The population of Grand Rapids increased significantly in the late 1800s. Between 1878 and 1897 twenty-two school were built in the city to meet the demand. During the ten year period from 1891-1901 when Hall St. School was built, the city built the following schools:

1891  Congress St., Ward 3

1891  Diamond St., Ward 2

1891  Lake, Ward 3

1892  Hall St., Ward 12

1892  Jefferson Ave., Ward 11

1892  Sibley St., Ward 8

1892  Widdicomb St., Ward 6

1893  Palmer Ave., Ward 5

1896  Buchanan, Ward 12

1897  E. Leonard, Ward 5

1901  Alexander, Ward 11

In addition to these new schools the following schools received additions or repairs from 1891-1901:

1890  E Bridge St., Ward 4 (built 1885)

1891  Central Ave., Ward 11(built 1875)

1892  Wealthy Ave., Ward 10 (built 1869)

1894  Pine St., Ward 7 (built 1879)

1898  Jefferson Ave., Ward 11 (built 1892)

In the earlier period from 1878-1888 another large number of schools were added to the city's educational system:

1878  Henry St., Ward 10

1879  Pine St., Ward 7

1880  Coit Ave., Ward 4

1882  W. Leonard St., Ward 6

1884  Plainfield Ave., Ward 5

1884  S. Division St., Ward 1

1884  S. Ionia St., Ward 12

1885  E. Bridge, Ward 4

1885  Seventh St., Ward 7

1885  Straight St., Ward 9

1886  Turner St., Ward 6

1888  Madison Ave., Ward 10

In addition to these schools the following schools received additions or repairs from 1878-1888:

1882  Jefferson St., Ward 9 (built 1870)

1882  Second Ave., Ward 1 (built 1871)

1883  Fountain St., Ward 2 (built 1871)

1884  N. Division St., Ward 4 (built 1865)

1887  Plainfield Ave., Ward 5 (built 1884)

1889  Henry St., Ward 4 (built 1878)

An excellent starting place for detailed information about the city's schools is History of Grand Rapids and its Industries by Dwight Goss, 1906. He lists building costs, descriptions, and usually the staff.

Not to be ignored for information on early schools is Albert Baxter's history of the city. Both of these books can be found in the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department of the Grand Rapids Public Library.