Nankin Mills / Perrinville School

The Nankin Mills School was built in 1937 for the children of the workers at Henry Ford's Nankin Mills factory. The school had a large classroom, activity room, two hallways, and a machine shop downstairs. It also had indirect lighting, plastered walls, eggshell colored woodwork, and pine flooring.

The Livonia Public Schools acquired the property in 1969 and the school was used until 1982.

Moving the Building to Greenmead Historical Park

In January of 2015, the donation of the school to the City of Livonia was accepted and preparations to move the building to Greenmead Historical Park began. On Tuesday, October 25, 2016, the school was moved over a nine-hour period from the corner of Farmington Road and Ann Arbor Trail to Greenmead via Joy, Inkster, Seven Mile, and Newburgh Roads.

RESTORATION & RENOVATION

The next phases will include building a foundation, moving the schoolhouse onto the foundation, and restoring the interior and exterior. The school's new home will be on the west side of the Kingsley House.

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FUNDING & DONATIONS

The Livonia Historical Commission holds many fundraisers throughout the year at Greenmead Historical Park, which raised the funding to pay for moving the school. The community's support at these events has made this possible.

If you would like to make a donation towards the restoration of the Nankin Mills/Perrinville School, checks may be sent to the Livonia Historical Commission at:
20501 Newburgh Road
Livonia, MI 48152

UPDATES

The schoolhouse was moved to its final location on July 20. Foundation and basement work was completed in December. Once the snow melts, exterior work will continue.