Central High School
Link to separate History of Central High School
SW1/4 NW 1/4 Sec 30 Dexter Fraction, along Ransom
Avenue
SE1/4 NW 1/4 Sec 30 Kendall's Add, along Barclay Avenue
First City location: Ransom Ave.
Second City location : 421 Fountain St NE
1838 - Central began as grades 1-8 under the authority of Grand Rapids Twp. See Chapter One
1848 - a new lot was purchased on Ransom south of Lyon 1848 bldg
1850 - annexed by the City of Grand Rapids
1859 - 9th grade added
1860 - 10th grade added, primary grades removed
1861 - 11th grade added
1862 - first graduating class
September 6, 1865
Henry F. Williams
To
Frac'l Union School Dst. No. 1 of Grand Rapids
Liber 30 page 44
Consideration, $75
Description
That certain piece or parcel of land described as
Lot 7, block 8 of the Dexter FractionCE
June 8, 1867
Elvira D. Belnap (guardian)
To
Frac'l Union School Dist. No. 1
Consideration, $90.60
Description
Lot 8 of Block 8, of the Dexter FractionCE
The Dexter Fraction was platted as part of the Village of Kent in 1838. Lots 7 and 8 extended the school grounds farther south along Ransom Avenue.
March 9, 1868
Herman W. Liesveld and wife,
To
Union School Dist. No. 1
Liber 48 page 387
Consideration, $1000
Description
Lot 5, Block 9 of Kendall's AdditionCE
The Kendall Addition was platted in 1850 by Coffinberry for George Kendall, Wm Hatch, John Mathison, E. W. Davis, Lorenzo Buell, Benj Samson, Lewis Porter, and Nelson Davis.
1868 - a new school is built on the same site.
Quit Claim
May 3, 1869
John Ball and Mary T. W. Ball, his wife
To
Frac'l Union School Dist. No. 1
Liber 54 page 418
Consideration, $1.00
Description
All those certain city lots known and described as follows:
Lot 7 and 8 of what is known as the Deter Fraction
A Quit Claim simply quiets a disputed title.
1872 - The three separate City School Districts merge under the newly created Board of Directors.
1872 - Inventory described the 1868 replacement as a three-story brick house with basement, 85 feet x 106 feet with a tower on the SE corner (but photos show it on the SW corner. Also as the lot was on the side of a hill which had its high point on the East side, photos also show the tower on the low or West side) It was Centrally located, fenced and had shade trees. It had 21 rooms for 604 pupils. On the southeast corner there was a tenement house for the janitor. Built in 1868 and valued at $68,000.
1879 - $372 expended for seats, lumber for sidewalks, building vault and for connecting same with sewer. During the past summer the entire plan for the heating and ventilation of this building has been changed by the substitution o steam for furnaces and stoves. The work has been done by Messrs. Sproul & McGurrin, at cost of $3,765. Should the results of this change prove satisfactory, it may be advisable for the board to take some action with reference to the improvement of some other buildings, which at present are far form being satisfactory in respect to heating and ventilation.
1880 - Central or High School - the mode of heating and ventilating this building was changed -- has proved satisfactory.
1882 - The vaults at this building have been placed in the basement and connected with city water and sewer. Gas is piped to the building. .
1886 - A substantial three-story brick building, located on Lyon Street, between Ransom and Barclay streets. (For some reason there are now only) 18 rooms used for classrooms but a partition is being removed so a new classroom can be added.
1888 -During the year there has been built an annex with four rooms to be used as a laboratory. This building is 40x56 feet and one story high. It is built of wood and heated by stoves. It is located on the south side of the lot an cost $1,502.64.
1889 - Annex recently altered and contains four rooms which are used for laboratory purposes.
1891 - Second Ward, Lot is described as 256' on Lyon x 400' on Ransom x 370' on Barclay. (Next year this building will become Central Grammar)
New building:
1892 - This new four-story and basement brick and slate roof building is nearing completion. Fronting 210 feet on Ransom Street. Heated by two large tubular boilers. Ventilation of closets and rooms provided for by separate stacks. Wired for electric light and piped for gas. Sewer and water connections. 85,000 feet floor space. Will accommodate one thousand pupils. Cost $100,000.
the
Front of the new building facing Ransom Avenue
1895 Sanborn Fire Map:
Note the separate kindergarten building, probably the annex described above. . .
This photo from the GRPL 33-12-49 shows these two schools as
indicated in the Sanborn Map
The new building on Ransom would be for the High School, grades 9-12.. The older building closer to Barclay would be used for Central Grammar, possibly grades 5-8. Central Grammar
1900 - built of iron, brick and stone, lighted with both gas and electricity, 85,000 square feet for 1100 students.
1905 - elevator installed as additional rooms are installed on the Fourth floor, plumbing condemned
1907 Section 30 Ogle GRT
1908 - As previously mentioned, when the school year opened the serious problem was presented to the school board of how to provide for the number of pupils who had enrolled in the high schools. At the Central High school every available space was occupied, even corridor rooms being used for classes. This condition prevailed until the slight fire in that school on March 5 brought the attention of the public to the crowded condition and the danger attending such condition. As the special report made by the committee on new sites and buildings to the board on March 16 so clearly outlines the high school problem, I wish to quote form that report: 1908 fire. The graduating class of 1908 of the Central High school prsent the board of education with a very fine clock to be placed in the new high school on Fountain street when completed.
1911 - Central is re-located and the old building becomes Strong Junior High.
1921 Annual Report for this site on Ransom - Old 2d Ward - Lots 1-8 of Block 8 of Dexter Fraction and Lot A and Lot 5 of Kendall's Addiition
From article School History
From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info