Detroit Public High School History: Architects

[MrWCF]

I've found the architects of many of the buildings in which Detroit public high schools are/were housed, but 20 of them have remained elusive. I wonder if anyone can help in solving these mysteries. [[Some will be very difficult, I believe.) Here they are:

1. Capitol HS was temporarily housed in the Biddle House Hotel at Jefferson and Randolph from 1893 to 1896. The hotel was built in 1849.

2. Detroit HS began in a building on Miami Ave. [[now a vacant lot at 1354 Broadway) between Gratiot and Grand River. The HS was housed there from 1858 to 1863.

3. A building built in 1861 and enlarged in 1907 and 1910 at Second and Grand River housed Cass Union HS from 1907 to 1910, Cass Tech HS from 1910 to 1912, and Commerce HS from 1909 to 1912. Most of it burned down in 1912.

4. A building built on the same site as #3 at Second and Grand River in 1912 housed Cass Tech HS from 1912 to 1922, and Commerce HS from 1912 to 1918 and 1922 to 1964. It was demolished in 1964 to make way for the Fisher Fwy.

5. The Wilkins School was built in 1869 and was located on South Porter between Second and Third. It housed Commerce HS from 1918 to 1922.

6. The Higgins School at 9200 Olivet was built in 1878 and enlarged in 1895. It housed Higgins HS from 1907 to 1913. [[Another school was built on the same site in 1930.)

7. The Williams School built in 1890 at 3524 E. Canfield housed Eastern HS from 1895 to 1897.

8. The Harris School built in 1897 at 3622 Pulford housed Eastern HS from 1897 to 1901.

9. The Hunter School built in 1914 and enlarged in 1920 at 530 S. Colonial housed Hunter HS from 1920 to 1922.

10. Nordstrum HS was built in 1916 at 6921 Fort and was merged into Southwestern HS in 1922.

11. Burroughs School built in 1924 at 8950 Saint Cyril housed Crockett Tech HS from 2006 to 2012.

12. Wilbur Wright HS [[1928-1967) was built in 1928 at 4333 12th street.

13. Pershing HS [[1930-present) was built in 1930 at 18875 Ryan.

14. Cody HS [[1952-present) was built in 1952 at 18445 Cathedral.

15. Henry Ford HS [[1959-present) was built in 1957 at 20000 Evergreen.

16. Osborn HS [[1957-present) was built in 1957 at 11600 E. 7 Mile.

17. Philip Murray HS [[1965-1967) / Murray-Wright HS [[1967-2007) was built in 1965 at 2001 W. Warren.

18. Eastern HS [[1966-1968) / M.L. King HS [[1968-2011) was built in 1966 at 3200 E. Lafayette. [[A new building was built on the site in 2011.)

19. Northwestern HS [[1980-present) was built beginning in 1972 and finishing in 1980 at 2200 W. Grand Blvd.

20. Crockett Tech was housed at 571 Mack from 1992 to 2006.

Any help in solving any of these mysteries would be most appreciated!

[p69rrh51]

Pershing-Smith, Hinchman & Grylls 1929
Henry Ford-Giffels & Vallet 1956
Nordstrum-Malcomson & Higginbotham 1915

[MrWCF]

Thank you--very much appreciated! I suspected Smith Hinchman Grylls for Pershing because they did Denby. I also suspected Malcomson Higginbotham for Nordstrum because they did Southwestern. But I could never confirm either of them. Might I ask the sources for your three answers? [[I'm writing a book on the history of Detroit public High Schools.)

[p69rrh51]

Thank you--very much appreciated! I suspected Smith Hinchman Grylls for Pershing because they did Denby. I also suspected Malcomson Higginbotham for Nordstrum because they did Southwestern. But I could never confirm either of them. Might I ask the sources for your three answers? [[I'm writing a book on the history of Detroit public High Schools.)

The recent survey for the 3 schools nomination for inclusion on the national register. Great project I will look forward to the finished product!

[MrWCF]

I'd like to read more on the survey; can you give the URL for the survey [[if it's online), or the publication [[if it's not online)? Thanks!

[p69rrh51]

I'd like to read more on the survey; can you give the URL for the survey [[if it's online), or the publication [[if it's not online)? Thanks!

The list was originally online, but it is now down. If I remember the Detroit News had something to do with the online list. You could contact the National Trust they might be able to help you. For those on Facebook a link to my Malcomson & Higginbotham album. Many of the schools in album are part of the nominations.


https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...6515382&type=3

[MrWCF]

Pershing-Smith, Hinchman & Grylls 1929
Henry Ford-Giffels & Vallet 1956
Nordstrum-Malcomson & Higginbotham 1915

I think Vallet might be a typo; it should be Valet, if I'm not mistaken.

[p69rrh51]

I think Vallet might be a typo; it should be Valet, if I'm not mistaken.

