Union
1835 - Union began as a primary/grammar school in Walker Township . See Chapter One
1850 - annexed by the City of Grand Rapids while at the Northwest corner of Turner and First where St Mary's Church is located today. Lot 13 Block 16 Scribner & Turner's Addition Platted 1847 part of the SE 1/4 SW 1/4 Sec 24. This lot was apparently rented as the first land record shows Turner sold it to Anthony Thiele in 1863 who then sold it to the Bishop and a new St. Mary's Church was built.
The history of the first lot: from St Mary's Church
1. 1847 Scribner & Turner's Addition is platted.
2. 1850 the City of Grand Rapids is created and annexes a Walker Township
Primary School
on the NW corner of First and Turner apparently on rented land.
SEE 1853 map
3. 1854 City builds a replacement school north of Third.
4. 1857 St. Mary’s builds a church on First and Broadway just west of the former primary school.
5. 1863 the oldest
still-existing land record shows the former school lot and maybe the building
too
were sold by Turner to Anthony Thiele who then sold it to the Bishop.
6. 1873 the current St. Mary’s was built.
Union School
1830's - surveyed as part of the SW ¼ of Sec 24 of T7N, R12W
1843 - State issues land patent to James Scribner and E H Turner
1843 - Scribner and Turner's Addition is platted.
1850 - City annexes land and the existing Walker Twp school located on the current site of St. Mary's
Catholic Church according to Franklin Austin. ( I have not been able to confirm this. The church
acquired this lot in 1868).
A City District Board of Trustees is created to administer the school.
1855, Apr 4 - Warranty Deed: E H Turner and wife to 4th and 5th Wards GR School District, L 2 Pg 77 for
$1000. Lots3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Block 10 of Scribner's and Turner's Addition.
1855 - District #2 builds a new school of river stone, the third floor has an amory.
1862, Nov 10 - Warranty Deed: Sarah L Peirce to School Dist, West side, 4th and 5th Ward L31 Pg 24 for $150. Lot 10, block 10 of Scribner and Turner's Addition
1869, Sept 16 - Warranty Deed: Josiah P. Tustin and Mary H., his wife, to School Dist. No 2 of 4th and 5th Wards, Grand Rapids L62, Pg 208 for $200. Lot 9, Block 10 of Scribner and Turner's Addition
1871, May 2 - Quit Claim: Elisha M. Adams and Laura, his wife, to the Board of Education L 65 Pg 254 for $1200. Lot 10, block 10 of Scribner and Turner's Addition
1872 - old school demolished
1873, May 21 - Warranty Deed: Ebenezer Anderson and wife to the Board of Eduction L86,Pg 177 for $1200. Lot 2, Block 10, Scribner and Turner's Addition.
1873 -Site is composed of nine city lots, seven (sic) of which were purchased Dec 8, 1854 of E H Turner
for $1,000, another lot purchased later of said Turner and one more lot this school year from
Ebenezer Anderson for $1200. The house, an old-fashioned stone building, is badly cracked, has low
ceilings, small windows, is badly ventilated, and is not considered safe or suitable to be used much
longer for school purposes. The Board of Education have decided to build, during the next school
year, a large and substantial three-story brick building on the site.
Note: to clarify confusion. This school was also called the Old Stone School just like Central was. Union (grades 1-8) was the first graded school but when Central became graded (grades 1-8) it was called Central union. So many people today who make the mistake of looking at history from their timeline assume, incorrectly, that the Central High and Union High of today must have been the same school yesterday.
1874 - It should be ready for occupancy on or before August 1st, 1875. The Board has erected a temporary building at a small expense on the south end (by Third Street) of the Union School for the accommodation of the school until the new building shall be ready for use, when it will be removed, the lot graded, properly fenced and in every way put in order.
