Henry Ford School has the most unusual background of all those present in Dearborn. Until its consolidation with Fordson School District in 1942, the Henry Ford School, was of its own district. Dearborn District #5, was formed in 1837, in the east half of Dearborn Township. It's first school, was a one-room brick building known as the Dort School, and was located on the bank of the Rouge Rivers, just south of the Michigan Central RailRoad. In 1912, this building was closed and Henry Ford began purchasing land for his Rouge Plant. He traded the old school site for 5 acres on old Reckner Road (now Southfield Road) and gave the funds to build a new frame schoolhouse. This district became knowns as the Henry Ford School district, and encompassed Henry Ford's estate. It was one of the smallest and richest school districts in the United States.
In 1926, the white frame school had become to small to accomodate the growing community and a new brick building containing 5 classrooms, a boiler room, two offices, and an auditorium, were constructed on Driscoll Avenue. By 1929, the school had expanded to 16 classrooms, shop facilities, a kindergarten, a music room, swimming pool, library, gymnasium, cooking and sewing rooms, and science laboratories. It was accomodated grades kindergarten through Junior High, and had an enrollment of 515 students.
Henry Ford also provided land for garden plots and its earlier frame school was converted during World War II into a canning factory to process food raised in the garden. He also had students take dancing lessions as well as hired a nurse, doctor, and a dentist for the school.
In 1942 the Henry Ford School District consolidated with Fordson School District and in 1954, it became part of the Dearborn Public Schools. Today the school serves grades kindergarten through the 6th grade.

HENRY A. HAIGH School

A five-room school house appeared at the interesction of Silvery Land and Coburn, in 1946. Part of the post-war growth, the school was soon named the, Henry A. Haigh School. The original intention was that Haigh and Howard Schools would handle any overflow students from the Lindbergh Elementary School, under the same principal, Harold Myler. The neighborhood grew so quickly, however, that the Haigh School required a principal of its own, and Pat Fordell was named in 1949. Despite many additions to the school, its conditions remained crowded and the William Clark School had to be built in 1951. During the decline of enrollment, in the 1970's, Clark School was closed, and the Haigh School remained open.
Henry A. Haigh was born in Dearborn in 1854. The son of Richard and Lucy Haigh, he remained one of the community's favorite citizens until his death in 1942. He was educated at the Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, and was a well known farmer, financier, promoter, speaker, lawyer, and writer. As a businessman, he was interested in the railroad industry and founded lines from Detroit to Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as local lines from Detroit to Ypsilanti. He was also known as a local historian and formed the Dearborn Historical Commission, which led to the establishment of the Dearborn Historical Museum. Haigh kept a diary, of each day from his enrollment to the Michigan Agricultural College in 1875 until his death in 1942. This diary has become one of Dearborn's most outstanding historical contributions from this time frame.

JOSHUA HOWARD School

Originally opened as York School in 1946, on North York Street, this five room school handled grades kindergarten through 3rd. The streets around the school at this time were unpaved and the neighborhood was only just developing. In February 1948, 4 additional classroom were added and by the fall of 1948, plans were made to expand the school to a full elementary, covering kindergarten through grade 6. In September of 1949, after it's expansion the school was reopened and named, Joshua Howard Elementary with a total of 521 students. The school prospered through the 1950's and 1960's, with an additional 6 classrooms, a teacher's room, and supply room added in 1953.
The renaming of York School to Joshua Howard in 1949, was part of the expansion of the Dearborn Public Schools. During this prosperous time in Dearborn's history a total of 14 new schools had been built in the area, and the school naming committee was busy submitting names from the receases of Dearborns pioneers. Colonel Joshua Howard was sent to Dearborn as a supervisoor of construction for the Detroit Arsenal at Dearbornville in 1832. Howard quickly became involved in the growing community and built one of the finest homes in Dearborn in 1834. The house was located on Old Chicago Road (now Michigan Avenue) where the Dearborn Towers now stand today. In addition to his duties as an officer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Howard served as a United States Marshal.

LOUIS W. HOWE School

One of the last phases to face the Dearborn Public School system, in the post-war era was the building of the Louis W. Howe School on Oakwood Boulevard in September 1955. Designed by Jahr-Anderson Associates of Detroit, the building featured a walk-through classroom system instead of long corridors or hallways. It was intended to relieve overcrowding in Snow School as well as Ten Eyck School, around which, the Oakwood Hospital was beginning to be built. With the declining enrollment of the 1970's the Superintendent, Anthony Witham became involved in the selection of schools to be closed. Howe was one suggested first, however, after a school board meeting, it was left open. By 1978, however, the enrollment had declined to the point of its closure. The building is now used as a facility for the mild-mentally disabled by the Dearborn Public Schools.
Howe was named in honor of Louis W. Howe, one of Dearborn's pioneers. Louis Howe, was the son of Elba Howe, a station agent for the Michigan Central Railroad in Dearbornville, and the communities first undertaker. Born in 1873, in Dearborn, he served as township clerk and treasurer and then village clerk and treasurer after the incorporation of the Village. He was personally responsible for conducting the 1900 census in Dearborn and served on the school board from 1918 to 1924, was a charter member of the Dearborn Rotary Club and served as a Master of the Masonic Lodge. Howe followed his father, serving as a volunteer fire chief, an insurance salesman, and a funeral director. His wife, Jennie Clark, was the daughter of William Clark, by whom the Clark School was named.

DAVID P. LAPHAM School

In 1951, a new primary school at Westwood and Union Streets was purposed, with post-war families bringing thousands of students into the early elementary grades in Dearborn. Two of the schools effected by overcrowding were, Long and Oxford, for which Lapham School was built, to house kindergarten through the 3rd grade. A six classroom and all-purpose room, building were drawn by the Jahr-Anderson Associates architects, and built within the same designs as the William Clark School. Lapham and Long shared the same principal, however the declining enrollment of the 1970's closed Lapham in June 1972. The building was leased to the Dearborn Association for Retarded Citizens.
David P. Lapham was born in Dearborn in 1851. The Lapham family owned a 100 acre farm on what is currently the site of Military and Monroe Streets. David established the first bank in Dearborn in 1896 and sold it to Henry Ford in 1916. The family operated a general store and butcher shop, and David served on Dearborn's Board of Education, when the first high school was built. Lapham died in 1926 in Birmingham, Alabama, having been injured by falling lumber in an accident in Pensacola, Florida.

CHARLES A. LINDBERGH School

This school was named in honor of famous aviator, Charles A. Lindbergh. and is located on the southeast corner of Telegraph Road and Cherry Hill. A local real estate developer offered the Dearborn Board of Education a piece of land for school purposes and the Board approved the building of a four-room schoolhouse. Superintendent, Ray Adams, however fore-saw a growing community here, and pushed for the building of an eight-room school building, which was eventually approved in 1928. It was designed to house grades 1st through 8th, with the areas High School students to attend, Dearborn High School.
Dedication for the school building was held inside the building itself in the library, however Colonel Lindbergh was not present, his mother did attend as guest of honor. Despite the depression years, the area around the school did continue to grow and additions were proposed for the school in 1938. The school was expanded to 16 classrooms as well as an auditorium and gymnasium. In 1948 additional property was also purchased to enlarge the playground area. In 1954, the last additon was made on the structure, and the school continues to educate the areas Elementary and Junior High students.

HARVEY H. LOWREY School

The Lowrey School has served it's community since in 1927 and was built to relieve overcrowding at Thayer and Miller Schools. The 1920's saw a large growth in the Springwells Township Unit School District with the coming of Ford Motor Company's, Rouge Plant. As the number of students increased the areas school system had to adjust.
Designed by H.J. Keough, the architect who also designed Fordson High School, used a Gothic Collegiate style, and made the building large enough to accomodate grades kindergarten through 9th. The school also housed a complete library , cafeteria, and fully equipped orthopedic department, which was designed for all students including the handicapped. Additions were made in 1949, and the school was incorporated into a High School as well as its Elementary and Junior High. From 1949 to 1969, the school was used for all three grade levels, however today it is used only for grades kindergarten through 9th.
Harvey H. Lowrey was hired as Superintendent of the Springwells Township School District in February 1922, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1946. He was also a teacher for over 50 years, having started that career in 1896 at Berlin Center, near Ionia, Michigan. He also served as principal of Saranac High School, Superintendent of Pewamo High School and Commissioner of the Ionia County Schools. Lowrey then became Registar and a teacher at Mt Pleasant Normal College. (now Central Michigan University). He resigned to complete his doctral degree at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In 1922, he came to the Springwells School District as Superintendent. Here he served on the Charter Commission in 1924 and again in 1942. He retired and left the Dearborn area, and passed away in 1961 at the age of 82.

FRED E. MAPLES School

The Fred E. Maples School was the 11th school to be built in the Fordson Public School District during the 1920's. It was designed by architect, H.J. Keough, and began in 1929 with resident, Walter Iams starting the groundbreaking. The Iams family was responsible for starting the petition which asked for additional school facilities in their neighborhood. The decision to name Maples School came on August 19, 1929. Fred Maples was a member of the Fordson Board of Education at that time, and his family had pioneered the Springwells-Fordson area. Although the enrollment later decreased dramatically, Maples still serves the community and houses grades kindergarten through 9th.
Fred Maples was born on May 16, 1873, in the family home located in the area of what is now, Schaefer and Rotunda. His grandfather came to the Springwells area in 1829 and settled in a log cabin on the banks of the Rouge River. They had been farmers, but they also kept a tavern on Ann Arbor Road. (now the location of the Rouge Plant). Fred Maples married in 1897 to Catherine Campbell and settled in the village of Springwells. He soon became involved in both commerical and residential real estate. He served on the Fordson Board of Education, and was well known of his work with charities. Maples died suddenly on June 5, 1931.

WILLIAM NOWLIN School

This school was built in 1946 and was originally known as the Penn School. It has grown from a 5 room schoolhouse to 16 classrooms, and activity room, health room, gymnasium, teachers' room, and library. This school had originally been built to accommodate the overcrowding at Oxford and Whitmore-Bolles Schools, and was used for grades kindergarten through third, for its first 6 years. In 1949, additons were made to expand the kindergarten, add a junior primary room, offices, and lavatories. 8 additional classrooms were added the following year and in 1951, the name of the school was changed to William Nowlin, and by 1952 expanded to kindergarten through grade 6th.
William Nowlin was one of Dearborn's first pioneers. They came to Dearborn in 1834 when William was 13 years old. The Nowlin farm was located in what is today both Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, but at that time, was Dearborn Township. William Nowlin authored the book, The Bark Covered House, a first hand account of Dearborn's pioneer life , written in 1876. Nowlin married twice; first to a neighbor, Adelia Travis, and following her death in 1882, he married Anna Crandell. He had three sons, however, none of them were interested in farming, and sold the Nowlin farm. There is also a Nowlin Cemetery located on what was a portion of the same farm, now on Van Born Road, with Nowlin family members buried there.

