Michigan State Normal College Partnership

Michigan State Normal College began in 1849 in Ypsilanti.  Its major focus as a Normal School was to prepare students interested in becoming teachers.  By the 1920’s MSNC was an important training institution in Michigan and the country.

In 1921, Dr. Marvin S. Pittman arrived on the Ypsilanti campus from Oregon to head Normal’s Rural Education Department.

Dr. Pittman approached the community members, Willits Derbyshire and Henry Champion of the College’s desire to construct a training school for student teachers in the Ypsilanti area.

On November 22, 1922, a meeting of interested residents met in the Willis Methodist Church.  Dr. Pittman and Dr. Charles McKenny (President of MSNC) outlined the project.  The objectives of the project would be:  create educational opportunities for the children; a practice school for Normal; inclusion of the practical arts of agriculture, home economics, and industrial arts; and a community center for adult groups.

On May 2, 1923, residents of these one-room school districts voted to approve consolidation and a building bond proposal.  The thirteenth school, Vedder, was included in the consolidation.  A site was chosen for the K-12 building and on April 16, 1924, a cornerstone was laid.  On October 31, 1924, the doors of the Lincoln Consolidated School District were opened welcoming over 500 excited students.  Its first senior class had 3 students who would graduate in 1925.