North Ionia Avenue School
NE 1/4 Section 24 Walker Twp east, of the Grand River
Alternate Names: Primary # 7, Ionia, Coldbrook, Walbridge
June 18, 1870
Byron G. Ball an Martha Ball, his wife
To
Fractional School Dist. #6, Grand Rapids Twp.
Liber 62 page 563
Consideration, $600
Description
All that certain piece or parcel of land
known and described as the N. 1/2 of Lot 555
according to the Kent Plat CE
June 18, 1870
Robert Cutler and John N. Cutler, his wife
To
Fractional school Dist. #6, Grand Rapids Twp.
Liber 62 page 562
Consideration $1200
Description
All that certain piece or parcel of land
known and described as Lot 562,
according ot the Kent Plat CE
June 10, 1871
Byro D. Ball and wife
To
The Board of Education
Liber 70 page 31
Consideration, $800
Description
The S ½ of Lot 555 of Kent PlatCE
Patent US to Lucius Lyon and Eurastas Parmele Hastings for the East fraction of Section 24, T7N, R12W (Walker)
These lots are in the middle of the block between Coldbrook and Walbridge, Ionia and Taylor. Lot 562 is north of Lot 555
Tanner Taylor's Village of Kent
1850 - I have found no direct evidence if the school near Taylor and Leonard annexed by the City in 1850 was replaced by this lot purchase in 1870.
1870 - 2-story frame built. It was 500 feet along the West side of Ionia Avenue. (Does this mean the west side of the lot faces Ionia?) It was 200 feet deep (towards Division/Taylor) between Walbridge Street to the South and Coldbrook Street to the North. A two-story brick building was built.
1871 - merged with City Districts 1 and 2.
1872 - a three-story brick addition with a basement added to
the front. Eight rooms, four furnished for 268 pupils and one large closet for
each room. . The grounds need grading and fencing. Value $23,000
From GRPL Manusript Coll
1873 - lot has been well-graded, new sidewalks laid, contract let for fence, six rooms furnished
1874 - warmed by stoves, questions as to need for plastering.
1876 - center fence built
1878 - water in basement due to injury to walls.
1879 - connected to city water and sewer.
1880 - 5th ward, 8 rooms with ample closet and hall room. Sittings for 370 pupils, between Walbridge and Coldbrook, lot 200 ft square. Brick building, front section 3 stories, rear two, basement in addition. Eight good size class rooms with ample closet and hall room. Sittings for 370 pupils.
1881 - one room not occupied. Contract let with Shriver and Weatherly for ventilating and heating entire building with hot water for $2,778. Connection being built to city sewer $500.
1882 - The Professor Mill's hot water system has failed, now has been changed to steam at a cost of $50. Vaults are outside and connected to city sewer and water.
1883 - named Ionia Street School. Steam on the water principal not satisfactory.
1885 - renamed North Ionia School when South Ionia School opens
The 1885 Collar and Greiner map shows this school east of Ionia on lots 555 and 562 of Tanner Taylor's addition part 2 between Coldbrook and Walbridge and between Ionia and Taylor which is unnumbered on this plat.
1887 - Value $26,000
1889 - 4 room addition (double check)
1891 - Fifth Ward, Brick, two stories, contains twelve rooms (no mention of the 3 story part. (Omission? Demolished? new building?)
1893 - The water closets are in the basement and are connected with the public sewer. Ventilation good.
1894 - The building is of brick, three stories, contains twelve rooms. (see 1891 above)
1894 Sanborn Fire Map:
The little yellow w.c. is the wooden out-house.
1895 map shows the school right on the line of lots 562 an 555
1905 - Plumbing condemned
1907 Section 24 Ogle Walker
1907 - The heating and ventilating plat, once a hot water system, and at some time altered to steam, was most unsatisfactory Upon investigation it was found that the radiation in the building was sufficient for tee proper warming of the rooms, but that the ventilating equipment was practically useless. Plans were prepared for the installation of suitable ducts and indirect radiators, and the work was completed during the summer. the cost of this work was a little less that $2,000.
This photo shows the wrecking of the old school
GR Herald June 17, 1923
1908 - additional land purchased for North Ionia now called Coldbrook. New 12-room school built directly south.
1909 -
Grand Rapids Press May 1977
1910 -
from
Edward Heaton,
master wrecker of old buildings.
1913 Sanborn Map shows Coldbrook School on North Ionia south
of Taylor. It shows the new school on lot 555
Entrances are off N Ionia and Taylor.
I have cut and pasted the new and old school locations: Blue
is old, red is new
1921 Annual Report - old 5t Ward - Lots 555, 562, N1/2 lot 554, Kent Plat
1939 - building begins its use to train youngsters with IQs from 50 to 70 per GRP 1977.
1953 Sanborn Fire Map shows the new school. This school and all the homes are gone replaced by now empty factories which are being turned into condominiums for childless yuppies. Built 1909. Lot addresses are not shown. Neighbors' 1010 and 1040 Ionia Ave NW.
1970's - building begins its use as Walbridge Academy for students who can't adapt to regular classroom settings per GRP 1977..
North
South
1977 - Grand Rapids Press reports that a 68-year-old building on the city's near north side which served as a haven for the mentally retarded and later or alienated students has been sold. Walbridge Academy, formerly Coldbrook School, was purchased by Dennis M. Murphy, owner of a business adjacent to the three-story building at 1024 Ionia Ave NW. Murphy plans to demolish the structure and expand his firm, Davidson Plyforms, which builds parts for furniture manufacturers.
From article School History
From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info