Trombly Elementary School fifth-grader Adam Johnson, center, son of Rotarian Lee Johnson, was the guest speaker at the Jan. 4 luncheon meeting of Rotary of Grosse Pointe. His topic was the refurbishing of the greenhouse at his school. With him displaying the Trombley greenhouse plans were, from left, Rotary President Fred Ollison III, Trombly PTO President Michele Lindsay, his mother Beth Newhart, and Trombly Principal Walt Fitzpatrick. (Photo by John Minnis)
 
In making the case for the need to refurbish the greenhouse, Lee explained that when he was in second grade he had to make a "greenhouse" out of a pop bottle — the implication being that he should not have needed a pop bottle since Trombly has a full-size greenhouse of its own. He ended his talk by introducing Mrs. Lindsay, the PTO president who his mother and other parents are working with to raise funds to restore the greenhouse.
 
Trombly was built in 1927 as was the greenhouse. "That means over that last 89 years," Lindsay said, "it has seen a lot of wear and care by Trombly staff." The greenhouse has also seen (and sprouted) seeds from NASA and has started seeds for community gardens throughout the Pointes.
 
"We are not Grosse Pointe South," Lindsay said. "We do not have a preservation committee (or fund)." 
 
Describing the plans, she said they are attempting to remain true to the original architectural style. "The last thing we want to do is put a Fiberglas greenhouse up against the school," she said. "We have all this great property, but what we see are kids with bottle greenhouses and ant farms. I think we have a great resource that kids could use. An investment in our schools is an investment in the entire community. What I would like to do is give back to the community."
 
She said the group has raised $39,000 so far. She encouraged the Rotarians and the community to attend a Mardi Gras Casino Night fundraiser on Friday, Feb. 5, from 7-11 p.m., in The Ark at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. (Tickets are $50 per person and include two drink tickets, heavy appetizers, one tin can raffle and "Funny Money" for gaming tables.)
 
Principal Fitzpatrick discussed some of the structural aspects of the greenhouse, including the chain-link "cage" covering the original greenhouse. He said the cage was to prevent kids from falling through the curved glass should they attempt to climb on the structure. He said the rebuilt greenhouse will have slanted glass, which is stronger than the the original curved glass. 
 
The principal explained that with 270 students, Trombly in the Park is the smallest of the Grosse Pointe elementary schools. He noted that Trombly is the only elementary to host a preschool program. But the only way for students to get to the greenhouse — if it were usable — is to traipse through the preschool. Plans call for an exterior to the new greenhouse so it can be used without disrupting the preschoolers.
 
"What's frustrating as an administrator," Fitzpatrick said, "is we can't use the facility."
 
He noted that any donations to the project are tax deductible as the Trombly PTO is a 501(c)3 organization. Funds may also be routed through the Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education. For more information or to learn how to help, contact Michele Lindsay at (313) 473-8040 or email terrierPTO@gmail.com.