![The Man Behind Kalamazoo’s Westnedge Avenue](http://townsquare.media/site/748/files/2016/11/Westnedge_sm.jpg?w=980&q=75)
The Man Behind Kalamazoo’s Westnedge Avenue
Football player, Manager at the Kalamazoo Paper Company, Military Colonel and the man behind the name Westnedge.
Some have found the road a difficult one to pronounce, Chicagoans have called it West-Nedge, like there is also an East-Nedge.
Born in 1872, Joseph Burchnall Westnedge, played football for Kalamazoo College and led them to an undefeated season. He was a manager for the Kalamazoo Paper company and fought in World War One.
According to the Kalamazoo Public Library,
He commanded the 126th Infantry, an integral part of the famous 32nd "Red Arrow Division". One of the earliest American units to be sent overseas.
He was sent to a hospital in France just a few days before the armistice was signed, now known as Veterans Day, where he later died from complications of tonsillitis. The story went on to conclude,
Thousands of people lined the streets for his funeral procession. West Street was renamed Westnedge Avenue as a tribute to the city's fallen hero.
He was subsequently buried at Riverside Cemetery.
BONUS VIDEO:
More From Kalamazoo's Country
![Yes, The Westnedge Avenue Construction is as Bad As You Feared](http://k1025.com/files/2018/06/westnedge-ave-construction.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Pictures Of The Overturned Tanker That Closed Westnedge Ave](http://townsquare.media/site/689/files/2017/08/IMG_8622.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![This Is The Last Week For Gander Mountain In Portage](http://townsquare.media/site/904/files/2017/08/20170811_144050.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Old Country Buffet Has Closed, Maybe Ponderosa Should Make A Comeback](http://townsquare.media/site/904/files/2017/07/IMG_1154.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Did You Know There Is A Color Code For Kalamazoo Street Signs?](http://townsquare.media/site/689/files/2017/05/IMG_20170504_140533620.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Have You Seen Riverside Cemetery’s Civil War Memorial?](http://townsquare.media/site/748/files/2016/12/pano_798e58ac866b4d07_0.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Chilling Truth About South Westnedge Park Will Make Your Skin Crawl](http://townsquare.media/site/748/files/2016/11/20161116_133413.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Mt. Ever Rest Is Proof That Not All Cemeteries Are Creepy](http://townsquare.media/site/748/files/2016/09/20160906_144206.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Have You Seen The Yard Art Of Kalamazoo](http://townsquare.media/site/748/files/2016/09/20160906_140226.jpg?w=980&q=75)