City School District #2
It is unknown when this became known as District #2. Early records refer to it simply as in Wards 4 and 5. In 1853, the union principle of grading students was adopted by this district. .
On 8 Dec 1854 a new location was chosen for a new building.
Warranty
Deed
E H Turner and wife
To
4th & 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 Addition
This would put the school in the center of Block Ten between Third and Fourth Streets and Turner and Broadway Avenues. Scribner and Turner's Addition which was platted in 1847, part of the SE ¼ SW ¼ Sec 24. The 1853 map shows only one house on this block, on Lot 1. This house and the occupant would have a significant influence on this school for years.
I
Union
Additional lots to the south toward Third Street would be purchased.
Oct 10, 1862
Sarah A Pew
To
School District West Side, 4th & 5th Wards
½ lot 10 Liber 31, Pg 24.
and
Sept 15, 1869
Josiah P Justin & wife
To
Sch Dist No 2, 4th & 5th Wards City
Lot 9 Liber 62 Pg 208
Turner Street School Turner
An additional primary school would be built in 1865 at the SW corner of Lot 6 of
Tryon's Addition
(platted in 1854). This would place the school on the east side of Turner Avenue
between 11th Street and Leonard Street. This school with its ample grounds was
abandoned in 1882
and replaced by a new Turner School at a new location. The old school was sold
to a Dutch Reformed Church for $2600 and adapted for their use and dedicated
on 10 December 1887. (Baxter) In the 1960's it would be destroyed for US131.
Isaac Edison
To
Union School Dist. No. 2
20 October 1866
Liber 41 Page 639
Consideration $600
Description
commencing at the SW corner of Lot number 6 of Tryon's Addition
thence North on Turner Street 155 feet
thence East parallel to the South line of said Lot Six, 125 feet
thence South parallel to Turner street to the south line of said Lot
thence West to the place of beginning
Jefferson Street School (Lexngton) Lexington
On 9 October 1867 another lot was purchased for a new primary school on
California Street between Jefferson (renamed Lexington in 1865) and Gold,
just north of where Lexington School is located today
on Veto Street between Lexington and Gold.
Warrany Deed
John Butler and Philura Butler, his wife
To
Union School Dist No 2, of Grand Rapids, M'ch.
Liber 55, page 249
Consideration, $2000
Description
All of those Lots or parcels of land described as:
Lots 13 and 15 on Gold Street,
and 14 and 16 on Jefferson Street, (Lexington)
according to the plat of Scribner's Addition to the City of Grand Rapids.
Richmond Lot Richmond Lot
Then a lot was purchased for the future West Leonard school on Leonard Street near Quimby Avenue on July 7, 1870
Executor's Deed
Edmund J. Shackleford, Executor of the estate of
James M. Shackleford, deceased
To
School Dist. No. 2, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Liber 64 pages 632-3
Consideration, $500
Description
Lots 10 and 12 of what is known as Tryon's Second Addition
Subject to tax titles and possession.