Walker Township
Thanks to Lisa Cristensen for this map.
This 1894 Polk Map shows the school districts in color.
15 fr
13fr UA 9fr R
Division Avenue
5 6 9? i
5 6 GR v
3 4 GR e
8 7 GR r
12fr 2 1
River
------------------------------------ Hall St
12fr 2
Grand
Districts 9, 10, 11 and 14 are not identified. One district that was unidentified was probably #9, Hillsdale, #14 became Grand Rapids West Leonard leaving 10 and 11 which may have been annexed by the City of Grand Rapids in 1850 or 1857.
From left to right:
Pink - School District #15 fractional no school is shown. Either part of Alpine Twp or Ottawa Co.
Green - School District # 13 fractional, no school is shown, part of Alpine Twp.
Yellow - no school district identified. A possible school house on the Hufford farm near Alpine and Hillsdale.
Green - School District #9 fractional no school is shown probably part of the Village of Comstock Park in Alpine Twp.
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Yellow - School District #5 fractional, school is shown between the Willard and Fuller farms on 3 Mile near Kinney.
Pink - School District #6 shows school on the B. Bullard farm in the SW 1/4 of Section 3 on 3 Mile east of Walker.
Yellow - unidentified continued
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Yellow - School District #3 shows a school on the Linser Estate the SW 1/4 of Section 17 at the corner of Kinney and Leonard.
Purple - School District #4 shows a school on the Parmelee farm in the NW 1/4 of Section 22 at the corner of Oakleigh and Leonard
White - City of Grand Rapids
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Pink - School District #8 shows a school on the Henley farm SW 1/4 Section 29 on O'Brien Rd
Green - School District #7 shows a school on the S & H Smith farm SW 1/4 Section 22 at Lake Michigan Dr and Covell.
White - City of Grand Rapids
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Yellow - School District #12 fractional
Either part of Wyoming Twp or Ottawa Co.
Purple - School District #2 on the J. Carren Estate SW 1/4 Section 33 at a junction of roads that no longer exist. Near Maynard and Butterworth, now part of Millennium Park.
Pink - School District #1 SE 1/4 of Section 27 on property belonging to the Grand Rapids Plaster Co on O'Brien Rd just east of Covell extended now the Mines Golf Course.
School District # 1
This district was the plaster mines near Butterworth and O'Brien probably for the children of the miners. Annexed by the City of Grand Rapids in 1926.
Sept 2, 1873 - Annual report of School District One of the Township of Walker County of Kent for the year 1873. 100 children, 49 eight years old and under, 67 attended school for an average of 11 months, 10 books in the library, 1 frame school house for 100 students worth $1000, doesn't specify if graded. Teachers Jeremiah Lynch taught 7 months, Catherine McCall taught 4 months. Money on hand $850.82. Different pay scale for male and female teachers. (In with collection of City of Grand Rapids West Leonard Elementary material)
School District # 2 -
In 1894 the school was located in what today is Millennium Park. Annexed by the City of Grand Rapids in 1960.
School District # 3 - Section 17 SW corner
possibly Kinney school at the corner of Kinney and Leonard
School District # 4
possibly Oakleigh school at Oakleigh and Leonard, annexed in 1961 by the City of Grand Rapids
School District # 5 - Section 17 North
Kinney and 3 Mile
School District # 6 - Section 3
3 Mile and Walker on B. Ballard Farm SW 1/4 of Section 3
Apl 5, 1843
Peter Hover
To
School Dist. No. 6 Walker
Liber K Pg 223
Part of the E ½ SW ¼ of Sec 3-7-12
com at SW corn being 8 R. Sqr.
School District # 7 - Section 27 1926 and 1960
near Lake Michigan Dr. and Covell.
possible - 2433 7th ST NW annexed by the City of GR in 1960 and sold in 1977.
School District # 8
O'Brien east of Kinney
Sep 16, 187? - Annual Report of School District No. 8 of the Township of Walker County of Kent for the year 1873. (Very smudged and hard to read. In collection of West Leonard material). 1 frame school. 56 children. Attended average of 2 3/16, not graded. Teachers: J W Adams taught 5 months for $200. Maggie Lynch taught 3 months for $60. (In with collection of City of Grand Rapids West Leonard Elementary material)
School District #9 - Section 1
Alpine at Hillsdale, Hillsdale school?
School District #10
Probably annexed by City of Grand Rapids in 1850 or 1857 or 1891. Possibly Union.
School District #11
Probably annexed by the City of Grand Rapids in 1850 or 1857 or 1891. Possibly Sibley.
School District #12
mostly in Wyoming Twp
School District #13 fractional
Probably part of Alpine Twp
School District #14 - Section 14 1857-1891
5 Jun 1885
Henry M. Cadwell and Sarah E. Cadwell, his wife,
To
School Dist. #14, Twp of Walker
Liber 150 page 594
Consideration, $450
Description
Being a part of the S ½ of Lots 4 and 5 of White's Addition and described as
follows:
Commencing at the SW cor of said Lot 4
Running N. on the W. line of said Lot 4, 149 feet
thence E. a right angles, and parallel with the N. line of W. Leonard St, 100
feet
thence S. prallel with the E. line of Lot 5, 149 feet
thence W. on the N. line of Leonard St. 100 feet to the place of beginning
Reserving the E. 30.84 feet of said S. part of lot 5,
for a public street or Alley, (Frederick)
and conveying by this deed a piece of land 100 feet x 149 feet
Annexed by the City of Grand Rapids in 1891.
This is best known today as West Leonard.
District 15 fractional
Either part of Alpine Twp or Ottawa Co.
Article: Public Schools
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