ROULO School

Peter Roulo gave one lot to the City of Detroit in 1906 for a new school to be built in the Springwells Township area. This lot was on the border of Detroit and Springwells, and with additional land purchased by the Detroit Public School system, a two room school house was built. The Roulo School was intended to accommodate the overflow of primary school students at the Bennett School. In 1920, following the establishment of Springwells Township Schools, Roulo became a part of the new school system. It housed grades kindergarten through the 5th grade, however after only one year, the school was again used for grades kindergarten and 1st only, all other grades were to attend Salina School. As the community developed and grew, the City of Springwells needed a bigger school, and purchased more land adjacent to the original Roulo School location. They then began excavation for a 12 room schoolhouse, which was officially dedicated in 1926. For a short time, between 1926 and March of 1927 students for Roulo and Salina attended the Roulo School, until some structural problems could be recitified at Salina School.
Between the 1930 and 1960 Roulo served the community but by 1961 it was closed. The City of Dearborn purchased the property in 1962 and it was leased to the Ambassador Baptist Church. In 1972 a fire damaged the building which was torn down in 1979, after years of vacancy.

SALINA School

The present day Salina School is an expansion of Springwells District #2 school, called "Rouge School." The first building was a four room school at Miller Road and Dix, which was purchased by Henry Ford sometime before 1917. In 1917, a new school was built on Mulkey (now Wyoming Avenue), with an enrollment of 25 students and 1 teacher, Anna Henn, who taught all grades. The Rouge Plant offered a quick increase in student enrollment and the two room building was only until 1922. A new building had begun to be built in 1921 to accomodate the new student enrollment, located on Salina Street, for which the school was later named. By 1922 this 12 classroom school with auditorium, gymnasium, and boiler room, served grades kindergarten through the 8th grade. An additon in 1925 increased the school to 37 classrooms and a swimming pool, however in September 1926, during this expansion, a portion of the wall collapsed causeing the school to temporarily close, and those students attended nearby Roulo School. In September 1927, with an enrollment of 904 students and 60 teachers, the school re-opened, and housed all grades from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Despite the dpression of the 1930's enrollment did continue in the area, however Salina was then only needed for grades kindergarten through 9th. Additions were made in 1951 and 1958, and Project Head Start, a program to prepare kindergarteners of school, was started here in 1965. The school continues to serve the community as an Elementary and Junior High School.

SCOTCH SETTLEMENT School

The first school in the Dearborn area, was built in the "Scotch Settlement" in 1938, on a corner of the Richard Gardner farm. It was a one story frame building with benches and desks along the outside walls of the room. In 1860, the building was destoryed by a fire and a new school was built of brick. This building was located on the north side of what is now Warren Avenue, near Southfield Road. The land of the new school was donated by Francis J. Whitsey, and this was the school Henry Ford attended. Among the names of teachers at this school were: Richard Haigh, Mahala Gardner, M. Lathers, L. Ruddinam, Mary Ruddiman, and William Stevenson. Many of them, also students of at this same school. The number of students enrolled at the Scotch Settlement School varied , but averaged between 30 and 45 a year. This area, known as the "Scotch Settlement" although large in land area, was compsed primarily of large farms, and did not have a large population.
The Scotch Settlement School was the school in for Dearborn Township District #1, which included what is today portions of Dearborn and Detroit. The name, "Scotch Settlement" was a local termn for an area bounded by Joy Road on the north, Ford Road on the south, the Rouge River on the west and Roulo Creek on the east. The first settler here was Richard Gardner, in 1828, followed by the Kirks, Leslies, Ruddimans and Stevensons all from Scotland. The community remain farmland until Henry Ford began to change the nations ideas of industry and transportation. In 1923, Henry Ford purchased the Scotch Settlement School and moved it to the Edison Institute (now the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village).
The school was incorporated into the Village of Dearborn School System, and was used as a school from 1929 to 1969, when the system closed. The most notable teacher during it's "Village period" was, E. Lucile Webster.
It now serves as an educational resource for the area, known as the "one-room schoolhouse."