1875 - In the spring of 1874, the Board contracted with John S. Farr & Co for the erection of a Union School building, 85 by 108 feet, three stories, over a high basement, on the site of the old one on the west side of the river. That house is now completed, contains eleven commodious school rooms, with sittings for 600 pupils, with ample closet and hall room. the house is supplied with water and gas, and the most approved apparatus for heating and ventilation. It has slate roof, copper gutters, and is surmounted with a neat and well proportioned cupola, which affords a commanding view of the city. I think it is in all respects what it was intended to be by the Board, a first-class school building. The cost -- $39,000.
The lot is 228 ft on Turner, 350 on Broadway and 250 on Third (but no mention of Fourth) Fronts both on Turner street and Broadway; contains seventeen large and commodious rooms used for school purposes. It is heated by Hawley's tubular hot air furnaces and ventilated upon the Rutan principle, and is liberally supplied with water and gas throughout. The grounds are laid out in a tasteful manner, with nicely arranged circular walks, and arrangements have been made for a substantial fence. The vacant paces on the north and south ends of the school building will be appropriated to play grounds, that part lying east of the building to lawns and flower beds, and if the citizens will display a little liberality in private contributions, it will be supplied with a suitable fountain.
1877 - Seventh Ward. Expended for shade trees, lightning rods and seats for one room $119.
1878 - Union and Primary #8 (Lexington) are both overcrowded and the Board should build on lot now owned at the Western end of Ward Seven (Richmond lot?).
1879 - vault installed for sewer connection.
1883 -The furnaces are badly burnt and broken, their being too small for the amount of heat required. the old ones should e replaced this fall and new ones at least two sizes larger.
1884 - Within the year the five old furnaces have been replaced y new ones and the facilities for ventilation increased.
1885 - A good three-story brick building, 82x108 feet on Third street between Turner and Broadway. The lot is 264 feet on Turner, 250 feet on Third and 330 feet on Broadway and 125 feet on Fourth (first mention of Fourth). During the past year the windows and doors have been refitted and repaired.
The 1885 Collar and Greiner map shows this school on lots 5,6,7 and 8 of Block 10 between Third and Fourth, Broadway and Turner on Scribner and Turner's Addition.
1886 - located on Third Street between Broadway and Turner.
1889 - During the year important changes have been made in its sanitary condition; brick floors have been laid in the basement, in which have been places new closets and wash bowls. An entire change has been made in the heating apparatus, and added facilities made for improved ventilation.
1891 - The building contains fourteen rooms with sittings for 700 pupils. The main building is heated by steam, supplied with gas and water, and has sewer connections. By the addition of the ward school on the south side of the building, there have been added three large rooms on the third floor of this school. The three rooms are heated and ventilated by the Ruttan Warming and Ventilating system. For more information on the addition see Union Primary. The 1907 map shows what appears to be two buildings joined. One primarily on lots 5 and 6 and one on lots 9 and 10.
1898, April 6, Adelia Cool to Sadie E Birge MS L16 Pg 306 (adjacent to Turner and Fourth to the NE)
Agreement to move the house on Turner at Sadie's expense to 4th Street and to put in a stone
foundation, for the use of Adelia Cool for her lifetime and the use of both Adelia's and Sadie's
families and reference to nephews and sole heirs George L Newhouse, John Henry Warren and Aaron
L Parish. Apparently Robert P Sinclair first purchased the S1/2 of Lot 1 in 1860. Col. Belknap is his
book Yesterdays of Grand Rapids described a little old lady who lived next to the school and it was tit
for tat between her and the school boys.
1898 - The closets are located in the basement and on the third floor.
1899 - Twenty-five rooms
1905 - Plumbing condemned
The 1907 map shows the houses gone that were on lot 1. Section 24 Ogle Walker
1908 - proposal to enlarge Union into a fully equipped manual training high school in the near future. Recommendation for acquisition of lot 1, block 10. Also turn Union into a complete high school (now ends at grade 11).
1908 Sept 16, 1908 - Sadie E Birge to Bd of Ed L371 Pg 266 (Adelia Cool dec.) A Jacob H Knol Jr is
mentioned. (Was he the holder of the N ½?)
