S Stocking

Stocking School

NE 1/4 of Section 23 Walker Township

1895 Sanborn Fire Map shows the future site:

1907 Ogle map: It shows shows the future site as residence of Mary Stocking, Stocking and Smith Addition.Ogle Walker

1913 Sanborn Fire map: future site for the new school which shows that the assessor hand drew the new school onto Mary Stocking's home but with no date, of course.

1920 - A new site was purchased for $25,000., The purchase was the Stocking property just across the street and to the north of the present old building.

Stocking and Allen's Platted in 1858 by Billius Stocking and Truman Allen. Stocking renamed Walker, Ann to Eight, Elizabeth to Ninth, Caroline to Tenth, Jonathon to Eleventh,

Smith's Sub platted in 1881 by Skeels for Billius Stocking and wife own blocks 2,3,4,9,10 and 11. Mary Stocking owns block 7., Reuben Smith and wife own Blocks 5 and 6. Wife is probably Annette Smith,

1921 Annual Report - old 6th Ward - new site Lot 8 Block 7 of Stocking & Smith's Sub

1921 - Plans for new building include accommodation for crippled children as a temporary measure.. .

1922 - contract let for new school. The work was commenced in the early spring and the construction has gone along so that they will be ready for use in September, 1923

1923 - school opens

1953 Sanborn Fire Map Page

Grand Rapids Press 26 Mar 1998 - bond issue proposal
Stocking Elementary
863 Seventh St NW
470 students, 20 teachers
Built: 1923
Existing square feet: 39,070
Proposed new square feet: 16,160
Cost: $4.9 million
Highlights: a $1.8 million addition of a multi-purpose room, library, computer lab and three classrooms;
$1.5 million to remodel classrooms and offices and replace heating and electric systems, and
$297,500 for computers and video equipment.

2005 location: 863 Seventh NW ppn=41-13-23-284-011 Lot 8 Block 7 of Smith's Subdivision of Stocking & Allen's Addition

2006 K-5

^{GRP 13 Feb 2011}

March 2, 2011 "The recommendation to close Stocking drew the ire of a close-knit school community, partly because Stocking did not meet the board-approved criteria for school closings. It is near capacity with 400 students, some housed in four portable classrooms. -- (The imported-from-Kansas school director said it was 'not really a financial consideration but a matter of equity' -- when (there) are two state-of-the-art schools (nearby) --. (even though Stocking has) 100 per cent parent participation so Mr Helder stated 'Apparently, the new plan is If it ain't broke, break it'."^GRP

The newness of the building is more important than parent participation.

All Around 2011