Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
~ HOLY CHILDHOOD OF JESUS SCHOOL ~
(Mission School)
Located in Harbor Springs, Michigan
The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2017.
Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
10 January 1906 ~ The Petoskey Record
Below Clockwise: Book Bindery, Printing Office, General Work Room, Girls' Dormitory, Carpenter Shop,
The Fourth Class, Shoe Shop
The Fourth Class, Shoe Shop
(Undated) HEADLIGHT, a periodical devoted to the interests of railroads and railroad centers photos accompanied article below...
(Undated) HEADLIGHT, a periodical devoted to the interests of railroads and railroad centers accompanied photos above...
14 February 1890 Photo Below: "View of Indian boys at work sawing wood on the school grounds."
L>R: Bro. Eberhard O.S.F., Bro. Arnold O.S.F., Bro Novatus O.S.F. Teacher
L>R: Bro. Eberhard O.S.F., Bro. Arnold O.S.F., Bro Novatus O.S.F. Teacher
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers (14 February 1890)
Photo Below Labeled: "The Drill, Indian School, Harbor Springs, Mich."
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers (Undated)
Harbor Springs A collection of Historical Essays on page 41 has a section about "Schools" written by William Baker which included extensive information about the Indian Schools beginning with Father Peter DeJean who arrived in Harbor Springs permanently in May 1829. The school opened on 23 August 1829. The fascinating account also includes photos.
Photo/Postcard Below Labeled:
"Municipal Dock, Boat House, Catholic Church and Mission School in Harbor Springs"
"Municipal Dock, Boat House, Catholic Church and Mission School in Harbor Springs"
Little Traverse Historical Society Photo/Postcard Collection (Undated)
2 July 1981 Harbor Light Centennial Edition ~
Father Peter DeJean was sent to reside in the area permanently in May 1829. That summer, under his supervision, the Indians erected a church and a rectory that included a large schoolroom. The school opened on 23 August 1829 with two lay teachers–Joseph Letourneau and Elizabeth Williams. By the end of September the teachers had enrolled 13 days students and 25 boarders.
While in operation, the instructors taught not only religion and the “Three R’s” but vocational classes as well–carpentry, gardening, cooking, housekeeping, bookbinding, printing and smithery.
On 4 September 1884 the administration of the church was taken over by the Franciscan order. In 1885 the Franciscans reopened the school and by 1886 had erected a new three-story school building. Two other buildings were erected before the first brick building was built in 1913. A brick addition was completed in 1926.
Holy Childhood School was established to educate Indian children, but when white settlers moved to Harbor Springs the children of the parish also attended. Local children, both Indian and white, were referred to as “day students”. Indian students from outside the parish were the “boarders”. At the beginning of December 1886, the school had 64 boarders; the school census of 1970-71 listed 107 boarders, the most ever enrolled.
In recent years the number of boarders has dropped sharply. Two factors brought about the decline; new welfare programs provided economic incentives to families who kept their children at home, and the number of boarding accommodations was reduced to 65 when the living quarters had to be moved from the third floor to the first floor to meet state safety requirements.
Throughout most of its history, Holy Childhood School was financed primarily by the local church. The federal government provided some assistance, and the State of Michigan helped support the lunch program, but most of the money needed came from church fund-raising projects and contributions from summer residents.
Public education began in Harbor Springs sometime during the second half of the nineteenth century. Exactly when is unclear. A government school, taught by Margaret Boyd (sister of Andrew J. Blackbird) is thought to have been established for the Indians as early as 1857. Will E. Hampton, in his unpublished memoirs of boyhood in Harbor Springs, said a small schoolhouse opened in the fall of 1875 on the north side of Third Street near Judd Street. Hampton also record the opening of the first graded school in the village in 1878.
Father Peter DeJean was sent to reside in the area permanently in May 1829. That summer, under his supervision, the Indians erected a church and a rectory that included a large schoolroom. The school opened on 23 August 1829 with two lay teachers–Joseph Letourneau and Elizabeth Williams. By the end of September the teachers had enrolled 13 days students and 25 boarders.
While in operation, the instructors taught not only religion and the “Three R’s” but vocational classes as well–carpentry, gardening, cooking, housekeeping, bookbinding, printing and smithery.
On 4 September 1884 the administration of the church was taken over by the Franciscan order. In 1885 the Franciscans reopened the school and by 1886 had erected a new three-story school building. Two other buildings were erected before the first brick building was built in 1913. A brick addition was completed in 1926.
Holy Childhood School was established to educate Indian children, but when white settlers moved to Harbor Springs the children of the parish also attended. Local children, both Indian and white, were referred to as “day students”. Indian students from outside the parish were the “boarders”. At the beginning of December 1886, the school had 64 boarders; the school census of 1970-71 listed 107 boarders, the most ever enrolled.
