Friends of Brookside School Cranbrook

Draft of first page of 1930s chapter. Many thanks to all who have graciously and thoughtfully contributed creatively, editorially, financially and with research guidance to help make Brookside: The Cradle of Cranbrook become a reality in the months ahead. I pinch myself (mentally) frequently and often as I think about the large team of people who continue to "hitch their wagons" in support of this project. God bless you all. ❤

Needless to say, there is a wealth of disturbing news out there right now which can infiltrate its way into our minds, bodies and souls. For those of you who have been following my journey to create a book about the 100+ year history of Brookside School Cranbrook, I wish to share news that is uplifting and encouraging in stark contrast to world events. Donations of every amount continue to arrive which add to the growing total that will cover the graphic design and publication costs of bringing the book to life. I am overwhelmed with gratitude! The fun news is that Bonnie Detloff Zielinski and her creative partner have delivered drafts of the 1918-1929 and 1930s chapters. I cannot describe the feeling of holding these pages in my hands and seeing the story that I've been working on for three plus years coming to life. Feel free to send me a Facebook message if you want to share any comments or have any questions. Thank you to all believers in this project!

Brookside School Cranbrook class photo 1920s. Courtesy of Cranbrook Archives, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research.

The draft of the book, Brookside, The Cradle of Cranbrook, is in the capable hands of the graphic design team. Fund raising continues to cover the projected costs of design, publication and distribution. A big thank you to all who have kindly and generously responded to this financial need! If you are interested in becoming a member of Team Cradle via a donation of ANY size, please contact me on Facebook messenger or by email ([email protected]) for details. Thank you! Cec Vettraino Strine

1973 faculty basketball "squad" at Brookside. Top row: Head Jock Denio, art teacher Hal Smart, p. e. teacher Don Brown, 4th grade teacher Louie Beer. Bottom row: teachers Doug Cooper and Wally Cripps, and custodian Eldon Postema.

Photo courtesy of Cranbrook Archives, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research

The first head of Brookside School Cranbrook, held in the Meeting House, was Miss Jessie Tilt Winter. She was 36 years old when she was hired after responding to a newspaper ad Mr. George Booth had placed in the Detroit News looking for a teacher for this new school. Miss Winter came to Cranbrook with a very solid educational background. She was a private music teacher before attending the National Kindergarten and Elementary College in Evanston, Illinois, from which she graduated in 1915. She then became director of a newly established Kindergarten-Primary school in Urbana, Illinois, where she worked until 1918, when she enrolled in the University of Chicago’s College of Education, receiving a Supervisor’s Certificate in Kindergarten Primary Education. Miss Winter’s next role was as director of the National Kindergarten and Elementary College’s Practice Kindergarten in 1919. From 1920 to 1922, she was Director of the National Kindergarten and Elementary College’s Demonstration Kindergarten, created to train future teachers. There she worked alongside Clara Belle Baker, a leader in the field of early childhood education during the first half of the 20th century. How fortunate Cranbrook was to have this amazing woman decide to answer Mr. Booth's newspaper ad!!!

Source: Cranbrook Archives, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research

Don Brown, Brookside School Cranbrook physical education teacher, 1969-2002 and Cranbrook School boys' tennis coach, 1972-2002, showing off his invention to Brooksiders- a foam tennis "racket" used to develop the proper swing. Smart man, great guy, wonderful teacher!
Photo courtesy of Cranbrook Archives, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research

Brookside School student enjoying a good book while settled into a swing on the playground. Photo taken by retired teacher Doug Cooper. Shared courtesy of Cranbrook Archives, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research. Many memorable images such as this one will be included in the book, Brookside: The Cradle of Cranbrook. Stay tuned...

Brookside School Early Childhood hand prints. The outside of the building has many hand prints like this one, made by children of the generous donors who helped to make the ECC a reality. This building is an amazing addition to the school by the brook! Work continues to bring an abridged narrative about Brookside's history to a coffee table near you. Please let me know if you are interested in helping to bring this endeavor to fruition!

