An Abandoned Detroit School, Now And Then. [25], A new campus opened in May 2005 in an adjacent lot on Grand River Avenue to the north of the original building. A 1,000-seat auditorium was added in 1930. In the Cass Tech project, images Duce took of the destroyed school were layered with photos from the 1980s and 1990s that came from a box of negatives found in the old yearbook room. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . See top plays & highlights of the best high school sports. In 2000, the Detroit Public School District announced plans for construction of the current modern Cass Tech building, which was built in 2004. The original swimming pool, which was closed after the addition was added in the 1980s. Looking north up Grand River on April 17, 2009, at Cass Tech and its 1980s addition. Heres what they had to say. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. . CASS TECH picture photo CASS TECH HIGH photo - Jan Kaulins Photo Art In the Spring of 2006 the new Cass Tech High School, being built next door (out of view to the right side of this photograph) opened its doors. Demolition began in December 2010 and was completed in August 2011. Paul Hitz (www.paulhitzphotography.com) for HistoricDetroit.org. Regardless of how you look at it, Detroits been through a lot, and has some battle wounds to show for its fights. Detroiturbex is attempting to bring attention to these ghostly remains through a photo project highlighting the city's abandoned buildings. In 2017, when I came back, a piece of me died inside. Over 90% of the material in the building was recycled for other uses or as backfill. The fight over an iconic high school may be coming to a head in Detroit: Cass Technical High School was closed six years ago after a new school was built next door, but the old. Detroits copper and brass rolling mills. People on this list must have gone to Cass Technical High School and be of some renown. Its like a ghost town, right in the middle of what used to be life. The derelict cornerstones of the same city hall lie cast aside. First built to serve Redford Township, the city later annexed this region and integrated it with the Detroit Public Schools system. Taken between 1900 and 1920, this photo shows the reading room in the Detroit Public Library. Cass Technical High School Alumni, Class Reunions, Yearbooks, Technicians Classmates, and more! Cass students in one of the school's gyms. Students work on engines in a Cass Tech shop class. Comments (-1) SPIRIT Club Minutes. Cooley High School was built for a growing Detroit population in Detroits northwest side. [24] Tolan came to be known as the "Midnight Express". This part of the website blends pictures from the past with the current state today. Pictured here in 1905. Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library. I got along with everyone. The old structure caught fire in 2007, and was eventually demolished in November 2011. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. How Cass Tech has changed over the years. The area was like, Did our parents really love us? There were drug dealers, hookersit was skid row. Although my parents didnt attend, they understood about it being a college prep and pushed me to go. Comments (-1) The Workforce of Tomorrow Roundtable. Also, many of these schools were architectural gems designed by some of the citys most renowned firms and designers. 1900-1915. Watch. Heres where that careful what you wish for piece comes in. Abandoned Detroit School Given Life Through Photos Lewis Cass Technical High School, demolished in 2011, was one of Detroit's largest high schools. 163 Cass Technical High School Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images In 1950 Detroit was the city of tomorrow. Student Life. (source), Opened to the public in 1915, the Detroit Athletic Club remains among the most elegant private clubs in the United States, thanks to constant maintenance and care from its members. (source). All these neighborhoods were occupied, now all of houses in the neighborhoods are gone. The school board argued that it would cost more to renovate the structure than to build a brand-new one, citing problems with the buildings outdated electrical, heating, and plumbing systems, the undersized gymnasium and library, as well as the leaking roofs. In an NPR interview, Jack White of the White Stripes, one of the schools most famous alumnus, articulated this sentiment: Going to school there at 14 was like all of a sudden you were going to Harvard or something, he said. Classrooms were left full of desks when the school district abandoned the landmark. 2023 Getty Images. These images were then combined with more recent snapshots of the school's ruinous last years, revealing the empty halls and untouched equipment that were left to decay. