Monteith School on Detroit's east side has witnessed the city's highs and lows. Planning for a new school in the Seventeenth Ward began around 1903 due to overcrowding. Named after first University of Michigan president John Monteith, the school’s location was controversial. After years of debate, it was built on the Hibbard School site.

Designed by Malcomson & Higginbotham, Monteith opened in 1906 with 20 classrooms—though the name above the door was misspelled as “Montieth.” Monteith’s community evolved over decades, from mostly French students to a diverse population.

The school closed around 1980 and later housed Trombly High School, which served at-risk students until budget cuts forced its closure in 2010. Today, despite calls for preservation, the building stands empty and deteriorating.