The first cottages constructed were given letters of the alphabet, to identify them. However, as the number of buildings on the grounds increased it became evident that their numbers would exceed the number of letters in the alphabet, and the cottages/buildings were renamed and given numbers replacing the letters of the alphabet for those cottages and buildings so designated, and cottage/buildings constructed subsequently were given numbers. For example, Cottage 32, when constructed was designated as Cottage A, and Cottage 28, in similar fashion was designated as Cottage B. This was in contrast to the manner in which the cottages and buildings at the Michigan Asylum at Kalamazoo were designated. The structures erected for the housing of patients at the Michigan Asylum were variously named cottages, buildings or hospitals. For example, the buildings at the farms were named cottages, such as Van Deusen Cottage, Palmer Cottage, etc., those on the asylum grounds proper, hospitals, _ The dates of construction of the cottages (buildings) were taken for the most part from the Building Division of the State Department of Management and Budget publication of June 1980. However, some dates were obtained from the Biennial Reports of the Board of Trustees and some from other sources. The several sources did not always indicate if the date given was the date the Legislature authorized construction of the building, or the date money was appropriated for its construction, or when construction was completed, or the date the building was opened. Therefore, there may be differences in the dates reported in this account as opposed to those reported in other historical accounts of the asylum/hospital. Most often the dates varied only one or two years from each other such Edwards Hospital, Van Deusen Hospital, Herman Ostrander Infirmary, etc. The two "asylum" buildings were named, Female Center Building and Male Center Building respectfully. In addition, they were named after some official that had been associated with the asylum/hospital, such as a former member of the Board of Trustees or a Medical Superintendent. For example, Palmer Cottage was named in honor of Dr. George C. Palmer, a Medical Superintendent, Rich Cottage was named in honor of John T. Rich, a past Governor of Michigan, etc.
Cottage No. 32 (Building No.32) was designated as Cottage A, when built in 1889, to house 30 male patients at an approximate cost of $15,000. It did not have a tower and was one of the smaller cottages. It had a half buried basement floor, two floors above ground and an attic. During the 1909-1910 biennial period, it was converted to a tuberculosis hospital for male patients. Its current placement is between Cottage No. 30 and No. 34 and is vacant.
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