Perrinville School moving from Westland to Livonia
The school was driven along several area roads on the back of a truck.
Perrinville School moving from Westland to Livonia The school was driven along several area roads on the back of a truck. Check out this story on HometownLife.com: https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/livonia/2016/10/25/perrinville-school-moving-westland-livonia/92680390/
David Veselenak, hometownlife.com Published 3:34 p.m. ET Oct. 25, 2016 | Updated 9:18 p.m. ET Oct. 25, 2016
The old brick, one-room schoolhouse, built by Henry Ford for the children of workers at Nankin Mills, a water-powered factory, is on its way to Greenmead.
Waiting for DTE to raise the power lines.(Photo: Bill Bresler | staff photographer)Buy Photo
Who says there aren't any more parades in Livonia?
One consisting of police, DTE Energy workers and a historic one-room schoolhouse is making the rounds through Livonia, Westland and Redford today.
The historic Perrinville schoolhouse is en route today from its original site at Ann Arbor Trail and Farmington in Westland to its new home, Greenmead Historical Park at Eight Mile and Newburgh in Livonia.
It's a move that has special significance to the neighborhood residents, many of whose children attended the school. One of those who had children attend the school and came to watch was Marie Collins. Two of her children attended school at Perrinville, including inside the old one-room schoolhouse portion.
"Off and on, they had classes in there," the Westland resident said. "It's kind of sad, but it's good it's going to Greenmead."
The school will move along Joy Road to Inkster, where it will then go north to Seven Mile. It'll then head west along Seven Mile before turning north onto Newburgh and heading to Greenmead.
Police are escorting the school, which was built in the 1930s by Henry Ford to educate children of workers at the Nankin Mills plant. The school, which was later operated by Livonia Public Schools, shut down about a decade ago. It was sold in recent years to the city of Livonia for $1, with the intention of eventually moving it to the historical village. It was expected to move earlier this summer, but delays took place as a route and logistics were figured out.
On hand for the move was Debra Wake, who works at The Henry Ford in Dearborn and was out writing a historical article about the schoolhouse move. She said only a few of the schools built by Henry Ford exist in the metro Detroit area, including in Canton.
She said schoolhouses like Perrinville were built in more rural areas, such as Tecumseh, Saline and Macon Township in Lenawee County.
Judy James, seen with husband Wayne James, watches the moving of Perrinville School. She has lived in the neighborhood for 44 years. Two of her three children attended the school. "It was awesome." James said. "The old-timers have wonderful memories of this building." (Photo: Bill Bresler | staff photographer)
"He had a lot more schoolhouses in the rural areas," she said. "Because in this area, he could pick up the kids and bring them to the Greenfield Village school system."
Several residents, including James Cook, are sad to see it go from Westland. He said he would have rather seen it remain at the site and turned into some sort of community center for the surrounding neighborhood.
"What we want is a coffee shop over here so the neighbors can get together," the Westland resident said. "Because some of us have been here for 50, 60 years."
Wake said it's important to keep pieces, such as the Perrinville school, intact to keep history alive for future generations. So many other buildings have been removed, making the schoolhouse a major piece of Henry Ford's history.
"In the metro area, this is one of the last landmarks," she said. "And once they're gone, they're gone."
dveselenak@hometownlife.com | 734-678-6728 Twitter: @DavidVeselenak
Perrinville school
Waiting for DTE to raise the power lines. Bill Bresler | staff photographer
Judy James, seen with husband Wayne James, watches the moving of Perrinville School. She has lived in the neighborhood for 44 years. Two of her three children attended the school. "It was awesome." James said. "The old-timers have wonderful memories of this building." Bill Bresler | staff photographer
DTE crews raise the power lines at Joy Road just east of Farmington Road. Bill Bresler | staff photographer
Raising the power lines for the move of Perrinville School. Bill Bresler | staff photographer
Wires must be raised or removed for the schoolhouse to pass. Bill Bresler | staff photographer
Approaching the railroad tracks on Inkster Road. Bill Bresler | staff photographer
Wayne County Road Commission Workers remove traffic signals on Inkster Road. Bill Bresler | staff photographer
Measuring to make sure the schoolhouse clears the wires. Bill Bresler | staff photographer
Waiting for a train to pass. Bill Bresler | staff photographer
Trains don't stop for schoolhouses. Bill Bresler | staff photographer
Easing the schoolhouse across the railroad tracks. Bill Bresler | staff photographer
Ed Reid drives the Mack truck pulling the Perrinville one-room schoolhouse. Bill Bresler | staff photographer
Westbound on Seven Mile at Farmington Road. Bill Bresler | staff photographer
The Perrinville School in winter. File photo
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