The scheduled demolition of St. Mary’s school in Mount Clemens is postponed according to a sign attached to the fencing.
The demolition was supposed to take place this week. A representative of Mount Clemens says crews will cap off the water and sewer systems Tuesday as planned.
St. Peter Catholic Church declined comment on the postponement. When the demolition will occur is now unclear.
On Monday, dozens of former students stopped at the site to reminisce and pay their respects to the 128 year old building that played a vital role in their lives.
Jack Heitchue met his wife Ruth at the school. They were in the same graduating class.
“Graduated in 1952 and then married a year later in 1953. God’s been good to us and then we had all five of our children also attend the same parish,” said Heitchue.
Also visiting were a trio of graduates 10 years Heitchue’s junior.
“Just coming back to see what’s going on. Sad day,” said 1962 graduate Corrine Binge Winbigler.
Winbigler, along with classmates Mary Louise Sans Arscheene and Kathleen Presley, remembered being inside the school during one of the its most tragic moments in 1957 when a St. Peter Church fire caused the steeple to crash onto the school.
“The nuns were walking up and down the aisles and said put your head on your desk and pray like you’ve never prayed before,” said Winbigler.
The school closed its doors in 2013 and transferred educational duties to a new site a few blocks away on Union Street.
