History of Grand Rapids Central High School

Grand Rapids, Kent Co, Michigan
           1859 - 1968

                   by Barbara Vander Mark

Central High School originally known as Grand Rapids High School began when "in 1859 the state legislation passed an act specifically authorizing any district containing more than 200 children to establish a high school and vote a tax to support it."^{1 Dunbar}  In that same year, the Grand Rapids City voters approved the creation of a high school and the completion of grading, then called unionizing, the schools. The third floor of the stone school on Ransom Avenue south of Lyon Street was used for the high school, the senior students being seated in the back.

Township Beginnings

Before the creation of the City of Grand Rapids in 1850, schools were governed by the townships as specified in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The City would eventually annex schools from four townships: Grand Rapids Twp, Paris Twp, Walker Twp and Wyoming Twp.  In 1835, the first public school district in what would later become the City of Grand Rapids was organized by Kent Township which in 1842 was renamed Grand Rapids Township.  Its territory was that area east of the river which included that part of Walker Township between the river and  Division Avenue.. The first teacher was hired in 1837. In 1839, the first public school house was built on East Fulton Street opposite of Jefferson Avenue.

Township school district splits..

This first Grand Rapids Township school district split in 1848 with parts of District #1 and District #6 falling within the Village of Grand Rapids. The boundary line between these two districts was the 1/4 section line of Section 19, along which  Bradford Street runs, District #1 south of the line, District #6 north.  .

 On April 12, 1848 School District #1 purchased 15/16 interest in land described as 124 feet by 130 feet in the E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 30 at the corner of Lyon Street and Barclay Avenue from Mr and Mrs James H Hatch for $187.50.^{3.5 Engineers} At a meeting on July 15, 1848 the district decided to buy additional land, lots 1 through 6 of Block 8 of the Dexter Fraction.^{3.7 Scrapbook} On Oct 1, 1848 District #1 purchased the remaining 1/16 interest of the Hatch lot from John Ball for $12.50.^{3.5 Engineers}  On 8 Jan 1849, the township purchased additional land to the west along Ransom Avenue from Mr. and Mrs. George C. Nelson for $325, specifically lots 4, 5, 6 of Block 8 of the Dexter Fraction.   On March 10, 1849 they purchased lots 1 and 2 from Mr. and Mrs. Edward L. Stevens for $110.^{3.5 Engineers}

At the  January 8, 1849 school district meeting "proposals for the erection of a stone school  house two stories in height  upon the same plan as drawn by Stephen Wood, and as may be seen a the store of Sinclair & King." ^{3.7 Scrapbook} This proved timely, because the school on Fulton Street opposite of Jefferson Avenue burned in February. This new school, commonly called the Stone School on the Hill was built between Barclay and Ransom Avenues south of Lyon Street and was made from stones taken from the river bed. It was 44 by 64 feet and had three large study rooms, six recitation rooms, a dressing room for girls, and a room for the library and school apparatus. There was an octagonal dome, covered with a tin roof which held the school bell.^{4 Baxter} It was two stories with a low basement but it soon became necessary to use the basement and the earth around it was dug away and scattered over the school grounds.

GRPL

Debate over the concept of union (graded) schools had begun in 1840 and resulted in the passage of a state law in 1843 which authorized the unionization of schools. This allowed schools to combine and to classify the students on the basis of "proficiency and advancement in learning."^{2 Dunbar}  In 1849, Grand Rapids Township School District No. 1 adopted the union principle (graded classes).^{3 Austin}  The other township districts would not adopt the union principle (graded) classes until after being annexed by the City;  #2 in 1853^(Baxter) , #6 (Coldbrook) in 1867^(Etten).

The City Begins

The first term under the new union system that had been adopted was begun in the new stone school in November 1849. After the creation of the City in 1850, it became known as Union (graded) School No. 1 of the City of Grand Rapids. (As opposed to Union (graded) School No. 2 west of the river that had been annexed from Walker Township). It was not yet a high school but offered all subjects as required by law and advanced courses as demanded.^{5 Mirror}

The first high school graduating class was in 1862 and consisted of thirteen girls. "The boys of ’62 were making history, not studying it. The great Civil War, which to present day pupils means little more than so many pages of United States history, was a live issue then."^{7 Scrapbook} There was one boy in this first class, Charles W. Calkins, but he dropped out before graduation and went to war. He rose to the rank of colonel, "and almost any boy would gladly abandon scholastic for military honors."^{8 Scrapbook}

The first commencement was held at Luce’s hall, later the site of Herpolsheimers  Department Store, then Wurzburg's Department Store, and now (2005) a new Art Gallery at the NW corner of Ottawa and Monroe Center "and it required two sessions, afternoon and evening, to properly graduate those thirteen students."^{9 Scrapbook} Every member of the class participated in the event. Dressed in white, each girl had to read an essay to show her intelligence before receiving her diploma.

^{The Catholic Church in the Grand River Valley by Fr. John McGee}   St Andrews Cathedral
     Luce Hall

The Old National House was a fore-runner of the Morton House. The buildings to the right of the blue line were torn down to make way for a more direct Monroe Ave while what had been the butt end of Monroe Avenue (Grab's corners) became Campau Square. Sweet's Hotel was the forerunner of the Pantlind/Amway Grand Plaza. Sweet's Hotel bordered the east channel of the Grand River while the Amway Grand Plaza was built in the east channel. Now Campau Square has been usurped by Rosa Parks Circle. Louis Campau founded the City of Grand Rapids. Rose Parks never lived in Grand Rapids.