In recent years the number of boarders has dropped sharply. Two factors brought about the decline; new welfare programs provided economic incentives to families who kept their children at home, and the number of boarding accommodations was reduced to 65 when the living quarters had to be moved from the third floor to the first floor to meet state safety requirements.
Throughout most of its history, Holy Childhood School was financed primarily by the local church. The federal government provided some assistance, and the State of Michigan helped support the lunch program, but most of the money needed came from church fund-raising projects and contributions from summer residents.
Public education began in Harbor Springs sometime during the second half of the nineteenth century. Exactly when is unclear. A government school, taught by Margaret Boyd (sister of Andrew J. Blackbird) is thought to have been established for the Indians as early as 1857. Will E. Hampton, in his unpublished memoirs of boyhood in Harbor Springs, said a small schoolhouse opened in the fall of 1875 on the north side of Third Street near Judd Street. Hampton also record the opening of the first graded school in the village in 1878.
Greenwood Photo Archive from Postcard Collection
Greenwood Photo Archive from Petoskey Newspapers (1906)
18 July 1902 ~ The Independent Democrat
10 January 1906 ~ The Petoskey Record... part of an article describing the rooms and teachings of the school
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30 September 2013 ~ The Zorn memorial tombstone rests on the grounds of the Holy Childhood of Jesus Church.
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1829
The Holy Childhood of Jesus School was opened in 1829 (Photo Below).
It was, however, closed from 1839 until 1884, when it reopened.
The School Sister of Notre Dame began serving the school in 1886.
The boarding school closed in 1983, but continued as a day school, daycare center, and thrift shop.
The Holy Childhood of Jesus School was opened in 1829 (Photo Below).
It was, however, closed from 1839 until 1884, when it reopened.
The School Sister of Notre Dame began serving the school in 1886.
The boarding school closed in 1983, but continued as a day school, daycare center, and thrift shop.
Little Traverse Historical Society Photo Collection
The church was built 54X30 feet on the present site of the Holy Childhood church, and a combination school and parsonage 46X20 feet of hewn logs. On the last Sunday of September, 1829, the chapel was dedicated to St. Peter, and the FiRST Mass said therein. Within a month after the opening of school 20 boys and 18 girls were enrolled and by the end of the year the enrollment had risen to 38 boys and 25 girls, of whom 38 were day students and 25 boarders.
Father De Jean's record of their names with ages and dates of entrance is still preserved. It was printed in the "Anishinabe Enamiad" in 1898. A French teacher, Joseph L'Etornear, was placed in charge of the school. The children were kept clean and taught good manners, along with the French language. In the spring each family gave one large mocock (a kind of box made of birch-bark) of maple sugar, which weighed from eighty to one hundred pounds. Father De Jean would empty the sugar into barrels and then go down to Detroit with it to buy dry goods returning with cloth for his Indian children. ~ December 1949 The Emmet County Graphic
Father De Jean's record of their names with ages and dates of entrance is still preserved. It was printed in the "Anishinabe Enamiad" in 1898. A French teacher, Joseph L'Etornear, was placed in charge of the school. The children were kept clean and taught good manners, along with the French language. In the spring each family gave one large mocock (a kind of box made of birch-bark) of maple sugar, which weighed from eighty to one hundred pounds. Father De Jean would empty the sugar into barrels and then go down to Detroit with it to buy dry goods returning with cloth for his Indian children. ~ December 1949 The Emmet County Graphic
Photo Below: Harbor Springs Holy Childhood Catholic Church and School...
Little Traverse Historical Society Photo Collection (Undated)
"Indian School, Harbor Springs, Michigan" Postcard ~ From the personal scrapbook of Howardine (Wood) Bush Plumb
Photo Below: The building at the far right was the Star Hotel.
Little Traverse Historical Society Photo Collection (Undated)
1913 Article Below: Petoskey men got the contract to build a new Catholic School in Harbor Springs in 1913. The old building already had begun to be razed. The new building was to have three stories and the outside walls were to be pressed brick, with the interior work of this nature to have Petoskey brick.
