Grand Rapids in Kent County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Catholic Central High School
Father Frederic Baraga established the Mission of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the west side of the Grand River in 1833 and began Catholic education in Grand Rapids. During his seventeen months there, some thirty Odawa children and about a half-dozen Euro-American children attended the school. Father Andreas Viszoczky. Baraga's replacement, maintained the small school. He renamed the parish after St. Andrew on August 11, 1850. Catholic education in the city grew slowly through the 1850s and 1860s. The congregation built St. Andrew's Parish School in 1873. At the time, four other parish schools operated in Grand Rapids. In 1906 Bishop Henry Richter and the parish priests consolidated the high school students into the "Catholic Central High School" system.
In 1906 the high school students of the five Catholic parishes in Grand Rapids were consolidated into a single Catholic Central High School system. Males were taught at the 1873 St. Andrew's School. Females were taught at a separate location. Destroyed by a fire, St. Andrew's School was rebuilt in 1915. In 1921 female students were moved to the former St. Joseph's Seminary, across from St. Andrews. A campus grew around the buildings including a Romanesque Revival-style gymnasium built in 1925. While most classes were in separate buildings, male and female students shared student government positions, clubs, electives, and more. In 1953 an addition to the former seminary became the school's main building; about seventeen hundred students attended coeducational classes there.
Erected 2022 by Michigan Historical Commission and Michigan History Center. (Marker Number 2353.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Education. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list.
Location. 42° 57.46′ N, 85° 39.994′ W. Marker is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in Kent County. Marker is on Maple Street near Sheldon Boulevard, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 319 Sheldon Blvd SE, Grand Rapids MI 49503, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Saint Andrew School Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Bishop Frederic Baraga (within shouting distance of this marker); Ladies Literary Club (approx. ¼ mile away); Roger B. Chaffee (approx. 0.4 miles away); Courthouse Square (approx. 0.4 miles away); Kent County Civil War Monument & Fountain (approx. 0.4 miles away); Grand Rapids Veterans Memorial and Honor Roll (approx. 0.4 miles away); St. Cecilia Music Society (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Rapids.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2024, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. This page has been viewed 48 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 6, 2024, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.