Learning and Growing

Sylvan Lake's first Daniel Whitfield School opened in 1852 to serve local children, and four decades later a larger building replaced the small one-room wooden schoolhouse. As the flourishing automobile industry brought more families with children to the area, a new seven-room brick school was built on the site in 1927 to keep pace with demand. Designed by Charles A. Fisher, who created both modest arts and crafts style buildings and large factories, Daniel Whitfield School at Orchard Lake and Ward Roads grew alongside the car industry and enriched the community until its closure in 1991. In 1852, the first school's teacher, Samuel Rod, was paid $18.00 per month and also worked on Saturdays.

Sylvan Lake, Michigan · United States