5 June 1913 ~ The Petoskey Record
Petoskey District Library with Library of Michigan Digital Repository (Undated)
1 April 1937 ~ Emmet County Graphic
8 April 1937 ~ Emmet County Graphic
22 April 1937 ~ Emmet County Graphic
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29 April 1937 ~ Emmet County Graphic
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28 July 1938 ~ The Emmet County Graphic
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Below: Fred Ettawageshik
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers (Undated)
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17 August 1939 ~ Emmet County Graphic
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29 January 1948 ~ The Emmet County Graphic
11 November 1948 ~ The Petoskey Evening News
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15 November 1948 ~ The Petoskey Evening News
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6 January 1949 ~ Emmet County Graphic
8 December 1949 ~ Emmet County Graphic
3 November 1949 ~ Emmet County Graphic
1949 11/17/49 ECG Holy Childhood History
8 December 1949 ~ Emmet County Graphic
15 December 1949 ~ Emmet County Graphic
15 December 1949 ~ Emmet County Graphic
22 December 1949 ~ Emmet County Graphic
29 December 1949 ~ Emmet County Graphic
12 January 1950 ~ Emmet County Graphic
19 January 1950 ~ Emmet County Graphic
Headline for article below... 19 January 1950 ~ Emmet County Graphic
19 January 1950 ~ Emmet County Graphic
2 March 1950 ~ Emmet County Graphic
18 May 1950 ~ Emmet County Graphic
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers (7 December 1950)
1950 Photo Above and Photo/Text Below:
Sister Cleomena had taught the Indian handicraft class for 18 years.
Sister Cleomena had taught the Indian handicraft class for 18 years.
7 December 1950 ~ Northern Michigan Review
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers (7 December 1950)
29 June 1950 ~ The Emmet County Graphic
The following 1950 Petoskey Evening News articles seem to have been COPIED from the 1937 articles from the Emmet County Graphic; and thus not all 1950 articles have been copied and included on this web page.
10 July 1950 ~ Petoskey Evening News
13 July 1950 ~ Petoskey Evening News
15 July 1950 ~ Petoskey Evening News
Photo/Text Below:
An explanation for Holy Childhood Church and School standing at the head of Main Street...
An explanation for Holy Childhood Church and School standing at the head of Main Street...
18 July 1950 ~ Petoskey Evening News article continued from photo/text above... (photo was scanned blurry)
18 July 1950 ~ Petoskey Evening News photo/text continued with article below...
21 December 1950 ~ The Emmet County Graphic
Greenwood Postcard Archive Ball Collection
10 July 1952 ~ Emmet County Graphic
1962 Spring ~The School Sister article continued below...
1962 Spring The School Sister article continued from above...
1966 July 20-26 ~ Harbor Lite
1954
The Back View of Holy Childhood School
The Back View of Holy Childhood School
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers (November 1954)
1960
Another Back view Photo of Holy Childhood School
Another Back view Photo of Holy Childhood School
10 September 1960 ~ Petoskey News Review
4 November 1954 ~ The Emmet County Graphic
15 December 1954 ~ Petoskey Evening News
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27 December 1954 ~ Petoskey News Review
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18 December 1954 ~ Petoskey Evening News
1960
Antiquated Convent Houses 16 Nuns
Who Shelter Needy Indian Children
Antiquated Convent Houses 16 Nuns
Who Shelter Needy Indian Children
16 and 19 September 1960 Petoskey News Review article continued below...
16 and 19 September 1960 Petoskey News Review photo/text continued from article above...
1962
Tearing down a Harbor Springs Landmark
Old Frame Convent of the Notre Dame Sisters had been the Star Hotel in 1884.
Tearing down a Harbor Springs Landmark
Old Frame Convent of the Notre Dame Sisters had been the Star Hotel in 1884.
16 and 19 September 1960 Petoskey News Review photo/text continued from photo/text and article above...
21 June 1962 ~ Petoskey News Review
1963
Winter Fun Outside
Winter Fun Outside
24 February 1963 ~ Petoskey News Review
Greenwood Photo Archive (24 February 1963)
1963 02/24/63 PNR Holychildhood winter fun
Holy Childhood New Convent
1963
1963
27 July 1963 ~ Petoskey News Review
Greenwood Photo Archive (19 July 1963)
Holy Childhood
December 1963
December 1963
Greenwood Photo Archive (December 1963)
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Greenwood Photo Archive (December 1963)
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Greenwood Photo Archive (December 1963)
1964
20 July 1964 ~ Petoskey News Review
18 August 1964 ~ Petoskey News Review
Below: Brother Bernardin Kuenzel, the shoemaker... served Holy Childhood for 57-58 years.
21 July 1964 ~ Petoskey News Review
21 July 1964 ~ Petoskey News Review
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9 June 1965 ~ Petoskey News Review
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1965
Article Below:
Susie Shagonaby, a descendent of three Indian chiefs attended Holy Childhood School and then graduated Harbor Springs High School in 1927. Susie lived and witnessed the value of education.