1911 - Addition to the north along Fourth Street occupying the recently acquired lot.
1853 - City School District #2 adopted the union school principleScrapbook
1854 - City District buys a new lot
December 8, 1854
E H Turner and wife
To
4th and 5th Wards G. R. School District
Liber 2 page 77
Consideration, $1000
Description
Lots 5, 6, 7, 8, block 10, of Scribner and Turner's AdditionCE
This would have put the school in the middle of the block between Third and Fourth Streets, Broadway and Turner.
Scribner and Turner's Addition platted as the Village of Grand Rapids West Bank by John Almy in in 1843 and completed by Pettibone in 1847 for James Scribner and Eliphalet Turner.
This picture is of Union, built of river stone with an armory on the third floor built in 1855 and demolished in 1872. I couldn't remember th source, Chris Byron recognized the page from Citizen's History by Van Vulpen.
"Subsequently, when the number of pupils increased so as to make additional rooms necessary, this (third) story was fitted up and used for school purposes. When thus completed the building furnished sittings for 464 pupils. The rooms had low ceilings, and were lighted by small windows A wooden belfry sheltered the school bell which called the pupils to their tasks."Baxter
1859 - high school grades began to be added but stopped with the eleventh grade..
October 10, 1862
Sarah L. Peirce
To School Dist., W. side, 4th and 5th Wards
Liber 31 page 24
Consideration, $150
Description
Lot 10, Block 10, of Scribner and Turner's AdditionCE
School grounds are extended to the south. Lot 10 is at the corner of Broadway and Third.
September 15, 1869
Josiah P. Tustin and Mary W. Tustin, his wife
To
School dist. No. 2, of 4th and 5th Ward, Grand Rapids, M'ch
Consideration, $600
Description
Lot 9, block 10, of Scribner and Turner's AdditionCE
Lot 9 is at the corner of Turner and Third. It is on these two
lots extending the school ground southward where the 1895 addition would be
built.
Quit Claim
May 2, 1871
Elisha M. Adams and Laura E. Adams, his wife
To
The Board of Education
Consideration $12
Description,
Lot 10, Block 10, of Scribner and Turner's AdditionCE
A Quit Claim simply clears a title dispute. Other
records would indicate that it was Sarah Pew who sold the N 1/2 of this lot and
Mr. Adams who sold the S 1/2.
May 21, 1873
Ebenezer Anderson and wife
To
The Board of Education
Liber 86 page 177
Consideration, $1200
Description
Lot 2, block 10, Scribner and Turner's AdditionCE
The school grounds are extended northward as Lot 2 is at the corner of Fourth and Broadway. It is on this lot where the 1911 Addition would be built.
1873 -Site is composed of nine city lots, seven of which were purchased Dec 8, 1854 of E H Turner for $1,000, another lot purchased later of said Turner and one more lot this school year from Ebenezer Anderson for $1200. The house, an old-fashioned stone building, is badly cracked, has low ceilings, small windows, is badly ventilated, and is not considered safe or suitable to be used much longer for school purposes. The Board of Education have decided to build, during the next school year, a large and substantial three-story brick building on the site.
1874 - It should be ready for occupancy on or before August 1st, 1875. The Board has erected a temporary building at a small expense on the south end of the Union School for the accommodation of the school until the new building shall be ready for use, when it will be removed, the lot graded, properly fenced and in every way put in order.
1875 - In the spring of 1874, the Board contracted with John S. Farr & Co for the erection of a Union School building, 85 by 108 feet, three stories, over a high basement, on the site of the old one on the west side of the river. That house is now completed, contains eleven commodious school rooms, with sittings for 600 pupils, with ample closet and hall room. the house is supplied with water and gas, and the most approved apparatus for heating and ventilation. It has slate roof, copper gutters, and is surmounted with a neat and well proportioned cupola, which affords a commanding view of the city. I think it is in all respects what it was intended to be by the Board, a first-class school building. The cost -- was $39,000.
