Grand Rapids Township
Thanks to Lisa Cristensen for this map.
This 1894 Polk Map shows the school districts in color.
School districts were numbered in the order they were created.
This is a rough geographical outline:
8 13 12
8 10 9
6 1 9
6 7 2
1fr 4 2
1fr 3 5
Some of the districts were bigger than the others.
Starting in the upper left hand corner:
Blue - District # 8 shows the school on the Lamberton Farm at the corner of Eastern extended and 3 Mile
Yellow - District # 4 fractional, Part of Plainfield Twp #4.
Yellow - District #10 shows the school on Knapp between Maryland and the East Beltline
Blue - District # 13 fractional shows the school on the W. O. Braman Farm on 4 mile. Includes part of Plainfield twp.
Pink - District #12 fractional no school shown. Includes part of Ada Twp.
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Yellow - District # 6 no school shown
Pink - District # 7 shows the school on Fuller and Knapp.
Blue - District # 9 shows the school on the Smith farm at Knapp and the East Beltline
--------------------------
Yellow - District #11 shows the school on Leonard and Maryland
Pink - District #2 shows the school at Fulton and Crahen
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Blue - For some reason the map doesn't show a separate District #4 which was NW
of #5
so I have
inserted a red 4 to show the location of their school.
Blue - District # 3 around Reeds Lake. No school shown.
Their Lake School
was annexed by the City in 1891.
Yellow - District #5 - on the Martin Farm south of Cascade Road
District #1 - Sections S 1/2 of 19, W 1/2 of 29 and 30 Shown as part of the City on the 1907 Ogle GRT
This district was often called fractional as it included land
east of the Grand River but west of the township line - Division Avenue.
Boundaries:
S ½ Section 19: Division and Eastern Avenues, Bradford and Michigan Streets
W ½ Section 29: Eastern and Diamond Avenues, Michigan and Wealthy Streets
Section 30: Division and Eastern Avenues, Michigan and Wealthy Streets
Their first school, Central, was annexed by the City in 1850.
What happened in this district for the next 29 years is unclear as the only
existing record is confusing: On 22 Mar 1851 Geo. M. Mills and wife sold land to
School District No. 1 described as Part of the W ½ SW ¼, Section 11, T7N, R11W.
10 rods (660 feet) north and south, 6 rods E and W in the SW corner.
This description fits the Smith School on the corner of Knapp and E Beltline.
So either it wasn't District #1 or it wasn't Section 11. (Geo. Mills was the
land patent holder for the NE ¼ of Section 30 however, this was part of the City
in 1850.)
On 20 Jun 1879 this district purchased land in the Merrill and Nims' Addition.
This addition was surveyed by Coffinberry and Skeels in 1872 in the SW 1/4 T7N
R11W for Leonard and Sarah Merrill as well as Dwight and Ann Nims.
The border streets in this plat were Orchard (Baldwin), Carroll (Diamond),
Thornapple (Lake Drive) and Dwight. This district would buy lots on the corner
of Congress and Thornapple (Lake Drive).
1879
Warranty Deed
Jerusha Sage
to
Dist. #1, of the Town(ship) of Grand Rapids
Liber 121 Pg 576
Consideration, $300
Description
Lot 6 of Block 3 of Merrill and Nimms' Addition
to the City of Grand Rapids.
23 Sep 1887, an additional lot would be purchased.
Warranty Deed
Alfred H. Hentig and Eliza A. Hentig, his wife
to
School Dist. No. 1 of the Twp of Grand Rapids
Liber 182, page 352
Consideration, $2500
Description
Lots 9, 11, 12, Block 3, of Merrill and Nimms' Add'n
----- excepting all the buildings ----to remove – within 40 days ----
17 Oct 1887, an additional lot would be purchased on
Warranty Deed
Mary V. Sage Osborne
to
School District No. 1 of Grand Rapids Township
Liber 182, page 557
Consideration, $400
Description
Lot 10, Block 3 of Merrill and Nimms' Addition
30 Jun 1879, two more lots were purchased.
Warranty Deed
George H. Tuxbury
To
School Dist. No. 1, Grand Rapids Twp
Liber 121 page 575
Consideration, $800
Description
Lots 7 and 8, of block 3 of Merrill and Nimm's Addition
Merrill and Nim's Addition
The 1880 census shows a George H. Tuxbury living in Montcalm county. His sister
Jerusha Sage is keeping house.
