Even so, we loved it. Cass Technical High School (simply referred to as Cass Tech) is a magnet high school in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, United States. Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer, actress, and record producer. Photos of Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan, whose alumni include Diana Ross and Jack White School moved to new building in 2005 which left original facility empty and it. They had a lawn area and we use to gather around over there. Technicians. 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.. Wow my high school is gone, they tore it down. 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. 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. Don't miss a beat. [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. The ruins of a similar first-wave industrial complex. In 2017, the building suffered severe damage from a fire in its auditorium. [6] In 1985, an addition on the south side was opened, designed by Albert Kahn & Associates, which included performing arts facilities, a new pool, and a student cafeteria, and a wing of the building was remodeled for computer and business classes. Sep 20, 2021 - Cass Tech High School (old) - Old photos gallery Historic Detroit. Though Detroit Urbexs Cass Tech series failed to stop the schools demolition, it remains an important testimony of what the school used to be. ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----. Population and industry in Detroit has declined remarkably in recent years. [12], Cass offers over twenty advanced placement courses including language composition, history, chemistry, calculus, and physics. 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 child, he proved himself an apt learner . 1900-1915. Taken between 1900 and 1920, this photo shows the reading room in the Detroit Public Library. ALUMNI Registration Cass Tech could hold about 5,000 studentsthats about 1,500 kids in every grade. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. The swimming pool in the 1980s addition was supposed to be Olympic-size - but contractors used English measurement instead of metric. ], including the Symphony in B-flat by Paul Hindemith and La Fiesta Mexicana by H. Owen Reed. The building is still standing but deteriorated from fires, scraping, and vandalism. I was amazed at the school. OC hosted a roundtable discussion about industry and workforce ready graduates. I remember the auditorium with graduation ceremonies, plays, and music functions. In 2008, the band performed at Texas Southern University. I enjoyed school, being able to go there with my siblings. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Watch. [32], As of 2022[update], approximately 2,400 students attended Cass Technical High School: 583 students in the ninth grade, 637 students in the tenth grade, 606 in the eleventh grade, and 575 in the twelfth grade. In 2005 the main building was abandoned with the remaining students occupying an adjacent addition. Present-day Detroit from the same vantage point. Under his baton, the concert band performed twice at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic, and played literature at a level far beyond that normally performed by a public high school band[according to whom? Welcome! Demolition began in December 2010 and was completed in August 2011. The group sifted through old photographs of the school's peak years, finding images of the vibrant community that occupied the classrooms throughout the 20th century. Anne Church in Southwest Detroit a basilica. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Heres where that careful what you wish for piece comes in. 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. First, they photographed every room the old Detroit school, which was abandoned after a 2007 fire. Video Center. Students work in the Cass Tech foundry about 1940. In the early twentieth century, Detroit had three high schools and a city-wide graduation rate of 35 percent. 1 of 21 Detroiturbex Abandoned Detroit School Given Life Through Photos The High School of Commerce - a former home of Cass Tech High - is demolished in August 1964 to make way for Interstate 75. All contents Tomlin started her career as a stand-up comedian as well as performing Off-Broadway. [4], Until 1977, Cass was Detroit's only magnet school and the only non-neighborhood enrollment school in Detroit. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. (source), 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 next door. 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. All these neighborhoods were occupied, now all of houses in the neighborhoods are gone. Detroit's March Toward Bankruptcy in 10 Pics, 'Destroying Detroit': 10,000 Homes to Bite Dust. It was like a college in high school. After years of abandonment, the decay of Cass Technical High School has reached the point where familiar parts of the building are no longer recognizable. 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. | 5401 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202. They were beginning to integrate Redford when I started there. It was designed by Malcolmson & Higginbotham with additional architectural support from Albert Kahn. [citation needed] In 2013 CTMB went to the 2013 inauguration for President Barack Obama. When it was announced that the school would close following the 2006-2007 school year, there were a little over 1,000. