Demolition begins on old Eastern’s most historic sections

UM-Sparrow ‘taking the easy road’ in not saving more artifacts, says preservationist

(This story was updated to correct an editing error in an earlier version. The correct number of Art Deco chandeliers that a historic photo of old Eastern High School’s auditorium appears to show is 12. )

TUESDAY, March 25 — Demolition has begun on old Eastern High School’s iconic west wing, which preservationists sought to save.

The fate of some historical artifacts remains uncertain. Today, University of Michigan Health-Sparrow spokesperson John Foren said that “due to health and safety issues,” UM-Sparrow “cannot attempt to salvage any other material” from the building.

 UM-Sparrow said Feb. 25 was “working with alumni to preserve meaningful artifacts.” However, the alumni association’s president, Jim Lynch, has disputed that claim.

Foren reconfirmed this afternoon that the cupola atop the west wing will be spared.

The west wing was designed by the prominent Michigan architectural firm Pond and Pond and constructed in 1928. Efforts to preserve the west wing and Jon Young auditorium initially seemed promising, but last year the City Council rejected an attempt to declare the building a historic site under pressure from UM-Sparrow and trade unions.

The hospital system intends to build a $97 psychiatric facility on the school’s grounds. However, little if any of the land that old Eastern occupied will be used for the facility, according to plans UM-Sparrow has made public. Officials have said it has other plans for that portion of the former high-school grounds. It has made its case for demolition based on  the hundreds of millions of dollars it says it would have cost to save old Eastern — money UM-Sparrow argues should be spent on health needs.

Dale Schrader, former president of Preservation Lansing, disputed Foren’s statement that it was no longer safe to remove artifacts.

“There are ways to get the materials out safely,” he said. “If they wanted to, they could do it. They’re just taking the easy road.”

“We salvaged materials from Pleasant Grove Elementary when it was torn down,” Schrader said. “We salvaged materials from several homes for the land bank. We deconstructed homes and reused all the old hardwood and structural beams. They just don’t want to because it’s a little more difficult.”

Yesterday, 15 protesters called for the preservation of historic artifacts at old Eastern as the demolition crew blocked off parts of Pennsylvania avenue. One protester, Becky Stimson, said the protesters were particularly concerned about the building’s iconic cupola.

“That was one of the reasons we were all out there,” Stimson said. “It was cold, the wind was blowing, our feet were freezing, and we were staring at that cupola.”

UM-Sparrow said it is saving the cupola for a planned memorial garden honoring the high school, but protesters have doubted the claim’s authenticity after a coalition member claimed Sunday that chandeliers were still in the auditorium.

John Foren accounted today for the fate of at least seven of the auditorium’s light fixtures. However, it is unclear which  they were. The auditorium and its hallway featured different styles.

He said “at least six” were donated to the Ovation Center for Music and Arts, a city of Lansing project under construction downtown on Washington Square.  He said the center may have received one more.

He said another was given to the city of Lansing.

An undated auditorium photo that was part of a 50th anniversary school history in 1978 shows at least 12 Art Deco chandeliers.

Dominic Cochran, who is overseeing the Ovation Center’s construction as its first executive director,  said by text message today:

“Everything is still wrapped and crated but I was told we have two of the globe shaped fixtures with the globe printed on them and 6-7 of the white frosted fixtures from the auditorium hall. We don’t have any of the art deco style fixtures from the ceiling of the auditorium.”

Cochran went on to criticize himself for not doing more to save the Art Deco fixtures.

“When I had the idea,” Cochran said, “it was the same day they were handing over the keys to the demolition contractor, so we were lucky to get what we did. I told them we would take everything if it was possible. I blame myself for not having the idea sooner because I could have arranged the necessary lifts to get up to the ceiling, but it would have taken a few days to do so.”

Preservationists were frustrated at every turn by UM-Sparrow in their efforts to gain access to the building to see what was worthy of preservation. 

Stimson said today, “We have photographs of the light fixtures hanging in the auditorium.”

Another protester, Andrew Muylle, said he was concerned about those chandeliers.

“Those 16 Art Deco chandeliers that hang in the auditorium are still there,” he said. “That’s the big-ticket item.”

“If they get trashed with everything else, that’s a travesty all on its own.”

Muylle said UM-Sparrow had been “dishonest” in communications.

“It hasn’t been collaborative in any way, shape or form,” Muylle said, “even though they’ve been continually claiming there has been collaboration involved.”

Muylle said seeing the west wing fall felt like “closing a chapter,” but is still hopeful the auditorium — or at least parts of it — can be saved.

“There are still people, including myself, who believe we can reach people with enough power to half the auditorium demolition,” Muylle said. “It’s a very last-minute plea.”

“It’s not too late to do the right thing.”