In 1883 the City chose to name schools for their geographic location instead of by number when what would be school #13 was built. Now there is a public school named for some Hispanic who never lived in Grand Rapids, Martin Luther King who never lived in Grand Rapids and Gerald Ford who at least attended the Grand Rapids Public School that's named for him. Why was there never a school named for the Polish, the Dutch, the Italians, the Greeks, the Latvians? What is so special about Latino and Black contribution to Grand Rapids that they deserve special consideration?

  From the Annual Catalogue of the Officers, Instructors, and Students of Grand Rapids Public Schools (East Side). Grand Rapids,

Federal 1860 Census for Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, taken  in June 1860:

Frances C. Stevens, age 18, born Pennsylvania living with her parents Laura and Noah, a salesman in the third ward.

Caroline Remington - no entry found

Thirza Wartrous, age 17, born New York living with her parents Eliza and Henry, a lumber dealer in the 2nd ward.

Cornelia C Wyman, age 18, born New York living with her mother and older sister Miranda, a teacher, 2nd ward.

Elizabeth A Pierce, age 17, born New York, living with her parents Evaline and Bennett, a carriage maker, 2nd ward.

Julia Comstock, age 14, born New Hampshire, living with her parents, Mary and Charles, a furniture dealer, 2nd ward.

 Abbie R. Nelson, age 16, born Michigan, living with her parents, Anna and James,  flouring mills, 2nd ward.

Emily L. Winsor, age 17, born Michigan, living with her parents, Hannah and Zena, a bookkeeper,  3rd Ward

Mary M G Hodenpyl, age 15, born New Jersey, living with her parents, Anna and Peter, books and Jewelry, 2nd Ward

Helen M. Knight, age 17, born New York, living with her elderly parents, Electa and Elijah, lumber dealer,  2nd Ward

Francis S T Cuming, age 15, born Michigan, living with her parents, Charlotte and Francis, Episcopal preacher, 2nd Ward

Aurelia S. Henry, age 17, born Michigan, living with her parents, Huldana and William, druggist,  3rd Ward

Annette C. Dickinson, age 17, born Michigan, living with her parents, Louisa and George, farmer, outside City. 

One of the outstanding citizens of Grand Rapids, Charles E. Belknap, attended this school and wrote about his experience in his book, The Yesterdays of Grand Rapids: see excerpt below green line:

The first school I attended on coming to Grand Rapids was on Fountain Street hill, (now) the High School of the town. It had three study and six recitation rooms. There was no basement to the building. It was heated by wood stoves. Drinking water was brought form a side hill spring in a pail and all the pupils drank from the same dipper.

Mr. Chesebro was the principal (1853-1857) ^{9.5 Scrapbook} and with rare good judgment selected the teachers who assisted him. The years in which he served were a trying time in the history of the schools. The town was growing rapidly, but no funds could be gained to build and equip buildings. The small salary of the teachers was often paid by school orders, passed at the stores at a discount or in payment for merchandise at a high profit.

The crowded school rooms, poorly ventilated, and heated by wood stoves, with board floors where scores of muddy boots left a trail of soil, were not a pleasant atmosphere in which to work. The old playgrounds and my old playmates, come clearly to my mind. There was only an acre of sand lot on the sand hill bluffs for playgrounds and half this space was piled high with wood for the stoves. The girls managed to get in a few swings but most of the place looked like a prairie dog village, where various clans of boys dug in tunnels and made fortifications for their battles.

This congestion led to some of the boys going outside the fence to the bluffs, even as far from school as the present site of Crescent Park. (Crescent Street at Bostwick Avenue) Here in a bunch of oak grubs, Richard Blumrich, Henry Leffingwell, and Henry Rounds tunneled through a point in the hill and felt they had a safe retreat form any hostile clan. There one noon, Henry Rounds, who was mostly legs, was caught by a cave-in and only his feet left in sight. His mates began frantically pulling at the legs. A Dutchman, who owned the lot, advised them to wait while he ran to the brewery for a shovel, but the boys with bare hands succeeded in digging him out, and by the time the shovel was at hand every known way of getting sand out of a cave man and air into him, was being applied..

The boys were an hour late and when they gave their reason Prof. Chesebro called in all the boys of the class to the study room and gave them a life saving talk. He did not approve of caves on the bluffs but he commended the bravery of the boys who had stood by their playmate. From that time on he made a stand for better playgrounds.^{10 Belknap}
 

A scrapbook at the library shows the following remembrance at the same school along with a list of some of the students::

But the boys and girls whose names appear on the old records – where are they? As the old school house perished except as its materials were used in the structure of some of the homes of the city, so many of its lads and lasses perished from this earth. Their lives went out that the republic and the homes of the land might be made stronger. Their memory is kept green in hundreds of homes and by the grass and flowers which bloom over a hundred battlefields. And yet, the High school boys and girls of old who remained on earth were not "cursed with the wandering". A large proportion "grew up with the town" and the names of some of the solid business men and social leaders of the city are found on those records. Following is a partial list of those still resident in Grand Rapids, names of war veterans being marked with a star:    Central students

The concept of free schools was being advanced during this time. District No. 1 claimed that its new central school was free but rate bills were still being collected with payment being based on the amount of work taken by the student. By 1860 the schools were free except the high school until 1869 when a state law finally made it mandatory for all public schools to be free.^{11 Lydens} However, tuition continued to be charged for students living outside of the district.

