Grosse Pointe South High School
Grosse Pointe South High School is one of two public high schools located in the Grosse Pointes, suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. The first public high school in the area, Grosse Pointe South was later joined by Grosse Pointe North High School in 1968. At the corner of Fisher Road and Grosse Pointe Blvd. in Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe South High School first opened its doors in 1928.
History
The construction of the Grosse Pointe High School in 1928 marked an important transition in the history of this area along the shores of Lake St. Clair. Grosse Pointe's move away from its farming community began after the American Civil War, when wealthy Detroit businessmen purchased much of the lakefront property for summer homes. By 1900, year-round mansions were rapidly replacing seasonal residences, and a sense of community had begun to form.
Reflecting many citizens' growing perception that Grosse Pointe was a real town, the need for a high school became a topic of debate in 1910. After a five-year battle with landowners reluctant to have their land condemned, the school district began the construction of the area's first public high school in 1927. Many residents saw the construction as a symbol that Grosse Pointe had made the transition from resort to town and so were willing to pay for one of the finest public school buildings in Michigan.
Grosse Pointe High School is unique its Georgian, colonial style building design and a 134-foot-tall clock tower that dominates the facade. The interior is similarly impressive: The school opened with five libraries, two gyms, an auditorium, and a swimming pool, amenities some thought too luxurious. During the Great Depression, the interior received a beautiful series of WPT-funded murals and the area's growing population led to additions in the 1940s and 1950s. It became Grosse Pointe South in 1967 when the township built another high school, Grosse Pointe North.
In 1930, student enrollment hit 1,340, just 35 less than capacity. The 1,300 students had to stand along the walls to pack into the boys' gym for an assembly. Designed to hold 1,100 well, 1,340 bulged that gym's seams.
To make room for students, the Board of Education offices were moved back to Cadieux Elementary School. Board offices remain there today. Student and faculty sizes have varied, but the building always ranged from packed to comfortably full.
During construction, the over 10-story tall, 107-foot-high boiler room smokestack was the tallest structure in Grosse Pointe The 134-foot-tall clock tower that has become the symbol of Grosse Pointe High, was built three months after the smokestack.
World War II's colossal expansion of America's industries triggered the 1942 addition of a three-story industrial arts building.
In April 1953 Grosse Pointe High had its main gym, complete with a stage for big assemblies. For the students' evening dedication ceremonies, a real public relations coup was pulled off. Board of Education member and travel agent Chet Sampson delivered the newly married, romantic idols of America, Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.
The back end of the school was filled with ninth graders in the fall of 1955. The annex was linked to the main building with a roofed-only walkway that was called the breezeway or freezeway depending upon the weather.
In February 1961, work was started on adding a third floor to the industrial arts building. In March, the Board of Education authorized the construction of a second-story bridge to the main building to give easier access to the new third floor. In the fall of 1961, just nine months after starting, students were crossing the bridge and attending math classes in the new third floor.
The octagonal Wicking Library was completed and occupied for school during the fall of 1964, ending Cleminson Hall's reign as the school's reference site. A brick and steel breezeway that joined the main building to the annex crossed its front. It was a great day when the glass was finally installed to winter-proof it.
By September 1964, it has become obvious that the Grosse Pointes were in need of a new high school. The Board of Education purchased the 31.7-acre Vanderbush Farm, the sole remaining such parcel in Grosse Pointe Woods, and built Grosse Pointe North High School. It opened in the fall of 1968.
This ended the 40-year reign of this building as the only high school in Grosse Pointe. The school was renamed Grosse Pointe South High School and became a four-year high school as it remains today.
The Wicking Library was then South's newest portion. Certainly the library in the parking lot didn't satisfy educators who thought that a library could be the center of instructional activity. Many classrooms in the school needed replacement. The music facilities were poor.
The plan to solve these problems showed a small addition on the left, a new hallway across the rear of the plant, and rooms surrounding the library. The music department would get two big practice rooms and a classroom. A large two-story structure was planned to surround the library. When the plans were revealed, everyone was happy that the definitely modern building would be around the corner from the traditional Georgian Facade.
In September 1973, the new wing was completed. South now had first-class science labs and social studies classrooms, appropriately naming the new addition the “S-Building.” In addition to the new classrooms, South gained a new 116-seat lecture hall. Now attention was swung to the other side of the building.
This building project altered and added to the World War II portion of the arts building that was severely overcrowded. An area with tennis courts was selected for the expansion. These were later replaced on top of the industrial technology shops. The top floor of math rooms was unchanged. A modern photography classroom and lab sat next to a new drafting room. Two modernized art rooms provided general and commercial art classes with fine homes. The first floor featured a fine drawing and painting studio, a superlative ceramics, sculpture, and metals laboratory, and an art appreciation lecture classroom.
The industrial technology department started in earnest in the remodeled basement. The sprawling underground addition started with the parking and outdoor service area of the four-bay automotive shop backed up by a sophisticated wood and metal shop and a TV studio.
The cinder tract of the football field did not meet the needs of the expanded athletic programs that came as our nation discovered jogging and the track and field events. A major project modified this, providing an all-weather track. That same all-weather track could not be walked upon with high heels, and since 1969, South had been seating a thousand parents on the cinder track for its outdoor graduations.
With the help of the internationally famous George P. Johnson display company, this ceremony moved to the front lawn in 1980. The artists from George P. Johnson Co. also reworked the school seal for the speaker's podium, giving the school a modern version for all purposes.
In 2003, Grosse Pointe South celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a series of commemorative events and guest speakers.
Over the past few years, the school has undergone a number of major renovations and additions under the watchful eyes of Principal D. Allan Diver and Superintendent Dr. C. Suzanne Klein. In 2004, the renovation of the school's auditorium was completed, allowing seating for 400 students. In 2005, the so-called "New S-Building" was completed to add a large number of science classrooms. Renovations in 2006 are ongoing, as the original S-Building is receiving a face lift to upgrade its outdated facilities and small classrooms.
South has an ongoing tradition of excellence, shown by organizations like the The Tower, Viewpointe and The Looking Glass.
On September 29, 2005, during a freshman football game against local rival Grosse Pointe North High School, the first color message scoreboard in the state of Michigan was used.
Grosse Pointe South is better than Grosse Pointe North in every way possible, including sports.
Alma Mater
Here beside St. Clair's blue waters,
Stands our tower bold,
And our noble Alma Mater,
Glorious to behold.
Swell the chorus, let it echo,
Raise it to the sky,
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater,
Grosse Pointe South High.
Honor thee thy blue and gold,
Soaring high above,
She will lead us as a whole,
As we sing our love,
Swell the chorus, let it echo,
Raise it to the sky,
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater,
Grosse Pointe South High.
--The Grosse Pointe South Alma Mater
Newsweek Ranking
Newsweek magazine creates a yearly list of the 1000 top public high schools in America. For 2005, both of the Grosse Pointe high schools placed. Grosse Pointe South High School was ranked #238 (#3 in Michigan) and Grosse Pointe North High School was #846 (#15 in Michigan). Newsweek 1000 Top High Schools