[msb-alumni] Re: Demolition Underway at Former Michigan School for the Blind
- From: "Peggy" <pyates2011@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 14:56:53 -0400
BlankOh yes, I loved that track and I got pretty good at it too. I would go out
and run around it a lap or two whenever I got bored or stressed out on
weekends. Do any of you guys remember when we had the competitions both in
track and wrestling with the boys from several other schools for the blind? I
remember I was interested in a guy named Kipp Boccom from the Ohio School for
the blind I think back in ‘69 or maybe even the year that I graduated. But I
think it was in ‘69.
Lord, we girls would sit in the windows in the dorm and later in the cottages
and talk to the out of state boys. What fun we had on those weekends.
Peggy Yats and Ld Ginger
Class of 1970.
pyates2011@xxxxxxxxx
From: Jim in Detroit
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2014 1:14 AM
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [msb-alumni] Re: Demolition Underway at Former Michigan School for the
Blind
One building I miss is the Wigwam; many bingo games and picnics held there. I
wonder what happened to our track; built in ‘69 and opened in ‘70? I’m glad
that I didn’t have to scrape my knees on all those cinders.
From: Robert Spear
Sent: April 05, 2014 21:38
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [msb-alumni] Re: Demolition Underway at Former Michigan School for the
Blind
I started in the 1962 1963 school year I think anyway. The first year they
opened Andy cottage other than Blair those were the only 2 cottages. The others
wasn’t even built until after that. The gym was open that year also I believe.
I find it interesting that the oldest building on the campus is the one they
are saving. The main building. All I can say it is a shame & very sad.
From: msb-alumni-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:msb-alumni-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Fred Wurtzel
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2014 4:52 PM
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [msb-alumni] Re: Demolition Underway at Former Michigan School for the
Blind
Hi,
I agree with all those who talk about our extended family. I’m still very sad
to know what is happening. Some blind kids get good educations in their home
districts, while others are truly suffering for lack of good role models, lack
of Braille books and ignorance of blindness.
I also think it is interesting that the cottages weren’t there when I got there
and are already gone. Our Boy Scout troop camped out there where Long House
used to be. I wonder about our values as a society to think of such waste.
Warmest Regards,
Fred
From: msb-alumni-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:msb-alumni-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Jim in Detroit
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2014 7:18 PM
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [msb-alumni] Re: Demolition Underway at Former Michigan School for the
Blind
I didn’t even finish reading that article; it was pitiful.
From: Chris Rasmussen
Sent: April 04, 2014 08:49
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [msb-alumni] Re: Demolition Underway at Former Michigan School for the
Blind
Now I know I don’t want to even go by the campus. This is so sad for all of us
who have many many memories of our time at M S B. I have an old yearbook that
has many pictures be they black and white of the campus around 1969 or 70.
Thanks for sharing this Steve.
Chris Rasmussen
From: Steve
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2014 10:02 PM
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [msb-alumni] Demolition Underway at Former Michigan School for the
Blind
Well, if there isn't enough downer news on this list lately. Here's more...
Demolition underway on campus of Lansing's former Michigan School for the Blind
. LANSING - Demolition has begun on what was once a dining hall at the Michigan
School for the Blind. A maintenance building will come next and then the
"cottages," squat brick buildings that once served as dormitories. The
27,000-square-foot auditorium built in the 1950s is also on the list, though
its destruction might still be averted. Tom Edmiston, senior vice president for
Great Lakes Capital Fund, a nonprofit that owns the more elegant structures on
the site, described the work as "demolition and clearance, kind of making the
campus available for redevelopment. Redevelopment has been slow in coming. The
Lansing campus of the School for the Blind closed in the fall of 1995 and the
few remaining students were moved to Flint. Much of the campus has been idle
since. The Ingham County Land Bank, which owns much of the campus, renovated
the historic 6,000-square-foot superintendent's house in 2009. It's now
oc'cup'ied by Rizzi Designs. The former library became the Greater Lansing
Housing Coalition's Neighborhood Empowerment Center in 2010. But the
century-old administration building and former high school building have lain
fallow. Edmiston said Great Lakes Capital does have a purchase agreement on the
administration building, rechristened The Abigail, from a developer who wants
to use it for affordable housing. The project is contingent on assistance from
the state. The state is funding the demolition work though a $1.8 million
blight removal grant. The grant was approved last year, but "it's taken this
long to get all the necessary pieces of paper together that the state needed
before they would release funds," Edmiston said. There is still time, not much
though, to save the auditorium. "If we got any serious offers for the
auditorium as is, then we wouldn't proceed with the demolition," Edmiston said.
But the window is probably no longer than six weeks. "Given fact that we
haven't heard anything for several years now about interest in the auditorium,
it's hard to imagine that someone would step forward at this point," Edmiston
said.
Tum podem extulit horridulum
Steve
Lansing, Pure MI
P.S. Look up the Latin translation of that signature on Google, it really sums
up things right now, lol.
Jim in Detroit
James A. Prather
Central Michigan University: 1980
Michigan School for the Blind: 1974
"Fire Up Chips"
"Ungh, ungowa, Raiders still Got the Power!"
Jim in Detroit
James A. Prather
Central Michigan University: 1980
Michigan School for the Blind: 1974
"Fire Up Chips"
"Ungh, ungowa, Raiders still Got the Power!"
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