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Theodore Roosevelt School
1921 1996
rief History
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In 1913 Ridge Road School was opened at the site
o
the current Roosevelt
Elementary School. As time passed, the school came to be known as the Pleasant Ridge
School.
To
make room for the construction of the Theodore Roosevelt School, the Ridge
Road School, which had originally faced on Ridge Road, was moved eastward to the rear
o the school property and faced on Oakridge Avenue. Here it continued to be used as a
school while the Roosevelt School was being completed.
Ridge Road School , commonly known as the Pleasant Ridge School
The new Theodore Roosevelt School was dedicated on Thursday, October 20,
1921 . (See next page for reprint
o
The aily Tribune
article dated October 28,
92
.)
The original school was an eight room school, which faced on Ridge Road. The school
cost 91,428.00 to build and had an enrollment o 313 in 1921. Fifty-nine additional
students attended special programs
in
the old wooden building at the back
o
the school
property.
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From: Royal Oak Tribune,
October 28, 1921
CODY SPEAKS
AT ROOSEVELT
OPENING
PLEASANT RIDGE
-
FERNDALE
DISTRICT DEDICATES
SCHOOL
Modern 91,000 One-Floor Eight
Room Structure Opened
To Public.
Make your school system serve
the community, FrankCody, superin
tendent of Detroit public schools. told
residents
of
Royal
Oak
township school
district No. 9 Thursday evening at the
formal opening and dedication
of
the
new Roosevelt school on Ridge road at
the junction of Pleasant Ridge and
Ferndale villages .
Significant points in Mr. Cody's
address were:
Suffer little children to come unto
me is. after all, the motto of all our
schools.
If
you can
make
the
schools
democratic, you will have unanimous
agreement
when
appropriations
are
asked for and your school budget will
be approved without any deductions
being made.
Let the general public know your
school program. Parent-Teachers asso
ciations and school visiting days will
stimulate public interest.
Sites for buildings should not be
smaller than five acres , in order to pro
vide for expansion.
Separate H.S. and Grades.
Separate the 7th, 8th, and 9th
grades from the high school somehow.
A large number of pupils leave school
after the 9th grade. Provision must be
made to give some vocational training
to the boys and girls who do not com
plete the high school courses. Empha
sis is being changed from the high school
to the grades . The best teachers are
needed in the first six grades, not
in
the
high school. I f grade teachers have the
same training, they should receive the
same grade of pay that high school
instructors do .
No
school district should adopt a
building program without consulting its
neighbors. When you build, provide for
additions by erecting buildings, like this
Roosevelt school. on the unit plan.
Education is a state function, and
a common program should be followed
so that no child
in
the state will suffer
because he did nqt have educational
opportunities equal to those
of
the city
of
Detroit or any other city. Consoli
dated schools are a means to this end .
Make your schools serve the whole
community .
Dr. Bryant Presides.
Dr. William Bryant, president
of
the board
of
education, presided. Char
les G Kibbey, treasurer, reported the
cost of the building to be $91,428 with
a few small bills yet to be presented.
William J Norton, executive secretary
of
the Detroit community fund. and a
member of the district No . 9 school
board. introduced Mr. Cody.
Vocal solos were given by Miss
Helen Marshall. school musical direc
tor, and John Renton ; a violin solo by
Mr. Bullock.
Miss Elizabeth V Briggs, town
ship librarian, announced the establish
ment of a branch of the township library
in the Roosevel t school. Both adult and
juvenile books are included. Between
2 :30 and 5:00 each Thursday the branch
will be open.
Following the program. refresh
ments were served by members of the
Parent-Teachers association and the
building was open for public inspec
tion, the teachers being in their respec
tive rooms to explain any features
of
school work to interested parents .
Enrollment is 313.
The Roosevelt school is aone-floor
eight room school
of
the most modern
construction. Present enrollment is 313 ,
divided as follows: Kindergarten 41 ,
Miss Ruth Mitchell: First , 39, Miss
Minnie Geletzke; Second, 38 , Mrs.
