Macomb Elementary School

12051 Evanston St Detroit, MI 48213

-Abandoned 2009

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History of Macomb Elementary School

Macomb Elementary School is a abandoned school on the east side of Detroit, built in 1928 and opened in 1929. Macomb was all built in one phase and never received a addition, however Macomb was built with a Gymnasium and Auditorium space in its original construction. By the 1930s student population reached close to 800 students. However by the 1955 the school population dropped to 640 and was further diminished by the construction of I-94 (Edsel Ford Freeway) in 1957. I-94 located 2 blocks to the south of Macomb, caused many residents to be displaced as homes were razed around Macomb’s neighborhood. Macomb would never recover nor would the neighborhood as the population around Macomb continued to the decline. As many Detroit Public Schools received additions in the 1950s, Macomb would never received one due to the nail in the coffin already being seen as early as the 50s. As Detroit’s proper decline began in the 70s Macomb was further hit with declining enrollment, and by 1998 the enrollment was only at 580. By 2007 the school had only 296 students. Detroit Public Schools was to close Macomb at the end of 2007 but received a last minute reprieve keeping it open till 2009. By 2009 declining enrollment and building repairs needed caused the school to close in May of 2009.

Additional Reading

Alexander Macomb (April 3, 1782 – June 25, 1841) was an American military officer who was the Commanding General of the United States Army from 1828 until his death in 1841. Macomb was born at British held Detroit in 1782, and was the son of Alexander Macomb, a merchant and fur trader from upstate New York, and Mary Catherine Navarre, who was of ethnic French descent. Macomb was the field commander at the Battle of Plattsburgh during the War of 1812 and, after the stunning victory, was lauded with praise and styled "The Hero of Plattsburgh" by some of the American press. He was promoted to Major General for his conduct, receiving both the Thanks of Congress and a Congressional Gold Medal.

Recollection from the author

Macomb like many Detroit public schools had a dark hue to it, though not as big as many like it, Macomb was a example of a once beautiful school. Lockers where in every corner of the school both big and small. You would wonder how such a small school could hold 800 students at one time, but it happened here. The kindergarten room with its pillar in the room next to the notable bay windows found in most Detroit School Kindergarten rooms made this room of note. Macomb you could tell was a school always trying to adapt to accommodate it’s students, but with the neighborhood decline many of those efforts were never seen through properly.