Planning document link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12g3blGNZGkKAWbzTJ2mK8u3evHgGYaQdgjOzseKEo-g/edit?tab=t.0
My discoveries:
The Ann L. Dolsen elementary school was formerly the New Hudson School (which I had no clue that it existed). Dolsen, its namesake, attended this school both as an elementary school student and as a high school student. The former New Hudson School’s original building was demolished in the late 1900s.
Dolsen began her teaching career in 1944, 2 years after she graduated from the New Hudson High School. She took a year-long sabatical in the 1950s to teach at a government school in Japan. She soon returned to New Hudson, and became principal of the school in 1955 until her retirement in 1988. She was the first female principal in the State of Michigan.
After she retired in 1988, she remained active in the community, volunteering at school read-alouds and field day events. She also organized many local clubs, and was a major proponent in many veteran’s day celebrations since her husband, Frank, was a veteran.
Dolsen passed away on February 4th, 2017 at the age of 92.
Reflection:
I think that this was very interesting! We have a lot of schools named after people in South Lyon, but nobody truly is aware of who they are named after.
This entry was particularly interesting. I live about 3 minutes away from this school and visit the area frequently. It was also interesting to learn that Dolsen, the school’s namesake, was the first female principal in the State of Michigan – that’s a huge accomplishment that barely anyone knows about!
In general, this project was very interesting to research and it makes me want to continue researching South Lyon history in general.
Artifact: My sources
https://newhudsonschool.weebly.com/history.html
https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/2017/02/08/dolsen-school-namesake-dies-92/97645056
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