The lot is 228 ft on Turner, 350 on Broadway and 250 on Third (but no mention of Fourth) Fronts both on Turner street and Broadway; contains seventeen large and commodious rooms used for school purposes. It is heated by Hawley's tubular hot air furnaces and ventilated upon the Rutan principle, and is liberally supplied with water and gas throughout. The grounds are laid out in a tasteful manner, with nicely arranged circular walks, and arrangements have been made for a substantial fence. The vacant paces on the north and south ends of the school building will be appropriated to play grounds, that part lying east of the building to lawns and flower beds, and if the citizens will display a little liberality in private contributions, it will be supplied with a suitable fountain.
1877 - Seventh Ward. Expended for shade trees, lightning rods and seats for one room $119.
1878 - Union and Primary #8 (Lexington) are both overcrowded and the Board should build on lot now owned at the Western end of Ward Seven (Richmond lot?).
1879 - vault installed for sewer connection.
1883 -The furnaces are badly burnt and broken, their being too small for the amount of heat required. the old ones should e replaced this fall and new ones at least two sizes larger.
1884 - Within the year the five old furnaces have been replaced y new ones and the facilities for ventilation increased.
1885 - A good three-story brick building, 82x108 feet on Third street between Turner and Broadway. The lot is 264 feet on Turner, 250 feet on Third and 330 feet on Broadway and 125 feet on Fourth (first mention of Fourth). During the past year the windows and doors have been refitted and repaired.
The 1885 Collar and Greiner map shows this school on lots 5,6,7 and 8 of Block 10 between Third and Fourth, Broadway and Turner on Scribner and Turner's Addition.
1886 - located on Third Street between Broadway and Turner.
1889 - During the year important changes have been made in its sanitary condition; brick floors have been laid in the basement, in which have been places new closets and wash bowls. An entire change has been made in the heating apparatus, and added facilities made for improved ventilation.
1891 - The building contains fourteen rooms with sittings for 700 pupils. The main building is heated by steam, supplied with gas and water, and has sewer connections. By the addition of the ward school on the south side of the building, there have been added three large rooms on the third floor of this school. The three rooms are heated and ventilated by the Ruttan Warming and Ventilating system. For more information on the addition see Union Primary. The 1907 map shows what appears to be two buildings joined. One primarily on lots 5 and 6 and one on lots 9 and 10.
1892 - Addition
1895 Sanborn Fire Map shows the lot on two pages:
Western Page:
Eastern Page:
1896 - from the Delphian (school yearbook)
Looking away from Broadway Ave toward Third St. The school
built in 1874 is on the left while the 1874 addition for the primary school is
on the right. The 1874 addition is close to Third Street while the 1874
school which replaced the 1854 school is in the center of the block.
These two photos from the GRPL photo collection shows the 1892 addition for the primary grades on the left and the 1874 school on the right. Third Street is on the left while Fourth Street is on the right. The street in the foreground is Turner Ave.
1898 - The closets are located in the basement and on the third floor.
Sept 16, 1908
Sadie E Birge
To
Bd of Ed
L371 Pg 266
Lot 1
Lot 1 is at the corner of Fourth and Turner. For an interesting story see Lot 1
1899 - Twenty-five rooms
1905 - Plumbing condemned
The 1907 map shows the houses gone that were on lot 1. Section 24 Ogle Walker
1908 - proposal to enlarge Union into a fully equipped manual training high school in the near future. Recommendation for acquisition of lot 1, block 10. Also turn Union into a complete high school (now ends at grade 11).
1911 - Addition
along Fourth Street looking from Turner
The drawing below indicates the top as the first addition 1892
The middle section is the school built 1874.
The third square plus the long rectangle is the proposed 1910 addition.
South (Third Street)
East
West
North (Fourth Street)
This addition in on the north end alongside Fourth, so the orientation as shown here would be upside down by modern standards. The top is the first addition. The original school is in the middle.
