Comstock Park Warming House Pavilion Building

History of the Comstock Park Warming House Pavilion Building
by Timothy Bowman
April 15, 2020

It is my belief that the best way to show a history of this building would be to tell you to what it was used for over the decades. As indicated in the title, the warming house went by other names in the past.

Comstock Park itself was established in April 1935 when the city of Lansing acquired the land from the state, which was formerly part of the Michigan School for the Blind property. It was named after Governor William A. Comstock, who had just left office a few months before.

The rest house as it was called then, was built sometime between 1935-1937. I could not narrow it down any closer. It is located on the Princeton Ave. just north of Daleford Avenue. Presumably built as a place for ice skaters at the rink just outside to warm themselves in the cold Michigan weathers. In late 1937 or early 1938, the first outdoor skating rink was used by the citizens of the area. This would become an annual thing for the next 60 years. I’m sure lots of people have stories to tell about skating at Comstock and other city parks.

Some other things that the pavilion was used for include table tennis (aka ping pong), when tables were placed in there in December 1939. Leagues and city wide tournaments were held in early 1940 and again in 1942.

In 1960, many large park remodeling jobs were done, including the furnishing and heating of the Comstock Park building. This was probably so the city recreation department could start offering winter golf instruction classes there in 1961, mostly to adults, but kids too. This would go on in the first few months of every year until at least 1976.

Notices were put in the paper for bidders to reroof the Comstock Park building in November 1969. I assume that was done at the time.

The Friends of Comstock Park was organized at a meeting in the pavilion in April 1996. I don’t know if it still exists, as I could not find much more about it after 2001.

Apparently the last time Comstock Park was used for outdoor skating was in early 1997, ending a tradition after 60 years. Several indoor ice skating places in the area had been opened by then. .

Additionally the Walnut Neighborhood Organization held their annual meeting in the Comstock Park Warming House in May 2000.

In May 2001, a public hearing was held for the public regarding a federal grant application for proposed renovations to the Comstock Park building. I could not find any indication that this was approved or not.

Last thing I could find, was from August 2001, that a plaque was unveiled to dedicate the Warming House in memory of JaneAnn Marie Mannix, a local activist and founding member of the Friends of Comstock Park.

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Did my best to sum up what I found from Lansing State Journal clippings at Newspapers dot com. I posted the articles from where I got this info at my Flickr page at the following link if someone wishes write a more detailed history. The dates they were from are also their titles. Includes photos from the LSJ.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lugnut215/albums/72157713897797563

Also CADL Local History Online has two good color photos on their site from 1971, the golf lessons time, at this link.
https://cadl.pastperfectonline.com/archive/876602A4-E13F-44D9-A3A8-123044290116

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At Comstock Park in Lansing, MI – June 13, 2020