Jay Scott visits The Old Cass Technical HS... 

I graduated from Cass Tech High School in 1965. So many very fine memories from my time at Cass. I was sitting in a Spanish class on the day that Pres. Kennedy was shot on Nov. 22, 1963. My Spanish class was located on the first floor. I started off at the High School of Commerce, and transferred to Cass Tech. Mini skirts and platform shoes were the style of the day while at Cass. I remember walking through the corridor smelling sulfur from the chemistry class. The school required a strong B+ GPA to remain a student there during my time at Cass. Out of all my teachers, the one who I still remember is Mrs. Mandossian, who taught Biology. I moved out of Detroit in 1977-78,

The school's exterior is covered in brick and limestone, its vestibules are lined with marble, and bas reliefs with industrial motifs flank the entrances. Light courts allowed for natural light to pour into the building. The halls' floors are terrazzo, but some of the classrooms and the gyms have hardwood floors. The halls originally had barreled ceilings, though they were later covered with drop ceilings. The first floor was home to a gymnasium with an indoor track along a mezzanine, the teacher's lounge (complete with fireplace) and a three-thousand-seat auditorium that was said to be near acoustically perfect and was complete with a balcony. Even the Detroit Symphony Orchestra rehearsed and recorded there. When the building first opened, the ground level also had pharmacy and physics laboratories; the second had a machine shop and chemistry and bacteriology labs; the third held the library; the fourth was home to cooking and mechanical drawing classrooms and millinery shop rooms; the fifth had sewing labs and other shops; the sixth was the home of the music and textile programs; and the seventh had a foundry, baking and kitchen classrooms and the school's original lunchroom, which could feed up to 1,000 students at a time. From its humble beginnings with classes in pattern making, drafting and machine shop, Cass would grow to offer everything from art to bacteriology to chemical biology to metallurgy to nuclear physics. As technology changed, so did the school's curricula. When airplanes seemed the limit, Cass added aeronautics. When man aimed to land on the moon, it started offering astronautics. Unlike other schools in the city, where enrollment was dictated by geography, Cass Tech's student body was determined by achievement. Students citywide took an achievement test and only the best and brightest were admitted to Cass. Because it pulled students from all over the sprawling metropolis, some Cass students had to ride buses 90 minutes to get there, the News noted in March 1962. It became "an institution," the paper wrote, that was "virtually unparalleled in American secondary education" and was offering twenty-three technical curricula at the time." "Cass Tech was a different world," said Marshall Weingarden, a 1961 science and arts alumnus. "It was cosmopolitan. It brought together people from all over the city. … It was truly a melting pot." By 1942, Cass was not only the biggest school in the city, but the largest in the state with more than 4,500 students.

I'll be honest, I couldn't even look at the video. I could only listen. Inside of that building is where I learned how to communicate with and relate to my peers from all walks of life. It's also where I learned about and had so many pretty young thangs. The game that I obtained inside of that building. I have carried with me for the rest of my life. By the way, Cass Technical High School is the BEST in the State Of Michigan!

If it was not for Cass Tech in 1978 with the 50 students that started Renassaince High School which came from Cass Tech you would not have a high school for you be Alumni of. Cass Technicians are in the heart not a building I want to see what Renaissance will look like in 89 years. Go anywhere in this country and they know Cass Tech who knows you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dont hate, Cass Tech birth you baby! Proud Cass Tech Alumni Dr. Lisa Moore-Holmes

The quality this man used to record this video must have been ground breaking for 11 years ago

I agree to let it go; however, a Government school system in the city tied our hands from bidding to take over the ownership to maintain it for historical purposes. When you get a chance AudiomanJS, check the City records on it. CT Class of ' 82!!! AA, BS, MBA, PhD!

100% agree bro. From old videos I've seen that school was unbelievable and it's a sad waste that they demolition it.

I loved going to Cass Tech. My grandfather, grandmother, mother, aunt and brother and I went to Cass Tech. It holds a great history. It is sad that this happened. It did not need to happen. My friend in Argentina's school is still around ... 250 years old. I left Detroit 30 years ago.

I agree completely with you 13 years later 👍😎

I can't believe I am just seeing this, after all these years. So, while Jay Scott sounds like a decent enough guy and definitely likes where he went to school, he also sounds like a bigtime "hater" of Cass. You make it sound as if all of Cass' alums had the say in maintenance of the neighborhood and the old building. You got your little jabs in and held out until the end to say what you really wanted to say. RenCen is also a fine school and good rivalries build character and resilence and an understanding of healthy competition. But please, trust, one day, RenCen High, too, will be destined for the demolition ball and where will you be then? Catching bricks as they fall? Now, step aside and let a real one walk down Second Ave.

Both my parents graduated from Cass Tech. This is a sad fate for much of the greatness that was Detroit. Go to London or Paris. They save fine old buildings some centuries old. GM, Ford and Chrysler should have helped save this city. They did nothing. Phooey !

I didn't see him as being a hater, perhaps a rival, but not a hater. What I take from this video is that he felt their was a great architectural history of Cass. It appears that the building was beautiful during its day. The new Cass doesn't appear to have as much architectural imagination as the old. Now I'm not an architect, but I am an artist and love beautiful things. He made a valid point. those who loved the school should have taken care of it and fought to keep it standing.

My Husband went to to both, he loved Cass Tech, Renaissance was yuppie kids he said.

Never mind what was in the building, it to bad that they didn’t at least try and repurpose the building for something else. The architecture is magnificent and that the real tragedy because stone masons and others used to really take pride in their work. Architects planned structures that were for more intricate and artistically pleasing than anyone does in 2018. It seems that the new norm has become the straight line with very little imagination incorporated into the buildings design. Cass Tech was built to last, also. Buildings nowadays are lucky to be around 20-25 years before being demolished for something new and cheaply constructed. I do not live in Detroit nor have I ever been to Detroit, but I have been watching the city crumble before everyone’s very eyes. It’s a shame too, because Detroit once had everything going for it. Cass Tech’s former building should have been preserved for historic purposes. It would have been fun to put an office complex in there or something.

I stumbled across your channel on RU-vid! Youre historical school documentary on love of school history is awesome. It hurts that it was vandalized, a fire in her, and also her demolition. It urcked me of her demise. It does upset me about Detroit's schools how the arrogance as you said, and how they roll. I fully support Life Remodeled. I signed in hopes that another lady in waiting the historic Thomas Cooley High School would get a second life, and she too is knocking on heaven's door for demo and the board stalled any further steps. Look for this nonprofit organization. They saved Durfee and are thriving and just got awarded a few days ago. I signed the petition. It was on the news about the loss attempt to go forward. I have my own channel of love of history significance and preservation. Check it out :) Thank you for putting your heart into history because the world don't see things like us, clearly. As you said 100% they hoard, they lie, they brag, they two face. They aren't different they any other Michigan School District. God bless!

Sad to see the cool old architecture go down. The new glass buildings suck.

Lmaooo .Wow -- It's funny how you're throwing so much shade , low key though. Hater ? Hater. Cass Tech c/o 2013 ! Reni is a great school, but does not have nearly as much historical significance as Cass. Cass Tech #1 , Second to NONE.

Cass hater. Renaissance had NOTHING on Cass

Was enjoying this video UNTIL you said Renaissance.