BeauChampet: Three-B. 40 ,Miss Eliza
beth Denman: Three-A , 34. Miss
Dorothy Rowe: Four-B. 24 and Five
B. 15, total 39 , Miss Dorothy Hunt:
Fifth, 33. Mrs. Lester: Sixth. 44. Miss
Helen Osband. The principal
is
Miss
Edith Cargill.
Fifty-nine pupils are enrolled in
special grades in the annex , the old
wooden building which was moved
back. Miss Marion Leete has
30
in
the
speed room: Miss Elizabeth Nehs
16
in
the special A's: Miss Veva Quick and
Miss Eastman 13 in the special B·s.
W. E. Harris is superintendent of
district No. 9 schools . Members
of
the
school board are : Dr. William Bryant.
president: Robert D. Chatfield. secre
tary; Charles G Kibbey. treasurer:
William J Norton and Marshall F.
Lester. Mrs. Gladys M. Parsons was
secretary
of the board when plans for
the Roosevelt school were made.
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Theodore Roosevelt School facing Ridge Road 1921.
The flagpole, the urns ,
and the nameplates above each entrance were enclosed by the1969 addition to
the school, but can still be seen in one o the school s internal courtyards.
The floorplan and style o the original school
is still
discernable due to its terrazzo floors , white ceramic
tiled walls , and beautiful oak woodwork.
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In 1932 grades seven and eight were added to Roosevelt School. Roosevelt
remained a K-8 building until the completion
o
Ferndale High School in 1959, when the
seventh and eighth graders were moved to Lincoln Junior High School. The need for
additional space in the interim at Roosevelt resulted in the 1939 and 1949 additions to the
school.
In 1939 the Cambridge and Oakridge sides
o
the school were added. These wings
included basement rooms at their eastern ends (current rooms 93, 98, and the art room),
which in the past have served s the school s cafeteria and shop class areas. The space
between the two wings continued to be used
s
a playground by Roosevelt students until
1949, when the gymnasium was constructed in this open area and the two wings were
joined by the addition
o
four classrooms (two upstairs and two downstairs) at the east
end
o
the school.
Roosevelt School, Oakridge view in 1970
Roosevelt School, view from Ridge Road in 1967
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A final addition was made in 1969 on the Ridge Road side o the school. Four
classrooms and a large music room were included in the addition.
View o the 1969 addition from Ridge Road
Roosevelt School is scheduled to be renovated beginning June 1997. The above
view
o
Roosevelt will change once again, when the proposed new media center is built.
An architect s sketch o the planned renovation appears below.
Pinecrest view o proposed new media center and adjoining classrooms
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Roosevelt PTA Historian Mrs. C.S. om wrote in 1941, Too often the history of
a group seems most desirable after long years
of
organization. By the time it has
developed enough
of
importance to warrant a record of its accomplishment, its beginnings
have faded even in the memories
of
its founders. And so it is,that many
of
the names
of
those who helped build and shape Roosevelt's reputation of excellence for the past
seventy-five years have escaped recording.
rincipals o Roosevelt School
Roosevelt's first principal was Miss Edith Cargill. According to her daughter, Mrs .
Sue Evans
of
Pinehurst, North Carolina, her mother was principal from 1921-1923, when
she had to step down to get married. Edith Cargill McCordic is in a North Carolina nursing
home today. She will tum 100 in April.
Miss Edith Cargill, first
Roosevelt Principal
Miss Cargill with students on steps of Ridge
Road School
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Miss Dorothy Brooks, fondl y remembered as our Miss Brooks , principal
from 1923-1933. Mr. Paul Best was principal from 1933-1942 and later becan e assistant
superintendent
o
schools. Best Junior High School
is
named after him.