EDWARD S. SNOW School

The Edward S. Snow School was built in 1951 to relieve overcrowding at the Whitmore-Bolles School. A twenty-four acre wooded site was selected on Culver and Snow Streets and the building was designed by Jahr-Anderson Associates. The first students enrolled here in February 1952 housing grades kindergarten through 6th. As the neighborhood grew, 7th and 8th grade students were added, however with renovations in the Edison Junior High School, the school converted back to an Elementary school in 1954. Today the Snow School continues to serve the community as an Elementary School
Edward S. Snow was born in 1820, in Austinburg, Ohio. He was one of eight children and he atteneded the local "common" school. In 1838, Snow enrolled a the Grand River Institute in Austinburg where he took a course in surveying. Before he could accept a position by the government as surveyor in the Northwest Territory, a close friend became ill, and Snow stayed behind to care for him. This experience interested him in medicine and in 1847 he graduated from the medical department at Western Reserve College in Cleveland, Ohio. He married in 1851 to Elizabeth Austin and he was requested to fill in for Dr. Markham in Plymouth, Michigan temporarily. When Snow arrived in Dearborn, he and his wife settled in the Dearborn Hotel. He served as physician and surgeon at the Detroit Arsenal in Dearbornville until it closed in 1875. He was also a surgeon for the Michigan Central Railroad for 43 years. The Snow's were one of Dearborn's first citizens and members of the Christ Episcopal Church. He served as school inspector for Dearborn Township and his name is honored by Snow Street, Snow Hill Apartments, and Snow Woods , as well as Snow School.

WILLIAM B. STOUT Junior High School

Stout Junior High School was the last school to be built in Dearborn. The Dearborn Public Schools purchased 10 acres of land, in 1958 at Oakwood Blvd and Rotunda Drive, from the Ford Motor Company and plans were made to build a new Junior High. The school was completed and opened in September of 1960, with a formal dedication on November 9, 1960.
William Bushnell Stout, was an American aviation pioneer. He was born on March 16, 1880, in Quincy, Illinois. His family relocated to St Paul, Minnesota where Stout attended Mechanical Arts High School and the University of Minnesota. He financed his education by writing articles on his mechanical toy inventions. In 1906 he married Alma Raymond and built their first home, and all of their furniture. He was made an aviation and technical editor for the Chicago Tribune in 1912 and became affiliated with the Scripps-Booth Automobile. He redesigned the Scripps-Booth car and in 1914 was transferred to Detroit, as Cheif Engineer for the company. In 1919 he formed the Stout Engineering Laboratories for aeronautical engineering, and built the first American commercial monoplane, the Batwing. It was at this same time that he met, Henry Ford and learned that both, Henry and Edsel Ford were also interested in aviation. Through this affiliation, the Ford Airport on Oakwood Boulevard was developed in 1924-1925. (currently the site of the Ford Motor Company's test track). In 1926 the famous tri-motor plane, was developed and Stout made his mark in aviation history.

THAYER School

Thayer School was built in 1924 to replace the brick one room McDonald School at Warren Avenue and Wyoming. The school was named after the Thayer family, who in 1842 had leased land in Greenfield Township School District #4 to Richard McDonald for a school and church building. Nahum P. Thayer, came to Greenfield Township just outside of Detroit in 1820 at that age of 18. He cleared his land for a farm and house which was later owned by his descendants. Thayer also built the first 3 miles of Old Chicago Road (now Michigan Avenue). He was elected as a representative from Wayne County in 1837, 1838 and 1840, and held several local offices. He also served as a Colonel in the state militia.
At the time that Thayer School was built, it was considered one of the most modern buildings of its kind. Representatives from other school districts came to visit the building and study its plan for use. The original construction was 8 classrooms, a cafeteria, library and gymnasium-auditorium, and opened in September of 1924. By 1926, the school was so crowded that both it's locker rooms had to be used as classrooms. This overcrowding was eleviated with the building of Lowrey Junior High. The school changed very little over the years, and closed in 1959. In 1961 the property and building were sold to the Pius Society of St. Paul.

