation recorded in this newspaper speaks for itself. Years of restoration work gone, as well as the object of the restoration itself. No doubt treasures inside were lost as well. It's very important to make copies of historical material and store it outside the historical structure. ( In fact just about any household would be wise to do something similar. ) And it's important to produce a large number of photographs of a structure. This is easy and inexpensive in year 2007, and could easily become the only record of a structure remaining after some kind of disaster.