Mr. Paul Best
Mr John Houghton
Mr John Houghton graduated in 1929 from Lincoln High, taught at Roosevelt for
nine years, was Roosevelt's principal from 1942-1953, then became principal o Lincoln
High School and later superintendent
o
schools. A complete listing o Roosevelt
principals includes:
Miss Edith Cargill
Miss Dorothy Brooks
Mr Paul Best
Mr. John Houghton
Mr
Lawrence
F
Read
Mr
Arden H. Detert
Mrs. Frances (Miller) Seagrave
Mr
Lyle Marshall
Mr. Nie Cannici
Mrs. Jeanne Mcintyre
Mrs . Lynn Haire
1921-1923
1923-1933
1933-1942
1942-1953
1953-1954
1954-1962
1962-1971
1971-1978
1978-1985
1985-1994
1994-present
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Mr
Arden H Detert
1954-1962
Mr N
c
Cannici
1978-1985
Mrs. Frances Miller) Seagrave
1962-1971
Mrs. Jeanne Mcintyre
1985-1994
Mr Lyle Marshall
1972-1978
Mrs. Lynn Haire
1994-present
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Teachers at oosevelt School
The earliest record
o
Roosevelt teachers was contained
in
the October 28,
92
article in Royal Oak s
The Daily Tribune
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade (3B)
Third Grade (3A)
Fourth Grade (4B)
Fifth Grade (SB)
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Special Grades
Miss Ruth Mitchell
Miss Minnie Geletzke
Mrs. BeauChampet
Miss Elizabeth Denman
Miss Dorothy Rowe
Miss Dorothy Hunt
Miss Dorothy Hunt
Mrs. Lester
Miss Helen Osband
Miss Marion Leete
Miss Elizabeth N ehe
Miss Veva Quick
Miss Eastman
Roosevelt teachers
1921-22 left to right: Miss Nehs , Mrs.
Lester, Miss Hunt, Miss Mitchell,Miss Quick, Miss Os band,
Miss Leete, Miss Denman, Mrs. BeauChampet, Miss Rowe,
Mrs. Geletzke
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In the September 7, 1932 issue
o
The aily Tribune the following teachers are
listed for Roosevelt School: Ruth Albers, Mary Burkit, Bernice Butler, Hazel Darling,
Evelyn Edwards, Alice Graves, Georgia Hallman, Helen Heisler, Amy Jacobson, Florence
Keightley, Maurine LaBatt, Anne MacN even, Hazel Miller, Alma Mitchell, Irene Mooney,
Stella Nicols, Norma VanHome, Greta Wixson.
Mary Burkit was a beloved kindergarten teacher known as Miss Mary . Many
alumni have visited Roosevelt and spoken fondly
o
their Miss Mary .
Miss Mary with a kindergarten class in 1936.
Records listing Roosevelt teachers are lacking until the early 1960s, when Roose-
velt began publishing yearbooks. Yearbooks disappeared again in the 1970s, but albums
o class pictures were maintained annually through the present. As a result, lists of
teaching staffs could be compiled, some
o
which are reprinted on the following pages.
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Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Roosevelt Teachers
1963 64
Mrs Pellow
Mrs Touran
Mrs Blacher
Mrs Loceff
Mrs Zeiter
Mrs Hassan
Mrs Schnell
Mrs Frank
Miss Moore
Mrs Richards
Mrs Gass
Mrs Davis
Mrs Green
Mrs Robinson
Mrs Adler
Mrs Marsh
Mr Sears
Miss Nelson
Mr
Owens
Mrs Webber
Mr Wiese
Mrs Martha
Young
School Secretary
1960 1968
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Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Third/Fourth Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
·
: : : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : ~ : : : : : : : : :
:
:
t :
·
·
·:.
