History of Brady Elementary School

Brady was built in 1921, and was the namesake school for what would become “The Brady Plan” a series of schools in Detroit that were expanded as the population grew around the schools. Some examples of the Brady plan Inculded Brady, Courville, Parker and Grant Elementary Schools. It was named for George N. Brady a native Detroit businessman known for his involvement in various charities, including the Michigan Fresh Air Society and the Boy Scouts Movement. When Brady was built the Clairmount Streetcar line was still a year from completion and the roads were dirt. Students used rented rooms in a drugstore to learn. In its first years Brady hosted a K-8 curriculum however when Hutchins Intermediate opened in 1922, the 7th and 8th graders were transferred to the new school. In 1924 a addition was added to Brady and added seventeen classrooms, a gymnasium, a auditorium, two playrooms and a lunchroom. Funny enough this was Brady only true addition despite being a Brady plan school. However the student capacity went from 350 in its first year to over 1,320 after its addition was completed. In 1961 a detached 5 room kindergarten unit was built off Lawton St. After declining enrollment hit the school hard with only 500 students by the early 2000s only 1/3 of what the capacity called for and with enrollment continuing to fall, Brady was closed in 2007. For the first couple years the school was properly secured however by 2013 scrappers had accessed the school and by 2015 the school had been stripped of all of its windows and many interior fittings. In its years of abandoned it has secured a spot on the NRHP due to its status as a Brady plan school, however decay has continued to plague the school. Neighborhoods and passerbys have noted the trees growing on the roof of the former school. Due to the absence of windows the school has suffered a major fate with water intrusion. Neighbors around the school, surprisingly hold a soft spot for the school, compared to similar neighborhoods with abandoned schools. Highlighting positive experiences they had with teachers and staff.