Grand Haven High School history

In the pageant, Jean Baptiste Parrisien carried the first mail in 1835-40.

Like the first school, built on Second Street in 1836, the structure erected at approximately 121 South First Street (Lot 70) in Grand Haven had no special name to set it apart from later ones, although Lillie referred to it as the Select School.

In 1860 the Clinton Street School, also known as the Grand Haven Union School, opened on the block bounded by Seventh, Sixth, Franklin, and Clinton Streets, land for which the schools paid $1,200.

An acre of land, purchased for $10, was the start of what evolved into Rosy Mound School. It was bought on March 31, 1861 from Nathan and Adeline Marble of New York State, and was located on the southeast corner of Ferris Street and Lakeshore Drive.

Hendrict Van Balgoyen of Grand Haven was director of the district, according to the 1863 annual report of school inspectors.

The first central Grand Haven school was built in 1871 at a cost of $50,000; it was three stories and 125 ft. tall.

In 1883 the Grand Haven School Board bought the building from Smith and opened it as a public school.

The school opened its doors for the first time on September 12, 1888, with 11 boarding students, 40 day and music students, and five resident teachers.

John Walsma (former Hannah DeYoung), the only surviving local teacher who taught in the original school building in 1895-96; Fred Strahsburg, 84, the oldest former student; Mrs.

Around 1900 James Bignell took tile to 170 acres in the Potawatomie Bayou area.

County normal schools were relatively new in Michigan, having been established by the State Legislature in 1903.

Even before the new school district was formed southeast of Rosy Mound, another petition on August 16, 1909, was granted for transferring certain students to District 1.

Approval finally was granted in 1911, and a bond issue for $1,500 was sold to the Grand Haven State Bank on April 1 of that year for a new school district in Grand Haven Township and a new building.

In 1913 classes were moved to the new Fourth Ward School (Ferry School). With the move came a shift in duties.

In 1916 the building was purchased by Otto Glueck and moved to 1511 Pennoyer to be used as a residence.

The school district, closed at the end of the 1919-20 school year because leaders felt its goal had been achieved of preparing young people to teach in rural schools.

In September, 1922, a brick high school for grades nine through twelve opened on Seventh Street, and old Central was converted to serve kindergarten through eighth grade.

The school was completely rebuilt in 1926, and during wet periods it was the only useable high school football field in the state, thanks to its excellent drainage.

In 1927, under Superintendent E. H. Babcock’s watchful eye, an addition was begun at a cost of just under $127,000.

After the last Akeley class graduated in June, 1928, there was some discussion of what to do with the property.

In 1929, swings were added in the play area.

A spectacular fire on the morning of April 3, 1936 destroyed the school’s east wing, which was replaced the next year by a $40,000 addition, $5,000 less than the insurance settlement for the loss.

The endeavor began again in the 1950’s under the direction of Robert Bottje.

Letters from former teachers provide more insight into the early years. It was written for the 1953 "Open House," noted above.

The new school had two classrooms, a 4-H room, office, furnace room, and small kitchen, though it was not until 1959 that a hot lunch program got under way.

Rosy Mound electors voted to annex to the Grand Haven School District on January 16, 1962.

An east wing was added in 1964, which housed the media center (library) and several more classrooms.

Built in 1967 at 1700 South Griffin and named for Henry Griffin, this elementary school was built to relieve Ferry of some of its student population.

The next year she transferred to the new Griffin Elementary School, where she retired in 1974.