Roosevelt Teachers
1969 70
Mrs Barnes
Mrs Touran
Mrs Garrison
Mrs Gass
Mrs Zeiter
Mrs Caden
Mrs Grant
Mrs Splane
Mrs Frank
Miss Moore
Mr Taylor
Miss Searis
Mrs Davis
Mrs Green
Mrs Smith
Miss Caplin
Mrs Dorrell
Mrs Marsh
Miss Sternberg
Mrs Anthony
Miss Nelson
Powell
Mr Sears
Mrs. Helen Bierbower
School Secretary
1968 1980
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Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Fifth/Sixth Grade
Sixth Grade
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Roosevelt Teachers
1974 75
Alice Baldwin
va Touran
Cherie Sternberg
Feannie Lieberman
Patricia Brown
Margaret Gass
Shirley Oleinick
Maude Donahue
Maria Scaris
Cassie Smith
Eileen Berkowitz
Marvel Dorrell
Gloria Williams
Henry Taylor
Alice Nelson
Richard Sears
Roosevelt Teachers
1985 86
Mrs Hendin
Mrs Brown
Mrs Dickieson/Miss Liebermann
Mrs Halls
Mr Taylor
Mrs Vinton
Mrs Gordon
Mr Sears
Mrs Williams
Mrs Dorrell
Mr Gulian
Miss Mato
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l jndergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Secondffhird
Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Roosevelt Teachers
1990 91
Mrs. Hendin
Mrs . Stonehouse
Mrs . Brown
Mrs. Dickieson
Mrs . Wade
Mrs. Clor
Mr. Taylor
Mrs. Vinton
Mrs . Gordon
Mrs . Halls
Mr. Sears
Mrs . Ward-Mytinger
Mrs . Dorrell
rs Parkinson
Mr. Gulian
Miss Mato
Mrs. Delphine Camey
School Secretary
1980 present
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Kindergarten
First Grade
First/Second Grade
Second Grade
SecondfThird Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Special Education
Specialist Teachers
Vocal Music
Art
German
Instrumental Music
Instrumental Music
Instrumental Music
Instrumental Music
Instrumental Music
Roosevelt Staff
1996 97
Mrs. Phyllis Hendin
Mrs. Melanie Allbery
Ms. Linda Crisan
Mrs. Susan Surber
Mrs. Patricia Brown
Mrs. Linda Dickieson
Mrs. Anita Galloway
Mrs. Janet Monroe
Mrs. Margaret Halls
Mrs. Laura Vinton
Mr. Todd Cunningham
Mrs. Linda Gostomski
Mrs. Patrice Ward-Mytinger
Mr. Frank Burk
Mrs. DarleneWade
Mrs. Roberta Lusk
Miss Diane Mato
Mrs. Sheree Green
Mrs. Ann Saunders
Mrs. Donna Pearlman
Miss Annie Abbott P.E.
Mrs. Mary Brown
Mrs. Virginia Cox
Frau Annegret Stroetges
Mr. Dave Coleman
Mrs. Marianne Corrigan
Mr. Paul Schlottman
. Roger Smith
Miss Elizabeth Wilson
Teaching Assistants--Literacy Project
Mrs. Gail Stenback
Mrs. Diane Sharples
Instructional Aides
Kindergarten
Literacy Project
Media
Custodians
Secretary
Mrs. Carolann Brown
Mrs. Betty Hensley
Mrs. Sue Fry
Mrs. Christine Kukier
Mrs. Betty Nicholls
Ms. Patience Harper
Mr. Steven Hill Head
Mrs. Denise Lyon Asst. Head
Mrs. Denise Berry
Mr. John Bourgeois
Mrs. Delphine Carney
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Mrs Allbery
Kindergarten
Ms Crisan
First Grade
Mrs Galloway
Second Grade
Mrs Vinton
Third Grade
oosevelt Staff
1996 97
Mrs Hendin
Kindergarten
Mrs Brown
First/Second Grade
Mrs Halls
Third Grade
Mr Cunningham
Fourth Grade
Mrs Surber
First Grade
Mrs Dickieson
Second Grade
Mrs Monroe
Third Grade
Mrs Gostomski
Fourth Grade
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Mrs. Ward Mytinger
. Fourth Grade
Mrs. Lusk
Sixth Grade
Mrs. Saunders
Special Education
Mrs. Brown
Vocal Music
oosevelt Staff
1996 97
Mr Burk
Fifth Grade
Miss Mato
Sixth Grade
Mrs. Pearlman
Speech
Mrs. Cox
Art
Mrs. Wade
Fifth Grade
Mrs. Green
Special Education
Miss Abbott
Physical Education
Frau Stroetges
German
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Ms. Corrigan
Instrumental Music
Miss Wilson
Instrumental Music
Mrs . Kukier
Instructional Aide
Not pictured:
Mrs. C. Brown
Mr Coleman
Mrs. Sharples
Mrs. Stenback
oosevelt Staff
1996 97
Mr. Schlottman
Instrumental Music
Mrs. Fry
Instuctional Aide
Mrs. Nicholls
Instructional Aide
Mr. Smith
Instrumental Music
Mrs. Hensley
Instructional Aide
Ms. Harper
Media ide
Mr Hill Mrs.Berry Mrs. Lyon Mr. Bourgeois
Custodians
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Students at oosevelt School
Roosevelt has served an estimated 4,500 students since it first opened its doors in
1921. Many
o
Roosevelt's students in 1996 are second- and a few are third-generation
Roosevelt students.
