Buick School is one of the many forgotten schools of Flint, Michigan along with Beecher, Michigan. Not very much is known about this particular school. Today only few Flint citizens and Beecher citizens known about the history regarding Buick School. This news article explains the history of Buick School.
The Buick School blossomed it beginnings at the location of George Street and Dowagiac Avenue in Beecher, Michigan in 1946 during the 1946-1947 school year. Classes for Buick School were held in a 1 story house that bared resemblance to a private residence. The school building was wooden building. Buick School was an elementary school that served grades 1 through 6 only in the beginning. Kindergarden would be added later in 1950. From 1946 to 1954, Buick School served only as an elementary school that was called Buick Elementary School.
The year 1948 is when the 1946 Buick School building was closed and moved further up north of town to clear right of way for the expansion of George Street. George Street would no longer be 2 lane street but become a 4 lane street.
In 1949 during the 1948-1949 school year is when Buick School was moved to a new building located on 1298 Chrysler Street located in Mt Morris, Michigan. The new Buick School was built a cost of $150,000 in 1949. The Buick School was built as a single story rectangular building. The 1946 wooden school building was now in front of the new building. Just located west of it. It was at the entrance to the school grounds from Hartman Street.
Irene Briggs served as principal for the new Buick School in 1949. 50 students were in each classroom. Irene Briggs had to build the furnace fire for the room when the first building was in use. Drinking fountains that would freeze in the winter and parents would complain about that. Irene Briggs had served as principal for 25 years and as a teacher for 20 years.
(Ref: The Lake Union Herald, Volume 57, Number 32, August 26, 1976)
Although Buick School was a “Beecher School” operated by the Beecher Community School District, its address and building were located in Mt Morris, Michigan throughout the remainder of its history while in operation.
An exact estimate of 48 to 50 students were in each classroom in the early days during the late 1940s to early 1950s. Highest attendance rates per classroom was at 50 students.
(Ref: The Lake Union Herald, Volume 67, Number 32, August 26, 1976)
1950 saw many improvements made to the school building and school property. 100 students attended Buick School in 1950 during the 1949-1950 school year. From 1950 to 1970, Buick School was also known as Buick Community School. Buick School began educating Kindergarden classes in 1950 during the 1950-1951 school year. By 1951, Buick School became a K-6 school.
In 1955, Buick Junior High School was built. Buick Junior High School was located north of Buick Elementary School. Buick Elementary School would hold classes in the old building that was located south of Buick Junior High School. The Buick School was then expanded to include a junior high school. The Buick School was no longer an elementary school. Buick School was now built as an International style L-plan building. 
1955 is when Buick School became a K-8 school and was no longer a K-6 school. Grades 7 and 8 were held in a different building. Beecher Community School District had an enrollment of 1,163 pupils in 1955 in grades Kindergarden through 12.
Buick School (Buick Community School) was renamed to Buick Elementary School in 1960. 200 students attended Buick School in 1960. Beecher Community School District then had an enrollment of over 2,000 pupils.
At some point, Buick Elementary School was renamed to Briggs Elementary School. This was in honor to Beecher teacher and school principal Irene Briggs. Irene Briggs served as principal for the Buick School for 46 years. Irene Briggs had such an impact on Beecher students that they renamed Buick Elementary after her. She had been principal of the school since the existing building was built in 1949.
(Ref: Former students celebrate teacher's 100th, Flint Journal, January 22, 2010)
(Ref: The Lake Union Herald, Volume 57, Number 32, August 26, 1976)
In 1974, a pedestrian overpass was built connecting to George Street so students living west of I 475 could walk to school safely. (Ref: I-475 Construction and Pierson Road Reconstruction, Flint, Corridor and Alignment Statement: Environmental Impact Statement, 1975)
By 1978 during the 1978-1979 school year, both Buick Elementary School and Buick Junior High School were demolished due to expansion of I 475. Noise pollution would disrupt classes that were being held while both schools were in session. Today I 475 now traverses where the Buick School use to be. (Ref: A Drive Down Memory Lane: The Named State and Federal Highways of Michigan, LeRoy Barnett, 2004)
Buick Elementary School and Buick Junior High School were closed down following the economic recession of the early 1970s as well. Both schools were closed and demolished with no hassle.
