Abandoned Grade School, Flint: Was It Used For Illegal Activity?

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

This is a heckuva thing to have happen to an elementary school.

The Garfield Elementary School in Flint was built in 1928, the same year the Northern High School opened up right next door on East McClellan Street. The school was not named after a cartoon cat as some joked years later, but after President James A. Garfield.

For decades, things were fine, kids came and went with little incident or major hassles…but as with many schools and businesses, they went into arrears big time…a twenty-million-dollar deficit. Not just the Garfield school, but most of Flint’s school system.

With a dwindling student body, the school finally closed its doors for good. They were so broke they couldn’t even board up the windows to keep out trespassers.

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No surprise, that it was only a matter of time before breaking and entering started occurring. In the mid-2010s, word spread that criminals were using the school as a hangout, as well as druggies. On top of that, there were supposedly illegal dog fights taking place inside, probably in the old gym. Hearing these rumors, the city took it upon themselves to get Garfield school - and other Flint schools – boarded up to keep people out and prevent any further illegal abuse. However, that didn’t stop anyone. The boards that covered the windows were ripped down and the outlaw activities continued.

The school still sits at 301 E. McClellan Street. Now take a look inside the school and see if you can spot any signs of possible illegal activities, other than vandalism…..