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Sep 20, 2021 - Cass Tech High School (old) - Old photos gallery Historic Detroit. Confronting Satan in a Dark Spanish Castle. The incredible Stone Hedge mansion, built for Detroit Tigers owner Walter O. Briggs, is listing for $1,050,000. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Part of HuffPost Entertainment. Photo taken by Raygirl. In addition to being one of Detroits highest performing schools, Cass Tech was also a historical landmark with an illustrious list of famous alumni like Alice Coltrane, Diana Ross, David Alan Grier, and Big Sean to name a few. All rights reserved. Share your memories by posting photos or stories, or find out about your next class reunion! Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Old Cass Tech and Michigan Central Station. Cass Technical High School Opened in 1907, the original Cass Technical High School, commonly referred to as Cass Tech, was located at 2501 Second Avenue in Detroit. [7] The 1922 building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in March 2011. [3] It was established in 1907 and is part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Old Cass Technical High School, Opened in 1922 In addition to being one of Detroit's highest performing schools, Cass Tech was also a historical landmark with an illustrious list of. Present-day Detroit from the same vantage point. Though I took two to three buses to get to school every day, my experience was great. Cass Technical High School | Detroit Historical Society In 2005 the main building was abandoned with the remaining students occupying an adjacent addition. [4], Until 1977, Cass was Detroit's only magnet school and the only non-neighborhood enrollment school in Detroit. This page is not available in other languages. Cass Tech High School . Then-and-Now Photos of Abandoned Detroit School | Bored Panda The Bishops Mansion, Detroits largest residence, sells for $2.7M. Photo from 1910-1920. No purchase necessary. Cass Tech High School: Detroit's Unsung Bastion of Music Education Demolition. And, in the words of the former principal George Cohen, nostalgia doesnt fix the cracks.. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Built in a style of gothic construction at the beginning of the 20th century, Cass Tech was a symbol of success for one of Detroits only magnet schools; it was demolished in 2011. [14] Cass Tech students' strong academic performances draw recruiters from across the country, including Ivy League representatives eager to attract the top minority applicants. Named in honor of Lewis Cass, the school was located on the top floor of the old Cass Union School, a three-story brick building built in 1861 on a farm donated by Lewis Cass. Reminiscing with alumni about gorgeous former Detroit high schools It had a capacity of 3,600 students and was connected to the High School of Commerce, which opened earlier the same year in Cass Tech's former building, by Victory Memorial Arch, a pedestrian bridge over Main Street that was a memorial to students killed in the war. List of famous alumni from Cass Technical High School, with photos when available. [20], The concert band program rose to prominence under the direction of Harry Begian, who led the Cass Tech bands from 1947 through 1964. [citation needed] He was the first African-American to receive the title of the "world's fastest human" after winning gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters events at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Offer subject to change without notice. Although I hated to see it demolished, the building isnt what makes us great. Photo Essay: Senior year in the age of COVID - Chalkbeat Detroit Historic Briggs mansion in Boston-Edison lists for just over $1M. [6][7], The former building, including the extension, was left vacant (with classroom fittings and supplies inside). The operator of the tank driving school in the East German . It was ultimately demolished in 2012. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. OC hosted a roundtable discussion about industry and workforce ready graduates. To get a sense of what it was like to go to some of these closed or demolished schools, we spoke with alumni who attended three of them. Media outlets have labeled the once thriving Motor City "a ghost town," referencing the dilapidated ruins of buildings that remain untouched in parts of Michigan's largest city. I attended because I had a first cousin who also graduated from Cass. Then they put the pictures of the buzzing life from the . I have memories of running down the halls and writing my name on the walls. In the foreground, the desintegrating old Cass Tech High School that is often featured in media reports on Detroit, eclipsing the snazzy new Cass Tech located immediately . I was never fearful going to school because all of them respected Cass Tech as place of higher learning and knew that us kids came from miles away in the dark to go to school each day. Cass Tech was a proud educational landmark in downtown Detroit. Entrance is based on test scores and middle school grades. Cass Tech Apparel - Cass Tech Shop Us going down to the basement and security come after us. Like all stories told about a place by outsiders, those on the inside see things quite differently. Naima Mora (born March 1, 1984) is an American fashion model and the winner of Cycle 4 of America's Next Top Model. