Defer Elementary School is a school building located at 15425 Kercheval in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan

Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan

Grosse Pointe Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 11,555 at the 2010 census. Bordering on Detroit with frontage on southern Lake Saint Clair, it is the westernmost of the noted Grosse Pointe suburbs, with the oldest overall housing stock of the five cities...

. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1996 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

 in 2001.

History

In the first two decades of the 20th century, the once predominantly rural Grosse Pointe area transformed into a residential suburb of Detroit. In 1921, in response to the influx of families, five school districts in what is now the Grosse Pointe area were consolidated into Rural Agricultural District No. 1 (later renamed the Grosse Pointe Public School District

Grosse Pointe Public School System

Grosse Pointe Public School System is a school district headquartered in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.-High schools:* Grosse Pointe North High School * Grosse Pointe South High School -Middle schools:...

). The first building constructed after consolidation was Defer Elementary School, built on the site of a rhubarb patch owned by Ludwig Meininger. Defer was designed by architect George J. Haas and completed in 1924. The school was named for George Defer, who was at the time the president of Grosse Pointe Park. At the time of construction, the surrounding neighborhoods were quickly growing, and by 1927 the school was overcrowded. An addition to the school was constructed in 1928.

Description

Defer Elementary School is a three-story rectangular building built in the Tudor Revival style. This revival style was popular in Detroit and across the country in the years following World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, and is symbolic of the prosperity of the era. The exterior is of brick with limestone detailing surrounding doors and windows. The doors are wood panelled with Gothic arches

Ogive

An ogive is the roundly tapered end of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional object.-Applied physical science and engineering:In ballistics or aerodynamics, an ogive is a pointed, curved surface mainly used to form the approximately streamlined nose of a bullet or other projectile.The traditional...

. The interior is decorated with Pewabic tile

Pewabic Pottery

Pewabic Pottery is a studio and school located in Detroit, Michigan and founded in 1903. The studio is known for its iridescent glazes, some of which grace notable buildings such as the Shedd Aquarium and Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Pewabic Pottery is on display...

; in particular the kindergarten room contains a Pewabic fireplace and drinking fountain. The 1928 addition contains additional classrooms and a leaded glass conservatory.

Modern Use

Defer Elementary School is still used by the Grosse Pointe Public School District as an elementary school, and is the oldest building in the district. Typical enrollment was 465 students, but as of 2010 that number had dropped to approximately 420..

External links

• Defer Elementary School official site