Palmer Avenue School
NW 1/4 Sec 18 of Grand Rapids Twp
1892 - leased the block, corner of North Coit avenue and Fourth (Palmer) Street, fitted up for four rooms, at the annual rental of $240.00
January 9, 1893
Thirza F. Dale
To
The Board of Education
Liber 226 page 521-2
Consideration, $2775
Description
Lot 9 except the East 5 feet in width
also Lots 10, 11, 12, 13
and 14 except the East 15 feet in width of said Lot 14,
all in block 1
Also, conveying that part of the alley in said Block, heretofor vacated,
lying between the E. line of Wartrous Ave and a line running parallel therewith
and a distance of 175 feet East therefrom,
all on, and a part of the Wartrous Addition.
Excepting and reserving the fence now partly surrounding said land. CE
Wartrous Addition surveyed in 1884 by Skeels for Thirza F. Dale. Wartrous renamed Lafayette in 1920.
1893 - Erection of school at a cost of $16,000.
1894 - Page missing
1895 - It is located in the Fifth Ward on the corners of Watrous (Lafayette) and Palmer Avenues and Ann Street. the lot is 250 x 190 feet on which is erected a two-story and basement brick building with slate roof. It contains eight rooms with sitting for 400 pupils. It is heated by steam, well ventilate an ha closets in the basemen which are connected with city water and sewer.
1905 - Plumbing condemned
1906 - In the fall plans and specifications were prepared for an addition.
1907 - the map shows it on Wartrous Add 1884 lots 9,10,11,12,13,14.
1907 - 4 room addition recommended same construction as Buchanan, four regular school rooms and a branch library, principal's office, teachers' dining room, nurses or rest room and small recitation or exhibition. A new brick chimney was constructed in this building to take the place of the old sheet iron stack which was nearly worn out. Provision has also been made for th future installation of a manual training center. The architects for both were Messrs. Robinson and Campau, and the general contractor for both was Mr. John Jungbacker.
1907 -
1907 Section 18 Ogle GRT
1908 - The addition is completed and now in use during the past year. A room was fitted up for a branch public library.
1913 Sanborn Fire I assume the addition was built across a vacated alley. Lafayette Avenue is to the left.
1914 - plans to remodel the south entrance as a matter of fire protection.
1921 Annual Report - Old 5th Ward - Lots 10-14 and the west 60 feet of lot 9 block 1 Watrous' Addition.
1952 - newspaper clipping in Hall School scrapbook. "Jan 23 to be closing date for Palmer - to be replaced - as the final unit in the present - building program - to be erected on the same site - enlarged by the purchase of nearby properties --- plans - to tear down the old building - (temporary) quarters - in churches."
From Hall School Scrapbook
1954 - new building, 15 rooms
1961 -
Grand Rapids Press 26 Mar 1998 - bond issue
proposal
Palmer Elementary
309 Palmer St NE
392 students, 16 teachers
Built: 1954
Existing square feet: 7,550
Cost: $4.4 million
Highlights: $893,000 for a new gymnasium, kitchen and two classrooms; $2 million
or classroom remodeling and new electric and h eating systems; playground
improvements and $45,000 for computers and video equipment.
2006 K-5
From article School History
From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info