The Big Three
1850-1871
City School Districts #1, #2, #6 were each governed by separate Boards of Trustees. District #1 was east of the Grand River and south of 1/4 line along Newberry/Mason/Bradford streets. District #1 started with one primary/grammar school and added five primary schools. District #2 was west of the Grand River and started with one primary/grammar and added two primary schools. District #6 was east of the Grand River and north of the 1/4 line. District #6 started with one primary/grammar school and added one additional primary. I have been unable to find any of their records. (There were no City Districts 3,4,5.)
Map References: Yellow = Dist #1, blue = Dist #2, red = Dist #6. A
= Central, B = Union, C = Coldbrook See
1850
1 = North Division, 2 = South Division, 3 = Fountain, 4 = Wealthy, 5 =
Grandville
6 = Turner, 7 = Jefferson Street, 8 = North Ionia.
As these schools were not described until 1872, it is unclear when they were first built but it is clear that at least some of them were newer replacements for older buildings by 1872.
1 North Division
Alternate Name: Primary #1, East Bridge Street School
Lot purchased: Nov 25,1864 in Grand Rapids Township Section 30.
Details: North Division 4th Ward
in 1880
2 South Division
Alternate Names: Primary #2, addition called Spring Street School
Lot purchased: Jan 27,1861 in Walker Township Section 25 west of Division Avenue but east of the
Grand River
Details: South Div 1st Ward in 1880
3 Fountain
Alternate Names: Primary #3
Lot purchased: Sept 20, 1867 in Grand Rapids Township Section 30
Details: Fountain 2nd Ward in 1880
4 Wealthy
Alternate Names: Primary #4, Lafayette, Vanden Berg
Lot purchased: Sept 18, 1867 in Grand Rapids Township Section 31
Details: Wealthy 3rd Ward in
1880
5 Grandville
Alternate Names: Primary #5, Grandville Ave, Adelante High
Lot purchased: Oct 1, 1870 in Walker Twp Section 36 west of Division
Avenue, east of the Grand River
Details: Grandville
1st Ward in 1880
6. Turner
Alternate Name: Primary #6
Lot purchased: 5 Oct 1866 in Walker Twp Section 24
Details: Turner 6th Ward in 1880
7. Jefferson Avenue
Alternate Names: Primary #8, Lexington
Lot purchased: 9 October 1867 in Walker Twp Section 25
Details: Lexington 8th Ward in 1880
8. North Ionia
Alternate Name: Coldbrook, Primary #7
Lot purchased: 18 Jun 1867 in Grand Rapids Township Section 19
Details: North Ionia 5th Ward in 1880