I think you are right, heavy fingers sometimes. Most of the images were taken within the last 2 years.

[gazhekwe]

This will be a fascinating read for sure. I found this letter which describes on page 3 the history of McMillan as an all grades school, designed by Malcolmson an Higginbotham. When one principal was transferred to Nordstrum in 1916, he took the high school division with him.

https://www.detroitmi.gov/LinkClick....=3096&mid=4357

[Islandman]

Was it true that there is used to be another school across from Cass Tech that started as a pickle factory or some sort of factory? I remember abn older lady telling me this story. Apparently there was a bridge between the two?

Ringing any bells for anyone?

[EastsideAl]

I know nothing about a pickle factory, but Commerce High was joined to Cass Tech by a bridge across Vernor for many years. Commerce was torn down, and Vernor ripped up, for the construction of the Fisher Freeway [[I-75) in the mid-1960s.

Commerce was originally built as Cass Tech in 1912, and Cass was there until it moved across the street into it's big new building in 1922. Before 1912 the Commerce High site was the location of the Cass Union School, which had been started on the land of the Lewis Cass farm around 1860 as a vocational training school for young men.

A couple pictures of Cass showing the bridge to Commerce:

[Islandman]

Thanks EastsideAl, that was it.

[65memories]

http://historicdetroit.org/building/...gh-school-old/

[DetroitPlanner]

I am not sure who did Cody but I am willing to bet it was the same people who did State Hall at WSU. When I first walked into State Hall I was instantly transported back to when I attended Kindergarten and Summer School there.

It was like when I walked into either the Library of Congress or Supreme Court and was instantly transported to the Main DPL [[JP Crete).

[Kathleen]

I am not sure who did Cody but I am willing to bet it was the same people who did State Hall at WSU. When I first walked into State Hall I was instantly transported back to when I attended Kindergarten and Summer School there.

It was like when I walked into either the Library of Congress or Supreme Court and was instantly transported to the Main DPL [[JP Crete).

State Hall was designed by Suren Pilafian in 1948.

And the main Detroit Public Library was designed by Cass Gilbert. Paul Philippe Cret designed the Detroit Institute of Arts.

[DetroitPlanner]

State Hall was designed by Suren Pilafian in 1948.

And the main Detroit Public Library was designed by Cass Gilbert. Paul Philippe Cret designed the Detroit Institute of Arts.

You are correct. Thanks, I was going off of memory. Have not studied much architecture for the last 25 years.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

Who was the architect of Cooley High School, and what year was it built? Cooley had the most distinctive and beautiful design of all the Detroit High Schools IMHO.

[p69rrh51]

Who was the architect of Cooley High School, and what year was it built? Cooley had the most distinctive and beautiful design of all the Detroit High Schools IMHO.

One of Donaldson & Meier's best non religious designs built in 1927. A link to my D&M Facebook album.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...6515382&type=3

[Kathleen]

Working for Malcolmson & Higginbotham at the time, Wirt Roland is the architect credited with these three high schools:

Northwestern High School [[1911)
Northern High School [[1915)
Southeastern High School [[1915)

Rowland's name is on the cornerstone at Northern HS.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

Thx for the great photos I was also wondering when my old Elementary School, MacDowell on West Outer Drive in Detroit was built, and whom was it named after? It looks to be a art deco design much like Mumford High was, so I'm assuming it was built in the 40's or 50's. I believe it's closed now, however it appears to still be in great condition, the last time I rode by.

[EastsideAl]

Slightly off topic, but I've often wondered who designed the elementary school I attended, Nichols at Burns & Goethe. The original 1910 building is a pretty interesting design with some very nice details for a neighborhood school.

[p69rrh51]

Slightly off topic, but I've often wondered who designed the elementary school I attended, Nichols at Burns & Goethe. The original 1910 building is a pretty interesting design with some very nice details for a neighborhood school.

The school is most likely Malcomson & Higginbotham but unfortunately there is no evidence to support the guess. I did find reference to M&H for the 1919 addition in a 1919 issue of Michigan Architect and Eingineer.

[bailey]

Slightly off topic, but I've often wondered who designed the elementary school I attended, Nichols at Burns & Goethe. The original 1910 building is a pretty interesting design with some very nice details for a neighborhood school.

Is all that fence really necessary? It looks like a minimum security prison or psych ward or something.

[stasu1213]

I would like to know the architect of Zacariah Chandler Elementary[[1909-2002) and Levi Barbour Junior High School [[1921-20-?

[p69rrh51]

I would like to know the architect of Zacariah Chandler Elementary[[1909-2002) and Levi Barbour Junior High School [[1921-20-?

Levi Barbour Junior High School 4225 Seneca built in 1921 Detroit Public Schools Detroit, MI. Designed by Malcomson & Higginbotham.

One of 88 schools in the city nominated for inclusion on the national register.