History of Florence Avenue Public School in Pontiac, Michigan explored.

Florence Avenue Public School is one of the forgotten schools of Pontiac, Michigan. The history of this school has been long forgotten and not accurately preserved at all. This news article will explain and explore the history of Florence Avenue Public School/Florence Avenue School.

Florence Avenue Public School was first established by Pontiac City School District as Third Ward School in 1889 at a cost around $24,000 with a capacity for 160 students. Two more rooms were added to the first building (original building) in 1891. (Ref: https://www.ocphs.org/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/2019/11/Gazette-43-2-June-2010.pdf)

This school was located on Florence Avenue. According to An Account of Oakland County, the Florence Avenue school was located “on the corner of Florence and Willow avenues”. Cora C. Bailey served as principal preceding Florence Herrington. Florence Herrington later served as principal of Mrs. H. G. Stowell was president of the Florence Avenue School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). (Ref: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/micounty/ARX1007.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext)

According to a page from A History of Oakland County, Florence Avenue Public School was built to hold a capacity of 200 students. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=pcg-DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA284&lpg=PA284&dq=%22Florence+Avenue+School%22+pontiac)

According to a Sanborn map dating back to 1915, the building of Third Ward School/Florence Avenue Public School had a balcony in the back facing Close Avenue and a large square basement located underneath the school building which went 16 feet in depth. Third Ward School was renamed Florence Avenue Public School/Florence Avenue School to sometime during the 20th century. The exact date of when is unknown. (Ref: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4114pm.g041571915/?sp=3)

Florence Avenue Public School/Florence Avenue School was renamed to Cora C. Bailey School (Bailey School) in 1927. The Board of Education for Pontiac City School District changed the name of the school in memory of Principal Cora C. Bailey who passed away that same year. That is how Florence Avenue Public School/Florence Avenue School renamed to Cora C. Bailey School.

The Board of Education for Pontiac City School District decided to replace the old building of Cora C. Bailey School in 1956 as part of a social experiment. The Board of Education for Pontiac City School District decided to have 4 new experimental units of individual classrooms constructed. Each building was a self-contained classroom. Each building has its own covered patio. These new buildings included kindergarten, first, second, and third grades. Cora C. Bailey School would become a K-3 school instead of a K-6 school. Cost of the construction for those 4 buildings was $71,000.

Mr. Horton Southworth became principal of Cora C. Bailey in September of 1957. Mr. Horton Southworth resigned to join the Michigan State University staff in July of 1959. Cora C. Bailey School was torn down sometime between the 1980s and 2007.

Florence Avenue Public School was located at Florence Avenue & Willow Avenue, Pontiac, Michigan, US.