Madison Ave School
E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 Sec 31 Grand Rapids Township
Location One: NW corner of Franklin and Madison.
February 1, 1887
Charles Fox, married
To
The Board of Education
Liber 177 page 530
Consideration, $3000
Description
Lots 8, 10 and 11, block 7 of J. Penney's Addition CE
February 3, 1887
Frances M. Penney
To
The Board of Education
Liber 178 page 71
Consideration, $2500
Description
Lots 6, 7 and 9, Block 7 of J. Penney's Addition CE
J. Penney's Addition by Joseph Penney in 1877. Lawn Court renamed Sycamore, the 1/4 line would become Franklin St.
1887 - corner of Madison and Fifth (Franklin) 183 ft 7 inches on Madison x 194 1/2 feet on Fifth and 173 feet 8 inches on Terrace (Prospect). Twelve-room brick building, heated by steam, and when finished, with some minor differences, be like the Turner Street building.
(1953) The so called Madison Avenue School and site legally described as Lots 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of block 7 of J Penney's Addition -- is located on the Northwest corner of Madison Ave. and Franklin Street. Both streets are paved. The property has a frontage on Madison Ave. of 183.6 feet and runs West through to Prospect Ave. having a frontage on Prospect Ave. of 173.7 feet and a frontage on Franklin Street of 291.5 feet.
This building was constructed in 1888 which would make it 65 years old. The size of the building is 84 x 90 with a two story extension 31 x 36 and basement under all, hardhead stone foundation, all outside walls solid brick. the basement includes beside the boiler room, coal storage rooms etc., and several class rooms. We were informed the present bison boiler and stoker were installed in 1941 and serves the building well.
1888 - Third Ward
1889 - Completed in February, the building is of brick, two stories high above the basement. it contains twelve rooms, with sittings for 600 pupils. the closets are in the basement and are connected with the sewer.
1890 - Tenth Ward It is, with some minor differences, a counterpart of Turner street building. Is heated by steam but the apparatus has failed for furnish the desired amount; consequently some of the rooms are not sufficiently heated during the winter months.
1892 - Slate roof
1897 - Tenth Ward
This drawing is from the 1894 Annual Report and is similar to Turner
This photo is from the Anderson Collection of the GRPL. .
1895 Sanborn Fire Map:
1905 - Plumbing condemned
1907 map shows on the lower six lots
1907 - The sheet iron stack at this building was inadequate and nearly worn out. The removal of the old stack permits the use o either corridor for assembly purposes. A brick chimney and several small cupboards were built in the corner of the corridor during the summer, at a cost of $733. This chimney has been put into service and gives much better draft that before.
1912 - New plumbing installed.
1919 - Addition
1921 Annual Report - Old 10th Ward - Lots 6-11 Block 7 of J Penny's Addition. Joseph Penny's Addition
Site 2: the school was moved farther south on lots 1,2,7,8,9,10,15,16,17,18,23,24,25,26 Houseman's Sub of Lot 2, Block 1 of Geo Campau platted 1888. The school was placed into Madison Park which was on the west side of Madison between Prince and Delaware opposite of St. Andrew's Cemetery. This site was enlarged to include land west of Prospect in N L Avery Add and J C Shaw's and more of Houseman's Subdivision
1952 - new school building on the north side of the playground by Strom Construction GRP 30 Oct 1952
4-6-1953 Report
Madison school property, at the corner of Madison Avenue and Franklin St SE,
described as Lots 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Block 7, J. Penney's Addition
The new Madison School being constructed on Madison Avenue, south of Franklin
Street, replaces the above mentioned school and when this new building is
completed, the Board will have no further use for this old building and site. It
is recommended that ht Business Manager be directed to ascertain whether or not
the City of Grand Rapids has any use for this property and if not to advertise it
for sale, possession to be given on completion of the new building.
1953 - original site sold to Central Christian High School for $47,500.
1953 Sanborn Fire Map page 363 shows this new school which (2006) is being torn down as I type this. The lot addresses are shown as 831, 851 and 855 Madison Ave SE.
1954 - new building
From the GRPL Vertical File:
Madison Park is the third of the park-school project to be completed in the present building program. The new school was relocated in order to combine the school site with the already existing Madison Park. During the school year the school uses the park area for outdoor physical education classes art classes, story times, and playground activities. The park and recreation departments use the school facilities ---- arts and crafts room, toilet facilities, storage rooms, and shelter areas -- after school hours and during vacation periods. Considerable savings result to the tax-payer by eliminating duplication of space and facilities for the two programs.
The topography of the site gives to this school a structure much different from the other new buildings. From both Madison and Prospect Avenues one enters what seems to be a one-story structure. In reality the north-south wing is a two-story design with the upper story o the street level and he lower story on the same level as the east-west wing. The exterior of the building is of face brick with a stone trim. Interior walls are of cinder block and brick, with tile used at doorways and in the corridors. Floors are of asphalt tile on concrete slab. Radiant and forced-air heating are used throughout the building. Interior woodwork is of natural finish birch.
It contains 14 classrooms, a kindergarten, special services room, multi-purpose room, arts and crafts and audio-visual room, music room, health room, teachers' room, community kitchen and administrative offices.
1958 - addition
1961
1962 - addition
1964 - old school razed by Central Christian
Grand Rapids Press 26 Mar 1998 - bond issue proposal
Madison Park Elementary
851 Madison Ave SE
431 students, 23 teachers
Built: 1953
Existing square feet: 50,500
Proposd new square fet: 8,850
Cost: $5.4 million
Highlighs: a $963,000 addition of a multipurpose room, kitchen, offices and min
entrance; $2.6 million to remodel classrooms, restrooms and gymnasium and
install new heating and electric systems, and $245,000 for computers and video
equipmen.
2005 - 831 Madison Ave SE ppn=41-14-31-331-020
2006 - new building
From article School History
From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info