WHITMORE-BOLLES School

The history of Whitemore-Bolles begins in 1919 with the division of the lands east of Monroe and south of Outer Drive. With the a large growth in the community, a need for housing and schools was in demand. Laura Whitmore Bolles donated 3 acres of land behind the Whitmore family home, with an additional 6 acres of land purchased in 1925 by the Board of Dearborn School District #7. Dearborn architect, Harry Vicary was chosen to assist the firm of George D. Mason and Company as designers. The school officially opened in September of 1927, with a teaching staff of 4 and an enrollment of 98 students. Dedication of the school was held in honor of the Bolles family on May 14, 1928, as this was the date of birth of Laura's mother and her own wedding anniversary.
During the Depression of the 1930's the school was used as a soup kitchent and after the Second World War a new wave of growth came to Dearborn. In 1940, an additional wing was added, including 8 more classrooms and a kitchen. By 1951, enrollment reached 1,400 students. One of the unique science programs established here in the 1950's was the Horticultural Gardens.
The school name Whitemore-Bolles, honors two of Dearborn's families; J. E. Bolles, the donor of the original site and Laura Whitmore, who was also the niece of William Nowlin. When Mrs J. Bolles donated the land she asked the school be named in honor of both her family (the Whitmores) and her husband's family (the Bolles).

WILLIAM FORD School

William Ford School was the first school built in the Springwells School District, and was constructed in 1922. The site, at Chase Road and Ford Road was part of William Ford's original farm and was purchased for $1.00 from Henry Ford. The original school was built with 6 classrooms to accommodate 200 students. In 1924 two wings were added, increasing the size to 31 classrooms, a gymnasium and auditorium. By 1928 enrollment reached 1,030 students and 40 teachers. William Ford School absorbed all the elementary level school students from the private school, St. Clement's after it's closing in 1971. Today, the school serves grades kindergarten through grade 6th.
William Ford, after whom the school is named, came to the United States from Ireland in 1847 with his parents, grandmother, and six brothers and sisters. The family settled in the Scotch Settlement (today approximately the area of Ford Road, Greenfield, Joy Road, and Southfield Roads) and joined Samuel Ford, who was William's uncle. After arriving they found that Samuel had died but that his two sons had prosperous farms in the same area. The Ford's purchased land in the adjoining corners of Redford, Greenfield, Springwells, and Dearborn Townships. William helped his father on the farm as well as working for Michigan Central RailRoad. When the railroad was completed, William returned and worked on the Patrick O'Hern farm. The O'Hern's adopted a daughter, Margaret Litogot, who married William in 1861. In 1863, their second child and first son was born, Henry in a house they shared with the O'Hern family. William Ford served on the local school board and was a respected member of the community until his death in 1905, at that age of 79.
View the 1946 or 1947 6th Grade Class of William Ford School.

WOODWORTH School

The property on which the Woodworth School stands was purchased by the Fordson Board of Education in 1927, and was originally a portion of the Woodworth farm. Alfred Woodworth, was born in China, New York in 1818 and helped to shape the history of Dearborn.
As a small boy, he came with his father, Josiah, and other members of the Woodworth family to Batavia, New York in an ox-drawn wagon. At the age of 10, Alfred was bound out to work for four years, and when his four years were completed he joined his family on a move to Michigan. The Woodworth's settled in Greenfield Townsip and purchased 48 acres of land and built a logcabin home on the site of the present day school building. Alfred also purchased land in 1840 and continued to buy land in this vicinity until his farm totaled 245 acres. He married in 1843 to Phoebe Jane Smith and had nine children. Alfred died in 1904 and is buried at the Scotch Settlement Cemetery.
The first cornerstone for Woodworth School was laid in September of 1927 and was opened the following September as a kindergarten through 6th grade school. In 1932 the school added its Junior High school section, and in 1937 a swimming pool, larger cafeteria, music rooms and a small auditorium. In 1940, the Fordson Board of Education purchased additional property to the west for a playground. The school is still currently open and houses grades kindergarten through 8th grades.

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