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University. Cass Tech High School (old) - Old photos | Cass tech, Detroit history This list of distinguished Cass Technical High School alumni is loosely ordered by relevance, so the most recognizable celebrities who attended Cass Technical High School are at the top of the list. Back then, the Cass Corridor had a lot of homeless peopleyou would step over them just get to school. Cass Technical High School serves 2,465 students in grades 9-12. Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library. Jumping out the windows to get out of the classrooms, since it wasnt that far down. These plans were met with resistance, as many alumni felt the original building would be emotionally difficult to demolish. Ground was broken in 2002, and a ribbon cutting took place three years later in 2005, though the old building was not demolished. As a result schools and homes which were quickly built to support a growing industry in the 20s and 30s have since been abandoned, subject to arson or demolished. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. The Slate Group LLC. 1 of 21 Detroiturbex Abandoned Detroit School Given Life Through Photos The original Cass Technical High School was built in 1922, and for over 80 years, the drab, antiquated eight-story structure was full of thousands of secondary school students.. Transcending: Detroits monument to the labor movement. [citation needed] In 2013 CTMB went to the 2013 inauguration for President Barack Obama. Lewis Cass Technical High School, demolished in 2011, was one of Detroit's largest high schools. The first class graduated in 1910 with only six or seven students, but by 1909 enrollment jumped to 700 students and a new wing was added to the Cass Union School to accommodate the increased enrollment. Pinterest. [16] In 2021, U.S. News ranked Cass Tech 84th among Michigan high schools, and reported a 62.9% percentile score on the SAT. At the end of the 2009-2010 school year, Cooley High School closed due to budget deficits and decreased enrollment. Prominent graduates from Cass Technical High School include celebrities, politicians, business people, athletes and more. A lot of people felt it was overwhelming with that many people. You would ride the bus to school arm to arm sitting on each other back, then wait in all these lines to get in the school. Patrick Krupa (www.patrickrupa.com) for HistoricDetroit.org The cafeteria in the 1980s addition Mark Hall for HistoricDetroit.org Cass Tech (Detroit, MI) High School Sports - Football, Basketball Detroiturbex.com - Cass Technical High School: Now and Then All Rights Reserved. Even if your parents were dogging you, you had your friends at school that you could hang out with and would always look out for each other. It was designed by Malcolmson & Higginbotham with additional architectural support from Albert Kahn. RF T09F84 - High angle view of a vintage camera, film, photo paper and light meter. All rights reserved. School photo 70s hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy Comedian, Theatrical producer, Television producer, Record producer, Television producer, Film Producer. [10][11], In 2008, due to declining enrollment, teacher staffing was reduced and some classes that were not very popular with students were removed. It was like a college in high school. We had hoped to provoke substantive discussion about the school, its past, and its future., Dismantling Cass Tech was a controversial decision. One of its recent projects focuses on Cass Technical High School, a building damaged by a fire in 2007 and later demolished in 2011. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Pep band makes their way through a crowd. In loving memory ..Detroit Redford High School, Revisit these 5 Curbed Detroit stories that have nothing to do with coronavirus. Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer, actress, and record producer. Cass Tech Photos Of An Abandoned Detroit School (PHOTOS) Translate Language. What Ill always take with me is basketball, the camaraderie and cheering. Detroit Urbexs series was influenced by the work of photographer Camilo Jos Vergara, who has documented the evolution of American cities taking the exact same photograph over a period of time, sometimes over decades. casstechnicalhighschool photos on Flickr | Flickr [citation needed]. OCTECHS Top Ten 2023. [1], Of the students attending Cass Technical High School in 202122, 1,832 (76.2%) of them are Black, 277 (11.5%) are Hispanic, 223 (9.3%) are Hispanic, 57 (2,4%) are White, 6 (0.2%) are American Indian or Alaska Native, and 9 (0.4%) are multi-racial. (source). 