
Grant Elementary School
7479 Stockton St, Detroit, MI 48234
-Abandoned 2007
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History of Grant Elementary School
Grant Elementary School was built in 1926 by architect George Mason, who also built the world's largest Masonic temple in Midtown Detroit and the railroad depot in Chelsea, MI. Prior to construction on Grant a two room building known as the Hildale-Packard Portable was used as a temporary school. Most schools built before 1930 were constructed by the iconic Malcomson and Higginbotham. However, Grant was one of the early schools that started using other architects other than Malcomson and Higginbotham to design Detroit's schools. A second addition to Grant was built in 1931. The auditorium and gymnasium came in a later addition in 1953. As the population began to decline in Detroit Public Schools, Grant, along with many other elementary schools, switched to a K-8 program. This allowed Grant to grow to over 846 students at its peak in 1998. However, this peak would be short lived. Just under a decade later in 2006, enrollment was nearly half of its peak having only 486 students in the 2006-2007 school year. The school was closed at the end of 2007. After being abandoned, it became possibly the worst scrapped school in the district due to its location. The school was attempted to be saved by Detroit Public Schools with its standard protections, such as video motion cameras and VPS boards. However, the scrappers pushed through these obstacles, and today Grant stands as a strong example of the districts harsh past and a reminder to its struggles in the 2000s.

Recollection from the author
Grant was a strong example of Detroit’s battle against the scrappers, though almost no section of this school was spared from scrapping it didn’t take away from the uniqueness to this school. Surprisingly Grant still had parts of it’s murals intact though in rough shape. But what I will remember Grant for the most was the neighborhood, which in short was one of the Detroit one were everyone shouts and I was always on my toes, every shout sounded like someone had just walked inside the school, which as a urban explorer is a horrible feeling, along with this the fake but not confirmed till I was done with my exploration 24 hour monitoring signs. I knew this school was one that was protected for a time but lucky for me it turned out to be fake signs but a risk I took inside with me.
Mural still intact on the 1st floor
mural shot 2
mural shot 3
1st floor hallway shot 1
1st floor hallway shot 2
1st floor hallway shot 3 (Note the scrapped staircase)
Gymnasium shot 1
Gymnasium shot 2
Gymnasium shot 3
Gymnasium shot 4
Kitchen serving area
Kitchen serving area shot 2
Entrance to Gymnasium
Entrance to Auditorium
Auditorium shot 1
Auditorium shot 2
Auditorium shot 3
Auditorium shot 4
Hallway leading to backstage of Auditorium
Room 107
Room 107
A 1st floor classroom
Many classrooms due to scrapping and water damage have had walls collapse between classrooms
Many doors have been destroyed by vandals
A specialty classroom meant for the middle school portion of Grant
Staircase leading to 2nd floor
Some window details remain intact
2nd floor hallway shot 1
2nd floor hallway shot 2
2nd floor hallway shot 3
The staircase from earlier that has been scrapped out
Same staircase
Another staircase
2nd floor hallway shot 4
2nd floor hallway shot 5
2nd floor hallway shot 6
2nd floor hallway shot 7
Possibly the kindergarten room
2nd floor classroom
2nd floor classroom
A second floor classroom with a board ingrained with a Grade 1 marking
same board
Same board with the other board ingrained with Grade 3
Same classroom with the board
A display boar has became a heated debate to explorers