Grosse Pointe Farms in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Grosse Pointe High School

Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 15, 2017

1. Grosse Pointe High School Marker

Inscription. Completed in 1928, this Neo-Georgian school, with its 134-foot-tall clock tower, is reminiscent of eighteenth-century buildings like Philadelphia's Independence Hall. Detroit architect George J. Haas designed the school with the most modern equipment and fashionable accoutrements. The school's Program of Dedication noted that the goal was to "create in appearance an expression in brick and mortar of the idealism of the public school in community and individual life." The hallways are lined with pink Tennessee marble and the doorways are crowned with plaster cornices. Murals in the library, by Edgar Louis Yeager, were commissioned by the Works Progress Administration in 1938. In 1968 the school was renamed Grosse Pointe South High School.

Erected 1993 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1882.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.

Location. 42° 23.43′ N, 82° 54.213′ W. Marker is in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, in Wayne County. It is on Fisher Road 0.1 miles north of Grosse Pointe Boulevard, on the right when

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traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11 Grosse Pointe Boulevard, Grosse Pointe MI 48236, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan

and in Greater Detroit.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Martin Luther King Jr. In Grosse Pointe (a few steps from this marker); The Grosse Pointe Memorial Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pere Gabriel Richard Elementary School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Russell A. Alger House "The Moorings" (approx. 0.4 miles away); Saint Paul Catholic School and Convent (approx. half a mile away); Grosse Pointe Academy (approx. 0.7 miles away); Saint Paul Catholic Church / Saint Paul Rectory and Parish House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Lewis E. Maire Elementary School (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grosse Pointe Farms.

Also see . . .
1. The History Behind Cleminson Hall's Murals. Information about Edgar Yaeger's murals at Grosse Pointe South High School. (Submitted on July 31, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

2. Grosse Pointe High School. Grosse Pointe High School was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. From the Nomination Form:

Grosse Pointe High School (known today as Grosse Pointe South High School) was among the most fully developed and highly finished Neo-Georgian 1920's public school
Photographed by Joel Seewald, December 21, 2022

2. Grosse Pointe High School Marker
This marker, the one on the right, was moved about 60 feet to the southeast in about 2021 because of remodeling of the former location.
buildings in Michigan. It immediately became a landmark in the growing community and still is today. It was the first building constructed as a public high school in the Grosse Pointes and stands as testimony to a commitment to public education by a community whose transition from a resort to a full-fledged suburban community was in full swing by the time it was planned. George Haas, the architect of the high school, was a local architect who designed other public buildings in the Grosse Pointes and surrounds that were known for their pleasing stylistic appearances. Murals in Cleminson Hall by Edgar Louis Yaeger, commissioned by the W.P.A. in 1938, bear significant artistic merit.

(Submitted on July 17, 2025, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Grosse Pointe High School and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 15, 2017

3. Grosse Pointe High School and Marker

View of the former location of the marker.

Grosse Pointe South High School image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 15, 2017

4. Grosse Pointe South High School

History of South Hight School:
School website entry
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 859 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 31, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 2. submitted on March 27, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 3, 4. submitted on July 31, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.