Our founding Historical pillar included several long-range projects, which encompass acquiring a historical site designation for a school building located in Royal Oak Charter Township and a free-standing historical archival library. Our preservation efforts are centered around community engagement, presentations, and activities to acquire and archive historical materials that depict the founding of the community in 1833.

​

It has taken ten years to launch the historical pillar, a long-range initiative, which has been contingent on the acquisition and availability of funding.  Absent of funding, we are thankful to have continued to push our plans forward for an idea that began 13 years ago.  On July 21, 2023 one of our labor of loves came to fruition with acknowledgement and installation of a historical marker.

 

The Michigan Historical Commission approved a historical marker for the Ulysses S. Grant Elementary School located in Royal Oak Charter Township (Oakland County, MI).  The school was at the center of a protracted school desegregation battle which pitted the Ferndale Public School District against the U.S. Supreme Court between 1969 and 1981 forever standing in a historically Black community dating back to 1833.

The Ulysses S. Grant Elementary School was built in 1926 during an extended period of population growth in Ferndale which contributed to overcrowding in Ferndale schools. Despite district policy, students were not transferred out of Grant to other schools operating under capacity. Overcrowding at Grant became so extreme from 1939 through 1942 that the school implemented half-day sessions to educate its students; this overcrowding was often artificially prolonged between 1926-1970. 

 

When the school district refused to negotiate with the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) and failed to provide a desegregation plan for Grant Elementary School in 1969, it became the focus of a decade long legal battle. HEW conducted an official hearing in 1969 that ruled Grant school was de jure segregated and terminated the district’s federal funds. Consequently, Ferndale School District (FSD) became the first district in the North to be officially found in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the first to have its federal aid revoked. The court ordered desegregation plan in Ferndale went into effect January 5, 1981.

According to Brigitte R. Hall, FOROT Founding President and current Executive Director, “we are so proud to honor Ulysses S. Grant school, it was the building blocks of our culture and education.” Royal Oak Charter Township is now comprised of approximately 97% people of African ancestry and a disproportionate number of medically fragile elders. ”We encourage you to visit and read the text on both sides of the marker and capture an image of this historic marker. Community members in addition to state, county, local officials, civic leaders, and supporters will be invited to the unveiling. Stay tuned!