South Division Avenue School
SE 1/4 Section 25 Walker Twp
1855 - first mention of this school in Reports of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State
of Michigan For the Years 1855, '56, and '57
June 7, 1861
Henry W. Ellsworth and Mary E. Ellsworth, his wife,
Annie G. Smith and Roswell C. Smith, her husband,
Ellen A. Rose and Julius K. Rose, her husband,
and Henry G. Ellsworth;
Said Henry W., Annie G, Ellen A and Henry G.
being heirs at law of Henry L. Ellsworth, deceased
To
Union School Dist. #1 of Grand Rapids
Consideration, $500
Description
Lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 in block 2
of Ellsworth's AdditionCE
Note: Three separate small buildings were together at one time on this site: A - the main B - old Fountain C - Spring St. The locations given have a discrepancy. It seems as if the Fountain Street school house was called Spring Street school but then later a newer Spring Street school was built. Apparently, old Fountain was placed south of Bartlett towards Goodrich and west of Spring which would have made it more kitty-corner than behind the main school which was on Division Avenue north of Bartlett towards Williams.
Unfortunately this plat was drawn upside down and backwards so north is down and east is left. Ellsworth Add It was surveyed by Coffinberry about 1859-1861 for Henry Ellsworth of CT who died in Tippecanoe Co, Ind. Street name changes: Ellsworth to Cherry 1873, Spring to Commerce in 1898, Almy vacated, Summit to Ellsworth in 1885 then renamed Grandville in 1928, Catherine to Ney (no official record but very early), Water to Waterloo in 1873 and then to Market in 1899.
The school was built on Division near Bartlett Street opposite the site of the future St. Andrew's Cathedral. Williams Street was farther to the north while Goodrich Street was a block farther south.
1861 - lot purchased on Jan 27, 1861 across the street from the site of the future St. Andrew's Cathedral from the heirs of H E. Ellsworth for $500. The lot ran 105 feet along Division Avenue on the east side and Spring (later renamed Commerce) on the West side. It ran 286 feet on Bartlett (on the South, Williams Street is to the North).. It was on a hill that sloped downward from Division to Spring by 20 or 30 feet.
From Citz 1926
1872A - a two-story building, the first floor brick and the 2nd floor wood, five rooms for 268 pupils. The lot needs to be graded but Bartlett Street needs to be graded first. Value at $8000.
1873A - will need to be replaced soon due to the rapid increase in this part of the city.
1873B - At the commencement of the present school year the Board of Education caused the old wooden school building of Primary No. 3 to be moved and placed on Spring street, near Primary No. 2, and fitted up for school purposes, so that now -- 130 pupils can e accommodated in that building. This action was made necessary by the crowded condition of No. 2. the building was moved and fitted up at a small expense and is now placed on a lot belonging to John McDonnell, with a contract with him to purchase the building at a certain price over the use of the lot when it is no longer necessary for school purposes.
1874 - warmed by stoves.
1874B - Spring Street School House located on East Side, between Bartlett and Goodrich streets, "the Board caused the old wooden building used for primary No. 3 to be removed and placed on Spring street, almost in the rear of Primary No. 2 and fitted up for school purposes, so that now about 130 pupils can be accommodated in that building. This was made necessary by the crowded conditions of No. 2. The building was moved and fitted up at small expense and is now placed on a lot belonging to John McConnell, Esq., with a contract with him, which expires January 1, 1876, to purchase the building at a certain price over the use of the lot, when it is no longer necessary for school purposes." It is reasonably comfortable, and answers the purpose temporarily assigned to it very well.
1875A - The old building fronts Division. This lot needs grading.
1875B - This old building has been replaced by the new building. This old building on the west side of Spring, is now vacated and sold to John McConnell under an old contract with him. The Spring Street School House which was located on the west side of Spring street, between Bartlett and Goodrich, has been disposed of under a contract to John McConnell. It was vacated by the Board last spring, when they took possession of an occupied the new school building on school lot No. 2 on spring street, before described.
1875C - new building fronting Spring Street erected last Fall,, 32 ft x 74 ft, wood, two stories above a brick basement, four rooms, sittings for 200 students. Inside blinds, windows with box frames, hung with the best cords and weights. (See Master Plan) This building was built of wood, because, the lot being quite central and desirable location, and the other building on the lot being old, both buildings will undoubtedly be removed in a few years and give place to a first-class brick school building. Center fence erected, sidewalk laid.
1878C - new bldg fronts Spring, lightening rods, connected to sewer and water on Williams.
