In the 1920s, the children of the village of Rochester were served by the school district known as Avon Township District #5. This school district operated two buildings along Wilcox St. between Fourth and Fifth (now University Drive), where all students from primary grades through high school were housed. But by the mid-1920s, however, enrollment pressure on the district was so great that plans were made to build another elementary school at the north end of the village. The site for the new school was on the street known as Sugar Avenue (which was renamed Woodward Street by the village council in 1927). Both the street and the school building thereon were named in honor of Rochester's pioneer farmer and politician, Lysander Woodward, whose farm had, in earlier days, encompassed the property where the new school was planned.Ground was broken for Woodward School in April of 1926, with the firm of J.M. Olson of Pontiac doing the construction. The contract price for the two-room school was $21,345, not including plumbing, heating, and fixtures. The little school was ready to receive its first students by the end of that summer. Enrollment continued its upward trend, and Woodward School was expanded in 1928 to add two more rooms. Further additions were made in 1958 and 1967, but by then Woodward School was only one of several elementary schools in the now-consolidated (and mu
ch larger) Rochester Community School District.Rapid subdivision development in Avon Township (now Rochester Hills) during the 1970s and early 1980s caused school district officials to re-evaluate the placement of the elementary schools, and they determined that Woodward School was no longer needed and ordered the building closed. The last day for students at Woodward was June 17, 1983, as the fifty-sixth class poured out of the doors for the final time. The following year, the Older Persons Commission (OPC) was located in the school, and occupied the building until October 2003, when a new OPC facility was opened. A few months later, Woodward School passed into the pages of Vanished Rochester as it fell to the wrecking ball to make room for a housing development.
The photos in this post are from the collection of Rod and Susan Wilson. They show the school as it looked just prior to and during demolition.
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I walked from North Hill sub to kindergarten at Woodward School. My teacher was Mrs. Elldredge, who seemed really old to me in 1960, but whom I dearly loved. The classroom was modern & airy (to the right of the first pic here), compared to the original part of the building that seemed dark and imposing.
ReplyDeleteI had Mrs. Eldred for kindergarten, too (1965)!
ReplyDeleteDuckworthy said…
ReplyDeleteI've never forgiven the OPC for giving up the ship on the old Woodward School! Of course, that's not really true, given how they had long-since outgrown the facility by 2003. But the sad thing, of course, was the decision to tear down this darling of a school building, which OPC had really spruced up during its 20 years occupying the place. I've always thought it was unfortunate some private enterprise or other organization didn't purchase the place, converting it into some sort of educational facility or what have you. [Okay, okay! I'm pipe-dreaming and being my typical, overly-altruistic self again...so shoot me! :=)]
In all seriousness, Woodward School's design had such an aesthetic appeal to it, unlike 99% of school buildings from all eras past and present (one exception would be Styles Elementary at Livernois and South Blvd which, fortunately, still stands and is in active use today), it had a coziness to it that added such an irreplaceable, neighborly/home-like element to the Woodward street neighborhood. I certainly don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, especially since I've always had a genuine appreciation for the particular builder's home designs, but I personally don't think the concept of making the site into the residential development that it is today worked in terms of a suitable replacement for the Woodward School.
Oh, well... I suppose this is one of the many benefits of this fine blog – it allows us to both vent and to reminisce simultaneously. On that note, we really must remember we owe a debt of thanks to our wonderful Blogger for all the time and effort that clearly goes into “Remembering Rochester”.
I agree! That was a great building! I lived at 132 Griggs, which is still there and exactly the same. I have fond memories. Mr Jurva 5th grade, Mr. Weaver, Mr Jurva was in ww2 and would wonder the playground looking up in the sky for planes. I think he was afraid of bombs being dropped. sad. :-(. I hated hearing that they tore it down..
DeleteI also spent my earliest childhood years living on Winry in the North Hill sub. I also walked to kindergarten at Woodward and remember Mrs. Eldredge. My father has been involved with OPC for years, and knows Mrs Eldredge and her daughter. I live in California now; and the last time I actually saw Mrs Eldredge was several years ago when she attended my Mother's funeral.