2501 Second Ave. Detroit, MI 48201-2601. Detroits 10 best social media accounts for architecture and homes, Locations in Detroit with ties to Inside the Actors Studio host James Lipton, Pope designates Ste. He set world records in the 100-yard dash and 100 meters event and Olympic records in the 100 meters and 200 meters events. The city was splendid before the advent of the automobile, and later set an example for the nation (if not the world) on how to stoke an economic and social boom. [7] The alumni association announced plans in April 2007 to renovate it as a multi-use center including arts spaces, retail, and residences,[6] but in July 2007 a fire damaged the 1922 section. One of the most photographed landmarks in Detroit is a monument to the labor movement in Michigan. Atlas Obscura is proud to present this post as part of a partnership with the excellentPalladium Boots, who encourage you to explore your street, city, and the world. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. The CTMB (marching band), under the direction of Sharon Allen, has performed for Patti LaBelle, Sinbad, and Jay Z as well as various college and university homecomings. Circa 1929. The specter of Michigan Central Station has become emblematic of the dichotomy between Detroits past and present state. A 3D look inside the 1922 building. It is named after Lewis Cass. But they wouldnt bother us. I was amazed at the school. This t-shirt will be a great addition to your CT Vibe wardrobe. Downtown Detroits essential architecture: A walking tour. Glenn Tunstull (on crutches) celebrates with Cass Technical High School classmates at his send-off to NYC for college./Photo courtesy of Glenn Tunstull "For an ambitious 15-year-old entry into the highly regarded Cass Technical High School was like being tossed a life raft, wrapped in creativity. Technicians. We lived about four miles from the school and took the Grand River bus. Pictured are three murals comprising the Spirit of the Northwest, by artist Gari Melchers. Martindale appointed Comfort principal of Cass Technical School, and in 1907 the school opened with an enrollment of 110 students. Cass Tech's band practices on the auditorium stage. Yet there sat Detroit, perfectly situated as a trading point of goods from the first wave of the Industrial Revolution. Diana Ross Yearbook Photo & School Pictures | Classmates The original building was designed Burrowes & Eurich, but there were multiple additions over the subsequent decades. (source). Detroits nighttime skyline as viewed from Windsor. Photo by Dan Austin of HistoricDetroit.org. Students work in the Cass Tech foundry about 1940. Cass Tech stands behind it. To "raise awareness of the social and economic challenges the city of Detroit," the folks at Detroiturbex decided to tell the story about an abandoned Lewis Cass Technical High School with the help of superimposed then-and-now photos. Cass Technical High School placed in the top 50% of all schools in Michigan for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is top 20%) for the 2020-21 school year. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Of course, nostalgia makes you think mine was better, but the children of today need a beautiful school with windows and air conditioners that have all the modern features that a school in Birmingham or Grosse Pointe has. Opened in 1907, the original Cass Technical High School, commonly referred to as Cass Tech, was located at 2501 Second Avenue in Detroit. In high school, she was on the swim team, Y-Teens, and a hall guard. In his full career as a sprinter, Tolan won 300 races and lost only 7. It played a pivotal role in our trajectory. A victim of globalization, corporate greed, and the collapseof the industrial belt, Detroit was in rough shape by the 1970s. [17], In 1984, Cass Tech was honored by the U.S. Department of Education among 262 schools that should "shine as inspirational model for others," a list that included public and private schools. Cass Tech High School (old) - The bridge on the left connects to the High School of Commerce, which was the original Cass Tech. Cass Tech High: Then and Now Photos - ABC News Despite the demolition of the old building, Cass Tech lives on in a new building. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Ross rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, The Greatest Actresses Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting), The Funniest Female Comedians of All Time, The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years.