Detroit Public High School History: Architects

[Danny]

There was Everette Elementary in Dover St. north of Joy Rd. West of Southfield FWY. It was a mostly 2 floor concrete building with a office, auditorium. It did have a gymnasium and Lunchroom. Parts of the building was demolished to make way from Cody High School in 1952. Everette remained an elementary school until it converted as part of the 9th grade wing. It was closed from a while when most of the its students were transfered to Ruddiman Middle School as Cody 9th Grade wing. After the gang shooting incident on the corner of W.Warren Ave and Southfield FWY. in 2010, The Cody 9th grade wing was closed for good and its students were transfered back to Cody's 9th grade wing [[formally Everette Elementary).

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[EastsideAl]

I think most of those fences are there to keep kids from doing what we used to do - cut across and hang out on the lawns - and thus to let the grass grow. The higher fence on the right was around the old playground in order to keep stray balls from flying out into the street or nearby houses. But much of what was the playground has been paved over and re-purposed as a parking lot.

[p69rrh51]

High School	HS Period	Address	Built, Additions	Architect
Mumford	1949-2012	17525 Wyoming	1949	McGrath and Dohmen
Mumford	2012-present	17525 Wyoming	2012	Hamilton Anderson Associates
Nordstrum	1916-1922	6921 W. Fort	1916	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Northeastern	1916-1982	4830, 4872 Grandy	1916	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Northern	1917-2008	9026 Woodward	1917	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Northwestern	1911-1980	6300 Grand River	1911	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Northwestern	1980-present	2200 W. Grand Blvd.	1980	Unknown
Osborn	1957-present	11600 E. 7 Mile	1957	Unknown
Pershing	1930-present	18875 Ryan	1930	Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls
Philip Murray Murray-Wright	1965-1967 1967-2007	2001 W. Warren	1965	Unknown
Redford	1921-2007	21431 Grand River	1921, many add’s	Burrowes & Eurich
Renaissance	1978-2005	6565 W. Outer Drive	1951	Charles D. Hannan
Renaissance	2005-present	6565 W. Outer Drive	2005	Gunn Levine
Southeastern	1917-present	3030 Fairview	1917, 1918, 1930, 2005	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Southwestern	1922-2012	6921 W. Fort	1922, 1926	Malcomson, Higginbotham & Palmer
Western	1898-1935	1500 Scotten	1898	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Western	1937-present	1500 Scotten	1937	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Wilbur Wright	1928-1967	4333 Twelfth	1928	Unknown
Wilkins	1918-1922	S. Porter & Second	1869	Unknown

I found the sight with all the nominated schools looks like its back up.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...AL01/100702003

[MrWCF]

Thanks! I spent today in Lansing gathering info at the State Historic Preservation Office, so I'll add it this weekend.

[p69rrh51]

Thanks! I spent today in Lansing gathering info at the State Historic Preservation Office, so I'll add it this weekend.

I was going through my notes Lara F. Osborn High School-Smith Hinchman & Grylls 1954. Noted in the book Smith, Hinchman & Grylls 125 years of Architecture and Engineering, written by Thomas J. Holleman and James P. Gallagher, published by Wayne State University Press 1978.

[MrWCF]

After a visit to Lansing's State Historic Preservation Office, I got many of the missing high school architects, and got a correction or two to my initial information. I can list all of them if anyone is interested. [[I also have architect information on middle schools and elementary schools.) Anyway, toward my original purpose, here are the Detroit public high school buildings for which I still don't have architects [[if anyone can help):

