Widdicomb School
N1/2 of the NE 1/4 of NE 1/4 Section 23 of Walker Twp
May 5, 1891
William Widdicomb and Esther H. Widdicomb, his wife,
and Arie Van Bree and Henrietta Van Bree, his wife
To
The Board of Education
Liber 216 page 107
Consideration, $2000
Description
Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Gelock and Van Bree Addition.
Gelock and VanBree's Addition platted in 1888 by Skeels for John and
Lienense Gelock, Arie and Henrietta VanBreen
1891 - Sixth Ward, lot 120 feet on Widdicomb street x 168 feet on West Leonard. No description of any building. Value $2,000.
1892 - A two-story and basement brick building, slate roof, steam heated and well ventilated. Eight rooms and seated for 400 pupils. Built for $16,500.
1895 Sanborn Fire Map:
1896 - Closets in the basement connected with city water and sewer.
From GRBE Annual Report
From GRPL
1902/03 - addition
1904 -
1905 - Plumbing condemned
1907 George Ogle's Standard Atlas of Kent County Ogle Walker
1909 - purchases made for the enlargement of the playgrounds.
1912 - A class of 14 exceptional (mentally retarded) students is organized. There being no manual training at Widdicomb it was necessary to equip for domestic science and bench work. Great good will follow from teaching the proper preparation of food in this foreign neighborhood.
1913 Sanborn Fire map shows the school but the Assessor hand drew in the new location of Seventh Reformed Church which is still there today(2006) although the school isn't.
.
1914 - plans to to remodel the east and west entrances for fire protection reasons.
1915 - Grand Rapids News 3 August 1915 p. 3 Sprinkler systems to cost $5000 were ordered installed.
1920 - Owing to the new addition to the Widdicomb school, additional ground should be purchased to enlarge the school play rounds.
1921 - additional lots were bought and an addition was put on.
The 1921 Annual Report states - old 6th ward, lots 1-10 of block 4 of Gelock & VanBree's Addition.
1938 - closed
1953 Sanborn Fire Map Page 473:
2005 - 950 Leonard Seventh Reformed Church ppn=41-13-23-226-025 Gelock and VanBree
From article School History
From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info