Chapter Five: 1891 Annexation
The GR Bd of ED report for 1891 specifies the annexation of nine schools but doesn't identify these schools and subsequent research shows some new lots were purchased in 1891 by the GR Bd of Ed on land annexed in 1857. So I am supposing that either some of these schools were on rented land, were too small or too old or perhaps only a portion of a township school district was annexed but not the actual building.
An existing school was annexed from Grand Rapids Twp District # 15.
N of Diamond and E of Baxter
N1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Sec 32 Grand Rapids Township
Addresses
1883 - lots purchased by Grand Rapids Township, Stevens and Barclay Add
1891 - annexed by City of Grand Rapids
1907 - sold to Sigsbee Street Christian School Board
c. 1920 - new school built to the west
An existing school was annexed from Grand Rapids Twp District #1
SW 1/4 Sec 29 Grand Rapids Twp
West of Diamond, North of Lake Drive
Merrill and Nimms' Addition
unknown date - small frame school built
1873 - brick school built at 140 Congress St. that replaced a small frame
building.
1879 - lot purchased on Congress Street
1887 - adjacent lots purchased on Lake Drive
1891 - annexed by City of Grand Rapids
1920 - new building slightly north
Address: 150 Congress Avenue, Newer Address: 940 Baldwin SE
2005 - active
An existing school was annexed from Grand Rapids Twp District #1.
Diamond Street (Avenue) School (NW Diamond and Fountain)
Section
Lot addresses: 929 - 957 Fountain St; 101-107 Diamond Ave NE
1889 lots purchased by Grand Rapids Township
1890 - school built
1891 - annexed by City of Grand Rapids
1905 - addition,
1907 - Houseman Field adjacent
1912 - street renamed, Diamond Avenue School
1921 - addition
c. 1960 - demolished, basement reserved as locker room for Houseman Field
No description of any building is given, however on a later page of rental property it states: The building, corner of Hall street and Grandville avenue, fitted up for four rooms, at the annual rental of $300.00. It's also described as a 4-room annex. 'This would be in the NW 1/4 Sec 1, Wyoming Twp. The nearest post-1891 township school district is Wyoming #7.
Hall Street School (SW corner Hall and Grandville)
Section: NW ¼ Sec 1 Wyoming Twp
Address First Site:
Address second site: Mail: 703 Shamrock St SW Tax: 1205 Grandville Ave SW
began as a Wyoming Twp school but no record yet found
1891 - annexed by city of Grand Rapids, rental units
1892 - school built
1899 - 4-room addition
1908 - addition
1909 - additional lots purchased for a playground
1919 - addition to the North
1956 - new building constructed just south of original school.
Original site now adjoining playground. 14 rooms
2005- active
An existing school was annexed from Grand Rapids Twp District #3.
Lake (NE Wealthy and Lake Drive)
Section: SE ¼ Sec 29 Grand Rapids Township
Address
1859 - lot purchased by Grand Rapids Township, school built
1891 - annexed by City of Grand Rapids
1909 - school unusable, title obscured.
1911 - Auxiliary School for the mentally retarded.
1912 - School Street renamed Norwood Avenue
1918 - attempt to sell property but squabble over title
1932 - attempt to sell property but squabble over title
1937 - hearing in court, Bd of Ed wins, property sold for Eberhard's Grocery
Store
An existing school was annexed from Paris Twp District #7. The GR Bd of Ed also assumed debts from District #4.
Section: NW ¼ Sec 5 Paris Twp
First location, Peck and VenBoer's Addition
1889 - lot on Oakdale purchased by Paris Twp
1891 - annexed by City of Grand Rapids
1909 - site moved to Oakdale Park Addition
1910 - new school opens
1924 - addition
1970 - adjacent lots purchased
Mail and Tax Address 944 Evergreen St SE
2005 - unknown
No information is provided on any actual building being annexed or any mention of rental property. The closest post-1891 Walker Township School District is No. 7.
Part of the NE 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec 26 Walker Twp.
North of Lane and East of Sibley
Section
1891 - Walker Twp district annexed. Lot purchased by City of Grand Rapids
1892 - School built about 300 ft east of Lane St.
1922 - new school built farther west, adjacent to Lane St
Mail Address:
947 Sibley NW Tax: 943 Sibley St NW
2006 - new school built farther east
2005 - active
An existing school was annexed from Walker Twp District # 14..
SW 1/4 of Sec 14 of Walker Twp
West of Frederick Ave and North of Leonard St
Mail Address: 1531 Leonard St NW
1885 - lot purchased by Walker Twp
1891 - annexed by City of Grand Rapids
1895 - not on Sanborn Fire Map
1913 - on Sanborn Fire Map but altered by City Assessor
1917 - new building
1921 - addition
renamed West Leonard
No information is provided on any actual building being annexed or any mention of rental property. The closest post-1891 Walker Township School District is No. 4.
N1/2 of the NE 1/4 of NE 1/4 Section 23 of Walker Twp
South of Leonard and North of Widdicomb
Address
1891 - lot purchased
1902 - addition
1912 - street renamed, Widdicomb Avenue
1921 - addition
1930's - closed
c. 1960 - demolished
Parking lot for church
From the Article School History
From the Heading History of the City of GrandRapids
From the web page MyGrandRapids