Defer Elementary School, primary school in Michigan, United States of America
Defer Elementary School is a three-story school building in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, constructed in 1924 and still operating today. The structure features Tudor Revival styling with brick and limestone accents, large windows for natural light, and interior spaces decorated with Pewabic Pottery tiles including an original fireplace and drinking fountain in the kindergarten room.
The building was designed by architect George J. Haas in 1924 on the site of a former rhubarb farm owned by Ludwig Meininger. An expansion was added in 1928 to accommodate the rapidly growing neighborhood, and the school was recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1996 before being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
The building reflects the architectural preferences that became common in the area after World War I, with its brick and limestone details expressing the pride communities invested in public education. The Pewabic Pottery tiles and decorative elements inside show how craftsmanship was woven into spaces where children learned daily.
The school sits at the corner of Kercheval and Nottingham Road and is easily recognizable by its brick and limestone facade with large windows. Keep in mind this is an active school building, so access and exploration may be limited or require prior permission from the district.
The building is among the oldest continuously operating school structures in the district and showcases 1920s craftsmanship through its Pewabic tiling and architectural details. Of particular note are the original fireplace and drinking fountain made from Pewabic tiles in the kindergarten room, features that have remained intact over the decades.
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