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Page 13 text:
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SCHOOL HISTORY Previous to the year 1836 the land on which our first school was erected was a dense forest, and owned by the United States government. In May of that year Abel Page obtained from the government sections 32 and 33 in Georgetown township. In 1855, the few settlers within two miles of where Hudsonville now stands felt the need of a place in which to give their children the advantages of primary education. They organized what was then called District number 7, and erected a small building on the site from which the hotel was recently moved. This building was erected on what was known as the old Penasay trail that extended from Port Sheldon to Grand Rapids. Over this trail the old chief, Penasay, led his tribe on their way to Grand Rapids where they secured their annual allowance from the United States government. The first school numbered ten or twelve pupils, and was taught by Miss Ellen Bronson.
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Page 14 text:
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Gradually the population of the township increased and new schools formed. In the early seventies it was found that the school accommoda- tions were insufficient for the accommodation of the pupils, and, after much argument often nearly leading to blows, a sufficient number of votes were secured to establish a new school building just back of where our present building now stands. This new building had two school rooms, and another was added late in the eighties. In the early days of the twentieth century the area of the district had been so enlarged that it was found impossible to accommodate the pupils in the old building, and plans were laid for the present structure. This was not accomplished, however, without much opposition. When the proposition was first carried it was for a modern eight-room house, but by some sharp parltices upon the part of one or more members of the building committee the new building contained but four school rooms when completed. Circumstances made it imperative to employ more teachers, and room was made for them by cutting some of the rooms in two, and converting the play room into a school room. Rapidly the school advanced from eight to twelve grades, and at present its graduates are admitted into many of the colleges in the state without examination. With all our advancement, we have not escaped experiencing the tragic. Four years ago last January Superintendent Bert Elliott passed away. The school experienced a setback after the death of Mr. Elliot, and seem- ingly did not recover until the year 1919. In that year the Board of Education succeeded in securing the able and competent Mr. F. E. Van Sickle. The work of the year of 1919 was pre-eminently successful. In December, 1920, Mr. Van Sickle was taken ill and died but a few months afterward. The Board of Education was very fortunate in securing the able and efficient work of Mr. Laug, Mr. Brink and Mr. Louwsma, as sub- stitutes in his place. In 1855 the direct tax assessed for school purposes in this district was $195. In the year 1920 the direct tax raised was $5,500. The entire expense of the school in 1855 was $218. In 1920 it was upwards of $12,000. The new parochial school drew away considerable of our members, thus saving the district the expense of erecting another building. We feel confident that under the present enlightenment of the major part of the voters of the district our school will steadily advance and will soon stand equal to any graded school in the state.
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