What was once Abel Myers Orchard Terrace boarding house, became the school in Eldred in 1925.
From 1925 to 1926 there were 116 students, 5 faculty. Two years of high school and two high school classes were available. The old school was remodeled.
In the 1926 school year, improvements were made and English 3 was added.
1926 seems to be the year my dad started high school. He was able to attend High School in Eldred and graduated in 1930. Being the only student, Dad was valedictorian, but he would sometimes say he graduated at the bottom of his class.
In 1931 the old school was remodeled to make a gym. Sunshine Hall was purchased in 1934 and became an auditorium. The old Orchard Terrace house was still the school in 1937.
Hello there,
I just stumbled across your website!
I am the current Band Director at Eldred Junior-Senior High School. I have been here for 8 years now. I am a huge connoisseur of history, and I enjoy everything I can learn and pass on about the history of Eldred, especially from the music side.
I know that there have been many music teachers from Vernon Titus, Alice McKeon, Corinne Patton, Barbara (Clark) Balmer (whom I taught with), to today.
There are now three of us–myself, Justin Glodich, and Brittany Robinson. We have been very fortunate to help the Eldred district earn two consecutive recognitions of a “Best Community for Music Education” awarded by the NAMM Foundation.
Would love to learn more about the history of Eldred’s music program if you had the time.
Thank you for your work.
Sincerely,
Brian Nivison
Louise:
I am a former elementary band teacher for three schools in Fenton, MI (in the 1970s). So it was fun for me to get your email.
My last book “Farewell to Eldred, 1920 to 1950” includes all the information I have on the music history of Eldred.
“Farewell to Eldred” as well as the other two books are in the Eldred School library. “Farewell to Eldred” was donated by David L., my second cousin.
The other two books were donated by my Austin cousin Melva B. The Eldred Sunshine Free Library has all three books which were donated by Melva.
The music history I found was mainly from the Eldred yearbooks which are online.
My mom and her brother were in the band, so there a couple photos of them. Their father, Irwin Briggs was the Methodist minister and very musical. There were two older sisters and all 6 of them had a family band. Those photos are in book 3 also.
Congratulations on your NAMM award!