(Ref: A STUDY OF THE DOLAN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WORK EXPERIENCE PROJECT, BEECHER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN, Joseph Lawrence Hooper, 1977)
The only remainder left of both Buick Elementary School and Buick Junior High School (along with the Buick School itself) is a chain link fence covered by bushes, shrubs, and trees making its visibility unclear & unkempt to the public from public street view via right of way. Both Buick Elementary School and Buick Junior High School have since been razed.
Buick School was located at the address of 1298 Chrysler Street, Mt Morris, Michigan, US 48458.
My brother Ronnie Gacek, and I Mary Ann Gacek started our beginners at Buick School ! Ronnie started 1951 , and i started 1952! Great memories ! When we were in small wooden school us kids were playing hide an seek! Not many places to hide we couldn't fine one boy! Seems he was hiding in Cole bend well next time we all wanted to hide in there! Having group picture taken out side the school! Programs in basement , tornado practice ! Just the best memories ever! Seen Mrs Briggs the year before she died! 102 years old! She knew everyone her mind was amazing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your memories with us.
DeleteRonnie, Mary Ann Gacek we lived on the corner of George St, 1108 Morris Hill Park way ! South east corner!
DeleteThanks for sharing your memories!
DeleteI attended this school from 1975-1978. Grades 1-4th. I remember when the built the catwalk over the 1-475, when the split our streets I lived on Laporte Ave. They came down through and made it a dead end st. With a huge circle around. Alot of memories from then. It was interesting to go d this article and the start of my first elementary school. Thank you for this article ❤️. My biggest memory was my dear to cross that catwalk. I was so scared my older brother and I had to walk with other classmates from our side to the other side. I laugh now as this was my first dear of heights lol. And the school days were awesome. My teachers were great. Again thank you for this article. I was talking about my childhood and how my first school was demolished and the sadness I remember having. When I went off to Summit Middle School in 1981 for 5th grade. Was glad to find this article to show as a tool that I was around during the construction of 1-475 right through my neighborhood and where I gone to school.
ReplyDeleteWe are glad to have helped you. So this school was demolished in 1980? Mixerr wasn't sure when he wrote the news article.
DeleteSo what were the reason(s) Buick School was demolished? When was Buick School was demolished? Was there any opposition from the communities of that area? We know I-475 split apart many streets. Several schools had to be demolished for right of way purposes.
When was the Dolan school finished in Beecher? I remember it being built...but not when it was finished! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMy husband attended Dolan the first year it was open, 1967-68 school year.
DeleteThanks everyone for sharing your memories. They are cherished.
DeleteThanks Mixerr whomever you I are really appreciate the info. I attended Buick Elementary for most of my elementary school years and lived a block away on Hartman Street. I was part of the first class at Dolan Jr. High and in fact picked the school colors of blue and white because red and white were the colors of the other Jr. High on Summit Street. It was I believe 1967, 8th grade for me. Two things, first there was never a Beecher post office so all Beecher addresses were Mt. Morris or possibly Flint. Beecher was always a school district only. Second, I do not recall Jr. High students or classes at Buick. Maybe someone else who attended Buick can clarify. The junior high prior to Dolan I recall was on Summit Street was a couple miles away from Buick Elementary and was called Beecher Junior High. It was near St. Francis Church and Buell Elementary.
ReplyDeleteThank you for pointing this out, Jeff. I will do a rewrite whenever I get a chance.
DeletePS later Beecher Junior High became Summit Street Junior High after Dolan opened. Once most of the school buildings in Beecher closed and consolidated Dolan became Beecher Middle School and went to the red and white colors of the High School.
ReplyDeleteI went to Zink elementary (also gone), but our church used the Buick gym for basketball back in the 70's
ReplyDelete