The Christian Brothers first made their appearance in Detroit in 1851. They immediately began their educational activities at St. Anne’s French Church. In the course of a few years, the Brothers opened schools in four other parishes. The Civil War and the following financial depression, however, cut short this expansion. The Brothers found it necessary to close all but one school, St. Mary’s. In 1877, they transferred their activities to St. Joseph’s Parish. A prosperous school was organized which soon gained an enviable reputation throughout the city.
In 1923, the Alumni of St. Joseph’s Commercial School organized a drive to raise funds to build a new school operated by the Brothers, independent of any parish. The drive for the funds progressed so favorably, that ten acres of land were secured on Glenfield Avenue on the east side of the city. Ground was broken on November 15, 1925, by Mr. Anthony Bodde in the presence of Governor Frank Murphy and Brother Arator Justin Power. On January 17, 1926, the cornerstone was laid by the Right Reverend Michael J. Gallagher, Bishop of Detroit. The School was dedicated on September 12, 1926 by the Right Reverend Joseph C. Plagens, Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit. On September 14, 1926, De La Salle Collegiate was officially opened to students. A total of eighty-five boys, including the freshman class temporarily using the St. David’s School, presented themselves for admission.
1926–1936
Probably the greatest source of encouragement for the newly-established school was the fact that the school was accredited by both the University of Detroit and the University of Michigan. Because the school was taking its place among the best educational institutions in the state of Michigan, the enrollment steadily increased causing the building to become overcrowded. To relieve this condition, the Board of Trustees decided to erect a gymnasium, thus making it possible to divide the other gymnasium into three additional classrooms. In September 1936, De La Salle was blessed to receive two welcome additions: A new gymnasium and Brother George Synan. These two acquisitions have proven to be a vital part of the school’s tradition.
1936–1958
De La Salle Collegiate continued to expand along with the eastside of Detroit. As the enrollment grew, so too did the athletic program. In 1938, the Pilot’s football field, located next to the school, was professionally resurfaced by adding dirt and sod which raised the field eighteen inches.
The Brothers, who previously lived in two houses located about 100 yards from the school, saw a need for a permanent Brothers’ residence next to the school. Immediately work was started and in 1947, a magnificent house stood alongside the school.
Because the school had become too overcrowded, Principal Brother Walter Tobbe announced plans for constructing an additional school building on the grounds. In the fall of 1958, with the aid of $100,000 in donations, the annex was ready for use. The Christian Brothers and their dedicated students had a school of which they could be proud.
1958–1983
The beautiful campus on the corner of Conner and Glenfield was overflowing with tradition and pride. The emphasis that De La Salle has put on education had become recognized by all of Detroit. Years passed and time started to take its toll on the grand old school. When it became necessary, the Brothers made improvements on the building in order to keep the school operating. These continued efforts to upgrade the building were costign the school large sums of money.
On October 8, 1981, the Properties Committee of the Board of Trustees came to the logical conclusion that the school must relocate/ Brother Kevin Gilhooly, the principal of De La Salle, spent the next several months in search of a new location.
On February 5, 1982, Brother Kevin was informed that Holly JUnior High School, in the Warren Woods School District, was interested in selling their property to De La Sallee. Brother Kevin signed the purchase offer on March 15, 1982. The news was made public and everyone associated with the school rejoiced.
The actual move took place during the summer months. With the help of the faculty, parents, students, and alumni, the new location was ready to accept students in the gall of that same year. On September 26, 1982 the new building was officially dedicated and blessed by Archbishop Edmund Szoka.
1983–1996
After a year of planning, De La Salle’s first expansion project at the new school got underway in the fall of 1992. Construction began with the new wing and included pouring the foundation and erecting the walls before the winter weather seT IN.
By the spring of 1993, much of the major structural work was completed on the new biology and computer labs and storage rooms, with emphasis shifted to enlarging the gymnasium and installing a new floor. Adding thirty feet to the south side of the gymnasium allowed for the addition of new access hallways to both locker rooms.
During the summer, equipment for both labs was installed, the storage rooms were completed, new sidewalks were poured, and construction began on the new faculty conference center. The center’s spacious work area and conference room were made by renovating the large storage room across the hall from the stage end of the cafeteria.
By the opening of school in late August, the only part of the 1.2 million dollar expansion and renovation project to be completed was the installation of the new bleachers. They were installed in time for the dedication ceremonies on September 12, 1993.
Detroit Archbishop Adam Maida presided over the ceremonies with 1,200 alumni, parents, teachers, and Michigan Lieutenant Governor Connie Binsfeld in attendance. The occasion provided the Archbishop with an opportunity to pause and hoot the school for recently being named a “Blue Ribbon School of Excellence'' by the Department of Education in Washington D.C. Maida called De La Salle "one of the jewels” of the Archdiocese of Detroit, the school was among only 250 such schools honored nationwide and (at that time) the only school so designated in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
More began in the spring of 1996. These included another classroom, administrative offices and conference room, an indoor student commons, a modernized kitchen in the cafeteria, and a new north entrance.
1996–2004 - “Preserving the Legacy”
It became clear as the school moved into the new century that an organized effort must be made to keep the school a viable entity amid competition for students and the need to keep abreast of classroom technology. An effort was set in motion to formulate a master plan for the school’s future.
This encompassed developing a self-study committee and partnering with professional organizations and consultants. Mr. Dan Eddingfield and Mr. John Eddingfield was instrumental in the C.A.S.E. process as well as the work of the steering committee. With the help of over 200- dedicated people, a blueprint for the school’s future and a list of priorities to get there were finalized.
A Capital campaign titled “Preserving the Legacy '' was then organized, and with the help of TMP Associates, drawings were produced for the expansion of the school in three stages. Roncelli, Inc. was selected as the construction firm and their work on Phase One began shortly after the groundbreaking ceremonies which were held on April 2, 2004 in the student commons.
De La Salle President Br. Robert Carnaghi, FSC stated in his address to the guests assembled for the groundbreaking, “Today we embark on an exciting era for our school - to build facilities that will allow the Collegiate to continue to provide spiritual, intellectual, cultural, and athletic programs of excellence. These strengths have always been and always will be the underlying philosophy of a De La Salle education.”
The new academic wing includes four science labs, a spacious art room, four regular classrooms, wireless internet technology, and storage space. Smart boards are one of the features of the new classrooms. Lockers were also placed in the wing, bringing the total to 741, enough for each student to have his own. New fire doors separate the original building from the new wing.
Most of the spring was devoted to getting the academic wing underway. As summer approached and the students completed their final exams, work began on the music room, east entrance, chapel, library, and boiler room. The parking lot and the berms around the school were completed in August.
Replacing the floor tile in several of the existing rooms, adding to the sidewalks, putting a new transformer and electrical backup generator, redoing the bus parking lot, installing new lockers, and getting rid of chemicals were a few of the other projects included in Phase One.
The cornerstone from the Conner and Glenfield campus as well as the cement name plate were placed in the wall of the east entrance. The dedication ceremony took place on December 12, 2004 and was celebrated by Bishop John Quinn.
The total project increased the school’s size over 20%, from 102,000 to 123,000 square feet."[3]
Athletics
Warren De La Salle has a rich tradition of athletics throughout the history of the school. Within the last decade, the school has won 5 state championships in football, 1 in hockey, 1 in basketball, and 1 in baseball.
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