City builds a new school on the same site.

As the city continued to grow, the school became cramped and overcrowded and as early as 1860 planning began for a new school.. The Civil War and the unwillingness of the people prevented any immediate action to finance a new school so the primary grades were removed into four small wooden buildings farther away probably in rented buildings or on rented land: Primary #1 on North Division, Primary #2 on South Division, Primary #3 on  Fountain  and Primary #4 on Wealthy. But eventually, even without the primary grades, the school became too crowded and with the knowledge of danger due to defective walls, a new school was planned. The City would purchase additional lots in Block 8 of the Dexter Fraction, , Lot 7 in 1865, Lot 8 in 1867, Lot 9 in 1868, Lots 7 and 8 in 1869. ^{11.5 Engineers} The new school building was completed in 1868. The old stone school was torn down and the stone was sold to various citizens.

The new school was built on the site of the old stone school or perhaps a little to the East, and was 65 x 106 feet with 23 rooms with a seating capacity for 600 pupils. Its most outstanding feature was a tower, 137 feet high on the south west corner.^{12 Scrapbook} The Superintendent’s office occupied the tower on the first floor, the museum on the second and a recitation room on the third. The school held three departments; Central High which included grades 9-12, Central Grammar grades 7-8 and Central Intermediate grades 5-6.

GRPL

Looking from the northwest (Ransom Avenue near Lyon Street)

GRPL

The caption says: "overlooking Shanty Town from Summit St hill about -- 1872:

This would be from Grandville Avenue near Cherry St SW.

GRPL

This postcard shows the school from the opposite direction of the top photo or southeast nearer Barclay Avenue and mid-way to Fountain Street. 

Grand Rapids Board of Education is created.

After the 1850 incorporation of the City of Grand Rapids, the City kept the three former Township divisions as separate districts within the city each charging their students for their education.  The two former Grand Rapids Township schools; District No. 1, the East side, had its centrally located union or graded school; District No. 6, the North side had a primary/grammar school then called Coldbrook (renamed East Leonard in 1886) but had made no effort to start a high school. District No. 2, the West side, which had begun as a Walker Township school, had a union or graded school through the eleventh grade. These districts frequently quarreled and often did not cooperate. The result was that none of the three had sufficient funds to operate the schools.

In 1871 the disputes were settled by act of the legislature which stated: that the City of Grand Rapids and all contiguous territory which shall hereafter be added thereto, shall constitute one school district, and all public schools therein shall be under the direction and control of the board of education and shall be free to all residents of said district over the age of five years.^{13 Etten} This consolidation made it possible for all the children in the City of Grand Rapids to get the best education that the City of Grand Rapids as a whole was willing to afford.

In the garret of the old stone school there had been a library which amounted to less than 100 volumes. In 1861, about 800 books were donated from a dissolved organization and then later 2,000 volumes from a group called the City Library. In 1871 this library was consolidated with the West Side’s school library, the Ladies Library Association and the YMCA. These books were kept in the tower of the new Central High School and because of this location the circulation was limited.^{14 Fisher}

In 1854, a group of citizens formed the Grand Rapids Lyceum of Natural History. In 1856, a group of Central students formed the Grand Rapids Scientific Club. Each group collected its own specimens and in 1897 merged to form the Kent Scientific Institute. The collection was kept in Central High School. This then became the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

The public became concerned in 1875 about the number of children still not in school and recommended a law to compel children of certain ages to attend school. In 1883 these complaints became so numerous that the legislature passed an act providing for truancy schools for children between 7 and 16 years old, Grand Rapids operated its first truancy school in 1884 with eight students.^{15 Fisher}

A new building is added to the west on Ransom Avenue.

                      For more photos and floor plans see  Building, Personnel and General

The second school followed the fate of its predecessor, it became too small for the increasing number of students. In 1891, a contract was signed for a new building to be built to the west of the existing 1868 school and this new school building, which became Strong Junior High in 1912, is still being used today as the Grand Rapids Junior College East building. (It was torn down in the 1970's. I visited this building when it stood dusty and vacant. The inner lower walls were strips of narrow dark red oak while the upper walls were plaster painted industrial green. On the top floor, the upper walls were glass which allowed in some light. I remember the bathrooms,  the toilet stalls were narrow red oak wood on top of raised platforms. Only the gym, added c. 1920 onto the north end, still exists). The old 1868 school building became Central Grammar School and lasted until 1911 when it was torn down over the protests of two generations of students.

