Mid-Century Modern Midland: New book celebrates city’s architectural oasis

Promoting Midland as an architectural destination at the level of Palm Springs, California and Columbus, Indiana, The Alden B. Dow Home and Studio and the Mid-Century Modern Midland organization (MCMM) released an exquisite coffee-table book, Mid-Century Modern Midland, in late February, capturing more than three years of work. 

The Launch Party

Over 250 homeowners, guests, and community members attended the book launch party held at St. John’s Episcopal Church’s Williams Hall. Co-author and Executive Director of the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, Craig McDonald, said when choosing the event location, “The church is a spectacular space; it speaks to the beauty and uniqueness [of mid-century modern design], plus we’ve had other events there, and it works well. Alden B. Dow designed the church in 1951.

Through four introductory essays containing background and history, plus stunning photographs, both new and archival, the 244-page book features 71 mid-century modern structures representing 12 architects. Approximately 25 percent of the structures are Mr. Dow’s, “the influence and inspiration,” McDonald says. The book also contains a chronological index listing all of the documented mid-century modern (MCM) structures in Midland.

McDonald says, “[The book] puts it all together in one spot. It’s every type of building imaginable . . . every aspect of your life – schools, churches, homes, community gathering places . . . it’s a visual, tangible way to share the information.”

The event began with virtually every attendee purchasing or being gifted a copy of Mid-Century Modern Midland and standing in line to have the authors and designer sign it. Many immediately found high-top tables and comfortable chairs, and eagerly flipped through the pages like high schoolers looking at their yearbooks for the first time. Mike Dow, son of Alden B. Dow, his wife Rhea, and their daughter and granddaughter also attended.

The Speakers

After the initial time of refreshments, mingling, and simply enjoying the book, McDonald began the program portion of the gathering with a welcome and quotes from Alden B. Dow’s City Essay written in the 1940s about cities and their citizens. Later, he said, “This book chronicles the evolution of the mid-century modern architectural movement in Midland, Michigan. We have identified and verified 403 one-of-a-kind MCM [structures] built between 1930 and 1970 designed by a documented 50 architects, engineers, and designers.”

The program also included remarks by co-author Carol Neff, retired Midland Public Schools educator and Coordinator of Mid-Century Modern Midland the organization; Leslie Feagley, Graphic Designer; and Maureen Donker, Mayor of Midland. All of the speakers thanked those who had a hand in making the book a reality, from the homeowners and the A.B. Dow Home and Studio volunteers and employees, to the Alden B. and Vada B. Dow Creativity Foundation’s Board of Trustees; the book’s publishing indeed took a village. The speakers also generously thanked each other. 

Feagley described her early years as being influential in her career choice and ultimately her desire to work on Mid-Century Modern Midland. Her father, Jack Feagley, was an architect in the A.B. Dow firm in the 1960s. She said in her comments that she remembers her dad emptying his pockets when he came home from work, and how she marveled at the business card with its letters and colors. She said of the Home and Studio itself, “I knew it was a cool place, and I was proud my dad worked there.”

In addition, Feagley grew up in an MCM home, one of Alden Dow’s early designs. Built in 1941, ‘The Reinke House’ was expanded in the 1960s. Her father designed the renovation and did most of the carpentry work himself. It is featured in the book because he “kept the integrity of the home intact,” she said. Her mom still lives there.

In her remarks, Midland Mayor Maureen Donker expressed enthusiasm for the book and the MCMM organization, and said how MCM architecture was certainly a big part Midland’s tourism and economy.

Most of Neff’s comments summarized how MCMM the organization came to be, which was shortly after McDonald articulated his hope for such a group during a public speech he gave in the fall of 2016. Beginning in the spring of 2017, these details included organizing volunteers to canvass the 36 square miles of Midland, sorting through more than 900 structures originally submitted, identifying buildings that actually met all of the criteria, working with a review committee that confirmed these identifications, looking at building permits, researching primary documents, and communicating with homeowners. Later, in 2019, MCMM organization member Lance Rynearson created the website and app through DC TREE Marketing as a public archive for the information. 

In the project’s beginning, when McDonald hired Neff to lead MCMM the organization, she said she had to “Google mid-century modern to know what it actually was. Nine years later, she says, “Now I can’t help but ‘see.’ I see it in the school I taught in for 25 years, the churches and public buildings I visit, and in the neighborhoods I drive through. I am that person who stops mid-street to pull over and examine buildings for MCM traits wherever I am.”

The Background

While Mr. Dow’s work is well documented and preserved in the Alden B. Dow Archives, McDonald believed that to tell the whole story, research and documentation were necessary to learn about all of the Midland architects who played a role in the MCM movement in the United States, thus MCMM the organization was fully established. 

Then, with the support and encouragement of the Trustees, McDonald and Neff began the process of bringing the book to fruition. They first selected which homes would be featured, followed by scheduling photo shoots with homeowners and photographer Amy Claeys. Neff said the photo edits were done in early 2024. Together, she and McDonald selected the pictures for publication, and by late winter, Feagley had them and began the design work.

In addition to overseeing the entire layout and design process, including cover fabric selection, photo sizing, logo color-matching (which she also designed), and paper stock choice, Feagley also handled all of the printing logistics.

She said, “Besides loving MCM architecture and wanting to be a part of MCMM, I wanted to highlight my dad, to keep his legacy alive. He would have loved to see this book through.”

Neff said at the conclusion of her comments, “Mid-Century Modern Midland isn’t just about architecture. It’s about people: The designers who dreamed big. The builders who made those dreams real. The families and organizations that cared for these places, and this community that values its history enough to preserve and celebrate it. It’s about recognizing something special we already have — a city that believed good design mattered and built a legacy because of it.”

The Future

In Alden B. Dow’s City Essay that McDonald shared a portion of, Dow said, “It takes people to make a city. They mold the city. Their individualism produces a final composition – the city, with a distinctiveness, unduplicated.”   

McDonald said, “Midland’s architecture speaks to the innovative and creative nature of the people in Midland. Mr. Dow’s ideas and architectural philosophy engaged and inspired other architects to create their individual expressions of architecture that are all a part of making Midland, Michigan THE Mid-Century Modern City of America. Our hope is that this documented history, this book, will be part of Midland’s future and encourage the creative potential in all people going forward.”

How to buy the book/Take a tour/Receive updates

Mid-Century Modern Midland may be purchased for $55 at the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio gift shop open M-F, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Sat. 2-4 p.m., or online at abdow.org.

To take a tour of Alden B. Dow’s home and architectural studio, a National Historic Landmark, book online or by calling 989-839-2744. Both private and group tours are available.

To receive email updates from MCMM the organization visit online.