“Sweet, Sweet Powder Blue!” That’s more than just a cheer here at Mumford High School. It hints at the unique visual signature of this Detroit institution. Mumford stands out. It is the only school in Detroit accented with blue tiles.
Welcome to Mumford High School. We are located in Northwest Detroit. This school sits on twenty acres of land at the corner of Wyoming and Thatcher.
Mumford High School is named for Samuel C. Mumford. He was a Detroit Edison treasurer. He served 22 years on the Detroit Board of Education. More impressively, he was elected Board President three times. People knew Mr. Mumford as spirited, honest, and even-tempered. He earned the respect of everyone he met. Most notably, he rid the Board of Education of corruption during the 1920s.
The blueprints were ready in 1941. World War II, however, delayed construction. Mumford High finally opened in September 1949. At that time, many Jewish families were moving to Oakland County suburbs. Mumford’s design features powder blue limestone and Art Deco styling. Similar to other Detroit high schools. During the 1950s and early 1960s, Mumford High served a mostly Jewish student population.
Initially, Mumford High School had 428 students and 12 faculty members. Mr. C. E. Frazier Clark was the first principal. The first unit, the south wing, opened then. The building was not fully completed until 1953. The auditorium, gymnasium, shop wing, and cafeteria opened later. The dance studio wing and fitness center were added in 1981.
Mumford is known for many firsts. It was the first Compact High School in Michigan. This created an alliance between business, higher education, and labor. Mumford also pioneered a state-of-the-art Computer Technology Center. It was the first Metro-Detroit high school to do so. Mumford was also the pioneer school for Channel One. Channel One was a national news presentation focused on youth.
The original Mumford High School was demolished in the summer of 2012. A new building was built at the same location. It opened in August 2012.
Many notable people attended Mumford. Jerry Bruckheimer is a film and television producer. His credits include CSI and Pirates of the Caribbean. Interestingly, in Beverly Hills Cop, Eddie Murphy wears a “Mumford Phys Ed Dept” T-shirt. Jemele Hill is an ESPN sportscaster and columnist. Allee Willis wrote “September” and “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire.
As you stand here, remember the legacy of Mumford High School. It is a place of firsts and a launchpad for many successful individuals. The spirit of the Mustangs continues to inspire students to this day.