James A. Garfield School

Infobox_nrhp | name =James A. Garfield School
nrhp_type =

---

caption =
location= Detroit, Michigan
lat_degrees = 42
lat_minutes = 18
lat_seconds = 23
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 83
long_minutes = 6
long_seconds = 33
long_direction = W
locmapin = Michigan
area =
built =1896
architect= Malcomson & Higginbotham
architecture= Late Victorian
added = January 26, 1984
governing_body = Local
refnum=84001857cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The James A. Garfield School is a school building located at 840 Waterman Street in Detroit, Michigan. It is also known as the Frank H. Beard School. [http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/historic/districts/beard_school.pdf Frank H. Beard School] from the city of Detroit]

History

The James A. Garfield School is one of the oldest existing schools in the city of Detroit, as well as one of the least altered. The original school, named for president James A. Garfield, was designed in 1896 by Malcolmson and Higginbotham for the Springwells Township school district, [http://detroit1701.org/Beard_Hist.htm James A. Garfield School] from Detroit1701.org] replacing the previous four-room schoolhouse that had become drastically overcrowded.

In 1907, the Springwells School District merged with the schools of Detroit. After the merger, the name of the building was changed to honor Frank H. Beard, the director of the Springwells school board for 17 years.

Description

The brick school is built in the Victorian Romanesque style. The symmetrical front facade is organized into five bays, with the central and end bays projecting outward and the other two receding. [http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/sites/24878.htm Garfield, James A., School] from the state of Michigan] The entrances are topped with semi-circular arches, and the structure boasts a variety of window shapes and sizes. The elaborate brickwork, multu-planed roofline, and the red brick tower conveyed the importance the community attached to public education. An addition to the original school was built in 1900.

Current use

Today the school houses the Beard Early Childhood Center.

External links

* [http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us/schools/school/018 Beard Elementary Early Childhood Center ] from the Detroit Public Schools

References