Located on the lower east side of Detroit, Michigan, Duffield Elementary School began welcoming students during the early 1920s; the facility was closed in June 2010.
| DB Duffield Elementary School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 2715 Macomb Street Detroit, Michigan 48207 |
|
| Information | |
| School type | Public |
| Status | Closed in 2010 |
| School district | Detroit Public Schools |
| Grades | PK-8 |
| Language | English |
| Area | Urban |
| Color(s) | blue and gray |
| Mascot | Dolphins |
Contents |
Duffield Elementary School was named in honor of D. Bethune Duffield - born 1821, Carlise, Pennsylvania. Duffield was a renowned 19th century scholar; a prominent attorney, an eloquent public speaker and a noted poet. D. Bethune Duffield attended Dickinson College and Yale University. Upon graduation from Yale Law School, in 1843, Duffield moved to Detroit, Michigan and opened a law practice. He was elected City Attorney in 1847. From 1847 until 1861, D. Bethune Duffield was a member of the Detroit Board of Education. During much of that period, he served in the capacity of Board President.[1]
Constructed in 1922, D. Bethune Duffield Elementary School was a pre-kindergarten through 8th grade facility operated by the Detroit Board of Education. The classically styled, three-story elementary school drew students from the neighborhood bordered by southern St. Aubin Street; then eastward to include Chene, Joseph Campau and McDougall Street. [2]
Inside and out, the aesthetically pleasing structure stands as a monument to an earlier time and place on Detroit's lower east side. The surrounding area was part of the historic Black Bottom neighborhood; much of which was razed during the late 1960s to make room for Elmwood Park - a modern community of attractive brick homes and well maintained play fields.[3]
Duffield's elementary and middle school chess teams finished first in 2007 statewide competition; both squads also fared well at the national championships in Sacramento, California.[4][5][6]
Duffield is located within a mile of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., High School.[7] In 2007, KHS became the first Detroit public school to win a Michigan High School Athletic Association football championship.[8]