[1] In July of 1851 in Battle Creek, Michigan, Loyal Case Kellogg (December 25, 1822-January 30, 1907), who lived at 118 Maple Street(Capital Avenue Northeast) owned a private bank where he swapped due bills and brought buyers and sellers together.

In August of 1867, Kellogg sold his interest to Victory Phelps Collier (April 25, 1819-June 28, 1898), Clement Wakelee (March 7, 1821-April 7, 1889), Thomas Brockway Skinner (November 17, 1822-February 26, 1901), William Merritt-.

In the mid-1920s, Old National Bank operated the Calhoun County Abstract of Title, which was house in the building at 29 West Main Street.

Around 1929, the two banks were nestled by the Grand Leader Department Store(17-21 West Main Street, Formerly the Hamblin Opera House until 1902), People's Outfitting Company(25-27 West Main Street), an unknown shop, Calhoun County Abstract & Title, another unknown shop.

This made the Central National Bank Tower the second tallest in Battle Creek, being 233 feet tall At the time of its construction, it was one of two high-rises that seemed to race to the sky.

The recessed ornamental metal gate that would rise to seal off the Grand staircase, a small elevator lobby, and some parking areas that extend to the south wing's street side access.

The decorative metal work had horizontal structural supports at the floor lines that break the vertical opening roughly into thirds.

The spandrels of the vertical element are limestone while all the rest, going up, are made of decorative cast metal panels of a darker color.

At that point the corners stepped in to allow for a ledge, with a parapet, to cover up lighting anticipated in the original plans of the tower.

The entire nineteenth floor steps in at the east and west sides to create a shelf with a parapet to conceal the lighting.

This band was broken at the center by two 20-story tall three-quarter relief, stylized, limestone birds of prey sitting on top of two central minor piers that went up from the fifth floor.

Fire escape landings started in front of the southwestern slot and housed original four paneled steel and glass doors with transoms and metal spandrels above at floors 7, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15.

Twin bays of typical, double casement over hopper windows are present on the north and south sides with decorative limestone spandrels above that establish the visual horizontal base of the facades.

Both facades have a one story tall central, limestone cube topped with a flat roof and a parapet including three decorative carved panels that complete the horizontal base started by the spandrels just mentioned.

These cubes housed stacks and air vents, according to original drawings, and are positioned below a recessed central bay of three typical double casement over hopper windows separated by limestone piers.

The original wall configuration starts at the first door and large window, where upon entry, customers are greeted with a stairway that consists of marble treads and was divided in half by a central ornamental railing, along with the two wooden escalators on either side of the stairs.

The front entry was recessed under a second-story bridge from the east to the west mezzanines that is faced with Red Levanto marble.

The view up the grand stair revealed the central circular skylight and its original hanging light fixture featured in the dome four stories above.

Approaching the first floor from the rear, Old-Merchants National Bank customers are greeted with a wooden staircase and a raised section that allows access to the higher level of the West Michigan Avenue entrance.

On July 28, 1958, the ornate ceiling and some offices-including the broadcast studios of radio station WBCK were damaged by a fourth-floor fire, the floors were completely destroyed.

By the 1960s, the bank had branches in the Urbandale Plaza, Springfield, Nashville, Bellevue, Lakeview, and had an Industrial Branch near the Post and Kellogg's factory, Leonidas, North Avenue, Dickman Road, Columbia-Riverside Brach Prior to vacancy, the office spaces on the upper floors were updated and altered with partition walls and a variety of finishes throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s to meet the needs of the former tenants.

The central opening on the first floor and the infill under the arch are standard mill finished aluminum tube frame storefront systems assumed to have been installed in the 1970s.

It is presumed to have happened in 1974, along with the canopy on the north facade, to allow more square footage for rental space by eliminating the west corridor around the grand staircase.

In 1978, The location of the Central Fire Station next to the two-story wing facing the courtyard was given a French Provincial facade to the exposed wall.

The brand new facade was designed by local Architect John Burgess and the process of building involved adding a layer of red brick; mansard roofs and first floor canopy; and bay windows with walk out French doors.

In 1993, the building was sold to a Bay City, Michigan based firm by the name of Dore Industrial Development, who refurbished the tower.

Dark staining of the limestone above the eighteen floor and evidence of former crack repair began to show, along with some open mortar joints.

The ‘Fourth B’ floor was a bare concrete and masonry interstitial space that housed ductwork and fans, also storing maintenance supplies and salvaged historical materials.

The mezzanine was completely trashed, the parking garage and basement were flooded and the roof problems got even worse, causing mold to infiltrate the building.

Eventually, the Battle Creek Community Foundation located across the street decided to fix some of the roof problems in 2013.