Grosse Pointe Academy facts for kids
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Academy of the Sacred Heart
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 171 Lake Shore Drive Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan |
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| Area | 18.9 acres (7.6 ha) |
| Built | 1885 |
| Architect | William Schickel, Maginnis & Walsh |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival, Tudor Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001061 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 25, 1987 |
The Grosse Pointe Academy is a private school located at 171 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. It was first known as the Academy of the Sacred Heart. The school's buildings became a Michigan State Historic Site in 1977. They were also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This means the buildings are important historical places. The school teaches students from preschool up to middle school.
A Look at the School's Past
The land where the Grosse Pointe Academy stands was once a French ribbon farm. This type of farm was long and narrow. It stretched from Lake St. Clair all the way to Ridge Road.
In 1867, a group of nuns called the Society of the Sacred Heart bought the land. These nuns lived a quiet life focused on prayer and teaching. The very next year, a small public school was built there.
In 1885, the nuns decided to build a boarding school for girls. This school would teach students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The school building was finished in 1887. It was built near Saint Paul's Church. This allowed the nuns to enter from their property. Students could enter from the church's parking lot. The rest of the land stayed a working farm. In 1899, a chapel was added to the school.
In the late 1920s, the nuns needed more space. They sold part of the farm beyond Grosse Pointe Boulevard. They used the money to build a new education building. They also updated the chapel. Farming continued on the property until the 1940s.
In 1969, the nuns gave the property to a group of people called a Board of Trustees. This group continued the school's mission. The school became known as the Grosse Pointe Academy. It started teaching both boys and girls.
What the Campus Looks Like
The Grosse Pointe Academy is on a long piece of land. It is located between Grosse Pointe Boulevard and Lake Shore Drive. The school sits right next to Saint Paul Catholic Church (Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan).
There are seven buildings on the school's campus. Five of these buildings are considered important to its history. These include an old farmhouse from 1855. There are also four large school buildings built between 1885 and 1930. The other two buildings are a headmaster's house from 1939 and a maintenance shed. These two are not considered part of the historic district.
