History of Mershon School in Saginaw, Michigan explored!

Not much is known about Mershon School in Saginaw, Michigan. As a matter of fact, not much history regarding this school has been preserved online or in books anywhere else. This news article will explore the history behind this school.


Carrollton Township Board voted to erect a public school in 1904 during the 1903-1904 fiscal year. Mershon School was built and established to serve as an elementary school for Carrollton Township in 1904. Mershon School was also called Mershon Elementary School. School was held in a single building constructed out of brick.

Grades 1 through 6 were taught at this school during the first 10 years of operation. Mershon School was a 1-6 school in the beginning. 7th grade classes were added to the school later in 1911. By 1918 the school expanded to offer 8th grade classes. Mershon School was a 1-8 school by the end of the 1910s decade.

Sometime in the 1920s is when more classroom space was added. 8th grade classes would continue. At some point 9th grade classes were added but soon dropped due to a lack of space along with construction of newer schools in place in and around Saginaw.


In the summer of 1970, Mr. Wahr and Mr. Charlie Brown created the Teen Center at Mershon School. It was a positive impact on its students and test scores at that time. The Teen Center was a place to go have some fun. Weekly rap sessions were performed here. (Ref: https://www.deislerfuneralhome.com/obituaries/John-Wahr/)

Mershon Elementary School finally closed its doors and shut down in 1972. Mershon School became abandoned during the same year. The school was abandoned due to the internal structure being asbestos-laden making it a safety concern. Asbestos was found in the walls during an inspection by Carrollton Township Board leading to the school being shut down.

Michigan Comptroller of Public Accounts found out that no taxes were paid on the property by either Carrollton Township Board, a private owner(s), business, or the school district itself. The property was immediately transferred over to Michigan State Department of Natural Resources. Michigan State Department of Natural Resources had owned the school since 1993 because no one paid property taxes.
(Ref: http://www.dianaschnuth.com/saginaires/)

For many years, the township board had been pushing for the school building to be demolished. However local funding was tight and the state refused to give financial aid to the township. This led the building to sit vacant for several years with no further use. No other know recorded usage of the building post-1973 has been documented.

Carrollton Township Supervisor Marvin C. Kozara said the revenue vacuum created by the facility's closure forced township board members to reduce the budget across the board, but no fatal blow was dealt to any one item. Budget cuts had a significant impact on the township's plans, thus pushing back some of the efforts. (Ref: http://www.sweetbeet.com/growernet/news_events/Articles/2006/041406_b.htm)


Carrollton Township Board purchased the land back from the State of Michigan in the year of 2005. A manual check payment was made to the State of Michigan for $1.00. All rights were reverted back to the township.

On the date of May 8, 2005, Trustee Bill Dalton pushed to have a stone panel above the front door of Mershon School to be included in addendum to salvage with a time capsule. Asbestos removal was sub-contracted to MIS Environmental Services, Inc. (Ref: Carrollton Township Meeting Minutes 2006, May 8, 2006)

The following bids were submitted for the demolition of the Mershon School building:

1.  Bierlein Companies, Inc.        $34,200.00
2.  Billy’s Contracting, Inc.          $34,670.00
3.  Dore & Associates, Inc.         $37,200.00
4.  Rohde Brothers, Inc.             $56,200.00
5.  Kappen Excavating                $91,000.00           


Demolition of Mershon School was completed on the date of July 1, 2005. Carrollton Township Board of Trustees members unanimously voted to authorize Saginaw-based Spicer Engineering to determine the cost to demolish Mershon School. The state agency refused to pick up the tab on demolishing the building leaving  Carrollton Township Board to find ways to finance the school's destruction.
(Ref: Saginaw News, Abandoned School May Come Down, July 1, 2005)

Supervisor Marvin C. Kozara said Mershon School posed a "serious" safety concern for residents during much of the late 20th century and early 21st century.

The demolition expenses of the Mershon School building being much less than expected at total cost of $110,619 dollars. Demolition costs were not to exceed over $200,000 dollars.


Today nothing remains of Mershon School. The building itself is no longer extant. Aerial traces from satellite view of this school are no longer available. What remains now is a vacant lot. Since then nothing has been built on the property.

Mershon School was located at 410 Stoker Street, Saginaw, Michigan, US 48604. Its other address was 410 Stoker Street, Carrollton Township, Michigan, US 48604. 410 Stoker Street is now 410 Stoker Drive, Saginaw, Michigan, US 48604 Saginaw, Michigan, US 48604.