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. After that school was mostly destroyed by a fire, a building for Cass Tech was built on the site and opened in October 1912, but was soon overcrowded. Nothing but burnt down homes and empty lots. It also occupied an opulent building designed by renowned local firm Donaldson & Meier in the Mediterranean Revival-style. The original building was designed Burrowes & Eurich, but there were multiple additions over the subsequent decades. Then-and-Now Photos of Abandoned Detroit School | Bored Panda [19], There are beginner, intermediate, advanced and jazz band classes, as well as a marching band. First built to serve Redford Township, the city later annexed this region and integrated it with the Detroit Public Schools system. [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. Detroiturbex is attempting to bring attention to these ghostly remains through a photo project highlighting the city's abandoned buildings. 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. Renovation was deemed impossible and the decision . Transcending: Detroits monument to the labor movement. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I also played tennis. Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer, actress, and record producer. When you went through the second set of double doors, the school opened into many different hallways. Cass Technical High School Alumni, Class Reunions, Yearbooks, Technicians Classmates, and more! The incredible Stone Hedge mansion, built for Detroit Tigers owner Walter O. Briggs, is listing for $1,050,000. I attended because I had a first cousin who also graduated from Cass. [citation needed] The marching band was also a part of the 2007 Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, but was not televised. The building is there but its dilapidated, its burned down. We spoke with alumni of three closed or demolished schools to hear what it was like to go there and what their loss means. [14] Cass Tech students' strong academic performances draw recruiters from across the country, including Ivy League representatives eager to attract the top minority applicants. From a bridge to Canada to a building that could change the skyline, here are the biggest development projects in the works in Detroit. CTE Programs in New Hampshire | Department of Education I have memories of running down the halls and writing my name on the walls. Areas of study include among others arts and communication, business management and marketing, engineering and manufacturing, human services, and science and arts. 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. Heres what they had to say. [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. Present-day Detroit from the same vantage point. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. An aerial view of Cass Tech on April 17, 2009. The new building, designed by Detroit architect Albert Kahn, began construction in 1916 but, due to wartime shortages, was not completed until 1922 at a final cost of $3.93 million (approximately $50 million today). RM JJJGNY - Benneckenstein, Germany. Anne Church in Southwest Detroit a basilica. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. 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. The Cass Tech auditorium in 1930. The most striking aspect of the Now and Then series is that the classrooms remained almost unchanged after the building was abandoned, still equipped with computers and furniture. Detroiturbex is attempting to bring attention to these ghostly remains through a photo project highlighting the city's abandoned buildings. The past few decades haven't treated Detroit well. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Taken between 1900 and 1920, this photo shows the reading room in the Detroit Public Library. 1900-1915. The Detroit skyline and boats on the Detroit River as seen from Windsor, during the heyday of rum-running. Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. A victim of globalization, corporate greed, and the collapseof the industrial belt, Detroit was in rough shape by the 1970s. Photo taken by Raygirl. Cass Technical High School (simply referred to as Cass Tech) is a magnet high school in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, United States. 2023 Getty Images. In Brooklyn, New York City circa 1977. Heres where that careful what you wish for piece comes in. Paul Hitz (www.paulhitzphotography.com) for HistoricDetroit.org. 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. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Cass Tech. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. More information 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) . Cass Tech High School (old) - Old photos | Cass tech, Detroit history Register as an alumni from Cass Technical High School and reunite with old friends and classmates. (source). Cass Technical High School (simply referred to as Cass Tech) is a magnet high school in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, United States. Crumbling Houses Show the Sad Decline of Detroit. [6][8][9] By 1942 the school had more than 4,500 students and was the largest in Michigan. We regret the error. All these neighborhoods were occupied, now all of houses in the neighborhoods are gone. This directory is not just composed of graduates of this school, as some of the famous people on this list didn't necessarily earn a degree from Cass Technical High School. It remains lovingly cared-for, murals included. Caria leaned on organizations such as . 