1879A - Old bldg fronts Division and damaged by fire in December.
1879C - Spring Street foundation wall repaired.
1880 - First Ward, fronts Division, Spring Street connected to City Water.
1881A - Bartlett street has been graded leaving the lot several feet below the grade., Division building now oldest in the City, is badly ventilated and needs replacing.
1881C - the building fronting on Spring street is of wood, two stores (sic) above a brick basement; it contains four school rooms, with suitable halls and closets, with sittings for 200 pupils. The building is well ventilated, and well arranged for the teachers and pupils, and of good appearance outside; building in good condition and supplied with city water.
1883A - renamed South Division Street School. The old building on this lot has been removed and there is now under constructions a new fourteen room brick building. The contract was awarded to Hoskens & Maunders for the sun of $30,000, and the warming and ventilation contracted to Richardson, Boynton & Co., of Chicago, for $2,50. When this building is completed it will be one of the finest and best school buildings in the city, and will have sittings for 700 pupils. This building is greatly needed to relieve the crowded condition of a number of the schools. Is expected that the building will be ready to be occupied by the first of April, next.
1883C - named Spring Street School is of wood, two stories, on brick foundation; it contains four school-rooms with suitable hall and closets. this includes the three remaining rooms of the old No. 2 building removed to the north of this building. This building on Spring Street should be sold or moved to some other locality as soon as the new building is completed.
1884 - April 7th the new fourteen room building just completed was opened for school purposes. The building is of white brick with re brick trimmings, two stories with good basement. The rooms are the best lighted of any occupied for school purposes in this city. The building contains sittings for 700 pupils. The grounds have been graded and the grounds and building connected with city water, and the basement supplied with gas, at a cost of $75. This is the best school property in the city, and although earnestly opposed, it is now recognized as a necessity, and is regarded with prided by both citizens. and school officers. Of the fourteen rooms twelve are already in use.
The 1884 Collar and Greiner map shows the main school on lots 7, 8, and 9 while the Spring Street school on lots 5 and 6 of Ellsworth' Addition. .
1895 Sanborn Fire Map:
1885 - All rooms are occupied. On account of the failure of the furnace placed in the building when erected, new ones have been put in to take the place of the old, and no difficulty is anticipated in properly heating the building; the cold air ducts have been changed so as to take in the cold air from above; storm sheds have been built over two of the entrances to the building, and doors and a partition have been placed in the entrance to the lower school room on the west side. The floor in the basement has been repaired. Value $75,000. Insurance $5,000.
1886 - Since the close of school the roof and furnaces have been repaired. The building is poorly ventilated.
1890 -during the year there has been put in an entire new plant for heating and ventilating the building by steam by steam. The water closets are in the basement, and are connected with the public sewer.
1893 - 14-room building of white brick with red brick trim. Two-stories with
good basements.
Well-lighted with seatings for 700 pupils. It is supplied with city water and
gas, heated by steam and well-ventilated. The water closets (toilets) are in the
basement and connected with the sewer.
1905 - Plumbing condemned
1907 - Early last spring the plumbing in this building was inspected by the Board of Health, and did not meet with their approval. While it might have been possible to repair and renovate, it was considered advisable to tear out all the old installation an put in new and modern sanitary appliances. It was not possible to get this work completed prior to the opening of school in September, but the work was so arranged as to permit the occupancy of the school house during the time the work was being carried on. At a a cost of $2,800 the entire plumbing equipment of the building will be put in modern and sanitary condition. It is hoped that the work may be completed by the first of December.
1907 Section 25
Ogle WalkerExcerpted from a Grand Rapids Herald article, "Thirteen Nationalities Represented in the Roster of South Division Street School," December 20, 1908, page 3 WHC
1913 Sanborn Fire Map shows why you should NEVER use Scotch Tape. The outline of the school is there in pink but you will need to really work hard to see it.
1921 Annual Report - old 1st Ward - lots 4-9 of Block 2 of Ellsworth's Addition
1926 - Grand Rapids Press, 16 January 1926 p. 5: Members of the Division av. School PTA declared themselves against the plan to abandon the Division school district. They urged a new school be built, either on the site of the old one partially destroyed by fire or on a more suitable site. Parents of Lafayette School took similar action as the plan would be the first step in the direction of larger schools and larger school districts.
2005 - 255 Division Av S, the Guiding Light Mission PP# 41-13-25-481-008 part of Block 2 of Ellsworth Addition.
From article City Schools
From Heading History and the City of GrandRapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info