Fountain Street School
The second site: W 1/2 NE 1/4 ppn=41-14-30-251-041 159 College Ave NE
For the first site see Fountain
1895 Sanborn Fire Map showing the Union Benevolent Hospital:
1915 - Grand Rapids News 3 Aug 1915 p. 3. Board purchases U. B. A. Hospital Property for $35,000. The hospital force will occupy the plant until the completion of the new hospital (Blodgett) overlooking Fisk lake, which will be ready for occupancy about Feb. 1, 1916.
1917 - The new Fountain school has been begun and contracts call for completion July 25, 1918.
Grand Rapids Herald, 8 Sept 1919. The finest school house in the country!
This is the statement that Superintendent of Schools W. A. Greeson applied to the new Fountain street school. "Nowhere in the United States have I ever seen a finer, better built, better equipped or in any other sense superior to Grand Rapids' newest school.
The school is located on the site formerly occupied by the U.B.A. hospital at College avenue and Lyon Street NE and but a short distance from Central High. From the outside the building possesses a very impressive appearance. It sets well back from the street, being finished in red brick and white sandstone. There are numerous shade trees surrounding and when the lawn has been sodded it is doubtful if a more beautiful structure could be possible. It is built along the lines of the letter "T" with the top of the "T" facing on College avenue. This arrangement affords excellent lighting in all class rooms that would be impossible in the ordinary square building. All the rooms have plenty of outside light.
Upon entering the school one is surprised to see the width of the corridors. They are also better lighted than the average run of passageways. One of the features of the structure is the assembly room. This is easily able to occupy all the students at one time in complete comfort. The only objection that has formerly been lodged against such a room is that it is a waste of space. This has also been overcome due to the fact that every day there will be a drawing class in session while here whenever an evening meeting is desired the auditorium can be dismantled and changed into a first-class theater.
The children who are attending the kindergarten are kept busy during their idle moments in a playroom. This is also a novel feature in school buildings. It is the only room of its kind it Grand Rapids and it is doubtful if there are many more in the country. A large gymnasium occupies most of the basement and although the equipment has not arrived yet, it is supposed that it will be in tone with the rest of the building which is synonymous with the statement that it will be the best obtainable.
Henry Turner, the school architect designed the building and regards it as his masterpiece.
The 1920 Bldg. This first view of the front of the school which faces College Avenue is actually from the southeast looking northwest toward Lyon Street and away from College Avenue. .
This view of the rear of the building is from the southwest, or from the direction of the rear of Central High, looking NE towards Lyon St and College Ave.
1913 Sanborn map annotated by Assessor's
1921 Annual Report - Old 2d Ward - N 1/2 lots 22 and 23 of Coit & Curtis Partition Plat except (part of Beal's Sub)
1921 Annual Report - first site - Old 2d Ward - S 1/2 lots 19-21 of Coit & Curtis Partition Plat except the north sixty feet of lot 21.
1921 Annual Report - second site - Old 2d Ward - N 1/2 lots 22 and 23 of Coit & Curtis Partition Plat except (part of Beal's Sub)
The Board of Education Map
1953 Sanborn map shows the new building but it states it was built in 1918. Almost all the adjoining homes are gone. I do not understand the logic of tearing down students' homes to enlarge a school. Duh!
Grand Rapids Press 26 Mar 1998 - bond issue proposal
Fountain Elementary
159 College Ave NE
303 students, 15 teachers
Built: 1918
Existing square feet: 35,355
Square feet to be demolished: 3,810
Proposed new square feet: 8,930
Cost: $4.3 million
Highlights: demolishing the westernmost portion of building to make way for a
$951,000 addition of a music room, gym and kitchen; $ million to renovate
classrooms and corriors and install new heating and electric systems, and
$192,500 for computers and video equipment.
2006 Montessori
From article School History
From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info