The new elevation plans were drafted by Architect Robinson and the floor space arranged by Mr. Greeson, Mr. Chalmers, Mr. Barnaby and Dr. Bradfield.. The new building had four stories with a high basement and had a frontage of 210 feet on Ransom Avenue with 85,000 square feet of floor space.^{16 Mirror} It was made from red pressed brick with sandstone trimming and the interior was red oak finish. It was heated by two large cubular boilers and had pipes for electricity and gas. There were also connections with the city sewer and water systems. Each room had a separate fresh air outlet. A ventilation shaft ran from the basement to the roof. It was considered one of the most modern in the City.

The main entrance led from Ransom Avenue to the first floor. A 20-foot wide hallway ran north and south past the senior and junior assembly room, recitation rooms, the Board of Education chambers and the Physics and Chemistry rooms. There was also an entrance on the north end of Lyon Street. On the second floor were the tenth grade rooms, the Principal's office, the Commercial, Biological and Zoological departments, and a grade line entrance facing east toward the Central Grammar School, for the use of those students who had classes in both buildings. On the third floor were the ninth grade rooms, the Botany laboratory and a drawing room. The fourth floor held an auditorium and two gyms. The auditorium was not very useful.  At first there was no stage and before each gathering the boys had to carry chairs up from the class rooms. Also, the room was plagued with an echo.

Improvements were made in the building. In 1904 the latrines were removed and "automatic flushing tank closets"^{17 GRP} were installed. In 1905 an elevator was installed because, "the parents have long urged the installation of an elevator complaining that the health of the girls was injured by tramping up and down stairs."^{18 GRP}

Even though there were rooms set aside for gyms there was no money appropriated for equipment. A boys' athletic club was formed and with some assistance from the board some equipment was purchased but the gym was for the use of the club members only and the gym was not used for any actual class. It wasn't until 1908 that formal instruction was started in physical education and then arrangements were made with the YMCA for the boys and the YWCA for girls.

Athletics were limited at first to intramural games because the school could not find any opponents. The first football team was established in 1894 and played Ionia, Kalamazoo and the University of Michigan's freshman team, but was disbanded in 1897 because there was no home field. Coaches were not regular and practice was held at a field on the west side with the games being played at Ramona. It became an annual event to have a Field Day with such events as the one-mile bicycle and the potato race.

In 1907, Mrs. Hattie H. Amburg gave the Board of Education a large section of land from the Houseman Addition in memory of her father, Julius Houseman, to be used primarily for the High School as an athletic field. It was not only used for football and track but also for baseball. In 1909, the basement of Diamond Street School was remodeled. One room in the basement was fixed  as a shower room to be used by the students and as a locker room for games. When Diamond School was torn down in 1960 the basement was saved and these "temporary" facilities are still being used today in spite of poor conditions. Most of the improvements were not done by the Board but by the Central students and the athletic association. During the 1930's the students spent a day at the field, the boys digging drainage ditches and the girls preparing lunch. In 1922, an agreement was made giving Central priority to the field in return for improvement.

Houseman Field

The enrollment increased until by 1904 the crowded conditions had prompted the board to plan an addition and it was presented to the voters in the spring election to be defeated by less than 100 votes.^{19 Early} This defeat made it necessary to make more room in the old buildings and the fourth floor was altered to include a lunch room and recitation rooms. Eventually rooms were made from the Board of Education chambers by raising partitions across the hallways. The number of classes the students were allowed to take was cut, the student-teacher ratio was increased, and the school went on half-day sessions. (These half-day sessions were implemented again in 1968, my senior year, when the millage was defeated).

The inside attic rooms had no windows and very poor ventilation, if any, until by the end of the day the air was excessively foul. Some of the teachers refused to use the rooms, others did so only under protest. There were so many students that the floors shook when classes were changed. Due to the partitions, the already poor lighting became worse and the school was dark and dingy. Little light penetrated on the east side due to the shadow cast by the grammar school. President George Davis stated, "The building is full. At the present time there is no provision made for the incoming ninth grade class. There is no more room available."^{20 Clipping} The children were promoted but forced to stay in their old rooms in the grade schools and no new kindergarten children could be enrolled.. This was the condition until March 4, 1908.^{21 Scrapbook}

On this day disaster struck Collingwood, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, where in a matter of minutes the elementary school was gutted by fire. Due to an economy move a vestibule had been constructed in the school causing a cul-de-sac at the end of a stairway. As the first children stepped into the flaming hall, they panicked and attempted to climb back up the stairs only to be crushed by their classmates. Within seconds the bodies formed a barrier against the door making it impossible to open. The fire escapes did not reach the ground and those who dared the jump were injured or killed. Neighboring factory workers and parents rushed to the scene but were forced to watch helplessly as their children burned to death. A total of 167 children died.^{22 GRP}

The next day a fire alarm was turned in at Central. Panic swept Grand Rapids. Within two minutes the streets in the vicinity of the high school were thronged with anxious relatives making frenzied inquiries among the frolicking girls and boys who had seen no reason to take the matter seriously.^{23 GRP} The 1500 students had been expecting a test drill and filed out within two minutes and fifteen seconds and didn't know of an actual fire until the fire trucks arrived. The fire had its origin in the heating apparatus in the basement and a hole was burned thorough the floor in the chemistry lab where the fire was first detected.

