(This story has been updated to reflect that the arches have now been removed and are being reconstructed elsewhere.)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 — For weeks after the demolition of old Eastern High School, three stone arches from the Jon Young auditorium were left standing.
Now, they are gone — but they’ll be coming back.
University of Michigan-Sparrow spokesperson John Foren confirmed today that the arches are still around.
“They were moved and are being reconstructed at a different site,” he said.
The arches are being saved for a memorial garden honoring old Eastern High School, another spokesperson confirmed April 14. The rest of the school, which ran along Pennsylvania Avenue north of Michigan Avenue, was demolished to make room for UM-Sparrow expansion plans.
The memorial garden will also feature the building’s 1927 cornerstone and a limestone “Eastern High School” sign from the top of the building, according to UM-Sparrow spokesperson Corey Alexander. Engraved bricks from 1927 “that were in the ground” will also be featured.
The cupola, which UM-Sparrow promised to save for the garden, was destroyed during the demolition after what UM-Sparrow said was an effort to take it down intact. UM-Sparrow said its wooden framing was rotted beyond repair. Local salvage expert Ray Ellison blamed lack of planning.
Other artifacts were donated elsewhere. Some light fixtures were donated to the Ovation Center for Music and Arts, which is being built on Washington Square in downtown Lansing, and two others were given to the city of Lansing. Flagpoles were given to Capital City Family BMX, a large conference table was given to the Lansing School district, and bricks from the building were given to the community during demolition.
Numerous other artifacts, including the auditorium’s Art Deco chandeliers and ceramic tiles seemingly by the historic Flint Faience Tile Co., were destroyed.
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JudyHaskellGearing
I am a graduate of Eastern and have been watching from afar (out of state) the sad saga of this historic school. City Pulse provided excellent, and sometimes sympathetic coverage of the fight to save it. I signed the petition, encouraged others to do so, and was heartbroken when it was demolished and so much was lost. I must say however, that looking at your picture of the saved arches in your April 16, 2025 article lifted my spirits a bit. These auditorium structures will majestically still be visible, significantly marking the heritage of Eastern High School, beloved by so many. I am so grateful for the excellent education and experiences I received here from the wonderful, talented teachers and staff--people like Mr. Spagnuolo, Mr. Strohl, Miss Steegstra, Miss Lowrey, and Miss Doersam. The teachers and the students made this building important to me! I am thankful there will now be a tangible landmark and garden for all to see, manifesting the glory that was Eastern.
Post script: I was shocked to return to this article which had just been updated today, April 23, 2025, and find that the arches were removed to be reconstructed elsewhere! Let us all hope that UM-Sparrow will this time be true to their word and reconstruct them! It may take years before the Eastern Memorial Garden is constructed. As time marches on, we must make sure the arches are remembered and installed!
--Judy Haskell Gearing
Wednesday, April 23 Report this