Central Grade School has seen generations of scholars come through its doors, evolving with the times to meet the needs of the Traverse City community. In 2026, one of the most ambitious renovation projects of the building began, but Central Grade will always be known for its interesting history.
The Big School on Seventh Street
Central Grade got its start on Seventh Street as an all-wood school in 1877. Located just a block away from Perry Hannah’s mansion, it was the first operating school established by the local school board.
As Traverse City grew, the school followed. In 1886, a larger brick and stone structure was tacked onto the existing wooden building to meet the needs of its scholars. It got another much-needed brick expansion in 1922.
The Central Grade School Fire
In 1934, a massive fire destroyed most of the older sections of the school, though the 1922 audition remained intact. It was a major setback for the school system, but the community rallied. Students attended classes in Perry Hannah’s mansion while reconstruction work got underway. Critically, funds from the Public Works Administration (PWA), a Depression-era program to stimulate employment, helped create the Collegiate Gothic design we know today. Its pointed entry arches and tall windows, paired with striking stonework, live on.
Read More: This History of Carnegie Libraries (Including Traverse City’s)
Is Central Grade School Haunted?
There are plenty of rumors about Central Grade’s supposedly haunted third floor, among other ghost stories. The most well-known is the spirit of a janitor decades ago, though the third floor stories are much shorter-lived; it was only closed off in the 1970s. There are other stories about Central Grade, including sounds of banging and a girl crying when the building is supposedly empty. Another ghost tale is that the statue of Abraham Lincoln moves, turning its head to keep an eye on unruly students.
A Landmark, Reimagined
Haunted or not, the historic building has a bright future. Traverse City Area Public Schools’ ambitious three-year renovation program put over $55 million into modernizing the school, taking care to preserve its exterior and heritage. While there is some concern that a bit of history fades with every renovation project, it is comforting to know the heart of the building will live on to serve future generations of Traverse City students.
An Education in History
One of the most powerful components of history is how it connects a community across time. As much as society has changed since 1877, many of the classroom and playground experiences of children over the past century would be delightfully familiar and accessible. These places connect us and serve as a shared experience despite taking place decades apart. Traverse Regional History Center is committed to preserving and strengthening those threads to ensure Traverse City’s rich stories are told for centuries to come.
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