HIGH SCHOOL	HS PERIOD	ADDRESS	BUILT, ADDITIONS
Aero Mechanics	1943-1968	13214 French	Unknown
Aero Mechanics Davis Aero Tech	1968-1982 1982-present	10200 Erwin	Unknown
Capitol	1893-1896	Jefferson & Randolph	1849
Cass Technical Commerce Commerce	1912-1922 1912-1918 1922-1964	Second & Grand River	1912
Cass Union Cass Technical Commerce	1907-1910 1910-1912 1909-1912	Second & Grand River	1861, 1907, 1910
Crockett Tech	1992-2006	571 Mack	Unknown
Detroit	1858-1863	1354 Broadway	1858
Eastern	1895-1897	3524 E. Canfield	1890
Eastern	1897-1901	3622 Pulford	1897
Eastern M.L. King	1966-1968 1968-2011	3200 E. Lafayette	1966
Higgins	1907-1913	9200 Olivet	1878, 1895
Hunter	1920-1922	530 S. Colonial	1914, 1920
Northwestern	1980-present	2200 W. Grand Blvd.	1980
Philip Murray Murray-Wright	1965-1967 1967-2007	2001 W. Warren	1965
Wilkins	1918-1922	S. Porter & Second	1869

[p69rrh51]

After a visit to Lansing's State Historic Preservation Office, I got many of the missing high school architects, and got a correction or two to my initial information. I can list all of them if anyone is interested. [[I also have architect information on middle schools and elementary schools.) Anyway, toward my original purpose, here are the Detroit public high school buildings for which I still don't have architects [[if anyone can help):

HIGH SCHOOL	HS PERIOD	ADDRESS	BUILT, ADDITIONS
Aero Mechanics	1943-1968	13214 French	Unknown
Aero Mechanics Davis Aero Tech	1968-1982 1982-present	10200 Erwin	Unknown
Capitol	1893-1896	Jefferson & Randolph	1849
Cass Technical Commerce Commerce	1912-1922 1912-1918 1922-1964	Second & Grand River	1912
Cass Union Cass Technical Commerce	1907-1910 1910-1912 1909-1912	Second & Grand River	1861, 1907, 1910
Crockett Tech	1992-2006	571 Mack	Unknown
Detroit	1858-1863	1354 Broadway	1858
Eastern	1895-1897	3524 E. Canfield	1890
Eastern	1897-1901	3622 Pulford	1897
Eastern M.L. King	1966-1968 1968-2011	3200 E. Lafayette	1966
Higgins	1907-1913	9200 Olivet	1878, 1895
Hunter	1920-1922	530 S. Colonial	1914, 1920
Northwestern	1980-present	2200 W. Grand Blvd.	1980
Philip Murray Murray-Wright	1965-1967 1967-2007	2001 W. Warren	1965
Wilkins	1918-1922	S. Porter & Second	1869

Could you post the list with the architects please? I am very interested in the firm that designed Cody.

[Kathleen]

I second that. I'm very interested in seeing who designed which schools!! Thank you!!

[MrWCF]

OK, here they are in a 3-part post:

HIGH SCHOOL	HS PERIOD	ADDRESS	BUILT, ADDITIONS	ARCHITECT
Aero Mechanics	1943-1968	13214 French	Unknown	Unknown
Aero Mechanics Davis Aero Tech	1968-1982 1982-present	10200 Erwin	Unknown	Unknown
Capitol	1863-1893	State & Griswold	1832, 1875	Obed Wait
Capitol	1893-1896	Jefferson & Randolph	1849	Unknown
Cass Technical Commerce Commerce	1912-1922 1912-1918 1922-1964	Second & Grand River	1912	Unknown
Cass Technical	1922-2005	2421 Second	1922, 1985	Malcomson & Higginbotham Albert Kahn & Associates
Cass Technical	2005-present	2501 Second	2005	TMP Associates
Cass Union Cass Technical Commerce	1907-1910 1910-1912 1909-1912	Second & Grand River	1861, 1907, 1910	Unknown
Central	1926-present	2425 Tuxedo	1925	Malcomson, Higginbotham & Palmer
Chadsey	1931-2009	5335 Martin	1931, 1963, 1980	N. Chester Sorensen
Cody	1952-present	18445 Cathedral	1945, 1955	Giffels and Vallet
Cooley	1928-2010	15055 Hubbell	1927	Donaldson and Meier
Crockett Tech	1992-2006	571 Mack	Unknown	Unknown
Crockett Tech	2006-2012	8950 Saint Cyril	1924	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Denby	1930-present	12800 Kelly	1930, 1938	Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls
Detroit	1858-1863	1354 Broadway	1858	Unknown

