School, Nardin Park, since 1927
McKerrow School
Standing, closed
- Opened
- 1927
- Standing
- 99 years
Designed by Verner, Wilhelm & Molby
McKerrow School has stood on Collingwood St. in Nardin Park since 1927, 99 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
McKerrow School today, from the street
What is there now
Standing, closed
- Closed Source: Historic Detroit
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
In 1927, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top, McKerrow School opened in Nardin Park.
The design came from Verner, Wilhelm & Molby.
Its doors are closed for now, but the building still stands.
Go see it at 4800 Collingwood St. Photos never get the scale right.
Timeline
- 1927 Built Designed by Verner, Wilhelm & Molby
- 2011 Closed
- 2026 Today Standing, closed
Where it is
4800 Collingwood St.
On this map
- 1 McKerrow School This place
- 2 Grand Riviera Theater 0.5 mi
- 3 St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church 0.5 mi
- 4 Ruthruff School 0.6 mi
- 5 Annex Theatre 0.6 mi
- 6 Vaughn's Book Store 0.6 mi
- 7 Grande Ballroom 0.7 mi
- 8 Lee Manor 0.8 mi
- 9 Clinton Street Greater Bethlehem Temple 0.9 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Redford Theatre, by Verner, Wilhelm & Molby. Photo: Dave Parker, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Architect
Verner, Wilhelm & MolbyArchitecture firm. Designed the Redford Theatre (1928) and 6 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Verner, Wilhelm & Molby
- Harry W. Fauver House 1923
- Monnier Elementary School 1924
- Holcomb Elementary School 1925
- Hubert School 1925
- St. Matthias Episcopal Church 1926
- Redford Theatre 1928
More from Detroit in the 1920s
-
Broderick Tower
Structure, built 1927, Beaux Arts, by Louis Kamper
Photo: St8fan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Cadillac Tower
Structure, built 1927, Late Gothic Revival, by Bonnah & Chaffee
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Belcrest Apartments
Building, built 1926, Neo-Romanesque, by Charles N. Agree
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Ambassador Bridge
Structure, built 1929, by Jonathan Jones
Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Buhl Building
Skyscraper, built 1925, Neo-Romanesque, by Wirt C. Rowland
Photo: I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Chateau Frontenac
Building, built 1925, Mediterranean, by J. Will Wilson, demolished 1999
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
It is in Nardin Park. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
-
Grand Riviera Theater
Theater, built 1925, Italian Renaissance Revival, by John Eberson, demolished 1996
Photo: Allen Stross, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
0.5 mi
- St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church House of worship, built 1929 0.5 mi
- Ruthruff School School, built 1925, Tudor Revival, by McGrath, Dohmen & Page, demolished 2024 0.6 mi
- Annex Theatre Theater, built 1927, by John Eberson, demolished 1954 0.6 mi
-
Vaughn's Book Store
Building, built 1924, Colonial Revival
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.6 mi
-
Grande Ballroom
Building, built 1928, Moorish Deco, by Charles N. Agree
Photo: Albert duce, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.7 mi
- Lee Manor Building, built 1925, demolished 1981 0.8 mi
- Clinton Street Greater Bethlehem Temple House of worship, built 1932, Byzantine, by Albert Kahn 0.9 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- McKerrow School from the street today Photo: Street View, 2026
Sources
Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.