It was 1923, just five years after World War I, and the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools was moving into its new high school bordered by the electric railroad to the south, Hawthorne Street (Havana today) to the west, Englewood (Engle today) to the north, and Martindale to the east. In an article written by former Godfrey-Lee Public Schools superintendent Dave Britten, the school was the “largest suburban development in the Grand Rapids area at the time.
Mona Clark, who had been a 9th grader at the time, described the day they moved to the Lee Street School:
Almost every one distinctly remembers the day marked for the dedication of our new high school. It was during the rainy season of the year, and the day which had been set for leaving our old building proved to be quite a disagreeable one. It rained all morning and until about two o’clock in the afternoon. Then when it stopped, which we had feared it wouldn’t do, Mr. Marsh had us get our books ready for leaving. We were all lined up in two columns with Mr. Marsh at the head. He made it possible for us to cross Godfrey Avenue, which is a very busy street. We came down Burton Street to Senica (sic), and from there to Lee Street. The roads were in bad condition and there was water everywhere. We arrived in the new building somewhat spattered with mud. The following weeks were marked by confusion, as classes were trying to assemble and to make themselves heard above the hammers and drills as the final touches were added to our splendid building. It was a period that showed great co-operation and the first promise of a loyal school spirit loomed up encouraged by occasional talks from our principal and superintendent.
