Empire School (Empire, Michigan)

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Empire School
EmpireSchoolEmpireMI.JPG
Empire School (Empire, Michigan) is located in Michigan
Empire School (Empire, Michigan)
Location10017 W. Front St., Empire, Michigan
Coordinates44°48′39″N 86°3′32″W / 44.81083°N 86.05889°W / 44.81083; -86.05889Coordinates: 44°48′39″N 86°3′32″W / 44.81083°N 86.05889°W / 44.81083; -86.05889
Area1.1 acres (0.45 ha)
Built1900 (1900) 1905
Architectural styleLate Victorian
NRHP reference No.08000222[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 27, 2008

The Empire School is a school building located at 10017 West Front Street in Empire, Michigan.

History[]

The first school in Empire was the schooner "The Empire," from which the town derives its name.[2] The schooner was icebound in the Empire harbor during the winter of 1865. In 1867, a permanent school building was constructed on Brotherton Road. A new two-story school was constructed in 1891. This school, however, was destroyed by fire in 1899.[3] As a stopgap, classes were held in the Maccabees Hall until a replacement school could be built.[2]

The district decided their new school should be a top-quality, four-room schoolhouse.[3] Construction began in 1900[2] and was the new Empire School was completed in 1901.[4] A gymnasium was added in 1932, using finds available from the Works Progress Administration.[3] An old machinery storage shed was moved to the school property to house shop classes. In 1941, a small school building, the Boynton school, was moved from its original location to the Empire School to provide space for kindergarten classes.

However, school enrollment was declining.[3] In 1958, consolidation of several area school districts, including Empire, began.[4] By 1968, the Empire School shut its doors. A series of owners purchased the property for speculative ventures, and it was re-roofed in 2004, but the ventures did not pan out. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.[1] As of 2012, a local group was attempting to convert the school into a community center.[5]

Description[]

The Empire School is a 10,000 square foot structure,[3] and includes four classrooms and a gymnasium.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System – (#08000222)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Lula F. Beatty. "Schooner served as first Empire school". Leelanau News.
  3. ^ a b c d e Staff (July 3, 2003). "Is the Empire Schoolhouse a goldmine or a Pandora's box?". Glen Arbor Sun.
  4. ^ a b Thoman Benn (November 11, 2004). "Acquisition of Empire schoolhouse sets changes in motion". Glen Arbor Sun.
  5. ^ Staff (March 14, 2012). "Empire groups attempts to revive community center". Glen Arbor Sun.
  6. ^ Nadine Gilmer (July 26, 2012). "Dreaming of Empire". Glen Arbor Sun.
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