Two student activities which have been at Roosevelt all these seventy-five years are
Safety Patrol and Service Squad. During the years that Roosevelt was a K-8 building,
sports teams and drama groups were present in the school. Roosevelt also had a well
known boys choir in the 1950s, founded by Roosevelt music teacher Mr. Edward Haapa.
It
was one
o
the few school boy choirs in the nation. The choir was composed
o
27 boys
between the ages o nine and twelve years. (See next page for picture.)
·
~
: .
i i
1 l ;
The cast
o Robin ood
given by the 8A Class ofRooseyelt School before graduating
on February 6, 1936.
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Roosevelt Soccer Team, 1936
Members
o
the Roosevelt Boys
hoir
in 1950 were: front row) Dennis
Ford, James Greenwalt, Paul Wooley, Lee Kellar, Robert Tom off, William
Glace, David Albee, Roy Gutske, second row) John Schlect, Michael Crain,
Dan Barr, Louis McRoberts, Jack McCracken, Jack Hill, Larry Winnie, Neal
Schmeichel, Allan Sanborn and back row) Kenneth Brown, Owen Fett,
Robert Hatmaker, Don Christian, David Jencks, Ronald Rexrode , Stewart
James, Charles Mach, Larry Dwyer.
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The aily Tribune contains reports of drama clubs, a fifties club, agate tourna
ments, a harmonica club, the Young Peoples World Citizenship League and others. In
recent years there have been a ski club and a fifth and sixth grade girls' math and science
club. Since the beginning of the 1990s, Roosevelt has had an active Student Council,
which involves students in school and community service projects.
arents at Roosevelt School
The Roosevelt Parent-Teacher Association is fortunate in having a long tradition
of organized effort behind it. wrote Mrs. C.S. om in 1941. Mrs. om continued, We
can point with pride to the record of our own organization. The emphasis has always been
on service and not on the accumulation of funds for the sake of possession. The tradition
outlined by Mrs. om in 1941 has continued through the present day. The Roosevelt PTA
continues to be a well-organized group, whose emphasis is the improvement ofRoosevelt
School and its programs. One special project the PTA is currently working on is raising
funds to improve Roosevelt's playground.
1949 June Fair 1953 June Fair 1954 June Fair
A long standing Roosevelt tradition
is
the PTA-sponsored June Fair.
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This history was compiled by Mrs. Haire, with the help
o
Miss
Mato s 1995-96 sixth graders, who researched articles in
The aily
Tribune .
We are indebted to all the alumni who wrote, phoned or visited
Roosevelt in the past year to share a memories and memorabilia of
days gone by.
A special thank you Mrs. Sue Evans, daughter o Roosevelt s first
principal, Miss Edith Cargill. Mrs. Evans sent us the photos from
the first year at Roosevelt and o her mother.