ReplyDeleteRemembering Rochester: you are correct; the kindergarten teacher was Mrs. Eldred. Could you correct my post to reflect proper spelling? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI used to walk to school there from Thalia Ave. Attended 2nd and 3rd grade with teachers Mrs. Heinz and then Mrs. Bow-hen-ick. LOL. I remember her teaching the class how to pronouce her name. It was '77-'80
ReplyDeleteI lived on the corner of Pine St. & Thalia Ave. from June of 1965 to June of 1975. Although I am "Sam" (Shirley) Press now, my maiden name is Wood.
DeleteI attended from around 67-72. Walked one block from drace st. Had teachers Grund Flumerfelt? Kilway Crestwell. Marbles was a big sport then
ReplyDeleteI attended from 1965 - 1968. My first teacher was Mrs. Cresswell...4th grade. She was amazing & I will always remember her. Ah yes, I remember the games of marbles also!
DeleteWhat a walk down memory lane.. Sorry to hear of the school being replaced. I walked from Drace for 1st-4th grades. I had Mrs Haynes, Mrs Kohl, and Mr Weaver. Mostly GREAT times and memories....
ReplyDeletemikebostler@gmail.com
I had Mrs Haynes for 1st 2nd and third grade she taught me how to read. That would have been 1964 thru 66. Wow !!! Is she still alive ?
DeleteI attended Kindergarten through 2nd grade at Woodward (1976-78), before moving to Florida. Does anyone else remember burying a time capsule in the front yard to commemorate the bicentennial? It was supposed to be unearthed in 2001 (25 years later). I called in the late 1990s, but it was no longer a school at that time and the school district did not have records of this event. It makes me want to use a metal detector to find and unearth it!
ReplyDeleteI, too, attended Woodward K through 2nd. Mrs. McGowan, Mrs. Bohenek, Mrs. Seiwert (?). I guess that would have been Fall of '74 through Spring of '77. Eesh. I definitely remember burying the time capsule. I also remember the first few words of the school song that one of the 6th grade classes wrote. "Woodward, Woodward through night and day. The Woodward Wolverines are here to stay." There was also something about being "better than all the rest."
DeleteKirsten M, is your maiden name "Cook?" This is Kirsten Olesen from Bedford square! Good to see you!
DeleteFrom what I remember, they unearthed the time capsule when the school was torn down.
By the way, Mr. Maurer, the principal, passed away this week. It was pretty tragic. There is a Woodward Facebook group- if you're on FB, you should join!
Hi Kirsten - Yes, this is Kirsten Cook from Bedford Square. What a small world! Great to see you after all these years. I requested to join the Woodward FB group and sent a friend request via FB as well. I hope to catch up and hope all is well with you. Sorry to hear about Mr. Maurer. All the best - Kirsten
DeleteI attended Woodward my 4th, 5th, and 6th grade years. My teachers would have been, 4th grade. Mr. Weaver (80-81), 5th grade, Mr.Neubacher(82-83), 6th grade, Mr. Kamley (82-83). I believe My 6th grade class was the last year it was open as a school, I believe they used it as a board of education office after that untill they tore it down. I went to West junior high my seventh grade (83-84) and then I to, moved to florida. I remember the 6th grade class Going on a weekend long field trip to a camping lodge. I remember as a 4th and 5th grader watching the 6th graders getting on the busses to leave and I could not wait untill I was in 6th grade so then I could go on this HUGE adventure. My 6th grade camping adventure was a big disapointmant, We did not camp, we stayed in cabins, and I got put in a different cabin than my friends, its funny now ,but not when I was 12. I recently came up to Rochester to see some of my family, I had not been there since 1984. I drove around to see some of my old hangouts, I went up to see woodward to bring back memorys and it was not there, I don't know why but I got real sad. I lived on the corner of University and wilcox in a two story pink house with a huge front porch across the street from the old red brick high school. I lived there from 9 to 13. What a great place to live at that age, Hills theatre, downtown, the police park, and woodward elementary are all wonderful memorys.
ReplyDeleteI also had Mr. Kamley for 6th grade for 1967-1968...WOW how long was he a teacher? Remember how he would address students as Mr. or Miss? I also recall ice skating behind the library & the warming house there. I need to visit when we come to Michigan next year.
DeleteMr Jurva. 5th grade. Great memories :-)
ReplyDelete