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

Defer Elementary School

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, May 11, 2021

1. Defer Elementary School Marker

Inscription. In 1921, Rural Agricultural District No. 1 consolidated five fractional districts, bringing together students who previously met in five separate schoolhouses. Defer Elementary School, the first school built after the consolidation, was named in honor of George Defer (1880-1927) who served as a village trustee and president and as a state senator. Constructed in 1924 in the Tudor Revival style, the school was designed by Detroit architect George J. Haas and decorated with Pewabic ceramic tiles. By 1927 the neighborhood had grown and the school became overcrowded. In 1928 an addition, which included the conservatory, was built. Defer Elementary School is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Erected 2001 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number L1995.)

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 1924.

Location. 42° 22.971′ N, 82° 56.22′ W. Marker is in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, in Wayne County. Marker is at the intersection of Kercheval Avenue and Nottingham Road, on the right when traveling west on Kercheval

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Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15425 Kercheval Avenue, Grosse Pointe MI 48230, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Voigt-Kreit House / Voigt on Public Education (approx. 0.7 miles away); Wardwell House (approx. ¾ mile away); Lewis E. Maire Elementary School (approx. one mile away); Fox Indian Massacre (approx. 1½ miles away); Martin Luther King Jr. In Grosse Pointe (approx. 1.8 miles away); Grosse Pointe High School (approx. 1.8 miles away); Pere Gabriel Richard Elementary School (approx. 1.8 miles away); The Grosse Pointe Memorial Church (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grosse Pointe Park.

Also see . . .
1. George Defer Legislator Details. (Submitted on June 10, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)
2. Michigan SP Defer Elementary School. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form includes a description of the school, both exterior and interior. It also includes a couple of pictures of the interior of the school, including the Pewabic tiles. The registration form also states that: "The land on which Defer Elementary was constructed was once a rhubarb patch located on the Ludwig Meininger Farm, a two-block-wide strip of land that extended from Jefferson Avenue to what

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, May 11, 2021

2. Defer Elementary School Marker

is now Chandler Park Drive in Detroit." [This was a strip farm two blocks wide and about 2.1 miles long.] (Submitted on May 3, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Defer Elementary School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, May 11, 2021

3. Defer Elementary School

The school was added to NRHP May 2, 2001

Credits. This page was last revised on May 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 213 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 10, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.