[MrWCF]

HIGH SCHOOL	HS PERIOD	ADDRESS	BUILT, ADDITIONS	ARCHITECT
Detroit Central	1896-1926	4841 Cass	1895, 1907	Malcomson & Higginbotham
E English Village	2012-present	5020 Cadieux	2012	Albert Kahn and Associates
East Commerce	1926-1957	8411 Sylvester	1910, 1915, 1922	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Eastern	1895-1897	3524 E. Canfield	1890	Unknown
Eastern	1897-1901	3622 Pulford	1897	Unknown
Eastern	1901-1966	7200 Mack	1901, 1908	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Eastern M.L. King	1966-1968 1968-2011	3200 E. Lafayette	1966	Unknown
Finney	1964-2008	17200 Southampton	1928, 1931, 1939, 1949, 1956, 1964, 1971, 1980	Austin Howe Eberle M. Smith Associates
Finney	2008-2012	4180 Marlborough	1928, 1932	Bernard C. Wetzel and Co.
Henry Ford	1959-present	20000 Evergreen	1956, 1962	Giffels and Vallet
Higgins	1907-1913	9200 Olivet	1878, 1895	Unknown
Hunter	1920-1922	530 S. Colonial	1914, 1920	Unknown
Kettering	1965-2012	6101 Van Dyke	1965	Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls
M.L. King	2011-present	3200 E. Lafayette	2011	TMP Associates
Mackenzie	1928-2007	9275 Wyoming	1928, 1931, 1938, 1950, 1983	Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls
McMillan	1907-1916	615 S. West End	1895, 1922	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Miller	1933-1957	2322 Dubois	1919, 1922, 1931, 1951	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Mumford	1949-2012	17525 Wyoming	1948, 1952, 1954	McGrath and Dohmen
Mumford	2012-present	17525 Wyoming	2012	Hamilton Anderson Associates

[MrWCF]

HIGH SCHOOL	HS PERIOD	ADDRESS	BUILT, ADDITIONS	ARCHITECT
Nordstrum	1916-1922	6921 W. Fort	1915	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Northeastern	1916-1982	4830, 4872 Grandy	1916	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Northern	1916-2008	9026 Woodward	1914, 1926, 1928, 1933, 1977	Malcomson & Higginbotham Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls
Northwestern	1911-1980	6300 Grand River	1911	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Northwestern	1980-present	2200 W. Grand Blvd.	1980	Unknown
Osborn	1957-present	11600 E. 7 Mile	1957, 1961, 1962	Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls
Pershing	1930-present	18875 Ryan	1929, 1931, 1939, 1946, 1950, 1952	Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls
Philip Murray Murray-Wright	1965-1967 1967-2007	2001 W. Warren	1965	Unknown
Redford	1921-2007	21431 Grand River	1921, 1925, 1938, 1947, 1955, 1974, 1982	Burrowes & Eurich Dirk Van Reyendham N. Chester Sorensen C. Gabler
Renaissance	1978-2005	6565 W. Outer Drive	1951	Charles D. Hannan
Renaissance	2005-present	6565 W. Outer Drive	2005	Gunn Levine
Southeastern	1917-present	3030 Fairview	1915, 1918, 1930, 2005	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Southwestern	1922-2012	6921 W. Fort	1921, 1926, 1970	Malcomson, Higginbotham & Palmer
Western	1898-1935	1500 Scotten	1897, 1907	Malcomson & Higginbotham
Western	1937-present	1500 Scotten	1937, 1976	N. Chester Sorensen
Wilbur Wright	1928-1967	4333 Twelfth	1928, 1941, 1952, 1966	Henry M. Martens
Wilkins	1918-1922	S. Porter & Second	1869, 1873	Unknown

[p69rrh51]

Thx MrWCF for your hard work. Now time to throw a curve ball. I am posting the AIA questionnaire from 1953 for the firm of Herman & Simons. Although no names are listed there is a notation for a high school built in Detroit in 1951. Now is the school DPS or a parochial school?