The first school was built in 1873 according to the GRP 2 Aug
1928 p. 12
This school exists today as .Congress
23 October 1889. This district would begin another school when a lot was
purchased near Diamond Avenue and Fountain Street next to where Houseman Field is
located today.
Warranty Deed
Julius Houseman (unmarried)
To
School Dist. #1 of the Twp of Grand Rapids, Mich.
Liber 198 Page 386
Consideration, $3000
Discription
Lots 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, Block 2
of Houseman's Addition to the City of Grand Rapids.
All of this addition is now taken up by Houseman Field.
Houseman's Addition
This school would be best known as Diamond.
Diamond
In 1891 both of these schools would be annexed by the City of Grand Rapids and
would become the City schools, Congress and Diamond. Grand Rapids Township
School District #1 probably ceased to exist at this point.
District #2 - Section 25
Shown as Grand Rapids Twp on the 1907 Ogle GRT
Boundaries of Section 25: Michigan and extension of Wealthy
Avenues, Crahen Road in the center.
This district had the Collins school shown on the Ogle Map near the center of
Section 25 on the John Webster farm across from the Michael Collins farm and
near the John Crahen farm. It was on the NW corner of Fulton Street and Crahen
Road until it was bypassed on the north by a new Fulton Street. The old Fulton
Street was renamed Heather Lane and the school was preserved as an historic
landmark.
This township district probably ceased to exist with the formation of the
consolidated Forest Hills School District in the 1960's. .
District #3 - Section 29
Shown as part of the City on the 1907 Ogle GRT
Boundaries of Section 29: Eastern and Ball Avenues,
Michigan and Wealthy Streets
20 May 1859
Harvey P Yates, Winthrop R. Cady and wives,
To
School District No 3 of the Twp of Grand Rapids
Liber 113 page 371
Consideration, (none shown)
Description
Beginning on Sec. line between SE ¼ of Section 29 and Sec 32-7-11
at a point on said Sec. line where the E. line of a contemplated road (Norwood)
crosses N. and S. from Robinson Road to Clinton Road (Wealthy)
across said Sec. line
thence E. on said Sec. line 10 rods, (165 ft)
thence N. at right angles 8 rods, (132 ft)
thence W. at right angles 10 rods, (165 ft)
hence S. on line of contemplated road 8 rods (132 ft) to beginning.
According to GRT, they built a brick structure with a bell in the SE corner of
Section 29. This school would be annexed by the City of Grand Rapids in 1891.
This school would be best known as Lake.
Lake
Today at this location is a Blockbuster Video store at 1551 Wealthy ST SE.
This District #3 was a large district surrounding Reeds Lake. The balance of
this District was probably annexed by the City of East Grand Rapids.
District #4 - Section 21
Shown as part of the City on the 1907 Ogle GRT
although it was not annexed until the 1960's
Shown as developed on the 1924 map
Boundaries of Section 21: Ball and Maryland Avenues,
Leonard and Michigan Streets
1860 - Builds a wood structure in Section 21.
A wooden school building at the NW corner of Plymouth and Michigan built in 1911
still exists today. It was used for many years as the office for Rapistan.
The 1894 map shows this area as part of District #3 while
showing Fractional District #4 near 4 mile while the 1907 map shows it as part of the City
which it was not at that time.
This school is best known as Michigan Oak. Mich Oak
District #5 - Section 36
Shown as Grand Rapids Twp on the 1907 Ogle GRT
Boundaries of Section 36: East Paris and Patterson Avenues,
Extension of Wealthy and Hall Streets
Mr. Martin located a private cemetery and a public school on his farm. on
Cascade Road between East Paris and Forest Hill Avenues. The school still
existed when I was a child and I played on its small merry-go-round while my dad
visited his mother's grave. The Cemetery, now run as Martin Cemetery by Grand
Rapids Township, still exists as does the school building, now a private
company, as this district was probably consolidated in the 1960's as part of the
Forest Hills Schools.
