
Longfellow Elementary School
31 N Astor St, Pontiac, MI 48342
-Abandoned 2010
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History of Longfellow Elementary School
Longfellow Elementary School is a school located in Pontiac MI, that was built in 1928. It was among one of the earlier schools built within the Pontiac School District, though it is not close to the oldest in the district. It is named after the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, known for his poems "Paul Revere's Ride, " "The Song of Hiawatha," and "Evangeline." In the early years of Longfellow, it appears, with the help of historic imagery, that Longfellow was built before large housing development was present around the school. Just years earlier, in 1926, General Motors introduced the Pontiac line of cars, produced out of Pontiac, MI. Longfellow was just 2 miles away from the original Pontiac plant, it is likely it was built in response to the growth in the area. Longfellow continued to be a staple of the community, however, in the 1970s into the 80s, Pontiac began its long period of decline due to a combination of factors, including increased foreign competition in the auto industry after the oil crisis, plant closures in the 1980s and beyond, and suburbanization. By the 1990s, Longfellow never exceeded 530 students. By 2009, the student enrollment was at 353 students, and as part of the district's plan to correct a $10 million deficit for the 2009-2010 school year , it was decided to close 9 of the 20 schools in the district, including half of all the elementary schools. Longfellow was included in the closure and was closed in 2010 . It was sold to a developer in 2015 who planned to turn the school into lofts; however, 10 years later, nothing has come of that, though the school remains in very great shape.

Recollection from the author
Longfellow was a great school to explore it was of note due to its condition, though it had decayed, not many signs of extreme vandalism or scrapping were present. It allowed a great story to be told from the banners on the walls to the Auditorium with not a single piece of graffiti inside the auditorium. Overall a fantastic school to have the honor to explore.
The front facade of the school
A group of trees lines the front lawn of the school
The Longfellow School sign remains however is beginning to be overtaken by the trees
1st floor hallway shot 1
1st floor hallway shot (One of the entrances to the school)
1st floor hallway shot 3 (Banners line the walls all around the school, everyone is in perfect condition)
1st floor hallway shot 4
1st floor hallway shot 5
1st floor hallway shot 6
Gymnasium shot 1
Gymnasium shot 2
Locker room next to Gymnasium
The Auditorium remains in perfect shape, aside from normal wear and tear from abandonment
Auditorium shot 2 (The Stage)
Auditorium shot 3
Auditorium shot 4 (Seating as seen from the stage)
Auditorium shot 5 (Full shot of the Auditorium)
Most likely the kindergarten room
kindergarten room shot 2
A first floor classroom
A poster in that same classroom
Desk remain in that same classroom
Another 1st floor classroom with a ABC carpet still intact
Another 1st floor classroom
That same classroom
Staircase leading to 2nd floor
2nd floor hallway shot 1
2nd floor hallway shot 2
Room 209
A 2nd floor classroom
Another 2nd floor classroom that had a staircase leading to it (likely a specialty room)
A classroom connected to the last classroom
Staircase leading down from the last 2 classrooms shown as mentioned likely specialty classrooms
Another room at the 2nd floor front facade of the building it features benches for students to sit on
Though the benches have seen better days
Another 2nd floor classroom connected to the last room
A likely addition at the end of the 2nd floor hallway
On the first floor a small mural is present above what was a drinking fountain
Most of the school remains locked up tight