Mecosta in Mecosta County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Little River School House
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Isaac and Lucy Berry
Photographed by Nathan Bierma
1. Little River School House Marker Side
Little River School House
The original, one-room, log schoolhouse on this site opened in 1877 under the direction of Isaac and Lucy Berry. The multi-racial community known as Little River raised the present building in 1905. It was the local school and community center until 1935. The Berry family landscaped the property around the lake, including the beach, calling it Pleasant View. They sold that land to Mecosta County for a park after Lucy Berry΄s death.
Isaac and Lucy Berry
Born into slavery, Isaac Berry (1831-1914) escaped from bondage in Missouri to freedom in Canada in 1858. There he married Lucy Millard (1838-1928), a white woman he met while enslaved in Missouri. The Berrys moved to Morton Township in 1877 with other black and multi-racial families. They bought cutover land, and Isaac served as the postmaster, blacksmith and school director. Lucy became the Little River School's first teacher.
Erected 2012 by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2242.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: African Americans. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission
this page online
Location. 43° 35.893′ N, 85° 15.909′ W. Marker is in Mecosta, Michigan, in Mecosta County. It is at the intersection of 90th Avenue and 9 Mile Road, on the left when traveling north on 90th Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9003 90th Ave, Mecosta MI 49332, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West Michigan. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Original Bell - Baumann School (approx. 6 miles away); Wheatland Church of Christ (approx. 6.2 miles away); Barryton / Frank Barry (approx. 12.1 miles away); Sherman City / Sherman City Union Church (approx. 13 miles away).
Photographed by Nathan Bierma
2. Isaac and Lucy Berry Marker Side
Photographed by Nathan Bierma
3. Little River School House / Isaac and Lucy Berry Marker
Photographed by Nathan Bierma
4. Marker adjacent to the sign at the entrance to School Section Lake Veterans Park
Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2025, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. This page has been viewed 192 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 14, 2025, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