[MrWCF]

Thx MrWCF for your hard work. Now time to throw a curve ball. I am posting the AIA questionnaire from 1953 for the firm of Herman & Simons. Although no names are listed there is a notation for a high school built in Detroit in 1951. Now is the school DPS or a parochial school?

Well.... Catholic Central moved to its new building at 6565 W. Outer Drive [[future home of Renaissance HS) in 1951. The good people at Catholic Central told me that Charles Hannan was the architect. Perhaps he was affiliated with, or employed by, Herman & Simons?

[scribe114]

Some information on construction dates and additions

Chadsey: Original plant completed in 1931, Phys. Ed unit 1963.

The final addition [[Math, Social Studies, Art, Music, JROTC) on the back of the school was started in 1982 and actually completed in February 1983 during my Freshman year there. Most of the windows on the wings of the building were enclosed and made single windows to conserve energy.

We completely moved out of the Munger Junior High building next door at the start of the second semester. We moved late due to the teachers strike that year.

Eastern/M.L. King: Was built by Smith Hinchman and Grylis the same group that constructed Kettering. Both were built to split up the Old Eastern attendance area. Auditorium was completed in 1983, my brothers class was the first to graduate at King. All of King's graduations prior were held at Kettering.

Auditorium is the only part of the original building that remains on the new King campus construction.

Old Eastern E. Grand Blvd and Mack: Physical Education wing and pool was built between 1927-28. Cafeteria was completed in 1929.

Hard site to expand on because it was landlocked. I used to go swimming there in the summers since I lived a block away, my mother also graduated from Eastern and said they used Belle Isle for most of their athletic events. Was renamed John Dancy Night School when the new Eastern was opened and was closed and tore down in 1986.

Western: Health unit was constructed in 1924, it is the only part of the building that survived the fire in 1935 that destroyed the original building.

Cody: Construction began in 1949 occupied in January of 1952 with final addition completed in 1955. Total cost of 5.65 million. Original attendance boundaries were Fullerton to the North, Greenfield to the East and the City Limits to the south and west.

Will pass along more info as I open some trunks.

[MrWCF]

Some information on construction dates and additions

Chadsey: Original plant completed in 1931, Phys. Ed unit 1963.

The final addition [[Math, Social Studies, Art, Music, JROTC) on the back of the school was started in 1982 and actually completed in February 1983 during my Freshman year there. Most of the windows on the wings of the building were enclosed and made single windows to conserve energy.

We completely moved out of the Munger Junior High building next door at the start of the second semester. We moved late due to the teachers strike that year.

Eastern/M.L. King: Was built by Smith Hinchman and Grylis the same group that constructed Kettering. Both were built to split up the Old Eastern attendance area. Auditorium was completed in 1983, my brothers class was the first to graduate at King. All of King's graduations prior were held at Kettering.

Auditorium is the only part of the original building that remains on the new King campus construction.

Old Eastern E. Grand Blvd and Mack: Physical Education wing and pool was built between 1927-28. Cafeteria was completed in 1929.

Hard site to expand on because it was landlocked. I used to go swimming there in the summers since I lived a block away, my mother also graduated from Eastern and said they used Belle Isle for most of their athletic events. Was renamed John Dancy Night School when the new Eastern was opened and was closed and tore down in 1986.

Western: Health unit was constructed in 1924, it is the only part of the building that survived the fire in 1935 that destroyed the original building.

Cody: Construction began in 1949 occupied in January of 1952 with final addition completed in 1955. Total cost of 5.65 million. Original attendance boundaries were Fullerton to the North, Greenfield to the East and the City Limits to the south and west.

Will pass along more info as I open some trunks.

Wonderful information--thank you so much!

[MrWCF]

<snip> Will pass along more info as I open some trunks.

Wish I had trunks like yours--it would have saved me many, many hours of hunting.

[scribe114]

Mumford HS original attendance boundaries in 1949: East to Woodward, South to McNichols, North to Baseline [[8 Mile Road) and West to Southfield Rd.

[Pontiac6000]

Who built the former Guest Elementary at Fenkell and Meyers [[Closed early 10s)...? Also, the Guest Primary [[built early 70s), that was later sold to a church?