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Crumbling Houses Show the Sad Decline of Detroit. The specter of Michigan Central Station has become emblematic of the dichotomy between Detroits past and present state. It is here is where we pick up the modern narrative of Detroit, the Roger and Me story of a city abandoned by its industry, and collapsing into a pile of rubblebut look again. Escapism via car had been the goal of much the work being done in Detroit: earn enough to not have to be there anymore, then move to the land of suburban dreams-come-true as soon as the option presents itself. 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. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Prominent graduates from Cass Technical High School include celebrities, politicians, business people, athletes and more. Explore and purchase photos of your local teams. Also, many of these schools were architectural gems designed by some of the citys most renowned firms and designers. Explore. [6][7], The former building, including the extension, was left vacant (with classroom fittings and supplies inside). 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. RM 2HTHMAD - 1970's photograph of children queuing with baggage luggage for school coach trip, Sweden. The classrooms were left full of desks and other supplies when the district abandoned the building. [6][30][31] At the time of demolition, the school building was approximately 830,000 square feet (77,000m2) and weighed more than 100,000 short tons (91,000t). A 1,000-seat auditorium was added in 1930. In addition to a specialized curriculum, Cass Tech offers college pathway courses in arts and communication, business management, marketing and technology, engineering, manufacturing and technology, health sciences, natural resources and agriscience, and human services. Some have a story, but we have a legacy. I got along with everyone. (source). Slate is published by The Slate In 2005 the main building was abandoned with the remaining students occupying an adjacent addition. Advertisement Photo taken by Raygirl. I attended because I had a first cousin who also graduated from Cass. In 2017, when I came back, a piece of me died inside. 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. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. A victim of globalization, corporate greed, and the collapseof the industrial belt, Detroit was in rough shape by the 1970s. Martindale appointed Comfort principal of Cass Technical School, and in 1907 the school opened with an enrollment of 110 students. Detroiturbex is attempting to bring attention to these ghostly remains through a photo project highlighting the city's abandoned buildings. Michigan; Cass Tech High School; . In March 1935, Tolan won the 75, 100 and 220-yard events at the World Professional Sprint Championships in Melbourne, Australia to become the first man to win both the amateur and professional world sprint championships. We spoke with alumni of three closed or demolished schools to hear what it was like to go there and what their loss means. 163 Cass Technical High School Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Images Images Creative Editorial Video Creative Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 163 Cass Technical High School Premium High Res Photos To mark the contrast of the school both during its prime and demise, Detroit Urbex created a nostalgic photomontage of Detroits urban remodeling, available as an online archive. Classrooms were left full of desks when the school district abandoned the landmark. [18], In 2006, Cass represented DPS at the National Academic Games Olympics and won the Team Sweepstakes award. Was a May Day Attack by Pilgrims a Practice Run for a Massacre? Cass Tech won the 2011, 2012 and 2016 MHSAA Division I state championships. Photo from 1910-1920. . Don't Call It a Comeback: Detroit's History in Photos. RF T09F84 - High angle view of a vintage camera, film, photo paper and light meter. Redford High, before it was demolished. Cass students in one of the school's gyms. Cass Tech Lives. A lot of people felt it was overwhelming with that many people. Many locally and nationally known figures are counted among its graduates including Diana Ross, John DeLorean, Ellen Burstyn, Sean Anderson (aka Big Sean), Lily Tomlin, Peter Karmanos, and David Alan Grier. 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. See top plays & highlights of the best high school sports. The brick and limestone Gothic building was large: eight stories fitting 4,400 students and 50 classrooms. Opened in 1907, the original Cass Technical High School, commonly referred to as Cass Tech, was located at 2501 Second Avenue in Detroit. The Detroit skyline and boats on the Detroit River as seen from Windsor, during the heyday of rum-running. [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. Paul Hitz (www.paulhitzphotography.com) for HistoricDetroit.org. I also played tennis. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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 students in one of the school's gyms. Now Detroit and its citizens are boldly setting the standard for reinvention, showing how a city can be changed not just for the better but for the different, considering the previous ideal didnt pan out so well. Cass Technical High School (simply referred to as Cass Tech) is a magnet high school in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, United States. This Cass Tech Fine-Art photograph is a photo picture print of a building that holds many memories for the thousands of City of Detroit Cass Tech High School graduates who have walked its corridors. The area was like, Did our parents really love us? There were drug dealers, hookersit was skid row. Caria leaned on organizations such as . What doesnt appear in the images, however, is how the old Cass Tech, with its classic and imposing architecture, made high-schoolers feel like they belonged to something great. [19], There are beginner, intermediate, advanced and jazz band classes, as well as a marching band. The largest residence in Wayne County is now the most expensive sale in Detroit this year. [10][11], In 2008, due to declining enrollment, teacher staffing was reduced and some classes that were not very popular with students were removed. 