St. Patrick Parish began in 1862, in response to the influx of Irish Catholics into Detroit.[2] By 1880, St. Patrick had become one of Detroit's largest and wealthiest parishes, and in 1890 the parish name was changed to "Sts. Peter and Paul."[2] In 1892, to serve the children of the community, a school was built on Parsons.[2]
From the time it opened in 1893 until 1969, the school functioned as a co-ed grade school and a high school for girls.[3] The parish resumed its original name of St. Patrick in 1938, and the high school was renamed "Immaculata High School".[3] The high school was soon renamed again as "Girls’ Catholic Central High School", and the grade school was renamed "St. Patrick’s Grade School"; both names stuck until the school was closed in 1969.[3]
After the closing, the school was vacant for three years, until re-opening as the "St. Patrick Senior Center."[3] The organization has continued to the present day, providing hot meals, health care, transportation assistance, and educational classes for the elderly, in association with the next-door St. Patrick Church.[4]
Tentler, Leslie Woodcock with foreword by Edmund Cardinal Szoka (1992). Seasons of Grace: A History of the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. Wayne State University Press. ISBN0814321062.
Tutag, Nola Huse with Lucy Hamilton (1988). Discovering Stained Glass in Detroit. Wayne State University Press. ISBN0-8143-1875-4.