District #6 - Sections 7, 18 and N 1/2 19 Shown as Grand Rapids Twp on the 1907 Ogle GRT
Building itself is not show on Ogle or the 1894 map.
This district should have been called fractional as it included that portion of Walker Twp east of the river but west of Taylor.
Section 7: extensions of Division and Eastern, 3 Mile and Knapp
Streets
Section 18: Division and Eastern Avenues, Knapp and Leonard Streets
N ½ Section 19: Division and Eastern Avenues, Leonard and Bradford Streets
The first school came into existence in 1848 near the corner of Leonard and
Taylor. It was annexed by the City in 1850.
A new school in the township would have been necessary and perhaps it was simply rented until
purchased in 1902:
3 Oct 1902
Cornelius G. Comstock et al
To
School District Six of Grand Rapids Township
Liber 309 Page 502
Description
All that certain piece or parcel of land situated and being in the Township of
Grand Rapids, County of Kent and State of Michigan and described as follows:
beginning 2 rods north and 2 rods east of the SW corner
of the NE ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section 7
thence North on the East line of the Coit Avenue road 8 rods (132 ft)
thence East 8 rods (132 ft)
thence South 8 rods (132 ft)
thence West 8 rods (132 ft) to the place of beginning
This school is not shown on the 1907 Ogle map.
Then a new location was selected in 1911.
.
Valley City Milling Company
To
School District 6 of the Township of Grand Rapids
Liber 395 Page 475
Description
Lots 192, 193, 194, 195, 196 and vacated alley to the east
of Fairmount Park
and
Lots 76, 77, 78
of The Height
Fairmount Park Plat was bordered by Coit Avenue, Knapp Street, Crosby renamed
Eleanor, and Plainfield Avenue. The Height was bordered by Euclid renamed
Oakwood, and Plainfield and included John Street renamed Kenwood and Julia
Street. The school was located on Euclid. It was annexed by the City in 1924 and
called Fairmount. Fairmount
1913 Sanborn Fire map showing this township school. This
map used by the City assessor's office for at least 50 years is missing the
corner of the page.
District #7 - Sections 8, 9
Shown as Grand Rapids Twp on the 1907 Ogle GRT
Boundaries of Section 8: Eastern and Ball Avenues, 3 Mile and
Knapp Streets
Boundaries of Section 9: Ball and Maryland Avenues, 3 Mile and Knapp Streets
1850 - builds a wooden school adjoining Fairplains Cemetery. The registered plat
map for this cemetery shows the school.
Originally located in the center of Section 8 adjoining
the Fairplains Cemetery, the NW corner of Knapp and Fuller (Warren). Note that a
Mr. Warren Green lives on this section of Warren street renamed to Fuller Avenue.
15 Jan 1880
Cornelius Ackerson
To
School District Number Seven
Liber 127 Pg 332
Commencing at the quarter post of the South ----
---- of the SE ¼ of the SW ¼ ---
--- place of beginning.
(Deed is very hard to read)
As this school began in 1850 but the property was not purchased until 1880, it
probably began as just a handshake rental.
The original site for this school was annexed by the City of Grand Rapids in
1924 yet the school was not annexed which would indicate that the school
building was moved prior to 1924 probably to its current site on part of Mr.
Huff's farm. The school name was probably changed from Knapp to Huff at
the time it was moved onto the Huff land.
For photographs of this school see Grand Rapids History: Subject: Huff School
The original site was then sold to the City of Grand Rapids in 1948. It is now part of Fairplains Cemetery.
School District #7, Grand Rapids Township, Kent County, Michigan
To
The City of Grand Rapids, a Municipal Corporation
of 35 Lyon Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Consideration, $1.00
Description
Part of Southwest ¼ of Section 8, T7N R11W
Commencing 50 feet West and 100 feet North of the SW ¼ of said section
thence north 164 feet
thence west 115 feet
thence south 244 feet
thence east 55 feet
thence Northeasterly 85 feet to beginning
situated in Grand Rapids Township, Kent County, Michigan.
