Grosse Pointe University School - Pericon Yearbook (Grosse Pointe, MI)

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First Students .loin-tin Congratulating March 2, I949 Dear Frank, You have advised me that the Editor-in-Chief of the Pericon has asked that l, as the first enrolled student in D.U.S. write a letter congratulating the School upon the attainment of its Golden Anniversary. This first student enrolled in D.U.S. is one of those legends that come down from the murky past of fifty years ago and one which l have from time to time protested, on the grounds that, while I was enrolled at the conception of the school, certainly my fraternity brother, Joe Sherrard: should have that honor, if being alive so long can be considered an honor. lt was Mr. Henry Gray Sherrard, perhaps the greatest teacher of the classical languages of his day fof whom e delightful picture appears in Pickin's book, On My Own D, who was in every sense the father of D.U.S., and l am sure his own boy Joe was enrolled in his mind if not on paper before I was even thought of. However, I well remember the evening in the summer of I899 when Mr. Sherrard, who, in those days before there was e paved road to Grosse Pointe and before automobiles existed, with his family and Mrs. Sherrard's family were the only year-round residents of Grosse Pointe, strolled down to our summer cottage and told my father that he had at last gotten the necessary pieces together to form the boys' preparatory school which he had long planned. Then he turned to me and said, with that friendly twinkle in his eye that was so characteristic of him: and, Harry, I have a fine old gentleman associated with me whom you will like very much. That was my first word of Mr. Frederick LeRoy Bliss who became the first headmaster of the school and had agreed to resign his position as Principal of the Central High School to undertake with Mr. Sherrard the organization of D.U.S. And it is a commentary upon youth and Mr. Sherrard's understanding of youth that when some months later I first met Mr. Bliss, then, I believe, in his forties, Mr. Sherrard's description of him as a fine old gentleman did not seem in any way amiss. The foregoing is my earliest recollection of D.U.S. and one which few alumni now living can remember. After a lapse of half a century l take great pride in having been one of the first D.U.S. boys, a member of the Board of Trustees for the past 25 years, that my father was a member of the original corporation, in the fact that my two sons are alumni of the school, that my four daughters attended its affiliate, the Grosse Pointe Country Day School, and that two of my grandchildren are now enrolled in that school. To the Headmasters, Frederick LeRoy Bliss, Frederick E. Searle, Howard F. Fletcher, Clifton 0. Page and Lambert F. Whetstone, to their associates William H. Fries and Gaither M. Garrett, and to the many able teachers who have served under them, but, above all, to Henry Gray Sherrard who conceived the idea and was responsible for the excellence of the school's beginning, all alumni of the school and the City of Detroit are deeply indebted for what they did. l congratulate those who are now carrying on upon this passing of the half-century mark of the school and wish them all success through the years to come. Very sincerely yours, C0 C. H. Haberkorn, Jr. Mr. Frank Sladen, Jr. Detroit University School Cook Road Grosse Pointe Woods 30, Michigan Congratulatory letter from William H. Fries to D. U. S. on the occasion oi its 50th Year Anniversary. Fifty years in the life of a man or of an institution is no small measure of time. For thirty-six of this fifty year span of Detroit University School, l lived with the school and its interests were mine. Now that l am outside and can view it with a certain obiectivity, impossible when working at the immediate school problems, I realize the truth of the saying that any institution is as good as the product it turns out. I2

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nomical and eTTicienT, buT also iT malces possible The combinaTion oT The besT TeaTures oT co-educa- Tional wiTh segregaTed Training. AlThough The schools are now housed in buildings over Tour miles aparT and alThough classes and many acTiv- iTies occur in each school separaTely Tor boys and girls, iT is possible Tor The Two schools To combine in many OT Their school TuncTions. When The new building has been cornpleTed, This will be done even more eTfecTively. No hisTory oT a school is compleTe wiThouT some commenT upon The degree To which The in- sTiTuTion has TulTilled iTs major purpose-The edu- caTion oT The youTh OT a communiTy Tor worThy service in ThaT communiTy. l-lerein D.U.S. is iusTly proud. No maTTer The physical handicaps nor The Tinancial disTresses The school has had To op- eraTe under in iTs years, The aims of The 'founders have always been ToremosT in The minds of Those who carried on iTs desTinies. 'II

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Our School on Its Fiftieth Anniversary For fifty years the aim of Detroit University School has been the training of men for leadership-and the school may well be proud of its product. I have seen our boys in college showing the same qualities of leadership which they showed earlier in the Old School and I have seen them go through the peril end testing of two great wars with outstanding records of ability, initiative end courage. The roster of D.U.S. boys in positions of trust and authority today can hardly be surpassed by any school. For me the friendship and loyalties of the Old Boys are the happiest by-product of my teaching years. Signed, William H. Fries Mr. Fries: Associate Principal l9I4-l9l6 Assistant Headmaster I9I6-I94I Head of the French Dept. I9I4-l94I To: Detroit University School This message brings hearty congratulations and many good wishes to D.U.S. on reaching its tiftieth year: and to me many happy memories running back over these years. Time tlies so fast that it seems hardly possible a half century has elapsed since Mr. Bliss, the SchooI's first Headmaster, my husband and I, on a certain Sunday afternoon, looked over property on Elmwood Avenue with a view to its fitness for establishing a private school for boys. The School came into being soon afterwards, and was launched with the motto-Honor et Veritas-as its watchword. Very many changes have occurred since then, and doubtless many more, from time to time, will come in the future. Whatever happens, I can give no better wish to Detroit University School than that, in the words of the motto, Honor and Truth will prevail throughout a long and useful career in the community it serves. Very sincerely, Charlotte B. Sherrard My Dear Howard, I am glad to salute the D.U.S. on its Fiftieth Anniversary. Nothing can give more pleasure to anyone who has worked with and forthe School than its continued success. When Mr. Bliss and Mr. Sherrard joined to found the School in I899, the quiet Detroit of that year differed greatly from your present Metropolitan City. But the need for high scholarship which they sought to meet is a necessity today as never before. Mechanical devices have reduced the need for long hours of labor but the demand for comprehensive knowledge with which to understand and control our mechanical civilization has grown steadily greater. There was never a more immediate need for men who can see life whole and see it clearly. The problems of the intellectual life grow larger in direct proportion to the lesser hours required to produce goods. When I consider the men and women who have given generously of their time and money to promote the welfare of this School: when I think of the boys who have grown up under the wholesome intluence of the School: when I think of the fathers and mothers who have sacrificed to keep their boys under the care of the School: when I think of the patient work of the teachers who have often worked long hours at low salaries in order that the School could continue through hard times,- I am deeply grateful. I feel sure that the loyalties built up during these tirst years of struggle will strengthen the resolve of all the Trustees, Alumni, Parents, Teachers, and Students to continue to work that the D.U.S. shall grow in power. Mrs. Fletcher and I are enioying our leisure in this friendly city and we tind that there are some real advantages in having passed the biblical limit of three score years and ten. And one of the best of these advantages is the memory of all the good people-both living and dead-who have worked with us as Trustees, teachers, and parents. We are always glad when any of our former friends write us a note or stop to call upon us. Our best greetings to you-All, D. H. Fletcher I3