Historical Landmark yesteryear Queen Anne Victorian Castle

The history of the home began with Frank Henderson. Mr. Henderson was one of early Kalamazoo's most successful businessmen. He was the owner and president of Henderson-Ames Company. Henderson-Ames made uniform regalia for secret societies, fraternal organizations, and the military. Mr. Henderson's wife, Mary, had inherited a plot of undeveloped land on the western edge of Kalamazoo before the company's large success and Mr. Henderson dreamt of a grand suburb on this land. Allowing that dream to come to fruition, in 1888, he enlisted the help of surveyors, engineers, and landscape architects to plot the land and create Kalamazoo's first "natural site plan". In 1890, Mr. Henderson was ready to build his home in his new residential district.

The Henderson's had a grand housewarming party in 1895 at the completion of the castle's construction. Mr. Henderson died in 1899, however, his wife remained at the castle until she died in 1907. The castle was inherited by the Henderson children and it wasn't until 1919 that it was sold out of the family. Ten parties have owned Henderson Castle. Bertrand Hopper, President and Treasurer of Kalamazoo Stationery Company was the first.

In the 1920s, Hopper converted the brick stable on the property to a four car garage; it has since been transformed into a separate residence. After being vacant for several years, William Stuifbergen purchased the house in 1945, and divided it into several apartments. He and his family resided in one of the units.

In 1957, the house was deeded to the First National Bank, as trustee. The castle was considered for the Art Institute, but became the property of the renowned liberal arts school, Kalamazoo College, where the campus lies just a block to the south of the castle's grounds.

In 1975, Dr. Jess Walker bought the house and began a restoration process that continued under Frederick Royce, who purchased the property in 1981.



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Francois Louis Moyet and twin brother, Jean Luc, were born May 1, 1966 in Bourges, France. He also has a sister Ann. Their parents are Francis and Yvette Moyet.

Moyet began his culinary career at age 15. After three years of college, he graduated with a culinary technical degree. In December of 1984, Moyet went into the army for a year where he was assigned as a personal chef for the colonel and was also selected for an inter regiment competition to follow a 3-month French commando training program. At this time, he received his master’s degree in French culinary art.

He moved to Paris in 1985 and had varies opportunities to work in prestigious restaurants, “La tour d’argent” being one. During this time, he was blessed with a son, Clavy Guilman-Moyet, born 1986.

While at “La tour d’argent,” Francois had the opportunity to feed some of the most celebrated people on the planet at the time, including Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Ronald Reagan, and Fancois Miterand.

The young chef became a consultant for major food industry organizations such as Danone bsn, Nestle, Picard, Alsace lait. He was selected for an international exchange program with Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. There he met his wife, Catherine S. Holmes, director of the university. They have two daughters, Claire, b 1991 and Mathilde, b 1993.



After selling the restaurants he earned his degree in naturopathic medicine. When the opportunity to purchase Henderson Castle arose, Moyet decided to put both of his unique skills to work. Henderson Castle Boutique Inn and the Naturopathic Spa and Wellness Center were opened to the public on September 1, 2011.




The castle has had a history of financial demands and stress. Chef-entrepreneur Moyet has said, “My goal and my job is to find a sustainable recipe to make sure this castle will never bin trouble ever again.” Moyet resides at the cast, a true “Lord of the Manor.”