As a result of the fire, a commission was started to inspect all of the schools in the city. The Central High School was condemned because of the number of pupils above its capacity of 800^{24 Early} (1500 students). Improvements were started immediately at Central. During spring vacation a new stairway was added between the second and third floors on the east side. New and wider fire escapes were installed on the north and south ends. The fire escapes were also extended from the third floor up to the fourth. The make-shift partitions in the halls were removed. The inner rooms of the fourth floor were condemned and the second floor was supported with temporary pillars and most importantly, plans began for a new school.

Another new building on a new site.

 New Bldg

The first consideration was location. A new building on the same site was not feasible and other lots were priced too high. It was decided to build on land already owned. The Fountain Street Ward School was selected. This land had been originally purchased by Fractional (included parts of two townships, Walker and Grand Rapids) School District #1 of the City of Grand Rapids on Sept 20, 1867 from Mr. and Mrs. Daniel W. Coit  and Joshua Coit for $800, the S 1/2 of Lot 20 of the Coit and Curtis Partition Plat.^{24.5 Register} The lot ran 203' along the north side of Fountain Street and 350' deep.  With an additional purchase the site was large enough for the high school. This lot was the largest owned by the board and was centrally located. It was close to the street railway but not close enough to be distracting. It was also close to Houseman Field and "A little father from the downtown district and its harmful influence."^{25 GRBE}

The next problem was where to put the displaced Fountain Street School students. The new high school gym was designed as a separate building and with partitions for eight rooms it became Fountain School. This "temporary" situation lasted from 1909 until 1918 when the present Fountain Street School on College Avenue was built. (In place of the Union Benevolent Hospital, forerunner of both Blodgett and Mary Free Bed Hospitals). During these years the Central students signed petitions and had benefits to raise money to get the gym back for Central.

The old Fountain School was razed and the new school building was started. It was to be completely fireproof and the most modern. The bricks and other material form the dismantled Fountain School were used in the construction of the new one (Central). The exterior is English Gothic with the facing of red paving brick and gray terra cotta trimmings. Motifs decorate the outside and gargoyles guard the main entrance. A sub-basement holds the boiler and fan rooms. The main basement, first, second and third floors have class rooms. Over the main entrance is the small fourth floor with its few rooms. There were 41 recitation and lecture rooms, and six large session rooms with seating for 132 students each. (When I was a student in one of these session rooms - we called them study halls although that's not what we did - there was a fire drill.  We had to walk over tables to get out of the room.  We were still filing out when the firemen arrived.  They were amazed.  The next day the tables were nailed down allowing tiny aisles to exist between the tables.) There was a girls' cloak room and a boys' cloak room across from each session room and each student had his own desk where he kept his books and supplies (we had lockers). There were also laboratories, commercial rooms and a library.

The chemistry lab was very modern, each desk having a hood, with ventilating pipes leading to a special duct to prevent the fumes from the experiments from spreading through the halls. The auditorium was the largest in the City. It had a stage, large side windows and was planned to be used as a theater for special events for the entire city.^{26 GRP}

Even the clocks which tick the time on the wall of every room and every corridor in the building are worthy of mention. All these several scores of timepieces are controlled by one "master clock", located in the general office. The action of this unique clock may properly be termed automatic pneumatic. The minute hands of the dependent dials do not travel slowly to the tune of 60 second ticks to the minute. Watch them for but 30 seconds and you will imagine that they have run down. But keep your eye on any one of the for double that period and note the novelty of the minute indicator taking an abrupt jump. Piff! Like that. A pneumatic bulb in the master ticker had released a puff of air and every clock in the building has hopped one notching nearer closing hour. Nor is this all the heavy work devolving on the "master clock". Gongs in every corridor respond automatically to its mystic message and clang for the signals for the change of classes. ---- If you had not seen this performance, you would probably not believe it. It is the precise truth, so far as we remember.^{27 Scrapbook} (This clock system was still in use when I attended, 1962-1968).

Although manual training had been introduced in the school system in 1891, this was to be the first school to include facilities in the original plans. It had been found that many students dropped out before high school to get jobs, especially during depressions. This meant that those students who did attend were usually from the well-to-do families and were preparing for college. The schools came under attack as being a monopoly by the rich. Manual training was considered a way of keeping these other children in school and giving them practical training for the professions that they would enter. Rooms were equipped for wood working and for domestic science. These include a cooking, laundry, sewing and millinery rooms and a small suite for the teaching of the "art of housekeeping."^{28 GRP} It consists of a kitchen, dining room, living room and bedroom, which also could be used in emergencies as a health room. The new school brought about comparisons between the new and the old and the comment was "Between the Grand Rapids High School of today and the Grand Rapids High School of fifty years ago there is a difference that may be compared to the difference between the old-fashioned bobtailed horsecar and the modern P.A. Y.E. double-track trolley."^{29 Scrapbook}

It didn't take long after the school was occupied in 1911 before complaints began coming from the citizens. such as the auditorium being "too good for the city."^{30 GRP} Other complaints were about crowded classes, narrow corridors and small desks. The board admitted that the dimensions of the halls and rooms had been reduced and consequently the dimensions of the desks, to save money, but that the dimensions were adequate. (When I was a student it was necessary to remove a few desks from the math room to allow students to enter.  Then the last students had to sit in the doorway alcove). The administration and faculty complained about the lack of an elevator and communication system. During the summer of 1913 the elevator and a local telephone system were installed. (In my day only the teachers were allowed to use the elevator).