As the new site was not purchased until after the original school burned down when it was replaced by a larger brick structure, it is assumed the school site was rented probably an informal hand-shake deal with Mr. Huff.
6 March 1934
Vernon Huff a single man and Saphrona Huff
each an undivided one-half interest
To
School District Number 7
Liber 871 Page 851
Consideration: $1
Description
Commencing at a point 495 feet South of the
center of the West boundary of section 9 T7N, R11W
thence South 1 degree, 40 minutes East 388.23 feet
thence East 1 degree, 8 minutes South, 561 feet
thence North 1 degree, eight minutes West, 388.23 feet
thence East 0 degrees, 28 minutes North along section line to place of
beginning;
containing 5 acres including he 33 foot strip along
section line to be dedicated to Ball Avenue
all being in section nine T7N, R11W
Vernon and Saphronia Huff were the unmarried children of Reynolds Huff who was born in Canada in 1850 and owned a greenhouse on the W1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section 9. It is assumed he arranged a handshake rental for the moved Knapp school before his heirs officially sold the land for a larger brick schoolhouse in 1934 to replace the original wood one that had burned that winter.
This school was known as Knapp School for many years until it was relocated and
renamed Huff. Huff
District #8 - Sections 5 and 6
Shown as Grand Rapids Twp on the 1907 Ogle GRT
This district included a small portion of Walker Twp, mostly the grounds of the Old Soldiers' Home.
Boundaries:
Section 5: extensions of Eastern and Ball, 4 Mile and 3 Mile Roads
Fractional Section 6: Grand River and extension of Eastern Avenue, 4 Mile and 3
Mile
N 1/2 Sections 7 and 8
19 Mar 1850
Holiday to School Dist. No. 8 GR
Part NE ¼ NE ¼
8 rods (132 ft) E and W by 5 rods (82.5 ft) N and S in center of State Road (4 Mile).
"Deed doesn't describe Sec or Range. Sec 5, (Sic) T7N, R11W"
Don't know exactly how this land record connects with this
school district. I thought it might fit District #13 whose school is near 4
mile. Unclear.
The 1907 Ogle map shows this school, called Lamberton, on the George Kendall
farm at the SW corner of the SW ¼ on 3 mile road. The school was later moved
farther north and annexed by the City in the 1960's.
GRPL Vertical File: Dedication of the School Bell February 10, 1976
The North Park School District was formed March 29, 1959, to be known as District Eight of Grand Rapids Township. With the Grand River as a western boundary, the school district encompassed land as far south as Knapp Street in some areas, and as far as one-half mile east of Lamberton Lake.
One-fourth acre, situated on the southwest corner of Section 5 (presently the corner of Three Mile Road and Cheney) was purchased in 1860 from Daniel C. Lamberton for $20. IN 1862, Aldridge Pelton built the first North park Schoolhouse at a cost of $200. This one-room schoolhouse served the community until 1908.
Because of larger pupil enrollment, lots 88, 89, 90, and 91 of North Park Place addition #2 were purchased. A four-room cement block building, nearly complete, sat on the lots. The District bonded $5,000 to pay for the lots, building, and completion of two rooms of said building. As the original one-room schoolhouse on Three Mile and Cheny was deemed inadequate classes were held in the old Boat and Canoe Club, North Park, during the fall of 1908, rent-free, as a community service.
By January 1909, ht e new school, located on Grove Avenue (later to be called Kendalwood Drive) was finished and in use. The Grove Avenue School should have been in use sooner, but an injunction was served which held up procedures. Many persons of the community were opposed to moving the original site of the school, site others felt a need to move the school site nearer to the center of population of the Eight District.
The years from 1922-1929 were busy years, as the School Board worked diligently to obtain support from the community for a new school building. Again, members of the community were divided regarding a possible location for the school. Many persons felt additional lots should be purchased close to North Park Village, and opposition was strong in considering he building of a new school way out in a field. However, we of the community today should thank the foresight of those who fought hard to place our present-day school way out in a field on a thirteen-acre parcel.
The present-day North Park School, located at the base of Hubbard Street (Cheney Avenue did not exist then), opened its doors in February 1926.
1954-1958 - two new additions.
