150 Years of Education – 1950

(From the Fall 2025 Edition of Macomb Now Magazine)

By Bob Cannon

Every school has a beginning, as did the South River Elementary School, which greeted its first students 150 years ago in 1875. The initial structure was a one room school, 24’ x 32’ and 11 feet high located on what is now the north side of South River Road in Harrison Township. It must have been quite a sight for the early students to look out the windows everyday and see Native Americans walking to the trading post in what was once the Village of Belvidere on the north side of the Clinton River.

The first teacher, Mrs. Julian A. Feller, was hired in 1875 for three months for the sum of $7 per week. She resided nearby in a home located on the site now occupied by Gowanie Golf Club.

In 1927, the original schoolhouse was not large enough for the current crop of students and a millage was requested and passed to construct a new building for $65,000. The building was originally constructed in 1928 with additions made over the years as the population in the area continued to grow. Today, on this site, you see a beautiful modern school designed and built to look historic on the outside, but when you enter you will find a first-class newer school on the inside.

The photo above is from 1950 and shows Principal Lester Schutt explaining a historical exhibit of pioneer and Native American relics that were all found in Harrison Township. His students shown from left to right are: Donald Ellis (13), George Cnudde (15), Beverly Pipe (13), and Marian Smith (14).

The second photo from 1951, shows students learning about the world around them during the Cold War era. You can see the students lined up face down on the floor during a drill teaching students about the defensive posture in case of an enemy attack.

During the school’s centennial year celebration in 1975, a 50-year time capsule was buried to be opened in 2025. Coincidentally, this is the same year the growing district’s second high school, L’anse Creuse North, opened its doors to its first students.

South River Elementary celebrates 150 years this year and is part of one of the five school districts to consolidate in 1953 to form the L’Anse Creuse Public School District, currently one of Macomb County’s largest.

Photos courtesy of the Mount Clemens Public Library Local History and Genealogy.