1912 - The Union school is unique, so far as I know (the writer of the Annual Report) among the schools of the United States. In this building under one principal are all grades from the kindergarten to the twelfth inclusive. --- and very soon the new building, which has just been occupied, will be inadequate. Additional room for the high school and upper grades will have to be obtained by pushing out the lower grades, and to accommodate them additional facilities will have to be provided at Lexington school, Sibley school and Stocking school. In June there was a graduating class from this school of 43 which a promise of still larger class in June, 1913. (It continues with a report by Principal Gilbert who says) --- the University for the first time recognizes industrial and vocational courses for college entrance -- A complete high school must offer to all students entering a variety of work by which they may discover to themselves the natural aptitude that should guide them in choosing a life work. -- an auditorium is an absolute necessity - the high school building has four floors - through three buildings --- The formal opening of the building - in February was a success.
And it should be put in the next budget to cover wiring of the Union Elementary school, which is now lighted by gas.
From the GR Herald, 20 Aug 1912, p.3 "Union school will have a director of physical training this year for the first time in its history. The new director will be Elmer J. Mitchell, and his duties will be to direct the physical or athletic work of the school."
1914 - When the addition was made in 1911, - the original plans called for wings extending south on Turner and Broadway avenues, and also for a gymnasium and an auditorium to occupy the ground now occupied by the old portion of the building.
1917 - The addition and auditorium - should have - been begun - will be finished early in the fall - it may be January first before the auditorium will be completed. Report of Mr. Turner, school architect, "marks the second period of the development of the problem. This addition is faced on Turner Avenue adjoining the southeast end of the Fourth Street building, completed in the Spring of 1911. -- the old original high school building, erected in 1874 -- was demolished for - the new auditorium. Addition - 46x225, four stories, -fireproof - (same design) as the Fourth Street addition. Auditorium is 60x112 for -1000 (people) - (with) main exits to Turner (and) side exits -- to Third and Fourth Streets. ( I am going to edit the verbage) Ground floor - wood working shop. A gym which will have separate entrance from Third Street so as to be independent. Above the gym are the lockers etc. The first floor - administration, library, class rooms and one coat room. The third floor - more class rooms. No mention of a second floor. Did they forget to put one in? LOL The top floor - domestic science class rooms and school lunch room to prevent odors from rising through the building.
Lots of mumbo-jumbo on the many changes in the heating and ventilating systems and improved toilet facilities.
This last picture is looking from Turner toward the 1917 addition. The 1892 addition can be seen peaking out.
Ground Floor First Floor Second Floor
(My mother who was born in 1920 attended this primary school for kindergarten)
The board have acquired an athletic field for the Union High.
1918 - The Turner street addition furnishes a fine gymnasium with showers and locker rooms for boys and girls, a lunch room equipped with complete kitchen and counter conveniences with a capacity for feeding three hundred pupils, a library under the management of the city library board which is open each day in the week and evenings. with high school reference maerial and a fine asortment of the best magazines and approximately ten thousand books for general circulation, modern offices readily accessible from th stree, a new auditorium - ten class rooms, two domestic science rooms and a pattern shop.
1921 - (Plans) to remove the primary portion of the building and the high school building proper continued around the southern portion covering the entire lot and including in it the boys' gymnasium giving the present gymnasium over to the girls. For the present the primary scholars could be housed in the new addition.
1921 Annual Report - Old 7th Ward - Block 10 Scibner & Turner's Addition
From Citz 1926
From the SW
Board of Ed map
New site for Union Tremont Site
Union Square Condos -- Old School. New Cool.
Grand Rapids Press 26 Mar 1998 - bond issue proposal
West Middle
615 Turner Ave NW
348 students, 21 teachers
Built: 1911
Existing square feet: 194,572
Proposed new square feet: 0
Cost: $3.9
Highlights: the former middle school houses adult education, Central City
alternative school and some district offices. Proposed improvements include $3
million to renovate all four floors of offices, classrooms and restrooms and
replace electric and heating systems; and $175,500 for computer and video
equipment.
From article School History
From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info