In February 1960 a vote was taken in five school districts, one of which was Fractional District Eight - North Park and Wellerwood - was taken. All five school district consolidated into Northview District.
IN August 1960 another vote taken by District Eight resulted in a decision not to be a part of the Northview District. Officially. District eight was then voted to be annex to the Grand Rapids[ids Public School system on September 16, 1960.
Wellerwood:
Wellerwood was created as a feeder school for North Park after I-96 was built. The School was built for those students K-3 living south of the freeway and west of Coit.
This school would be best known as North Park.
North Park and
Wellerwood
District #9 - Section 11 Shown as Grand Rapids Twp on the
1907 Ogle GRT
Boundaries Section 11: East Beltline and extension of East Paris Avenues, 3 Mile and Knapp Streets
This school was originally located on the Smith farm at the corner of Knapp Street and East Beltline. It was called Smith School until the Knapp school was relocated to Ball Avenue and renamed Huff then the Smith School was renamed Knapp school. It was located at the corner of the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4. The only land record I found:
22 Mar 1851
Geo. M. Mills and wife
To
School District No. 1 (sic)
Description
as Part of the W ½ SW ¼, Section 11, T7N, R11W.
10 rods (165 feet) north and south, 6 rods (99 ft) E and W in the SW corner.
It stood at the corner of Knapp and East Beltline for many years surrounded by fruit farms. Sometime in the 1990's, the building was moved to the rear of the current Grand Rapids Township Hall at 1836 East Beltline and is now a museum.
It was best know as Smith school until renamed Knapp School
after Knapp school was renamed Huff.
District #10 - Section 10
Shown as Grand Rapids Twp on the 1907 Ogle GRT
Boundaries of Section 10: extension of Maryland and extension of
Ball Avenues, 3 Mile and Knapp Streets
Frank Ronan farm 3 Mile Road and Leffingwell
This school is best known as Orchard View School.
District #11- Section 16
Shown as Grand Rapids Twp on the 1907 Ogle GRT
Boundaries of Section 16: Ball and Maryland Avenues, Knapp and Leonard Streets
1860 - erects a wooden structure in Section 16. .
5 Oct 1875
William G. Beckwith and Maria, his wife
To
School District No. 11 of the Township of Grand Rapids
Liber 98 Page 19
Consideration: $10
Description:
Beginning at the southeast corner of Section 16, T7N, R11W
running thence north on the section line 12 rods (198 ft)
hence west parallel with the south line of said section 5 rods (82.5 ft),
thence south parallel with th est line of said section 12 rods to the section
line
thence east along said line 5 rods to the place of beginning,
and containing 3/8 of an acre
so long as it shall be used and occupied as a school house site for school
purposes.
Warrant and defend, so long as premises are occupied and used to a school house
site.
Annexed to the City in the 1960's This school is best known as Beckwith. Beckwith
District #12 - in Ada Twp, Atwater School converted to a home
The 1894 map has District #12 switched with District #13
District #13 - Section 3
Shown as Grand Rapids Twp on the 1907 Ogle GRT
Boundaries of Section 3: extensions of Maryland and East
Beltline Avenues, 4 Mile and 3 Mile
It is shown as on the H. O. Braman farm at the extreme NE corner of this
section. As a child the bus that took us to the Camp Fire girls day camp on the
Wilder Farm stopped at this school. It was probably consolidated in the 1960's
as part of the Forest Hills Schools. The building itself was being threatened by
development in the 1990's.
This is best known as Peach Grove School
District #14 - Section 21
Erroneously shown as part of the City on the 1907 Ogle map
This district must have been created after 1894 as it is not show on the 1894 Polk map.
Boundaries of Section: Ball and Maryland Avenues, Leonard and Michigan Streets.
Ball and Cedar. It swapped territory with District #11 in the 1930's.
Annexed by the City in the 1960's.
Best known as Burr Oak. Burr Oak
District #15 - Section 32
Shown as part of the City on the 1907 Ogle GRT
Section 32 boundaries: Eastern and extension of Ball Avenues,
Wealthy and Hall Streets
Baxter Street School annexed by the city in 1891. Baxter
Article: Public Schools
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