The completion of the new school did not solve the problem of overcrowding. Also many of the potential students could not attend due to the long distance from their homes. An addition was built to Union High School and in 1912 the first class graduated. South High School followed in 1918, Creston in 1927 and Ottawa in 1928.

After Central vacated the old 1891 building on Ransom Avenue, the grammar school was moved in. The older school built in 1868 was then razed and the site left as a playing field. In 7th and 8th grades, one teacher taught all subjects. Many students dropped out after 8th grade, the feeling being that only the select could go on. The school divisions were changed as a move to stop this trend and the old school building became Strong Junior High.

Grand Rapids Junior College was established in 1914 with 49 students enrolled.^{31 Etten} Classes were held in Central, the heads of the high school departments doubling as the college faculty. The enrollment of Junior College increased and contributed to the crowded conditions until in 1926 when Junior College switched places with Strong Junior High, a move the Central students regretted until the Fall of 1968 when the junior high was finally transferred out.

The gym soon became too small for the school. It became increasingly difficult to have everyone get the necessary physical education and still keep the girls and boys separated. It became necessary to hold gym classes on the stage in the auditorium. In 1927, a girls' gym was added (smaller and non-regulation size) and a connecting corridor was built between the gym and the main building. The school also outgrew the basement lunch room. In 1931, an addition was added to the northeast end and held a cafeteria on the third floor, with recitation rooms below.

In 1924, Mrs. Amburg gave an additional grant of land to the north of Houseman Field in memory of her daughter, Mrs. Sophie May, to be used as a practice field. The bleachers on the south side and the present field house, the old one being razed, were built as a WPA project. The bleachers on the north side were built in 1954, the press box in 1960 and the new south bleachers and new lights in 1963. (Since my day the houses along the south side of Lyon Street have been torn down for another expansion).

When Central first began, the idea of a high school was "that it should simply carry (the student) along a little farther than the primary schools."^{32 Scrapbook} Three courses were offered. In the English course were Algebra, drawing, constitution of the United States, physiology, physical geography, geometry. trigonometry, astronomy, chemistry, ancient geography, history, English history, geology, botany, mechanics and acoustics, physics, natural history, mental science, moral science and Shakespeare. The classical course was Latin and Greek, and the language course was Latin, German and French.

It wasn't too long before the state high schools came under the influence of the university. In some instances, the university controlled the schools by threatening to not accept students unless certain courses were taught. This in effect made the high schools little more than college preparatory schools for the wealthy. This control gradually weakened though it is still present today, as the need for better training for those students who did not go to college became apparent.

In 1873, music was introduced at Central, but it, along with other courses, came under fire. During the 1870's it was debated whether schools could offer certain courses. "The question of the legality of teaching other than the English language in our schools, which has been pending in our country for some time, has lately been decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in favor of the constitutionality of the law which permits it, including music, drawing and scientific studies. We, may, therefore, safely go on with our present system"^{33 GRBE} In 1875, commercial courses were added for those who would enter business instead of college. In 1894, Central offered "astronomy, American history, ancient history, algebra, geometry, rhetoricals, geography, Latin, Greek, literature, grammar, German-French, chemistry, zoology, physics, trigonometry, mechanical drawing, bookkeeping, political economy, commercial law, reading, biology, civil government,, arithmetic and botany."^{34 Mirror}

In 1901, the required courses for every student were "ninth grade—English, Greek History and Roman History, and Algebra; tenth grade – English, American History, Civics and Geometry; twelfth—English and Physics. The only exception was the commercial student, who could take medieval and modern history in place of Greek and Roman."^{35 GRBE}

The courses, though the names may be the same, were taught differently from their modern counterparts. For instance, physics as a required course "The emphasis was on Newton's third law; for every action there is an equal and corresponding reaction. We use this in showing the necessity for right action in all things, physical and moral."^{36 Scrapbook} New inventions and discoveries were constantly changing the outlook, then as now. "In considering the air for instance, we have to treat it in a somewhat new aspect since aeroplanes began to fly."^{37 Scrapbook}

Each year the board published rules for teachers, students and janitors. Some rules are still in use while others have died away, while others have had great influence. One rule was Rule 13, "No credit in English will be granted unless a pupil shows in all his written work his ability to compose and spell correctly in other subjects as well as in English."³⁸ Around the turn of the century, spelling was stressed. Central was affected as well as the rest of the nation when President Theodore Roosevelt supported spelling reform, and designated words were from then on to be "spelt" differently. For instance, the words "phantom" and "phantasy" were to be spelled "fantom" and "fantasy."^{39 Ann Arbor Times}

Fraternities and sororities were active at Central and their influence in school activities was first mentioned in the 1890's. During the early 1900's, the secret societies were in controversy throughout the United States as not being democratic. Principal Volland objected to the secret clubs but was ignored by the parents until there was an injury during an initiation, and then suddenly all the "evils" were publicized. Mr. Volland stated , "In the first place I believe that children waste too much of their time on their fraternity interests. I think they neglect their school work in many instances as a result. In the second place, they maintain downtown frat rooms. I have been told that sounds suggesting gambling have been heard ----."^{40 Clippoing} By 1925 a state law was enacted making frats illegal.^{41 GRH} For a while they went underground but finally died out. Open clubs with faculty advisors were promoted to replace the fraternities and sororities influence.

