Project Scroll Research Note 2026-31: How the village of Bronson became Kalamazoo: Senator Comstock's amendment of February 1836, and George Torrey's reason of 1869

The village of Bronson, platted by Titus Bronson and Stephen Richardson in 1831, was renamed Kalamazoo by an act approved 2 March 1836. The Senate journal shows how. On 17 February 1836, on Mr. Comstock's motion, the Senate asked its committee "to inquire into the propriety of changing the name of the town of Arcadia in the county of Kalamazoo, to that of Kalamazoo." The bill reported was "A bill to alter the name of the township of Arcadia": the township only. At its third reading, on Mr. Comstock's motion, it was amended to add "and also the name of the village of Bronson, changed and hereafter known and called Kalamazoo," with effect from "thirty-first day of March next," and passed. The House, where a Mr. Burdick of Kalamazoo sat, concurred. Durant's county history of 1880 names Burdick, Sheldon and Lyon as the movers but gives no reason beyond "some good reason, we presume." George Torrey had given one in the county history of the Kalamazoo directory of 1869: they were "disgusted with the eccentricities, obstinacy, and want of enterprise in their co-partner, Bronson."

Project Scroll Research Note 2026-31, version 1. The note sets out the record quoted, where it is held, what it changes, its limits, and what was searched before calling it new. Web version: projectscroll.com/discoveries/notes/2026-31/.