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Pere Gabriel Richard Elementary School History

1930- Present

Father Richard school

Pere Gabriel Richard 1930 Architect's Rendering

From the dedication program:

Père Gabriel Richard

October 15, 1767-September 13, 1832

A Frenchman by birth, an American by adoption and spirit,he was a pioneer of the West, pastor of old Sainte Anne’s,and a spiritual father to the Indians.His cultured mind and his eagerness to diffuse knowledge inspired him to propose a public library, to become the first patron printing in Michigan, to become a founder of the University of Michigan and of Detroit’s earliest schools. Imprisoned for his patriotism in the War of 1812, he was later elected delegate to Congress, where he promoted Michigan’s first highways. In his Master’s service he labored with the graciousness of a gentleman and the bravery of a Frenchman, until he died, martyr of charity, ministering to the victims of the cholera.

Board Members, Principal, Architects, General Contractor

	Presiding Superintendent: S. M. Brownell
	President, Board of Ed: Fred Sutter
	Secretary, Board of Ed: Charles A. Parcells
	Treasurer, Board of Ed.: Charles A. Poupard
	Other board members: John R. Watkins & J. Lee Barrett
	Principal of Richard: C.J. Messner, M.A.
	Architects: Robert O. Derrick, Inc.
	General Contractor: A.W. Kutsche Co.

Samuel Brownell
Samuel M. Brownell,
Presiding Superintendent

Teaching staff 1930

Kdg: Gertrude Slocum, Ph.D

Grade 1B: Mac Walter

Grade 1A: Ruth U’Ren

Grade 2B: Helen Wise, B. S.

Grade 2A: Marion Walker

Grade 3B: Ethel Eckstrand, A. B.

Grade 3A: Helen Spangler

Grade 4B: Nina Oldham

Grade 4A: Virginia Ward

Grade 5B: Mary Greenshields, A. B.

Grade 5A: Lucille Groff, A. B., M. A.

Grade 6 B: Katherine Richards, A. B.

Grade 6 A: Clara Blank

CoachingTchr: Olga Martin

Phys Ed.: Garnette Foster, B. S.

Phys Ed.: Louis Vedder

Art: Janette Adams, B. S.

Inst. Music: O. Lincoln Igon, B. A., B. Mus. Ed.

Music: Elizabeth Dexter, B. M.

Facts about Richard Elementary School

	Site purchased: July, 1928-May 1929
	Construction began: Nov. 20 1929
	Contract cost: $352,455.70
	Equipment cost: $15, 125.36
	Total Cost of building: $376,272.16
	Site cost: $132,268.33
	Pupils enrolled Sept. 1930: 389
	Pupils enrolled Jan. 1931: 412
	Increase since Sept. 1930: 23
	Capacity, present unit (on Detroit basis): 700
	Working Capacity, ultimate plant, 1225
	Number of teachers: Full time 15
	Number of teachers: Part time 4
	Per pupil cost (contract cost), $463.75
	Per pupil cost (building complete) $495.09

Uses of Special Tiles

Fireplace

Built-in Aquarium

Detail-View Aquarium

Classrooms Past and Present

Kindergarten Room (1930)

A beautiful room designed and equipped to stimulate many types of socialized and individualized activities on the part of kindergarten pupils. For this reason it has an

attractive color scheme interwoven in all its aspects. There is a beautiful fireplace with special tile blocks depicting characters familiar in childhood stories. There is a very attractively colored drinking fountain with a background that is fascinating to the minds of little children. This same color scheme is carried out in the built-in aquarium which stands in the corner near the window.

A Typical 1940's Classroom

2008 Classroom

Classrooms

The classrooms of Pere Gabriel Richard School are of the standard size capable of seating forty pupils.

They are modern in every respect and are equipped in such a manner as to make possible the most

efficient instruction. Physically, the classroom meets modern requirements with respect to heating,

and ventilating is of the uni-vent type, both the heating coil and the ventilating ducts and fan being

integral parts of the same unit. Temperature is thermostatically- controlled. There is a special humidifying

apparatus. Lighting is obtained through a series of large austral type windows equipped

with double roller translucent shades.

Other Sites of Interest

-Father Gabriel Richard: Detroit's pioneer priest