1930 New Construction
Photo: The Hicks Company Tecumseh Michigan
Central School
The Central School was built 1929-1930.About three years after the opening of the school. A large 3 story structure, it was placed between the Assembly Building and the Boys Industrial Building. The designers this time would be father and son architects, Aaron and Nathaniel Gould. The design was also different then the origional buildings. A Spanish Revival style was used with a clay tile roof. A large swimming pool was built on the westside of the school and a large gymnasium was also part of the design. During the 1930's a "Works Project Adminstration" grant either built an enclosure or made improvments for the pool. This page is currently under construction Feb 15 2021
School and Gymnasium Image Gallery
1930
Photo Wayne County Board of Auditors
1942 Map
Photo WCTS
1983 Paroramic of the westside of the school taken from a super8 mm film and stitched together by Bill Ding
Photo Tim Wilson
A lot of fine detail was included to give magnifciaent aesthetics to the building.
Photo Jeff Archer
This photo merge made by Bill Ding with an origional blueprint
Photo Bill Ding/Gould and Son
Summer 1956 Lonnie Mcbee and another student with the westside of the school in the background
Photo Courtesy of Lonnie Mcbee
September 5, 1965. Sharon String with students in class.
Photo Detroit News
February 17, 1967. Students in class.
Photo Detroit News
February 17, 1967. Students in class.
Photo Detroit News
1960's Aerial photo
Photo Mark Buoniconto Courtesy of Bob Cummings
Circa 1978 West elevation
Photo Northville Historical Society
Late 1970's view of the Gymnasium from the north-west side of the balcony
Photo Northville Historical Society
Late 1970's view of the Gymnasium from the south-west side.
Photo Northville Historical Society
July 8, 1982. Lena Hembry surveys the vandalism that had started in the abandoned school/
Photo Northville Historical Society
Circa 1982
A fire in the south-west wing of the school
Photo Northville Record/Bill Bressler
July 8, 1982
A window destroyed by a shotgun blast.
Photo Detroit News
Late 80's Damage setting in and a blackboard removed.
Photo Jeff Archer
Reminders that this was once a place of much activity
Photo Jeff Archer
1980's
Photo John Wagner
Mid 1980's The gymnasium after a fire.
Photo Jeff Archer
Fire after fire was set in the school.
Photo Frank Koening
Exposure to the elements accelerated the deterioration.
Photo Jeff Archer
Fire and deterioration.
Photo Jeff Archer
Deterioration
Photo Jeff Archer
More damage
Photo Jeff Archer
This once grand school building was entering the end of its life.
Photo D-Funk
Sucumbing to endless fires and vandlism this building became a rotted out hulk. It managed to stand till demolition in 1998. existing for 68 years. The last 24 abandoned.
Photo D-Funk
Swimming Pool Image Gallery
WPA Project mid 30's
Photo Works Projects Adminstration/National Archives
Circa 1970 Swimming Pool
Photo Wayne County Training School
Circa 1978 Swimming Pool
Photo Northville Historical Society
July 8, 1982
The empty Swimming Pool
Photo Detroit News
1983 Panoramic of the empty swimming pool. Super 8mm film stitched together by Bill Ding
Photo Tim Wilson/Bill Ding
1980's As time moved on irreversible deterioration of the property slowly set in,
Photo Adaskas
1980's Skylights above the pool area.
Photo Jeff Archer
1980's
Photo Northville Historical Society
1990's
Photo Sloop John
1990's
Photo Jeff Archer
1990's
Photo Jeff Archer
1990's
Photo Unknown
1990's
Photo Sloop John
A surviving glass block from the westside of the pool area
Photo Bob Cummings
Post Closure Activities
The 1980 RNC was being held in Detroit. Training was held on the grounds with similated assasination attempts on canidates.Central School is seenonter background. Click here for more.
Photo Detroit News July 16, 1979
The early 1980's there was an effort to convert the property in senior housing. This was taken during a walk through the gym by Wayne County board members in 1981.
Photo Northville Historical Society
1990's. Even a broken leg would not discourage some from making the trip.
Photo Jason Rashid
Some came to create artistic portraits
Photo GED Crew
Many came to just explore and photograph.
Photo Unknown
Others just came to have a good time.
Photo Scarecrow
Some trespassers came armed with spray paint to add an artistic touch
Photo Unknown
1980's.
Access to the roof was in the south end fan room at the top of the stairs.
Photo Pivic
Photo Tterrab999
1980's.
The view was amazing. Many came to just chillout.
Photo Frank Koening
1980's
The fan room at the top of the stairs was a popular destination. Graffiti by the creator of this site in 1984.
1
Photo Jeff Archer
In the fan room was access to the attic of the school. We would brave the danger to pass through to the north fan room.
Photo Jeff Archer
A small vault was between the outside the south end of the school and the auditorum.
Photo Dave Brown
A view inside the vault.
Photo D-Funk
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