Royal Oak Review | Published September 24, 2024
ROYAL OAK/CLAWSON — School is in session for Royal Oak and Clawson students, and there have been two celebrations marking the centennial year of Oakland Elementary School in Royal Oak and the Clawson Public Schools district.
On Sept 7, Clawson Public Schools celebrated by hosting a get-together to honor the district’s legacy.
On Sept. 20, Oakland Elementary held a 100-year celebration called “Oakland Through the Ages.”
The event showcased the school’s history with engaging demonstrations related to different decades, school tours, performances, alumni meetups, proclamations and more.
Making it to the benchmark of 100 years in each case has been a notable feat.
Oakland Elementary’s road to 100 years
Making it to the 100-year mark was something that the community of Royal Oak did not always know would happen for Oakland, according to the Principal Jason Taylor, who said that around 15 years ago there was talk of tearing down the building.
“The district was going through some consolidations and they had put Oakland on a list of schools that were going to be closed, and the community stood up,” he said. “They made a good point of keeping the school around.”
The history of Oakland Elementary was not well known until around last year, when a historical committee found a report of Oakland’s history between 1924 and 1984 written by historian Doreen McEvoy, who now goes by the name of Dobson.
Oakland Elementary opened for its first day of school on April 19, 1924, on 4 1/2 acres of a former corn field purchased for $20,000 by John Brinkey.
The building was designed by Frederick Madison, who built the front of the school to look like a castle.
Dobson is the sole reason why the school district knew about the 100-year anniversary of the first day of school. Previously, the city only knew about the centennial anniversary.
She said that this benchmark showcases the successful school system in Royal Oak.
“It solidifies the fact that Royal Oak is a great community with old established neighborhoods and families who care about education,” she told the Royal Oak Review earlier this year.
Taylor feels the same way about the Oakland Elementary community, saying that he believes the atmosphere is what keeps families happy and connected to Oakland.
“We’re here, we made it to 100 years, but we almost didn’t,” Taylor said. “I think that speaks volumes about the community and the parental involvement, and how passionate people are, and how people value the community and the school.”
Taylor said that the centennial celebration is a great way to teach the students in school now.
“The kids are learning about what it was like 100 years ago, but also at the same time they are making predictions and thinking about what it might be in another 100 years,” he said. “It’s a cool opportunity for us to celebrate the school and also learn.”
Clawson’s 100 years of schooling
According to Clawson Historical Society Curator Leah Davis, kids in Clawson in 1923 were going to school at a log cabin school and taking classes in churches on occasion.
When Clawson became a village and realized that there were not enough buildings to accommodate the number of children who required schooling, it started building schools between 1923 and 1924.
“In 1924 we got the original Clawson high school built, which is still there today,” Davis said. “It’s not easy to find; in 1954, it was turned into the junior high, and they have just continuously done additions to it.”
Davis said that the students who attended Clawson High School in 1924 were subjected to listening to hammering all day, as the school was being built around them. The library had no books, and the school building was pretty much just a square box for them to learn in.
The first class to graduate from Clawson High was the Class of 1926, and it consisted of nine students.
The baby boom in mid-1946 created a rapid need for more schools, according to Davis. In the 1950s, Davis said, the city of Clawson was building schools left and right.
One of the only original buildings standing from 100 years ago is the former Clawson Middle School on Phillips Avenue, and it underwent major renovations earlier this year. It is now the brand-new Clawson Elementary School.
Billy Shellenbarger, the superintendent of Clawson Public Schools, said that celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Clawson schools came at the perfect time, following the opening of Clawson Elementary School in August.
“To peel back the walls of a 100-year-old building, I’ve never been a part of a project like that,” Shellenbarger said. “You certainly find some unique things behind those walls.”
Shellenbarger said that some of the original maple wood flooring of what was a basketball court was preserved during the renovations and used as the flooring for three kindergarten classrooms.
“Their classroom floor is a 100-year-old auxiliary gym basketball court. It is one of the neatest things I’ve ever been a part of related to being an educator,” he said.
Hopes for the next century
Looking forward to the next 100 years, those at Oakland Elementary and Clawson Public Schools are excited to continue encouraging education and connecting with their respective communities.
“I hope that we go into the next 100 years with an open mind and a growth mindset to grow and allow the opportunities that are to present themselves to be deep learning opportunities that help kids navigate the world,” Taylor said.
Shellenbarger had the same idea for CPS, and said the pride that the Clawson community has for its public schools is what will continue to drive the district into the next 100 years.
“Public school districts are really the backbone of our country, and Clawson is no different,” he said. “We hope to build on this 100 years by opening doors, upgrading our safety and security, and offering new technology for our students.”