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Lake Center School / School No. 7

Portage Township


Location: District #7 – First building was in Section 34, south side of Bacon Avenue, 1/2 mile east of S. Westnedge. Later moved to Section 35 just east of Portage Road at the Bacon Avenue intersection.

Kalamazoo County 1890, Published by Wm. C. Sauer. Local History Room

schools-portage-no7-598
Photo by Sarah Hultmark, c. 1981, History Room Photo P-1260

As were many structures built in the 1850s and ’60s, the first Lake Center School was Greek Revival in style. it occupied the south side of Bacon Road east of what is now Westnedge Avenue. It continued on the school rolls until 1937 when it was converted to a private home by the Daniel Family. In 1928 a new two-room brick school was built farther east on Bacon Road, just past its intersection with Portage Road. It consolidated in 1946, but continued as an elementary school until it was demolished and replaced by a newer elementary building on that site. At some point in its history, it was known as Bacon School.

Teachers

1921-22 Muriel Forbes
1925-26 Mrs. Sarah Walker
1927-28 Ruth Elwell
1929-30 Mary Heverly; Vivian Mench (sic)
1930-31 Katherine Couchman; Vivian Menck
1931-32 Donald McGrady; Katherine Couchman
1932-33 Shirley Denton; Mrs. Dorothy Van Epps
1933-34 Shirley Denton; Grace Jenkins
1934-36 Mrs. Edna Turner; Marian Hubbel
1936-37 Leslie Harmon; Dorothy Yanka
1937-39 Richard Mouw; Mrs. Dorothy Robinson
1939-40 Mrs. Alzadah Borough; Mrs. Kathryn Larkin
1940-41 Mrs. Kathryn Larkin; Clarence Bushnell; Mrs. Edna Turner
1941-42 Mrs. Edna Turner; Mrs. Kathryn Larkin; Mrs. Katherine Livingston
1942-43 Mrs. Edna Turner; Mrs. Lavina Daniels; Mrs. Katherine Ver Meulen
1943-44 Mrs. Katherine Ver Meulen; Mrs. Floy Foreman; Mrs. Helen Wiles
1944-45 Mrs. Katherine Ver Meulen; Mrs. Violet Whilser (sic); Mrs. Helen Wiles
1945-46 Mrs. Katherine VerMeulen; Mrs. Violet Whisler; Mrs. Helen Wiles; Mrs. Mabel Beers
1946-47 not listed

Sources

Manuscripts

List of one-room schools still standing in Kalamazoo County in 1982

  • Hultmark, Sarah
  • Manuscript, Local History Collection, Kalamazoo Public Library

Books

An oral history of Portage schools: Cleora Skinner to Pete McFarlane, 2017.

  • H 370.9774 O633 (circulating copy also available)

Portage and Its Past, by Grace J. Potts, 1976

  • H 977.417 P871

Maps and atlases

USGS topographic map for Kalamazoo County, 1922/1950 (Schoolcraft Quadrangle)

  • History Room topographic map case, drawer 5B, folder #37

Files

Teachers’ and School Officers’ Directory, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, 1921-22, 1925-1947 (title varies)

  • Shelved in a pamphlet box with H 379.774 K149 (History Room Storage)

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