Bethlehem Temple of Inkster School
26100 Annapolis St, Inkster, MI 48141
-Abandoned around 2010 fallen into bank ownership 2014
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History of Bethlehem Temple of Inkster School
Bethlehem Temple of Inkster is an abandoned church and school complex built in 1966. It served as a church and school for grades K-8, with the school portion known as the Christian Academy. The early 2000s were not easy for the city of Inkster and its school district. By the 2012-2013 school year, the district reported a deficit of $12 million, and by the end of that same year, the district had accumulated $15 million in debt. It was among two districts that closed that year due to declining enrollment and mounting debt. However, this was a problem that spanned several years, and many schools in Inkster closed before 2013. Bethlehem Temple of Inkster closed around 2010, coinciding with the decline of schools in Inkster, MI, and the building was abandoned. Although the school was a private institution, it still experienced the decline in enrollment that affected all the schools in Inkster. In 2014, the building fell into bank ownership, and since then, it has been vandalized beyond repair, suffering major ceiling and wall damage to the structure.
Recollection from the author
The Bethleham Temple of Inkster was our first plunge into Inkster’s abandoned ruins, and to start off it was quite the building. Almost everything had been scrapped out or damaged beyond repair. This included the walls especially on the 2nd floor, you could see almost 5 rooms in a row with all that remained just a simple rebar stud. The long hallways of debris were a good photo opportunity along with the light of the stripped classrooms. Much of the ceiling had been destoryed and even the walls above the classrooms were just missing and destoryed. It is very likely this will be demolished in the coming years.
1st Floor Main Corridor
Main Church area/Auditorium
Kitchen serving area
stage platform
Side Corridor next to auditorium
Extensive scrapping and vandalism as seen from the back of the school out of one of the classroom windows
That same classroom
Back on the main corridor we see a set of doors at the end of the hallway
Office commons area
Office section
2nd floor staricase
Auditorium Entrance
2nd Floor Corridor (Only Classrooms and Lockers)
One of the classrooms still intact somewhat
Most Classrooms have no walls remaining especially on the second floor
Moss has began to grow on the floor
Wall of one of the classrooms
Most of the staircase remains intact
Full flight of stairs
Back on the 1st floor much of the ceiling has decayed
Much of the roof and other materials now line the ground
Even on the 1st floor like the 2nd floor many walls have been removed
Even out in the main corridor many walls have been stripped
Some boards remain but not many
Looking down the main corridor from the other side
Some lockers have began to rust from the elements of open air in the school
A quote still intact on the wall
A playground that was attached to the school
Unlike many Detroit Public Schools that have fallen abandoned this school has not had many lockers scrapped this was the only example of such
Boiler Room
Another shot of the main corridor in the classroom section on the 1st floor
Side Exit
The main door though secured don't pose any barrier to entry
Main facade of the school
Main Entrance to the school
Double door entrance to school
Part of the canopy has fallen by the main entrance