Artifacts from old Eastern are in danger, preservationists worry

(This story has been updated with new information on plans for the cupola.

(Also, an earlier version of this story identified the ceramic tiles in Eastern High School as Pewabic Pottery tiles. This information was provided to City Pulse by members of the Coalition to Preserve Eastern High School and Promote Mental Health. However, Pewabic Pottery’s archivist, Annie Dennis, said she was virtually certain the tiles were from Flint Faience. Because of a reporting error, another version of this article positively identified the tiles as Flint Faience. We regret the error.)

FRIDAY, March 21 — As demolition of old Eastern High School approaches the landmark building's most historic sections, alumni and preservationists worry important artifacts will be destroyed.

They say they have not heard of any alumni receiving artifacts, despite a Feb. 25 press release claiming University of Michigan Health-Sparrow was "working with alumni to preserve meaningful artifacts."

 "That's part of their web of lies," said Becky Stimson, part of an eastside citizens group that has fought to save the school's west wing and auditorium from the wrecking ball. 

"They clearly are not talking to alumni."

"They say that they are distributing things, but no one is reporting any of it to us," Stimson said. "There's no one saying 'Hey, I got a lamp,' or, 'Hey, I got a tile.'"

UM-Sparrow began demolishing old Eastern two weeks ago. Portions of the west wing's east side have already been affected. 

Community advocates have protested in an effort to preserve the school's 97-year-old west wing and the Jon Young Auditorium. The west wing was designed by Irving and Allen Pond, who also designed the student unions at U of M and Michigan State University.

Preservationists have argued the building is one of Lansing's few remaining historical structures.

The old school building is a victim of UM-Sparrow's plan to build a psychiatric facility on old Eastern's grounds, which still requires approval from the University of Michigan Board of Regents.  

Of particular concern is Eastern's iconic cupola.

However, Alumni Association President Jim Lynch said Wednesday that UM-Sparrow officials told him the cupola will be preserved and used in a memorial garden honoring the old high school. 

Corey Alexander, a spokesperson for UM-Sparrow, confirmed Lynch's information.

"The cupola is very important to us and we still plan to save it," Alexander said today. "Expect more news about that in the weeks ahead."

But Lynch said that otherwise he and other alumni have been offered no items from the building aside from a pile of bricks at the demolition site,

Andrew Muylle, a Coalition to Preserve Eastern High School and Promote Mental Health member, said he remains nervous that the cupola will not survive.

"In their update video, Connie O'Malley said specifically that the cupola would be preserved," Muylle said, "but I'm getting nervous because they're at the west wing now, and it's still there."

O'Malley is UM Health's regional chief operating officer.

Muylle said he does not know of "any single artifact that has been distributed to alumni."

"There have been rumors that an auditorium chandelier and seats were given to the new Ovation center, but that's the only thing I've heard," he said. The Ovation Center for Music and Arts is under construction in downtown Lansing.

Corey Alexander, a spokesperson for UM-Sparrow, confirmed that some artifacts had been donated to the Ovation. He added that some had also been donated to the school district and preserved for the memorial garden. A list of specific items marked for preservation was not immediately available.

Community members were also upset that UM-Sparrow may not be preserving ceramic tiles in the building. Annie Dennis, the archivist at Pewabic Pottery, said she was virtually certain that Flint Faience, a historic Flint tile company run by General Motors in the 1920s, made the tiles. Flint Faience tiles can be found in the Detroit Masonic Temple and other historic structures.

"They're just hanging there," said Laura Schmelter, who graduated from Eastern in 1981. "To sit there and not let someone even try to salvage them is just disgraceful."

"They're worth a lot of money," Schemelter continued, "but more than that, they're irreplaceable."