District students arriving for the first day of school 9/9/48.

• Site for Parcells purchased for $49,449.00 in 1940

• The first unit of Parcells School opened on September 9th, 1948.

• It began as an elementary school with 350 students, 15 teachers & classrooms along with a medium sized gym.

• In 1951 Parcells became a Junior High serving grades 7 through 9. This was what the building was designed for.

– Cost: $2,896,674.00– Capacity: 900 students

“New Parcells School Put Into Use”

“A flag was raised with the blowing of a bugle and the singing of the National Anthem by 350 pupils and 15 teachers.” “The school is of modern construction and embodies the latest appointments for efficient school work.” (Front page of the Grosse Pointe News September 9, 1948)

Right across the street from Parcells was the Bakeman farm. This was a working farm until it was sold in the early 1960s.

Before Parcells was built, the land was part of the VanAntwerp farm. Children used the property as a large skating pond during the cold, winter months.

Gypsies would camp there during the summer.

There’s even more info to share…

• Work on Parcells began on October 31, 1946.

• Construction was hampered by labor and material shortages and an area wide carpenter's strike.

Parcells is named for: Charles A. Parcells

• He was a prominent figure in both education and finance.

• Sadly, Charles A. Parcells died suddenly in the summer of 1948 at the age of 60.

Parcells Leadership

• 1948 → 1951 Marshall Jameson• 1951 → 1970 Vincent Peterson• 1970 → 1984 Morris Hanzek• 1984 → 1990 William Christofferson• 1990 → 1998 Glenn Croydon• 1998 → Mark Mulholland

Recent Improvements…

• 1990s: Computer labs and auditorium enhanced

• 2005: Multipurpose room added• 2006: New Library Media Center and

classrooms added in the former public library space

• 2007: New Science Labs open

Did you know….

In 1986-87 the U.S. Department of Education presented Parcells Middle School with a National Excellence in Education Award.

Gas:16 a gallon???

1948 Advertisements

References

• Grosse Pointe News• Google Images• Seek Publishing• Grosse Pointe Historical Society