Vettraino-Strine photo

Dear friends of Brookside. As I continue to work on the design phase of Brookside: The Cradle of Cranbrook, I notice not many memories from the year 2000 on have been shared. Many fun, interesting, informative, nostalgic, sweet, happy, joyful anecdotes have been sent to me during my research (or taken from early publications about the school) . Appendix O in the book has been created to catalogue many of these priceless memories sorted by decade. At this point, I am looking for memories beginning in 2000 and beyond. That section is a bit lacking, which seems interesting since experiences should be easier to recall in the last 25 years versus longer ago events! You can message me here on Facebook and I will respond with my email address. Former students, faculty, staff, parents, grandparents, administration, etc. - all categories of association are welcome! Thank you!!!!! ❤

I am continuing to work on the book, Brookside: The Cradle of Cranbrook. Appendix O contains Brookside memories listed by decade that have been shared by alumni, faculty, staff, parents, etc. At this point, there are rather limited submissions for this decade. So...I am reaching out to any of you who are still connected to Brookside in some capacity to please share some thoughts that have become etched in your memory bank. You may have begun your association prior to the 2000s but memories that have been made within this century qualify for inclusion. Please feel free to send me your recollections through Facebook Messenger. Short and sweet or whatever. I cannot confirm that all memories will make it in the book - page length and the associated costs may require some editing, depending upon continued fundraising success.

I am excited to say that graphic design work has begun in earnest, with a focus on completing the actual historical timeline first, 1918-to now. Other elements will follow, including fun appendices! (e.g. names of Chapels, FORWARD, Kaleidoscope themes, selected music scores, iconic images of the playground, Daffodil Hill, Halloween, etc.) Laura MacNewman, Associate Director at the Cranbrook Archives, is a delightful person with whom I work to fine tune facts and insertion of supporting images. The entire staff of both the Cranbrook Archives and Center for Collections and Research have made themselves readily available, ensuring that this book will accurately portray carefully curated yet relatively abbreviated historical narrative. Brookside School is over 100 years old after all!!! Bonnie Detloff Zielinski is the lead graphic designer, who also did the layout for Betsy Clark's book, Beside a Lake, the history of Kingswood School. Elizabeth Carmichael Davis is a Brookside and Kingswood alumna and former student of mine who is assisting as editor and proofreader extraordinaire. Three years into this journey, I remain eagerly engaged and most delightfully supported in the process of bringing Brookside: The Cradle of Cranbrook to a bookshelf near you! Thank you for reading.

P.S. Fundraising continues. The GoFundMe site does not accurately reflect the wonderful amount raised to date. Many have chosen to donate via checks made out to The Cradle, the name of the LLC bank account.

Donate to Brookside School: The Cradle of Cranbrook's history, organized by Cecilia Strine This GoFundMe account has been created for the purpose of underwrit… Cecilia Strine needs your support for Brookside School: The Cradle of Cranbrook's history

Latest post from the Cranbrook Kitchen Sink!

Hitting it out of the Park at Hedgegate!

For many years, one of Brookside School’s highly anticipated end-of-year traditions was the Faculty/Sixth Grade Softball game. Every June, faculty and sixth graders would meet on the sandlot at Hedgegate, the faculty residence, to play against each other in friendly rivalry. It was a special day when students could play their favorite pastime with their teachers.

The Cranbrook Archives recently received an addition to the James Carmel Papers from his son, which includes slides capturing the June 1967 softball game. The colorful images convey the camaraderie and joy of the event, with both faculty and students enthralled by the game.

First image: Brookside School Headmaster, Jock Denio, at bat, June 1967.

Next: Third grade teacher Louie Beer just made a hit while fourth grade teacher Paul Gerhardt waits his turn.

Both images courtesy of Cranbrook Archives.

Bird watching Brookside School circa 1936. Photo courtesy of Cranbrook Archives and Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research
Learn more when Brookside: The Cradle of Cranbrook makes its debut in 2026. In the meantime, join Team Cradle by donating to help cover the cost of design and publication. We're on a roll!!! Many donations are being made via check sent to my home address. PM me for info. ❤

https://www.gofundme.com/.../brookside-school-the-cradle...