History of Morley School in Detroit forgotten.

Morley School is one of the many forgotten schools of Detroit, Michigan not many people are aware about. Not many people knew the school even existed or were aware of its existence at one point in time. The school has been long erased from people’s minds. Morley School was an elementary school that was operated by Detroit Public Schools from 1903 to 1978.

Morley School was built as an elementary school in 1903 and was operated by Detroit Public Schools. At beginning of the 20th century, Morley School served students in grades 1 through 6. Morley School was located in the Delray neighborhood. 

The school building was a brick and concrete structure. Two sections of this school were connected by a long hallway with a short stairway at one end. This school was built as an H-shape building built on an H-shape building plan. The other school building was a brick and concrete structure while the other portion for this building was made of crushed stone and cinders. Cinders supported the school’s foundation structure below.  Color photographic slide the front entrance to Morley Elementary School, located on Beaumont Street in Delray.

"Morley School" was seen imprinted in the stone above the door. The date "1903" was seen in the scroll work above the door. (Ref: Detroit Historical Society)

The playground was very large and often too wet to play on due to the moisture in the environment being located less than a mile away from Detroit Water & Sewerage. The school even had an atrium. (Ref: I Remember: Yesterdays Treasures, Robert Paul Szekely)


The Detroit Educational Bulletin cited the school was overloaded by 535 pupils by 1922. Its capacity was 625 students. 1,160 students attended the school at that time. “No relief except addition to the school is possible.” (Ref: The Detroit Educational Bulletin, Volume 6, Detroit Board of Education, September 1922)

An addition to the Morley School was added to the intersection of Copeland Street and Beaumont Street to provide space for 650 students more bringing the total accommodating capacity up to 1,300 which costed $115,748. (Ref: School Data Proves Size of Movement, Detroit Free Press, July 19, 1925)


Starting in the 1940s is when Morley School served grades Kindergarden through 6. Kindergarden classes were held at the Morley School by 1941 so that means Morley School was a K-6 school by 1941. (Ref: I Remember: Yesterdays Treasures, Robert Paul Szekely)

From 1941 to 1946 is when Morley School had 1,100 students enrolled. Between 1944 and 1946 is when enrollment for Morley School increased by 100 students. Morley School also went under the name Morley Elementary School.


On the date of May 11, 1966, a nearby soap factory called Wayne Soap Co. blew up and caused quite a bit of damage in the Delray neighborhood. Many windows were blown out during and after the explosion. The explosion had shattered Wayne Soap Co. and its building was left in ruins.

"I thought an atomic bomb blew off. I thought war was declared.” “The police came in pretty quick and hauled out a lot of men from the factory.” “A lot of people had come just to stare. They milled around in the street.” Melvin Sanford said as he sat on the porch of his house at 9196 Portland Street. 200 policemen were sent into the area to prevent looting and maintain order. The explosion blast rocked 1 square mile area in far southwest Detroit.

The Wayne Soap Co. explosion had shattered several windows at the Morley School. Students were cut by flying glass. Several students were injured by the blast. 775 students in grades Kindergarden through 6 were enrolled at Morley School during the time of the explosion.
(Ref: Blast Scene: ‘I Thought Of A-Bomb’, Detroit Free Press, May 11, 1966)

After the explosion, Morley School closed down for 2 weeks for repairs. Repairs took no longer than 2 months. Students continued school at Salina Elementary School for a temporary period.


Detroit Water & Sewerage expanded its facilities northbound towards the Morley School in 1973. The houses that surrounded the school were removed via imminent domain by the City of Detroit. Residents were relocated or simply had moved out on their own. 1978 is when Morley School was demolished.

By 1981, Morley School stopped appearing on local maps of Detroit, Michigan. Traces of the school were no longer extant by the 1980s. It’s name and remains had been paved over. 

Today the school building for Morley School (Morley Elementary School) is long gone. No traces of the school be found due to the expansion of Detroit Water & Sewerage covering over former school grounds. Morley School is now one of the forgotten schools of Detroit.


Morley School was located on 1120 Beaumont Street, Detroit, Michigan, US 48209 precisely at the intersection of Beaumont Street and Portland Street as cited by Detroit Historical Society.