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. 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. Cass Tech High: Then and Now Photos - ABC News [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. [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. Photo from 1910-1920. Patrick Krupa (www.patrickrupa.com) for HistoricDetroit.org The cafeteria in the 1980s addition Mark Hall for HistoricDetroit.org Even so, we loved it. Modern Detroit is a lot of things, all at once: infamous city of decay, hotbed of creativity, time capsule of the American dream, etc. Cass Tech High School (old) - Demolition photos gallery Historic Detroit R Rod kurowski 8 followers More information Cass Tech High School (old) - Demolition photos gallery Historic Detroit City Skyline Casino Hotel Wrecking Ball Demolition Photo Galleries High School Tech High School Tech More information . [24] Tolan came to be known as the "Midnight Express". ALUMNI Registration In 2017, when I came back, a piece of me died inside. The original swimming pool, which was closed after the addition was added in the 1980s. 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 had an opportunity to see the new building in 2015. casstechnicalhighschool photos on Flickr | Flickr (source). The specter of Michigan Central Station has become emblematic of the dichotomy between Detroits past and present state. It remains one of few magnet schools in Detroit. The Now/Then section about Cass Tech was started back in 2010, before demolition work had begun, a Detroit Urbex contributor who goes by the name Albert Duce explained. When George Floyd was murdered, and racial justice protests swept across the country, she was out in the streets with her camera. School photo 70s hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy The group sifted through old photographs of the school's peak years . 2501 Second Ave. Detroit, MI 48201-2601. Somehow this midcentury gem is still on the market. See top plays & highlights of the best high school sports. Technicians. Cass Tech could hold about 5,000 studentsthats about 1,500 kids in every grade. [citation needed]. Celebrate the year you became a full-fledge Cass Technical High School CASSmate! 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 Slate is published by The Slate Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Demolition. The Cass Tech Technicians football team (also referred to as the Technicians) is a high school football program in Division 1 Public School League, representing Cass Technical High School. Our kids deserve the same or better. 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. Remembering Cass Technical High School - Legacy.com A 1,000-seat auditorium was added in 1930. Cass Tech High School: Detroit's Unsung Bastion of Music Education History is cyclical, and its affect on Detroit will be no exception. A Legacy of Place: Cass Tech High School TELL Legacy It is named after Lewis Cass. 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. A fire swept through its floors in 2007, devastating abandoned rooms once filled with life. 20th July, 2017. Students are required to choose a curriculum pathroughly equivalent to a college "major" in the ninth grade. Romania: Castles, Ruins, and Medieval Villages, Iceland in Summer: Journey Through a Fabled Land, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Mokele-Mbembe, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Stories from the Collection of Ryan and Regina Cohn, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Satanists, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, Gourds Gone Wild: Growing and Crafting Gourds With Gourdlandia, Playing Ancient Games: History & Mythology With John Bucher, Secrets of Tarot Reading: History & Practice With T. Susan Chang, Why 18th-Century Scots Performed Mock Human Sacrifices Over Cake. 163 Cass Technical High School Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images 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. This part of the website blends pictures from the past with the current state today. Remember the Balogh House? [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. 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. There were all these different areasgym, showers, other facilities. [3] It was established in 1907 and is part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District. View all items related to Cass Technical High School, 2023 Detroit Historical Society. It was huge: eight stories with an elevator that been around for decades. The Triangle Society is committed to maintaining that legacy by providing financial support to Clubs, organizations, athletic and academic programs at Cass. (source). 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.. In 2008, the band performed at Texas Southern University. Detroit's March Toward Bankruptcy in 10 Pics, 'Destroying Detroit': 10,000 Homes to Bite Dust. 