Susie Shagonaby, a descendent of three Indian chiefs attended Holy Childhood School and then graduated Harbor Springs High School in 1927. Susie lived and witnessed the value of education.
28 July > 3 August 1965 ~ The Harbor-Lite
Photo/Text Below: Noted that "Holy Childhood School which has operated since 1829 is the only boarding school for underprivileged Indian children in the U.S. which is not located on a reservation. It does not receive state or federal aid, operates on a budget of contributions."
28 September 1965 ~ Petoskey News Review
July 1966 Harbor-LIte Article Below: Wanda Rose Hughey, 8, died when struck by a car
on Main Street, Harbor Springs. She would have entered third grade at Holy Childhood School that fall.
on Main Street, Harbor Springs. She would have entered third grade at Holy Childhood School that fall.
20-26 July 1966 ~ Harbor Lite
1 June 1970 ~ Petoskey News Review
Photo/Text Below:
Twin Sister Sisters Rose Andre and Marie Eugene prepared an exhibit at the county fair.
Twin Sister Sisters Rose Andre and Marie Eugene prepared an exhibit at the county fair.
20 August 1970 ~ Petoskey News Review
8 December 1977 ~ Petoskey News Review
Holy Childhood School and Church ~ Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey Newspaper (1988)
Holy Childhood School and Church ~ Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey Newspaper (1988)
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey Newspaper (Undated)
12 May 1988 ~ Petoskey News Review article continued below...
12 May 1988 ~ Petoskey News Review article continued from above...
Photos Below: Photographer Karla Buckmaster
20 July 2007 ~ Holy Childhood of Jesus School, Harbor Springs, Michigan
20 July 2007 ~ Holy Childhood of Jesus School, Harbor Springs, Michigan
20 July 2007 ~ Holy Childhood of Jesus School, Harbor Springs, Michigan
20 July 2007 ~ Holy Childhood of Jesus School, Harbor Springs, Michigan
20 July 2007 ~ Holy Childhood of Jesus School, Harbor Springs, Michigan
20 July 2007 ~ Holy Childhood of Jesus School, Harbor Springs, Michigan
20 July 2007 ~ Holy Childhood of Jesus School, Harbor Springs, Michigan
20 July 2007 ~ Holy Childhood of Jesus School, Harbor Springs, Michigan
20 July 2007 ~ Holy Childhood of Jesus School, Harbor Springs, Michigan
20 July 2007 ~ Holy Childhood of Jesus School, Harbor Springs, Michigan
15 November 2007 ~ Petoskey News Review
Below: Fred Kiogima stated he had joined the Marine Corps for 23 years and felt he had done well there because Fred's dad had been a WWII veteran, but also because Fred had been "shaped by the strict nature of Holy Childhood Boarding School."
14 November 2014 ~ Petoskey News Review
~ Holy Childhood of Jesus Church ~
16 December 1884 ~ The Northern Independent
2013
30 September 2013 ~ Holy Childhood of Jesus Church (Notice same preserved brick entrance as in photo above)
30 September 2013 ~ Holy Childhood of Jesus Church
2018
8 February 2018 ~ Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
Photo Above: More of Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers (Undated)
Below Photo/Text: An upcoming 14 November 2025 presentation of "System of Assimilation – The Indian Boarding Schools" was announced in October 2025. The presentation description below seems "slanted" and quite inaccurate for Harbor Spings' Holy Childhood Boarding School, featured as an Indian Industrial School, opening 23 August 1829, and originally created by the Franciscan Fathers and the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Harbor Springs' Holy Childhood school originally was not created, funded, nor mandated by the United States. White children, as well as Indian children, attended the classes as "day students' with Indian students from outside the parish as "boarders". It was not until 1888 when the numbers of attendees had grown and the buildings were enlarged with various improvements year after year, that the school could no longer be conducted at the expense of the missionaries. Then, a Government contract was obtained for the education, clothing, and boarding of 75 Indian children; with later appropriations for 100 children, with Commissioner Morgan, reducing that number to 95; this allowance was granted until July 1896, then reduced to 50 percent by Congress, and after 1898 the allowance ceased altogether. Throughout most of its history, Holy Childhood School was financed primarily by the local church. The federal government provided some assistance, and the State of Michigan helped support the lunch program, but most of the money needed came from church fund-raising projects and contributions from summer residents.
October 2025 ~ Advertisement for a presentation about the former Holy Childhood of Jesus School
Click HERE to access additional information about the
History of Harbor Springs Catholic church and school, presented from
the Wayne Richard Smith Collection as posted on the Greenwood History Archive website.
History of Harbor Springs Catholic church and school, presented from
the Wayne Richard Smith Collection as posted on the Greenwood History Archive website.