The junior and senior classes were organized and the rivalry between them was high. Each succeeding junior class selected its yell and added a third color to the school's gold and white. It was debated whether class organization was beneficial or not and doubters were sure of its failure. In 1894 when the junior class "In numbers it outranks any junior class that has ever been enrolled in the High School.  When our class was organized it was predicted that, because of this large number, one hundred and fifty-seven, some trouble might arise from difference of opinion. However the prediction has not yet been fulfilled, and on the contrary, the greatest harmony had prevailed at the meetings."^{42 Mirror}

The school paper was first issued in 1886 by the Lyceum Literary Society and was called the "High School Journal". The "Deltan" followed for the school year 1887-1888. Between 1888 and 1892 there was no paper because of lack of student support. In 1892 the "Helios" began. It was a literary paper containing poems, essays, serials and stories by the students. There was also for a time a paper called "La Plume". Another paper "Every-Other-Week" competed with the "Helios" until the existence of both was threatened. The paper later emphasized school news. It was renamed "Rams Review" and then "Ram Pages".

The first school annual was published in 1893 and was titled "The Mirror". "It contained such items as the class prophecy, poem and history. There were few pictures and a whole section was devoted to jokes called 'Grinds'."

Mr. Borgers - "What are you doing, learning something?"
J. Snellink – "No, sir, I'm listening to you."

Caesar's dead and buried
and so is Cicero
And where these two old gents have gone,
I wish their works would go.

Mr. Snell - "Those two boys on the second row of seats are the only ones who got a hundred."
Voice from the rear – "Good team work."

There was a young lady named Perkins,
Who was extremely fond of green gherkins,
She went to a tea
And ate twenty-three,
And pickled her internal workin's

Laugh, and the class laughs with you –
Study, and you study alone.^{43 Helios}

The first annual was published by a fraternity. In 1896 three annuals were published by the three competing fraternities and none was financially successful. The next year they published a joint venture. In 1899, two boys independently published their own. Due to the controversy over fraternities, the annuals were later published by an all school staff selected on merit. In 1903, the annual came under the control of the senior class, where it is published today (1968). Each year the name of the annual was changed until 1909 when it was named the "Helios".

Not only were courses of concern, but also the students' attitudes and morals. In 1922, a report on proper dress was made comparing the present students to those of the last generation. One problem was the use of cosmetics by girls. Miss Heaton, an English teacher remarked, "When we see a student who gives evidence of being a devotee of the rouge jar we practice watching her for a few days; then, if the practice persists we instruct her to shun the complexion jar."^{44 Scrapbook} Another current fad was the shortening of the hem length. Miss Heaton's solution was "girls were told that if they were not old enough for covered knees they weren't old enough for high school."^{45 Scrapbook} Of the most concern, however, was the tendency to follow the fashions in the movies, but the teachers were combating this practice with good illustrated books."^{46 Scrapbook} Compared with the previous generation, the teachers considered the current problems of bobbed hair and flapping galoshes as being less troublesome then the older problems of false hair, party dresses, and the 'peek-a-boo' and they advise the students in proper and wholesome dress. Girls and boys were given separate instruction in physiology and hygiene. There was also a program in sex education which stressed such things as a clean vocabulary. The students were also concerned about morals and social life and the pros and cons of going steady were debated.

Much of Central's history depended not only on the students but the parents and the board of education as well. In 1907, it was stated, "During recent years parents have inclined more and more to shift responsibility for the entire training of their children to the teachers and at the same time they have remained aloof from, if not actively hostile to, much that the teacher seeks to do."^{47 Clipping} In 1892,  a student in an essay wrote, "As the board of education doesn't usually leave it to the people to decide, it really does not make much difference what people think."^{48 Helios}




FOOTNOTES

1. Willis F Dunbar, Michigan: A History of the Wolverine State (Grand Rapids, 1965), Pg 403.

2. Willis F Dunbar, Michigan: A History of the Wolverine State (Grand Rapids, 1965) Pg 493.

3. Franklin H. Austin, A History of the Organization in the Public Schools of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Unpublished, 1926), pg 25.

3.5 City Engineer's "Chris's Big Old Moldy Book"

3.7 Scrapbook of the History of Grand Rapids Schools -- General 

4. Albert Baxter, History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan (New York,1891) p. 221.

5. Mirror (Grand Rapids, 1896) p. 29.

6. Not Used

7. Book Shelf Scrap Book (Grand Rapids, 1931) pg 8.

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid.