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. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . It remains one of few magnet schools in Detroit. All rights reserved. It was mostly white when us blacks started to come inthey began to leave soon after. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. 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. But over the years, the building just got older and older. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "casstechnicalhighschool" Flickr tag. In high school, she was on the swim team, Y-Teens, and a hall guard. Register as an alumni from Cass Technical High School and reunite with old friends and classmates. At that time, we were the only school with a gymnastics program so I got very involved with that. 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. View all items related to Cass Technical High School, 2023 Detroit Historical Society. He set world records in the 100-yard dash and 100 meters event and Olympic records in the 100 meters and 200 meters events. First opening as Cass Union School, it moved to its Second Avenue location in 1922. This part of the website blends pictures from the past with the current state today. 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. Melded together, the kaleidoscopic photos of Detroit reveal a true ghost town. The fire was in fact minor and the demolition was unrelated. In 2007, a large fire broke out in the old Cass Tech building and it was finally demolished in 2011. Jumping out the windows to get out of the classrooms, since it wasnt that far down. A lot of memories come back when I go past it. Abandoned Detroit School Given Life Through Photos Lewis Cass Technical High School, demolished in 2011, was one of Detroit's largest high schools. It also occupied an opulent building designed by renowned local firm Donaldson & Meier in the Mediterranean Revival-style. A fire swept through its floors in 2007, devastating abandoned rooms once filled with life. The derelict cornerstones of the same city hall lie cast aside. So present was this dream that much of the art, culture and history of Detroit was paved over with auto money in a race to escape the city of tomorrow. An aerial view of Cass Tech on April 17, 2009. [citation needed] The marching band was also a part of the 2007 Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, but was not televised. Remember the Balogh House? The Slate Group LLC. 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 . The Bishops Mansion, Detroits largest residence, sells for $2.7M. First built to serve Redford Township, the city later annexed this region and integrated it with the Detroit Public Schools system. 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. Cass Technical High School serves 2,465 students in grades 9-12. 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. [20], The concert band program rose to prominence under the direction of Harry Begian, who led the Cass Tech bands from 1947 through 1964. [24] Tolan came to be known as the "Midnight Express". 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. But they wouldnt bother us. Yearbook photos of Diana Ross from Cass Technical High School Diana Ernestine Earle Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. At the end of the 2009-2010 school year, Cooley High School closed due to budget deficits and decreased enrollment. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Between the move and the time when the building was torn down, the once majestic building was left to decay. Cass Tech was abandoned by the school districts with tons of school supplies, computers, musical instruments and more left behind. Learn more. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? (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. An Abandoned Detroit School, Now And Then. The school also had an indoor pool and facilities for fencing, table tennis, indoor track and field, and ice skating and hockey. By Emily Badger 3 minute Read. Nearly every classroom in the school was left filled with desks, supplies and equipment. Old Cass Tech and Michigan Central Station. 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. [29] The school district listed the building for demolition later that year. In Brooklyn, New York City circa 1977. Somehow this midcentury gem is still on the market. Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. In March 2000, Detroit Public Schools announced plans to build an entirely new building directly north of Cass Tech. This CASSmates special edition t-shirt is available in sizes small to 3x. OCTECHS Top Ten 2023. [6][7] Departments in the 1922 building were grouped by floor; facilities included a foundry and machine shops that were used for training by Ford outside school hours, and the auditorium was used as a practice hall by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. We had hoped to provoke substantive discussion about the school, its past, and its future., Dismantling Cass Tech was a controversial decision. One of the most photographed landmarks in Detroit is a monument to the labor movement in Michigan. Despite the demolition of the old building, Cass Tech lives on in a new building. And when you would go outside to the back, there was the baseball field, basketball courts. The old structure caught fire in 2007, and was eventually demolished in November 2011. Entrance is based on test scores and middle school grades. Scroll through the images below and let us know what you think of Detroiturbex's project in the comments section. The Detroit Museum of Artwas demolished in 1960 for the Hastings Expressway. The loss of these schools can be felt in many ways: increased transit times for students commuting to schools farther away, absence of a neighborhood anchor, presence of a large abandoned building near homes. See. The Main Building of the Detroit Public Library as it appears today. Sep 20, 2021 - Cass Tech High School (old) - Old photos gallery Historic Detroit. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Like all stories told about a place by outsiders, those on the inside see things quite differently. [3] It was established in 1907 and is part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District. 2023 Atlas Obscura. 20th July, 2017. [21], Cass Tech's track and field history goes back to 1926 when Eddie Tolan and his teammate Loving won the interscholastic track meet at Northwestern University. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking news. [citation needed] In 2010, the CTMB participated in Norfolk State University's Homecoming and won first place in the McDonald's Battle of the Bands. Winner will be selected at random on 06/01/2023. 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. Over 90% of the material in the building was recycled for other uses or as backfill. 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. Offer subject to change without notice. Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library. Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Share your memories by posting photos or stories, or find out about your next class reunion! The Cass Tech auditorium in 1930. I have gone back recently and man. [5], The school was founded in 1907 on the third floor of Cass Union School on Grand Union Avenue, subsequently moving to its own wing. Check out photos of the building at Detroiturbex.com. In 1950 Detroit was the city of tomorrow. Photo by Dan Austin of HistoricDetroit.org. All Rights Reserved. A 3D look inside the 1922 building. The school brought us a sense of community, because everyones got problems but school was the outlet. While the new building was set to cost $98 million, the old schools restoration was expected to total $117 million. It was established in 1907 and is part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District.It is named after Lewis Cass.. Until 1977, Cass was Detroit's only magnet school and the only non-neighborhood enrollment school in Detroit. Comments (-1) OCTECHS Newsletter: Champions Chronicals. The Detroit Boat Club as it appears today. In loving memory ..Detroit Redford High School, Revisit these 5 Curbed Detroit stories that have nothing to do with coronavirus. (source), The remnants of a beauty parlor. Although my parents didnt attend, they understood about it being a college prep and pushed me to go. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Comedian, Theatrical producer, Television producer, Record producer, Television producer, Film Producer. Richard L. LaVoie 06/10/1944 - 03/21/2023 Richard L. LaVoie was born in 1944 in Detroit, MI to parents, Harold and Stella LaVoie. Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center - Newport (Newport, NH) White Mountains Regional High School (Whitefield, NH) Wilbur H. Palmer Vocational Technology Center (Hudson, NH) Windham Regional Career Center (Brattleboro, VT) Winnisquam Agricultural Programs (Tilton, NH) Portable Document Format (.pdf) . Pinterest. [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. By 2000 over a million people had moved elsewhere, leaving the city up to 60% vacant by some estimates. 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. Today. Cass Tech. Its just not that clear-cut. From a bridge to Canada to a building that could change the skyline, here are the biggest development projects in the works in Detroit. While Detroit architecture and culture has indeed suffered, much remains, and there are many who work fiercely to protect it. Detroiturbex.com is a website and photo project which documents a changing Detroit. Cass Tech High School (old) Students work on engines in a Cass Tech shop class. Back then, the Cass Corridor had a lot of homeless peopleyou would step over them just get to school. Ellen Burstyn (born Edna Rae Gillooly; December 7, 1932) is an American actress best known for her roles in films of the 1970s, such as The Last Picture Show, The Exorcist, and Alice Doesn't Live .more #29 of 77 The Best Actresses to Ever Win Oscars for Best Actress #7 of 100 The Best Living Actresses Over 80 #47 of 76 The Best Oscar Hosts Ever History is cyclical, and its affect on Detroit will be no exception. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives. McCollum, Brian (September 2003). [16] In 2021, U.S. News ranked Cass Tech 84th among Michigan high schools, and reported a 62.9% percentile score on the SAT. It remains lovingly cared-for, murals included. Comments (-1) The Workforce of Tomorrow Roundtable. Pictured here in 1905. 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. Patrick Krupa (www.patrickrupa.com) for HistoricDetroit.org. Its like a ghost town, right in the middle of what used to be life.

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