The tradition of decorating Cleminson Hall has been a significant one at Grosse Pointe South, and the Mothers’ Club has made it important to the preservation of the building. Club President Jennifer Kendall made it a priority for students to see the renovated area.
“The tradition’s been going on for so many years, and we recently got a new tree to bring all of these decorations to life again,” Kendall said. “One of the goals of the Mothers’ Club in preservation is that there are so many wonderful things that the school does to keep the building going, and the Mothers’ Club is here to keep some of that historical preservation in place for the joy of students.”
Cleminson Hall has been a place of history at Grosse Pointe South, but it has also been a place of activities. For instance, Grosse Pointe South’s Chamber Orchestra rehearses every Friday in Cleminson Hall after school. Jacob Peacock, a sophomore cellist for the Chamber Orchestra, commented on the space.
“I love playing music in Cleminson Hall; the acoustics inside the room are similar to an auditorium,” Peacock said. “I feel like the decorations just add a little bit more to the feeling our music can give and how we feel our music should be seen.”
Cleminson Hall has been used to showcase the history of Grosse Pointe South. Throughout the room, you can see murals of past graduating classes, all-state athletic photos, and past administrations. South Vice Principal Cynthia Parravano has seen the growth of Cleminson Hall throughout the years and the tradition of decoration.
“I believe that they have always decorated Cleminson Hall. I believe that at some point there was a collaboration between the Mothers’ Club and some student groups,” Parravano said. “This room has a lot of character for me. I feel like this is one of the most calming rooms in our building. It’s probably the room that has been kept in its purest form as to its original state.”
In comparison to the rest of Grosse Pointe South, Cleminson Hall is the only room that has been touched up for the holiday season. Grosse Pointe South is one of the oldest buildings in the city and can feel bland for some students and staff. The decorations bring the building together and make it welcoming to everyone.
“I wish we did a little more. We house the history here; we have our all-state photos, but I wish we had more in our halls. It feels very bland in the halls, and I know that we use the halls for homecoming in the fall, but I think it would be amazing if we hung up quotes about success or character,” Parravano said. “History feels bottled up in Cleminson Hall, and I think there’s so much more we could share throughout our building.”