10. Charles Belknap, The Yesterdays of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids,1922) pg. 169.

11. Z. Z. Lydens, The Story of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids, 1966) Pg 482

11.5 City Engineer's "Chris's Big Old Moldy Book"

12. Book Shelf Scrap Book, pg 50.

13. William J. Etten, A Citizen's History of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids, 1926) pg 115.

14. Ernest B. Fisher, ed. History of Grand Rapids and Kent County (Chicago, 1918) pg 413.

15. Ibid. Pg 409.

16. Mirror, pg 31

17. Grand Rapids Press (August 11, 1904) pg 8.

18. Grand Rapids Press (July 12, 1905) pg 3.

 
19. Early History of Central High School (Grand Rapids, 1953) pg 35.

20. Newspaper 18.5clipping. n.d.

21. Book Shelf Scrap Book pg 13.

22. Grand Rapids Press (March 6, 1908) pg 1.

23. Grand Rapids Press (March 5, 1908) pg 1.

24. Early History of Central High School (Grand Rapids, 1953) pg 37.

24.5 Kent County Register of Deeds records housed at Metropolitan Title Company.

25. Grand Rapids Board of Education, Annual Report (Grand Rapids, 1908) pg. 11.

26. Grand Rapids Press (Jun 16, 1910) pg. 10.

27. Book Shelf Scrap Book, pg 39.

28. Grand Rapids Press (June 16, 1910) pg. 10.

29. Book Shelf Scrap Book, pg 31.

30. Grand Rapids Press (February 10, 1911) pg. 13.

31. William J. Etten, op.cit. pg 120.

32. Book Shelf Scrap Book, pg 30.

33. Grand Rapids Board of Education, Annual Report (Grand Rapids 1874), pg 11.

34. Mirror, 1894, pg 55.

35. Grand Rapid Board of Education, Handbook (Grand Rapids, 1901), pg 10.

36. Book Shelf Scrap Book, pg 34.

37. Ibid.

38. Grand Rapids Board of Education, Handbook (Grand Rapids, 1901), pg 16.

39. Ann Arbor Times (September 26, 1906) pg. 3.

40. Newspaper clipping (October 20, 1905)

41. Grand Rapids Herald (November 15, 1925).

42. Mirror, 1894, pg 32.

43. Helios (Grand Rapids, 1909).

44. Book Shelf Scrap Book, pg 76.

45. Ibid.

46. Ibid.

47. Newspaper clipping (December 14, 1907).

48. Helios (January, 1892)



BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ann Arbor Times, September 26, 1906, pg .3.

Annual Catalogue of the Officers, Instructors, and Students of Grand Rapids Public Schools (East Side). Grand Rapids, 1860-61, 1862-63.

Annual Report of the Grand Rapids Board of Education. Grand Rapids, 1872—to present.

Austin, Franklin H. A History of the Organization in the Public School of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1926. (Unpublished).

Baxter, Albert. History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan. New York, 1891.

Belknap, Charles F. The Yesterdays of Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids, 1922.

Book Shelf Scrap Book, compiled by the Grand Rapids Public Library, 1931.

Dillenback, J. D. History of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Published in connection with Godfrey's City Directory. Grand Rapids, 1872.

Dunbar, Willis Frederick. Michigan: A History of the Wolverine State. Grand Rapids, 1965.

Early History of Central High School. Compiled by the Grand Rapids Public Library, 1953.

Etten, William J. A Citizen's History of Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids, 1926.

Everett, Franklin. Memorials of the Grand River Valley. Chicago, 1918.

Fox, James R. Personal interview. Grand Rapids, February 28, 1970.

Grand Rapids Board of Education Manual, Grand Rapids, 1895-present.

Grand Rapids City Engineers Department

Grand Rapids Herold

Grand Rapids Press

Hand Book of the Grand Rapids High School. Grand Rapids, 1901-02, 1905-06, 1906-07.

Helios. Grand Rapids, 1893—present.

History of the Events of the Decade 1892-1907. (Unpublished).

Holt, Carol Mary. The Story of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grand Rapids, 1915.

Kent County Register of Deeds records housed at Metropolitan Title.

Lydens, Z. Z. ed. The Story of Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids, 1966.

Official Proceedings of the Grand Rapids Board of Education. Grand Rapids, 1884 – present.

Scrapbook of the History of Grand Rapids Schools - General. Compiled by the Grand Rapids Public Library, December 1954.

Union High School Student Council. Handbook of Information. Grand Rapids, 1925.

Upton, Samuel R. Personal Interview. Grand Rapids, March 5, 1970.

     Mr. Upton was a teacher at Central from 1917-1925, then the principal at Creston 1925-1936 then the principal at       Central 1936-1957.


Grand Rapids Central High School Annuals:

1886-1887 - High School Journal by Lyceum Literary Society
1887-1888 - Deltan
1888-1892 - no paper, lack of student support
1893 - Mirror
1894 - Mirror
1895 - Mirror
1895 - Delphian
1896 - Delphian
1896 – Mirror
1896 - The High School Year Book
1897 – Tabulum
1898 – Olympian
1899 – Fleur De Lis
1900 – Mantion
1901 – Oracle
1902 – Aphean
1903 – Kathetos
1904 – Annual
1905 – Post-script
1906 – Dorian
1907 – Exodus
1908 – Hyperian
1909 - Helios


Grand Rapids Central High School Newspaper:

1886-1887 High School Journal
1887-1888 Deltan
1882-1892 (No paper)
1892 Helios,
-- Every Other Week,
-- LaPlume,
-- Rams Review,
-- Ram Pages

I have tried to impact every source with corrections or comments so everything on this site is copywrited. The information may be used for your project but the source must be cited.

From article School History

From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids

From web site:  MyCityofGrandRapids.info

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