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. Cass Tech High School (old) - Old photos gallery - Pinterest Detroits copper and brass rolling mills. Its just not that clear-cut. I have gone back recently and man. Students work on engines in a Cass Tech shop class. One of its recent projects focuses on Cass Technical High School, a building damaged by a fire in 2007 and later demolished in 2011. People on this list must have gone to Cass Technical High School and be of some renown. An Abandoned Detroit School, Now And Then. They may have planned to take everything when the school was going to be demolished, added Duce, but after the demolition got pushed back months, and then years, the items left behind lost all value and werent worth salvaging.. [16] In 2021, U.S. News ranked Cass Tech 84th among Michigan high schools, and reported a 62.9% percentile score on the SAT. History of Cass Tech High school from its founding to the present day. Although I hated to see it demolished, the building isnt what makes us great. Famous Cass Technical High School Alumni - Ranker 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. Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library. Detroiturbex.com is a website and photo project which documents a changing Detroit. CASS TECH picture photo CASS TECH HIGH photo - Jan Kaulins Photo Art In 1950 Detroit was the city of tomorrow. User Options. . [15] However, in 2019, Cass Tech was not among the 78 Michigan high schools with the highest average SAT scores. Looking north up Grand River on April 17, 2009, at Cass Tech and its 1980s addition. 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. Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library. It was hugeit took almost a whole square block. Circa 1929. She graduated in Home Economics with the January class of 1962 from Cass Technical High School in Detriot, Michigan. It was ultimately demolished in 2012. Your culture and entertainment cheat-sheet. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . | 5401 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202. He set world records in the 100-yard dash and 100 meters event and Olympic records in the 100 meters and 200 meters events. Tomlin started her career as a stand-up comedian as well as performing Off-Broadway. 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. Pictured are three murals comprising the Spirit of the Northwest, by artist Gari Melchers. At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, the automobile hadnt been invented. Us going down to the basement and security come after us. SIGN IN. OCTECHS Top Ten 2023. Population and industry in Detroit has declined remarkably in recent years. Regardless of how you look at it, Detroits been through a lot, and has some battle wounds to show for its fights. 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. In the early twentieth century, Detroit had three high schools and a city-wide graduation rate of 35 percent. Cass students in one of the school's gyms. Over 90% of the material in the building was recycled for other uses or as backfill. Cass Technical High School | Detroit Historical Society Architecturally, I thought it was beautiful. Offer subject to change without notice. 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. 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. The building is still standing but deteriorated from fires, scraping, and vandalism. [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. Like all stories told about a place by outsiders, those on the inside see things quite differently. The venerable Second Avenue facade of Cass Tech High School. At that time, we were the only school with a gymnastics program so I got very involved with that. Cass Technical High School Alumni, Class Reunions, Yearbooks 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. Cass Tech High School . Learn more. Also, many of these schools were architectural gems designed by some of the citys most renowned firms and designers. 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. 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. Cooley High School was built for a growing Detroit population in Detroits northwest side. Watch. The classrooms were left full of desks and other supplies when the district abandoned the building. Cass Tech Lives. Detroit, MI. In 2005 the main building was abandoned with the remaining students occupying an adjacent addition. Cass Tech stands behind it. Cass Tech Photos Of An Abandoned Detroit School (PHOTOS) Comments (-1) The Workforce of Tomorrow Roundtable. Cass students in one of the school's gyms. As a child, he proved himself an apt learner . The police never bothered us. 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. [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 fire was in fact minor and the demolition was unrelated. I got along with everyone. I was amazed at the school. Share your memories by posting photos or stories, or find out about your next class reunion! Comedian, Theatrical producer, Television producer, Record producer, Television producer, Film Producer. Detroit Urbex: Using photomontage to compare the history of Cass Tech In July 1942, the top of Detroits city hall was dwarfed by the more modern Penobscot Building in the background. How Cass Tech has changed over the years. Prominent graduates from Cass Technical High School include celebrities, politicians, business people, athletes and more. 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. Photo by Dan Austin of HistoricDetroit.org. In 2000, the Detroit Public School District announced plans for construction of the current modern Cass Tech building, which was built in 2004. 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.