I almost forgot this slice of Southwest Michigan trivia! I was at a concert last night at the Kalamazoo State Theatre watching the phenomenal guitarist Tab Benoit when he mentioned he was using some of the finest, loudest strings to come out of Battle Creek, Michigan.

We all know about the history of Gibson guitars in Kalamazoo, but did you have any idea the world-renowned V.C. Squier Company, the predecessor to Fender's Squier guitars, was born right here in Battle Creek?

V.C. Squier Company

According to the Battle Creek Enquirer during the 1900s Victor Carol "V.C." Squier owned and operated, “one of the largest and most complete factories in the country devoted to the manufacture of musical strings."

Lauren G/TSM
Lauren G/TSM
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V.C. was the son of famed violin maker J.B. Squier, who taught him every trick of the trade. V.C. apprenticed under his father in Boston before returning to Battle Creek to open his own "fiddle factory" at 427 Capital Ave SW, a building that is now occupied by Wharry Engineering.

"American Stradivarius"

Not only was Squier's company ahead of its time for using a converted a sewing machine to manufacture their strings, but the V.C. Squier Company was a major employer of women at the time; similar to the  "Kalamazoo Gals" of Gibson.

Squier's products were so highly rated that Squier was dubbed the "American Stradivarius" of violin makers. The highest compliment of all!

Lauren G/TSM
Lauren G/TSM
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Squier + Fender

In the 1950s Squier became the musical string supplier for Fender guitars and by 1963 Squier was the official original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for the famous guitar company. Eventually, the V.C. Squier Company was purchased outright by Fender who continued factory operations in Battle Creek up until its closing in 1981.

A year later, Fender decided to revive the Squier name and created a new line of guitars which are still available to this day. I don't even play guitar and even I have heard of the Fender Squier, but at the time I had no idea it had ties to Southwest Michigan!

Lauren G/TSM
Lauren G/TSM
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V.C. Squier passed away in 1949 but you can find his final resting place in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek. I have visited his grave myself to pay my rock-and-roll respects. You can even still visit the original Squier factory in downtown Battle Creek and its most recent location just outside of town.

House For Sale In Georgia Shaped Like A Gibson Guitar

I promise you’ve NEVER seen this before! “Guitar House” is ready for a True Connoisseur! Unique Shape and Floor plan will blow your mind away! It was designed as a Guitar by the Country Music Singer Elvis L. Carden. Not only was it his Home, it was also his Muse! One of his albums is named “Living in an Old Guitar”

Stunning 1939 Kalamazoo Gibson Guitar

She's well-worn, but they really don't make 'em like this anymore. Maximillian Terranova still plays his grandfather's 1939 Kalamazoo guitar made at the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan.