City School District #6
At the time this township district was annexed by the city,
there was one school near Leonard and Taylor.
The City district would purchase two lots. It is unclear, however, if the
original school was replaced in 1861 by East Leonard or in 1870 by North Ionia.
All that is now known is that by 1872, Coldbrook Grammar School (future East
Leonard) and North Ionia Primary both existed.
On September 2,1867, Coldbrook district adopted the union
principle by dividing students into grades. (Etten)
1 March 1859
Charles H. Taylor and Sorinia Taylor his wife
To
School District 6 Grand Rapids
Liber 18 Page 305
Consideration: 300
Description:
Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 27,28,29, 30 block 17 of Tanner Taylor's Addition
Bounded on the North by Leonard Street
the South by Legrand Street (Barnett)
and on the East by North Street
thence West according to plat 188 feet
together with the alley between said lots.
In 1861 a two-room brick school for 128 pupils would be built at this new
location
which would be named East Leonard in 1886. It is not yet clear if this school
was a
replacement for the original one on Taylor or an additional school. It is also
unclear
is this was only a grammar school or included primary grades.
North Ionia Street School North
Ionia
A new school just a few blocks south of the original township school at
Taylor and Leonard would be added in 1870. .
On 18 June 1870 two Warranty Deeds would be issued:
Robert Cutler and Julia N. Cutler, his wife,
To
Fractional School Dist #6, Grand Rapids Twp. (sic)
Liber 65, page 562
Consideration $1200
Discription
All that certain piece or parcel of land known and described
as Lot 562, according to the Kent Plat of the City of Grand Rapids
Byron G. Ball and Martha M. Ball, his wife
To
Fractional School Dist. #6, Grand Rapids Twp. (sic)
Liber 65 page 563
Consideration $600
Description
All that certain piece or parcel of land known an described,
as the N ½ of Lot 555,
according to the Kent Plat of the City of Grand Rapids