By Bill Branz
Wyoming Historical Commission
Next time you pass by the intersection of 36th Street and South Division, try to imagine this one room school house that once occupied the northeast corner for many decades. As the local population grew in the mid 1800s, there soon was a demand for a new schoolhouse. The brick building was constructed in 1867 and stood until 1924. Hand pumped water, a wood burning stove, and outdoor toilet facilities were the standard accommodations during its operation. The first school teacher employed was Charley Howard, making a dollar a day. At the time of its construction, railroad transportation was just starting to develop in Michigan. What is now Division Avenue was then an unpaved road that served as a high-trafficked main highway linking Grand Rapids with areas to the south.
This photo is part of the Wyoming Historical Commission collection. If you have photos or memorabilia of the City of Wyoming and would like to share it with the historical commission, email wyominghistoryroom@yahoo.com.
